FRESNO COALITION AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE
Press Release Friday, December 12, 2014
WHAT: MARCH AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE: Saturday December 13th, 2004 at 11 AM
WHERE: Intersections of W. North Ave. & S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (Fig Ave), Fresno, CA
CONTACT: Rev. Dr. Floyd D. Harris, Jr: 559 790-4277
SPANISH CONTACT: Fresno Immigrant Youth Alliance: 559-394-0559
In solidarity with calls for ongoing global and national protests, walkouts and marches against police violence happening around the country, the Fresno Coalition Against Police Violence is calling on allies, supporters and residents in the Fresno Community for an “All Out End to Police Brutality March” scheduled this Saturday Dec. 13 at the intersections of W. North Ave. & S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (Fig Ave).
The coalition is marching to raise awareness amongst Fresno and the greater Central Valley community that Police Violence is a systemic problem right here in the Central Valley and is directed mostly against young black and brown men and boys of color. The march responds to the recent grand jury refusals to indict white police officers for murdering 40 year old father of 6 Eric Garner of New York, NY, 18 year old student Michael Brown of Ferguson, MO, 12 year old Tamir Rice from Cleveland, OH, 10 year old Andy Lopez from Santa Rosa, CA, and many more young men of color shot and killed by police right here in the Central Valley. We are also gravely concerned about police violence and brutality internationally, following the disappearance and police-involved murders of 43 teachers college students in rural Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, Mexico.
The coalition, composed of individuals and organizations living and working in Fresno, released the following statement: “The taxpayers of Fresno feel that law enforcement has an obligation to respect and uphold human rights in our community. We are sending a clear message to authorities… We will not stand for another death at the hands of law enforcement! The deaths of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson and the subsequent acquittal of the officers responsible for their death have opened up a dialogue in our community and across the nation.”
During Jerry Dyer’s term as Chief of Police in the City of Fresno, there have been 80 police murders. The names of victims from Fresno who died at the hands of the police between 1993-2014 accompany this press release. Over 170 Fresno City police officers have been involved in shootings and 37 officers are repeat shooters. Eight officers have been involved in 3 or more killings. One officer currently on the force has shot 6 people. This is tantamount to a serial killer legally patrolling the streets of Fresno!!
The continued impunity of the Fresno Police, in addition to harming regional families and communities, is harming taxpayers. Millions of dollars in civil rights settlement plus court costs come from taxpayer dollars. The above coalition and our allies are prepared to inform and more importantly warn residents of Fresno that their lives and the lives of their children are in danger!!”
#ShutItDownFresno #BlackLivesMatter #BrownLivesMatter #ICantBreathe #ItStopsToday #FresnoProtest #Ayotzinapa #IncarcerationEqualsViolence #StopJailingMyPeople #TwoThirdsPOCinFresnoJail #POCLivesMatter
Fresno Coalition Against Police Violence
New Light for a New Life Church of God
Cop Block Fresno
Dr. Harris & Dr. Kennedy Real Talk 1 Drs. Blogtalkradio Show
MAPA Mexican American Political Association
National Network in Action
Fresno Brown Berets
Fresno Immigrant Youth in Action
California Prison Moratorium Project
