Fresno Westside Residents Respond to Being Called Terrorists
By Mike Rhodes

Residents of West Fresno don’t like being called terrorists. At a press conference held earlier this week Rev. Floyd D. Harris said “no one has a right to call anyone a terrorist in this city.” Harris was referring to statements made by local elected officials at a press conference held last August. At that event Fresno City Council member Jerry Duncan, stressing the urgency of a campaign against gangs in West Fresno, compared black gang members to terrorists. Duncan, speaking about those gang members, said “make no mistake about it, they are terrorists and they are as much of terrorists as those people in Iraq that are blowing up innocent people.” Fresno mayor Alan Autry said “the connection with the war on terror and the war against gangs at home is not a spin, it is a very real connection.” For video and more information about Fresno City officials identifying African American gang members as terrorists, see: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/08/29/18444759.php

This weeks press conference was held in front of radio station KFCF 88.1 FM, where Duncan and Harris were scheduled to discuss the gang/terrorism issue on Valley Black Talk, a program aired on Monday evenings. Shortly before the show, Duncan sent an email to the programs producer saying he would not be able to appear on the show. Harris was disappointed and told me that he had been looking forward to the dialog with the city council member. The show did go on, but without Duncan. The program included many people calling in to discuss the provocative statements made by local elected officials.

At the press conference, Rev. Harris, who is the president of the National Network In Action a civil & human rights organization objected to city officials identifying black gangs as terrorists. In a prepared statement, he said “did the Fresno Police worsen the gang problem by using injunctions, anti-gang legislation and police crackdowns? A recent report, the Justice Department’ Justice Police Institute Report: Gang Wars: The Failure of Enforcement Tactics and the need for Effective Safety Strategies, called for social programs that promote jobs, education and healthy communities which have proven to be much more effective in curbing drug and gang activities.”

City Council member Jerry Duncan is termed out and has announced he is running for mayor. Harris said “Prior to running for Mayor, Duncan has always told people who don’t live in his area, that he not responsible for them and doesn't have to talk to them. Yet, he is attempting to promote his ‘campaign’ on the backs of poor people who do not have the same amount of resources as those who live in the north side. Instead he voted for more monies for the incarceration instead of placing greater emphasis on juvenile diversion and prevention programs such as mentoring for those that don't live in his district.”

Excerpts from the press conference are in a video (below). For more information Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr. can be reached at ( 559) 803 - 0286 or visit http://www.nancal.org .