Feature Archives

A homeless woman in a wheelchair was arrested and given a citation in Fresno on July 7th because she needed to use a bathroom. Sherri Williams was cited by the police because she tried to use the restroom at McDonald's at Olive and highway 99. Williams and her husband Al are regular customer at McDonald's, they're homeless and she uses a wheelchair. On that morning, Al bought a cup of coffee and Sherri headed to the restroom. That is when McDonald's manager Michelle Torres saw Sherri and said "I need you to go, your not purchasing anything, I need you to go." Al told Torres that Sherri needed to use the restroom and wash her hands and after that she would buy something.

On June 24, Alberto Tovar, a recent graduate of Cal-State Monterey Bay and a Salinas local, was arrested for challenging military recruiters at a Día de la Famila celebration in Salinas. Tovar asked why recruiters promise kids health and educational benefits if they sign up, but don’t talk to them about the risks of combat. Tovar faces numerous charges, including "disturbing the peace," "criminal trespass," and "possession of a dangerous/deadly weapon" (a trendy bracelet from Hot Topic). The Monterey County D.A. also added "disorderly conduct for public intoxication" even though Tovar was never tested to see if he had been drinking. Alberto is asking for his supporters to donate to his Legal Defense Fund.

The It's Our Healthcare campaign rolled into Fresno, with about 200 people rallying at City Hall. Speakers at the rally included Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation, who said "healthcare is a fundamental need, yet health insurance has become a luxury in California. Three-quarters of the more than six million Californians that go without health insurance every year are from working families."

Students at D-Q University in Davis, California's only tribal university, are facing eviction from campus by the Board of Trustees. The students, who have been the sole residents at D-Q since the college lost its accreditation in January 2005, are demanding the right to stay on campus and a voice in determining the school's future. On June 30, the Board will vote to refuse current students housing on campus.

The Fresno Center for Nonviolence 15th anniversary celebration was held on Saturday, June 23, 2007. Each year the center presents the “Way of Peace” awards to community activists, brings a top notch speaker to the event, and provides dinner. The speaker this year was Antonia Juhasz and Sunday Food Not Bombs provided a vegetarian dinner. Way of Peace awards were given to Sue Kern, Dr. Marc Lasher, Fran Saunders, Berry Nishkian, and Frances Sivak (posthumously). Way of Peace Youth Awards were given to Rosanna Spicer and Nick Clark. A Way of Peace organizational Award was given to Teatro Immigrante.

On June 12th, a the city of Fresno evicted a large group of homeless people from Caltrans land. Fresno's mayor reneged on a promise to provide homeless people with a safe place to sleep and city council members didn't want to rock the boat.

A Rancho Cordova fundraising event for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was delayed three hours on Thursday, May 31 while the Sacramento County bomb squad investigated a coffin brought to the area by antiwar protester Stephen Pearcy. About 20 protesters showed up and organizer Pearcy brought along his usual displays, including his mock coffin with a U.S. flag draped over it.