October 22 Police Brutality march in Fresno

STOP POLICE BRUTALITY
By Mike Rhodes
October 23, 2003

“Hey cops, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?
Hey cops, what do you say? How many mothers did you kill today?
Hey cops, what do you say? How many fathers did you kill today?
Hey cops, what do you say? How many young people did you kill today?
Hey cops, what do you say? How many poor people did you kill today?
Hey cops, what do you say? How many brown people did you kill today?
Hey cops, what do you say? How many black people did you kill today?
Hey cops, what do you say? How many Asian people did you kill today?”

The above chant rang out in downtown Fresno yesterday as a multicultural group marched against police violence and brutality. A mother, whose son was killed by the police, participated with the group as they passed the police station and headed for the jail. Community members who had been brutalized themselves were a part of the crowd. With police monitoring the march on bicycles, in a helicopter overhead, in buildings, on foot, and in police cars the protestors would not be intimidated or silenced. They continued to chant:

“Killer cops in every town, we won’t forget, we won’t back down!”

With the police helicopter buzzing overhead, the Rev Floyd Harris said “We support the families who have lost there loved ones. There must be police accountability. The police work for us, we do not work for them, they have to answer to us.”

One of the principle organizers of yesterday’s march, Gloria Hernandez said at the conclusion of this event that “we see the violence against the poor is increasing every day. Today, there was a story that The House of Hope (this is a local community group that works to end gang violence) is not going to be getting any money for the kids. This is like Centro la Familia who is not getting more money to do advocacy work for the poor people. This is just like a lot of social service organizations who are not getting funded, because the cops are getting the money. I told Police Chief Winchester, before Dyer (who is the new police chief) that you guys are a bunch of bullies.” Many speakers asked why there is always enough money for more prisons and police? How can they have money for repression, but no money for schools, health care, the elderly, or to pay county employees a living wage (home care workers)?

Everyone was reminded to support the important work of the Central California Criminal Justice Committee who is working to get a police auditor in Fresno. The next meeting of the CCCJC will be:

Wednesday, November 19
6:00 PM
Central California Criminal Justice Committee at the Sarah McCardle Room (downtown library)
They will be asking the Human Relations Commission to bring the proposal for an Independent Police Auditor to the City Council, since the mayor has failed to act on this. Be prepared to speak on behalf of the proposal when it comes before the City Council.

The community was also told that the next Stop Police Brutality march and rally will be held next October 22 at the same time and place: 5:30 PM at the corner of N and Mariposa in downtown Fresno. For more information about local actions defending the community against police violence contact:

El Comité No Nos Vamos
328 N. Fresno
Fresno, CA 93701
Ph. (559) 498-6033
IWAPGH [at] aol.com