Fresno Peace Actions

Peace activists and religious leaders have organized a series of events in Fresno, California to promote unity in the community, achieve an understanding of the events in New York and Washington, and for most of the participants to promote peace.

On Sunday the 16th, approximately 400 people marched from the Wesley United Methodist Church to the Masjid Fresno Mosque to express support for the Muslim community in Fresno and to oppose military action. Several marchers quit the march because they did not realize the march was for peace but most of the marchers finished the trek. At the mosque several spiritual leaders addressed the crowd.

On Tuesday the 18th, an open forum to discuss the events in the wake of the New York tragedy was held at the Masjid Fresno Mosque. Approximately 50 people of diverse backgrounds had the privilege of visiting the mosque to talk. Participants expressed concerns about plans for a military response.

On Wednesday the 19th, a panel discussion of the root causes and holistic responses to terrorism was conducted at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Seven panelists with expertise in a variety of areas spoke to a crowd of approximately 150 people. The discussion focused on the lack of social justice and the need to remediate this as our nation responds to the events of September 11th.

Local activists are distributing educational video tapes on Islam, street demonstration is scheduled for Friday the 21st 4pm at Shaw and Blackstone Avenues, and a meeting is scheduled at Fresno's Center for Non-Violence this Saturday the 22nd at 10 am to organize anti-war actions.

There have been some instances of racially motivated harassment in Fresno. At the beginning of the open forum discussion on Tuesday, an young caucasian male harrangued the security guard and threatened to return with an assault rifle. Fortunately there have not been any murders or assaults to date. Peace activists are attempting to help move the community in the direction of a healthy response to the crisis.