Fresno High Protest

Fresno High Protest
By Mike Rhodes
September 14, 2004

Fresno High school students took to the streets today to protest conditions on campus. The protest centered on the removal of asbestos, lead and other toxic wastes. Chanting No Justice, No Peace and Hell No, We Won’t Go about 100 students participated in the early morning demonstration.

My daughter, who attends Fresno High, said that as the demonstration started the campus went into a lock down mode. Students were forced to stay in class, nobody could go to the restroom, and all information was filtered through the principal who made periodic announcements on the state of the siege over the PA system. All school gates were secured, security was everywhere, and the Fresno Police Department forced students back to class.

The flier being handed out by protestors said:

ASBESTOS, LEAD, LIME AND TOXIC WASTE INSIDE FRESNO HIGH SCHOOL???

Construction, including hazardous waste abatement work at the Fresno High School Campus is being performed by Bush Construction through a sub-contractor with a questionable record of public safety, including:

* Settling a case out of court for firing 3 workers who claimed they were forced to illegally dump toxic wastes, including lead, lime, and asbestos!

* Has been sued by the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District for improper asbestos abatement!

* Was sued by their own insurance company for not paying their insurance premiums!

STUDENT HEALTH AT RISK

Fresno Unified School District needs to hire safe and responsible contractors to work at Fresno High School.

Call Interim Superintendent Walter Buster at (559) 457-3723 and tell him FUSD needs to protect the health of Fresno students.

End of flier

The photos here are taken from a TV report of the event. Channel 47 reported that they were told by school management that this was a labor dispute and that the union was using the kids for political purposes. Fresno High administrators insist that the school is safe.

This Indymedia reporter will talk to some of the participants in this dispute and post a new story tomorrow night. For information about an earlier walkout at Fresno High go to: http://sfbay.indymedia.org/news/2003/12/1663441.php