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Fresno Westside Residents Respond to Being Called Terrorists
West Fresno residents and their allies held a press conference on Monday, November 26, 2007 to respond to elected city officials identifying black gang members as terrorists.
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 .
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 .
For more information:
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home
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When will the people of Fresno wake up ? (I'm not talking about you people who read enlightening websites like this and other progressive alternative media).
How can they not put 2 + 2 together.. that maybe why Fresno has gone down hill for the 20 years is because of the "Good ol' Boys" they keep electing.
I know Fresno has some incredible, hard working progressives, but they are up against a large and corporate owned monopoly of Radio stations, TV stations and the Fresno Bee.
The hate-radio of KMJ have kept the masses ignorant, scared, and hatefilled.
The big box, fundamentalist, evangelical, Pat Robertson inspiring preachers have had a hold of so many and have vilified anyone who trys to help a neighbor.
I wish "Rolling Thunder".. and a caravan of Trucks from the Unions in S.F. and LA would come into Fresno and do a week long action and training.. It would have to include two weekends. Help get them organized, engaged and motivated to take back their city. These one or two day visits just don't cut it. They need concerts to bring people in, then work shops.. then another concert to give them the motivation to get out there and get it done
Fresno wouldn't have gang violence and poverty if these jackasses heren't office.
Thank God for Mike Rhodes and those who keep the Community Alliance alive, for Rev Floyd for keeping his face and voice out there and giving other's courage to speak out, for Free Speech Radio, and for indymedia and all other progressive websites.
How can they not put 2 + 2 together.. that maybe why Fresno has gone down hill for the 20 years is because of the "Good ol' Boys" they keep electing.
I know Fresno has some incredible, hard working progressives, but they are up against a large and corporate owned monopoly of Radio stations, TV stations and the Fresno Bee.
The hate-radio of KMJ have kept the masses ignorant, scared, and hatefilled.
The big box, fundamentalist, evangelical, Pat Robertson inspiring preachers have had a hold of so many and have vilified anyone who trys to help a neighbor.
I wish "Rolling Thunder".. and a caravan of Trucks from the Unions in S.F. and LA would come into Fresno and do a week long action and training.. It would have to include two weekends. Help get them organized, engaged and motivated to take back their city. These one or two day visits just don't cut it. They need concerts to bring people in, then work shops.. then another concert to give them the motivation to get out there and get it done
Fresno wouldn't have gang violence and poverty if these jackasses heren't office.
Thank God for Mike Rhodes and those who keep the Community Alliance alive, for Rev Floyd for keeping his face and voice out there and giving other's courage to speak out, for Free Speech Radio, and for indymedia and all other progressive websites.
TERRORISTS?!? Fresno's City Council has the audacity to call these people "terrorists?!?!" What do they call those behind OPERATION REZONE - felony crimes - illegal altering of the city sewer/water lines. Destruction of our homes, exposing residents to infectious disease-carrying raw sewage as sewer lines are cut, leaving a trail of illness, staph infections, worse. Isn't that bioterrorism? What is next on the agenda - a "planned" drought, a "planned" Katrina or our shoddily re-built homes (no permits or inspections) to collapse on top of us during the (expected) earthquake?
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