A large and militant protest was held in Fresno on June 16 after a young man was shot 17 times by two Fresno Police officers on June 11. 100 people protesting the shooting held a rally, attempted to see mayor Ashley Swearengin, and then marched to police headquarters. It was a spirited event, which included several of the family members of the man who was shot 17 times. The protesters demanded changes at the Fresno Police Department (FPD) that would lead to fewer officer involved shootings (OIS).

In a letter sent to mayor Swearengin, and handed to City Manager Bruce Rudd, they wrote “We are requesting a meeting with your office to discuss the use of deadly force by Fresno Police officers. As you may know a non-English speaking farmworker who was intoxicated and holding a knife was shot several times by two officers on June 11, 2014. As you may also know, two days later on Friday June 13th, Fresno law enforcement officers managed to negotiate the surrender by a man with a gun. The second incident, which lasted 5 hours, indicates two things: 1) Negotiation with suspects works and 2) The June 11th incident as well as others could have been prevented.”

Security arrived and demanded everyone leave City Hall, and the protesters carried a coffin and signs to the Fresno County Jail, a couple of blocks away. After a short rally, the march headed to FPD headquarters where family members had the opportunity to share their feelings. While there, someone wrote chalk messages on the sidewalk and on a police memorial nearby, and subsequently two protesters were arrested, booked, and released.

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