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Good morning! It’s Saturday, June 6, 2020. Here is what you need to know about what happened last week in Fresno by five minutes.
One of the thousands of protesters during the peaceful march in downtown Fresno on May 31. Faces blurred for privacy of the protesters. | Photo by Ram Reyes
Protests Continue
On Sunday, thousands of protesters marched in downtown Fresno for George Floyd and for the many other black people slain at the hands of police brutality. It was organized by the Fresno State NAACP. Speakers read harrowing statistics about the Fresno Police Department (Did You Know: 53% of the Fresno’s budget goes to the police) and read demands to hold elected officials and the FPD accountable. The demands can be read here.
Check out the coverage of the Fresno Bee and uSpark Valley of the protest that day. Fresno State NAACP also released this video after the protest:
On June 1, a post about a rumored June 2 “BLM Riot” began circulating social media. It’s honestly so funny because it’s obviously made by someone who has never protested before. My favorite line is “tear up Caucasian Infrastructure.” Here is a screenshot of the notes app invite to the “BLM Riot,” emphasis on the quotes. I’m air quoting it as I write this.
Screenshot of the notes app announcement of the “BLM Fresno Riot.” Via twitter user @izziesdumblife
Many community leaders and the Fresno State NAACP took to social media to inform everyone that the “riot” is fake and many speculated it was created by right-wing agitators. This is especially fake because Fresno does not have a local Black Lives Matter chapter.
Regardless of the statement’s authenticity, River Park businesses did not take any chances. Many stores were boarded up and there was a huge police presence. What was supposed to be a riot turned more into a publicity event with politicians and police meeting with black community leaders. Among the politicians to come in support were Congressman Jim Costa, Fresno City Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Mike Karbassi.
More protests are planned to be held the next week around Fresno and the surrounding cities. uSpark has compiled all of them here.
Direct Action: Twitter user @egga__ created an email template to email council members to defund FPD. Link to it here.
Support Fresno Black-Owned Restaurants
After the protests Sunday, the Fresno community continued to show support after a list made by Phil-Rici Skei went viral on Facebook asking people to eat at black-owned restaurants and shop at black-owned businesses. The list has been adapted into a handy graphic by Fresno Street Eats (Instagram: @fresnostreeteats). I did not know Hot Dog on a Stick was black-owned which only makes my longing to visit the Hot Dog on a Stick in Fashion Fair stronger.
You can also check this online directory made by twitter user @_joradanboudreau.
I personally recommend Planet Vegan. I’m not vegan but I would go vegan if I could eat Planet Vegan every day.
More Fresno Businesses Open Up
More business will be allowed to open starting next Friday, June 12. Here is the list of businesses approved within Fresno County to open:
Restaurants, bars and wineries
Fitness Facilities
Museums, galleries, zoos and aquariums
Campgrounds
Hotels
Cardrooms and racetracks
Family entertainment centers
Table Mountain Casino is set to open on Monday, June 8, with hours of operation between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. It will open with precautions: the guest occupancy level will be limited to 650 people, with temperature checks at the door. Entry is denied with a temperature above 100.1 on second reading. Masks are mandatory.
Shaver Lake will be open today after the Fresno County of Public Health approved its reopening plan. Campgrounds and short-term rentals are still closed.
Fresno County COVID-19 Updates
As of June 5, the most recent data available at the time of writing, there have been a total of 2,080 total confirmed cases and 43 deaths in Fresno County. A total of 610 people have recovered and 221 have ever been hospitalized.
Two of the deaths reported were younger people, between the age ranges 18 and 44 and the other between the range of 45 and 64, and had no previous medical conditions contributing to their death. This virus is still very much here and just because you are young doesn’t mean you cannot die from it. Stay safe out there y’all!
Testing is available around Fresno. Visit lhi.care to set up an appointment. It’s free even without insurance. If you have insurance, you can also try these other testing sites here.
The Fresno City Council voted 6-1 to make wearing masks a prerequisite to enter City Hall. The sole opposing vote was by Councilmember Garry Bredefeld who has called it a “absolutely idiotic stupid” proposal
A day before the approval, Bredefeld posted this on Twitter calling out Councilmember Miguel Arias about Arias’ “bullying, controlling and belligerent behavior”
Unless I acquiesce to Miguel Arias' demand that I wear a mask at City Hall, he wants the Council to remove me from committee assignments, leadership positions, and silence my voice. I don't intimidate. It won't happen. Period.He claims that the item and prevented councilmembers from serving on committees or be in leadership positions if they do not wear a mask was a direct attack on from Arias to himself. Councilmember Karbassi’s motion removed this from the final vote.
Fresno/Clovis School Districts Tackles Racism
A Fresno Unified teacher, Marcy Barlow Barnhart, got called out on social media after making comments about her students supporting the protests over the death of George Floyd. FUSD told The Bee that they are “looking into the matter.”
Screenshot of the FUSD teacher’s Facebook post. Screenshot via The Fresno Bee
Meanwhile, in Clovis, another person again made racist remarks on social media but this time it is a Clovis Unified student. The student apparently used the N-word multiple times, suggested using violence against the protesters and “hunting and killing” black people. The student later apologized on their Snapchat story. A petition was created to have this student expelled and has garnered over 4000 signatures.
Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell sent out an open letter on social media offering a milquetoast statement about “their cultural proficiency system” for their students. The full letter can be read here. A separate letter was sent to students which warns them to “Stop. Think.” before hitting send. Students have posted the letter on social media and calling it bullshit.
Danell teNyenhuis Black, a professional clinical counselor in Clovis, shares her own experience as a white woman going through Clovis Unified and the stark differences of the experiences of her biracial nephews and nieces. Read it here.
That’s it! See you next week! I yield my time!
But before you go, here’s something I’m hugely obsessed right now. Enjoy, a moment of zen.
-Ram <3