Category: Media
About 100 people held a candlelight vigil at the Federal Court house in Fresno today in opposition to the US Supreme Court’s decision that granted corporations the same rights as people have and allowing them to define their unlimited corporate money in political campaigns as free speech.
The National action, taking place in over 100 cities across America, has been called by the Move to Amend campaign (http://www.MoveToAmend.org) and is supported by other national organizations like Public Citizen, Common Cause, People for the American Way, Democracy for America and others.
The U.S. Supreme Court in a 5 to 4 decision in January of 2010 upheld “Corporate Personhood” asserting that the 1st and 14th Amendment gives rights to corporations as people and their money can be considered free speech. Thus, this ruling, often referred to as “Citizens United” opened the floodgates to unlimited, often anonymous, corporate spending on elections and the creation of Super PACS with hundreds of millions of dollars for the purpose of tilting the results of elections in a manner that drowns the voices of citizens. Special interest groups can now spend as much money as they wish to influence legislation or to support or attack candidates for election. Because the US Supreme Court made this ruling, now only a constitutional amendment can change this status and definition. Poll after poll in the last 2 years has shown that more than 75% of Americans across party lines oppose this decision.
An example of special interests money in our elections is being seen in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries going on right now. In early December, the super PAC, Restore Our Future, run by former Romney staffers and larger donors, spent an estimated $3-4 million on negative ads against Gingrich and Gingrich’s poll popularity was down to 13 % from 26%, earlier in that month. Jonathan Hart, of FOX News, reported that the Super PAC is credited with halting Newt Gingrich in Iowa. Congress can no longer make laws limiting campaign spending and does not have the power to override this decision by the Supreme Court. Only a Constitutional Amendment or the Supreme Court can overturn its own decision.
A local coalition of diverse groups that include the Volunteers for Change Fresno, the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church, the Social Justice Task Force of Wesley United Methodist Church, PEACE Fresno, the Fresno Chapter of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Central Valley Progressive PAC, the Yosemite Area Move to Amend, The Sierra Progressives Chapter of PDAmerica, Democracy for America, Daily Kos, Occupy Merced and Friends of Sen. Bernie Sanders are some of the organizations sponsoring this event.
“We recognize that amending the Constitution to restore the power of the people over corporations will not be easy, but we know correcting the Supreme Court is imperative to the progress of our nation,” stated David Cobb, a lawyer with Move to Amend.
To date, over 130,000 people and hundreds of organizations have signed an online petition supporting a constitutional amendment at http://www.MoveToAmend.org. Some of the cities and states which have already passed a resolution are New York City, Los Angeles, Boulder Co, Missoula, MN and the state of Montana.
For more information, email movetoamendfresno [at] hotmail.com or call Linda Traynor (559) 435-7520 traynor27 [at] gmail.com .
Via: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/01/20/18705149.php
Homelessness, poverty and politics took center stage Monday as one of the largest crowds ever to mark the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in downtown Fresno marched in honor of the slain civil rights leader.
Perfect weather “and a lot of concerns” prompted about 2,000 people to participate, police Capt. Greg Garner said.
Typically, 500 to 1,500 attend, organizers said.
Monday’s crowd included people from Occupy Fresno and Fresno city and county union employees. Signs that marchers carried echoed the diversity of the crowd, with slogans such as “End the War in Iraq” and “Stop Corporate Greed.”
Tracy Barnes’ family participated in the march for the first time.
MARK CROSSE / THE FRESNO BEE
Marchers lead a procession with a large portrait of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during a march Monday, Jan. 16, in downtown Fresno. Participants marched from St. John’s Cathedral to City Hall, then to the Memorial Auditorium.
“We came to show our support for the people who have sacrificed over the years to give us the safety and security that we all enjoy today,” said Barnes, 38, of Fresno.
With a police motorcade leading the way, the marchers started at St. John’s Cathedral on R Street, took Tulare Street, and ended in front of City Hall on P Street.
There, the event resembled a church revival, courtesy of former City Council Member Les Kimber, who said King would be proud of the strides people have made since his assassination in 1968.
“We have gone this far by our faith in leaning on the Lord and years of hard work,” said Kimber, 77. “But we can’t stop now.”
“Amen,” the crowd responded.
Kimber drew loud applause when he said there is too much poverty and homelessness in the United States, as well as government officials denying employees their collective bargaining rights.
City Council President Clint Olivier drew a few boos and catcalls when he tried to speak of King’s message of peace.
“Flip flop, flip flop,” the hecklers said in reference to Olivier’s support in June of privatizing the city’s commercial solid waste operations. Six months earlier, Olivier was the swing vote that had killed privatization.
In the end, the crowd applauded Olivier when he said America should end its participation in all foreign wars.
In its 28th year, the march culminated four days of events, including a community breakfast in Clovis, to honor King’s legacy.
The march drew a large number of people, organizer James Lett III said, because “it seems like more people are becoming concerned with what’s happening in the world.”
Many of the marchers attend year after year. Some were just learning about it.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” said Benjamin Lacey, 17, of Cambridge High School. He and another first-timer — Raul Flick, 14, of Fresno High — were selected to hold a portrait of King and lead the procession.
As the crowd marched, some held hands. Others, including Rep. Jim Costa, sang, “We Shall Overcome.”
Katherine Fiori said she was marching as a member of Occupy Fresno, which has set up shop at Courthouse Park as part of a nationwide demonstration against income inequality and abusive corporations.
Fiori said she is one of many Occupy Fresno protesters due in court next month to face charges of loitering in Courthouse Park.
“I’m fighting for free speech and the right to gather,” said Fiori, 65. “There’s no way I’m going to plead guilty.”
Afterward, organizer Gail Gaston smiled and said: “What a great day to be marching. We are living the dream.”
As Fresno County’s battle with Occupy Fresno shifts from the protest camps to the courtroom, the cost to the county has grown — to nearly a quarter-million dollars, and rising.
Now, even some county supervisors are questioning the expense.
The latest cost is attorney and former federal Judge Oliver Wanger, who is providing legal services for the county. County records show Wanger is earning $375 an hour, with permission to bill up to $50,000.
Another cost the county is likely to face is Occupy Fresno’s attorney fees. Because protesters have so far succeeded in parts of their case, the county could be liable for their expenses. That could mean tens of thousands of dollars or more.
The county’s legal bills come on top of nearly $200,000 the county already has spent through Christmas Day, the last day the expenses were tallied. Most of this cost is to the Sheriff’s Office, for monitoring protests and making arrests.
CRAIG KOHLRUSS/THE FRESNO BEE
Occupy Fresno protesters, from left, a man who goes by “Patch,” Mike Bridges and Darletta Hopper chat Thursday in front of the Occupy site at Courthouse Park downtown. Bridges says more people show up later in the evening, after school or work. He said they still meet several times a week.
“We’ve spent a lot of money, and we still have people in the park. So what are we accomplishing?” Supervisor Susan Anderson asked. “It’s unfortunate we’re spending these resources when we have all these other needs.”
Since early October, protesters have gathered in the county-owned Courthouse Park as part of a nationwide demonstration against income inequality and abusive corporations. County authorities have been quick to crack down on demonstrators who violate laws, hoping to keep the situation from escalating as it has in other cities.
In recent weeks, though, the protests have slowed. So has the county’s response. Most of the action is now in the courtroom where protesters, citing their First Amendment rights, are challenging the county ordinances that landed many of them in jail.
County Administrative Officer John Navarrette said the county has no choice but to defend itself against the protesters — and pay the price.
“They’re the ones causing us to do this,” he said. “The ball’s in their court. If they want to continue to press the county to spend more money, they can.”
The county had spent $17,400 on legal fees as of Dec. 11, the last day records were available. But that’s only the beginning of the cost.
Anderson said the county might need to extend its contract with Wanger’s firm, Wanger Jones Helsley, before the fight is over.
The county hired the outside firm to help with the case because its in-house legal team is understaffed, according to the County Administrative Office.
While Anderson doesn’t question Wanger’s worth, she does have doubts about whether such premium representation is necessary.
“I’m not sure the situation warrants this,” she said.
Supervisor Debbie Poochigian said she wouldn’t second-guess the County Administrative Office’s legal picks.
“There are costs to protecting the public and there are costs to protecting our facilities,” she said.
Protesters with Occupy Fresno don’t accept blame for the county’s spending. They say they’ve demonstrated peacefully and claim county authorities got involved with the protest unnecessarily.
“It’s not like we’re asking them to come out and babysit us,” Fresno resident Vanessa Aranda said.
Aranda, as do many of the activists, said policing peaceful demonstrations should be a low priority for the county. Additionally, she said, local laws governing their demonstration violate free speech rights and should not have been enforced.
Last month, a federal court made its first ruling on the case and directed the county to stop enforcing two provisions deemed unconstitutional: a ban on handing out leaflets and a requirement that groups of 10 or more get permits to assemble. The county is in the process of changing these provisions.
The judge upheld a third provision prohibiting overnight loitering or camping. However, he said protesters could move to the sidewalk, which is outside the county’s purview.
The protesters said they will continue to fight the county’s overnight ban.
Robert Navarro, an attorney for Occupy Fresno, said legal expenses for the group likely will run tens of thousands of dollars — he did not offer a specific amount — and said the county could be liable.
Supervisor Henry R. Perea, who has been critical of the county’s handling of Occupy Fresno, said he expects the legal bill from protesters to be at least $100,000.
Perea takes aim at county counsel for not knowing the park ordinance was unconstitutional and not helping change it before engaging in a costly legal effort.
“We are well on our way to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on one of our lowest priorities,” he said.
To date, sheriff’s deputies have made about 100 arrests of Occupy Fresno protesters, almost all before the holidays when the demonstration was bigger. Most of the arrests were for overnight camping.
The cost to the Sheriff’s Office was $183,000 through Dec. 25. About half of that was overtime pay. The other half was regular- time pay, which could have been devoted elsewhere, county officials acknowledge.
Sheriff Margaret Mims said enforcing laws at Courthouse Park has been vital. “Had we allowed the overnight camping to continue,” she said, “it would have created a much bigger problem than we have now.”
via: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/13/2681407/costs-to-fresno-county-mount-over.html
Please remember, we started occupying courthouse park on October 9th.
The first 2 weeks went smoothly without a problem. We had no permit, there were no cops/sheriffs, no damage, no incidents, no cost to anyone.
The next 2 weeks, where we obtained a permit, there were no arrests, no cops/sheriffs, no damage, no incidents, no cost to anyone again. (Contrary to Sheriff Mim’s argument that if they were not present there would be rapes, assault, property damage, etc. Please keep in mind, court house park has always had issues with the houseless, property damage, excrement before we ever set foot onto court house park, it is unfair and simply not true to blame it on us now.)
After our permit expired, our lawyers had a meeting with the county to discuss an extension. We were told they would NOW enforce the 12am-6am ordinance, 4 1/2 weeks after we first assembled. That clearly goes against everything that our movement is about. So we came to the consensus that we would not file for another permit since we felt no need to obtain a permit in which we do not plan to oblige by.
To date, we have had over 95 arrests in just over 2 weeks. The county has spent over 150k+* in arresting peaceful protesters that is not causing any harm to anyone. The jails are overcrowded and day after day they focus on us where that money could be spent for actual crime. If you are angry just as much as we are please speak up and let them know! This needs to stop!
The man behind the eviction is the County Administrative Officer, John Navarette. You can reach him at 559-600-1710.
County Contact:
http://
direct email:
FRWebmail@sjvls.org
Sheriff Mims: margaret.mims@fresnosheriff.
County Board of Supervisors:
Phil Larson, Chair: jbarlow@co.fresno.ca.us
Judy Case: district4@co.fresno.ca.us
Henry Perea: ppinedo@co.fresno.ca.us
Susan Anderson: district2@co.fresno.ca.us
Debbie Poochigian: District5@co.fresno.ca.us
You may also want to contact our Mayor and voice your concern:
Call Mayor Ashley Swearengin 559-621-8000 or send a email:
Mayor Contact:
http://www.fresno.gov/
According to the Fresno Bee, nearly 400 activists hit River Park in solidarity with the National Occupy Wall street movement.
This action was organized by labor groups who originally planned to drop banners on overpasses along highway 41. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) warned the Central Labor Council (CLC) not to hold the banner drop, threatening arrests and liability if the distraction caused accidents. The CHP had a significant presence on highway 41 with lots of CHP patrol cars from Tulare to Shaw avenue. There were no banner drops and the CLC directed the rally to take place at Blackstone and Nees avenues.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/17/2617843/1-occupy-fresno-protester-arreste…
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/17/18699927.php
Update: (11/8) 9 More have been arrested as of this morning. Bringing the number of arrested to 33.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/occupy-fresno-more-than-20-arrested.html
This afternoon (11/7) around 1:30pm, one protester was arrested for “holding a sign” in a public park. This is outrageous that they are not letting us carry a political sign, in a public park, during the day. Video coming soon.
Also, Here is Lt. Andriatti saying that local penal codes trump the 1st ammendment of the United States.
About 34 police showed up in full riot gear around 2:30am in the morning. At around 3:15am 15 protesters stood their ground and were arrested. We have all been let go from jail as of 11:00am this morning.
Please show up at the park at 5pm to discuss the future of Occupy Fresno.
Fast forward to 32 minutes on the dot to see our stand. We were rebroadcasted by @GlobalRevolution and we had over 650 live viewers throughout the world!
REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER!!!
http://moveyourmoneyproject.org/
RSVP 11/05/11:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=271163149592178
(Invite your facebook friends to this event!)
Nationwide RSVP: (Currently 76k are set for Saturday!)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=281139538577206
We here in Fresno have made a difference! Local credit unions have seen a HUGE jump in new members. Some report as many as 450 in the last month!
Plus 650k+ people moved to a CU in the past 30 days, that is more than all of 2010 combined!
http://thinkprogress.org/s
Please come out: we will have Ocuppy Fresno activists closing their accounts and then taking their money to the nearby Valley First Credit Union.
Encourage anyone you know with accounts at Chase to join us and spread the word that people need to withdraw their money from the big corporate banksters and keep it local in local credit unions. Press conference and balloon direct action–get active with the worldwide Occupy movement!
Find a local Credit Union:
http://occupyfresnoca.com/
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We have been served with multiple eviction notices. One was for Monday and we were prepared. We were 150+ strong. We were then served again to “vacate immediately” Wednesday afternoon so we called in the troops and 100+ showed up with so much more exposure online through social media. (twitter, facebook everyone reposting and tuning in) Yet nothing has happened. We do not know what is going on.
But a BIG THANK YOU for everyone who has been showing up on such a short notice. It has been simply amazing to see everyone come out night after night and we love you. For that here is some media 
Ustream Status
