Protests, vigils over death of George Floyd ramping up in Fresno

Protests and vigils in reaction to the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis are in the works in the Fresno area, according to postings on social media.

The death of Floyd on Monday while in Minneapolis police custody has sparked protests across the United States. Floyd, a black man, died while handcuffed and pleading that he could not breathe with an officer who was kneeling on his neck. That officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested Friday and charged with murder in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

In Fresno at 1 p.m. Saturday, at least 200 people came out chanting “no justice, no peace” at northeast Fresno at Blackstone Avenue and Nees.

People held up many signs such as ‘I Can’t Breathe.’ Drivers went by and honk their horns to show support. Several drivers dropped off cases of water bottles.

In Fresno at 7 p.m. Friday, members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno gathered on sidewalks lining Alluvial Avenue. They made sure to keep their social distance from one another as hundreds gathered for a peaceful protest.

A prayer vigil for Floyd was held Friday afternoon at the corner of Fresno and C streets in southwest Fresno led by The Reverend Dr. Floyd Harris Jr., a leader in Fresno’s black community. At the scheduled 4:30 p.m. start about 20 people were present, increasing to about 30 before it waned after about 45 minutes.

People gathered on the corner of the intersection chanting sayings such as, “No justice, no peace” and “I can’t breathe” as cars passed by honking in support.

“We’re out here because what happened in Minneapolis happens here in Fresno too many times,” Harris said. “We’re losing too many people.”

Black Lives Matter and rent, mortgage protest

Organizers of a previously planned event calling for a cancellation of rents and mortgage payments say that they plan to join with Black Lives Matter protesters Saturday in Fresno.

The cancel-rents organizers, who seek to “make the banks pay,” planned a car caravan in support of the effort, beginning at 11:30 a.m. from 3190 E. Tulare Street in downtown Fresno.

By 12:20 p.m. they plan to lead a convoy to the Black Lives Matter protest at Blackstone and Nees avenues, which is set to kick off at 2 p.m.

Also on Sunday, Black Lives Matter is planning a protest at 2 p.m. in front of Fresno City Hall.

Fresno police chief on George Floyd

Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall on Thursday took to Fresno Police Department’s Facebook page to speak out against the officers who killed Floyd.

“This officer’s actions and those officers that stood by and watched the death of George Floyd violated the oath of the more than 800,000 men and women who dedicate their lives to serve their communities,” Hall said. “I am angry over the actions of these officers and they should be held accountable. The behavior demonstrated by the Minneapolis officers erodes the trust of our profession.”

This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 2:16 PM.