Amid riot rumors, Fresno unites: ‘We’re not going to allow people to tear up our city’
The message from Fresno police, politicians and community leaders was clear: “We’re not going to allow people to tear up our city.”
The group came together Tuesday afternoon outside Ruth’s Chris Steak House at River Park shopping center after a social media post circulated Monday threatening violence, rioting and looting of local businesses.
Congressman Jim Costa and Fresno City Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Mike Karbassi were among those who came out to show their support.
Former NBA player Quincy Pondexter came out, too.
“It’s very important right now to come together as one,” Pondexter said. “Everything needs to be united and treat everyone as equal. Just come together.
“We care about business in Fresno and making sure we’re going in the positive direction.”
The threatening social media post Monday that called for targeting businesses came one day after a peaceful protest that drew more than 3,000 in downtown Fresno calling for racial and economic justice following the killing of George Floyd during an arrest by Minneapolis police.
Four police officers have been fired, and one, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd.
There was heavy police presence at River Park on Tuesday afternoon with some officers on patrol and others stationed outside storefronts.
Police signaled their intent in a post on the department’s social media: “This is not a planned press conference but will be a community outreach with the hope for peace and growth in our community.”
More than 100 people gathered at River Park, where many signs directed toward Blackstone Avenue read “Support & Join the Peaceful Protests.”
Community member Chris Milton, who is the father of highly touted Georgia football signee Kendall Milton, said their purpose was “planting a flag in our city and letting everyone know that this is our city that we handle our business here and do everything respectfully and orderly.”
“What you saw on Sunday, led by the NAACP chapter at Fresno State with a peaceful protest with over 3,000 people. That’s how we handle business here, and that’s how we’re going to choose to get results. We’re not going to allow or stand by and allow people to tear up our city.”
Some River Park shop owners took precautions.
Landy Hsu had reopened her Cookie Cutters kids hair salon on Monday, but decided to board up the windows Tuesday “just in case” there was trouble.
Elsewhere, workers were boarding up The Children’s Palace just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, an hour after the show of force started.
At Fashion Fair mall, meanwhile, police also watched for any suspicious activity. The Union Bank on the shopping center’s grounds was boarded up.
Pastor DJ Criner said he just wants “our community to be safe.”
“We’re not going to let anyone tear down our kids and our people,” he said. “Our people are not the looters and our people are not trying to riot.
“The fake report that went out by a racist organization for the means of trying to cause division after a peaceful protest and we’re not going to let anybody destroy the things in our name and make it seem like we did this. That’s why we’re here. Just to make sure our community is safe.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 8:04 PM.
