Fresno City College students rally against vaccine mandates. It got a little rowdy
A Fresno City College student organized a rally on campus Thursday to bring attention to vaccine mandates that she and several speakers said are un-American.
More than 100 people held signs with slogans like “My body my choice” and sometimes chanted “U-S-A” near Weldon and Maroa avenues during the rally that drew Clovis Mayor Jose Flores, Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld and others.
The rally had been in the planning for about three weeks and was put together by the month-old Fresno chapter of Turning Point USA, according to the local founder Addison Werth.
The nonprofit says it works to educate students about fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government. Its activists are “the community organizers of the right,” its website says.
Werth stressed the rally was neither for nor against the vaccine, but rather about promoting people’s right to choose or deny the vaccine without a mandate.
“It was simply about giving students a choice, and choosing what goes into their body,” she said. “I don’t believe the State Center Community College has a right to mandate this vaccine.”
The 18-year-old said she originally intended to go to Fresno State and play softball until the California State University system handed down vaccine mandates for students in July.
A graduate of Clovis North High School she chose the junior college with the belief the system there would not have mandates.
The State Center Community College District board voted to mandate vaccines on its campuses about six weeks ago.
Bredefeld has been outspoken against mandates for masks, vaccines and other COVID-19 related measures.
“We know the elderly and people particularly susceptible to COVID, they should be encouraged to take the vaccine, but not forced to. Not ever,” Bredefeld said.
Fresno City Hall employees have been required to get vaccinated since Sept. 7.
All of the mandates come with limited exceptions.
The rally
The crowd at the corner of the junior college campus was lively, often shouting and cheering as the speakers made their points.
Toward the end, a man who said he lived in the neighborhood began shouting in support of mandated vaccines. Several rally supporters attempted to block him as he walked on the grassy area, holding signs in his face and telling him to leave.
At least one supporter appeared to push the man, saying the man had pushed him first. The neighbor left after several minutes.
The speakers also included California recall candidate Anthony Trimino and Secretary of State candidate Rachel Hamm.
Trimino compared the rally-goers to the 300 Spartans in the movie “300.” Hamm said the neighborhood where the rally was set was known for “a lot of Satanic activity.”
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 2:20 PM.
