Occupy Fresno protesters gathered in front of the Student Union Tuesday to inform students of what thy are trying to achieve and the future of the movement.
Protesters have filed a suit in federal court against the Fresno Sheriff’s Department.
“We have filed a case against them. There is a restraining order concerning the arrests they have made,” Fresno City College student and Occupy Fresno organizer Michael Dominguez said.
Dominguez said that three local lawyers, American Civil Liberties Union and other lawyers have voluntarily worked to have charges against protesters dropped and to handle the lawsuit.
“It is our argument that the arrests have been unlawful and unconstitutional. Police officers have sworn to uphold the constitution,” Dominguez said. “The occupation as part of our protest, our free speech is being snaffled and they are violating our First Amendment rights.”
Protesters voiced their concerns and distributed pamphlets to passing students informing them of why they are protesting and how it also affects students.
Dominguez, who has been arrested several times along with other protesters said he feels confident about charges against him being dropped since charges against them have also been dropped.
In response to opponents who have raised concern on the cost of arresting protesters Dominguez responded that they are not responsible for being arrested.
“It is not our choice to have 30, 40-plus officers in riot gear to come arrest 1 to 11 protestors. These are a heinous waste of taxpayers’ money.
“Many places across the nation have deemed the occupation legal such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland did for a bit,” Dominguez said. “There are many places who have chosen not to behave as Fresno or Oakland has.”
Dominguez also questioned why “county officers are being paid and funneled into this one location for a group of peaceful protesters when there is so much crime happening anywhere around Fresno.”
Other Occupy Fresno protesters like Fresno State student Luis Sanchez have questioned why there are not more minorities involved with the leadership of the movement. The reason, he said, is because minorities have always been “robbed our whole lives, so we are used to it.”
Sanchez hopes the movement will focus more on educating communities rather than targeting the top 1 percent income earners.
Fresno State student and member of the Fresno State College Republicans Mathew Martinez said all protesters are ill informed about how economics work. He also added that protesters should protest in front of the White House and Congress instead of occupying parks.
Martinez added that the occupy movements, especially the Occupy Fresno movement on campus, demand the top 1 percent of income earners to subsidize their education, which is he believes is unfair. “[The top one percent] didn’t have the handout, they moved up themselves. Why couldn’t you do the same as them? Why do you want the freebee? Work for what you want,” Martinez said.
Christine • Nov 17, 2011 at 2:57 am
To Martinez: You are don’t understand the logic of movements or why is important to protest in parks. First, there is a saying “Think Globally, Act Locally”. By protesting in parks and other community locations protestors are keeping the issue at fresh in the consciousness of local residents. It communicates that the issue’s importance is relevant to the average citizen and therefore warrants their concern. Having the protest in Washington D.C. , communicates that the issue is not relevant the community and it’s members. In fact, having the protest in and only in Washington D. C. gives the appearance that they issue is geared for the political elites, the very highly educated, and those with high incomes. This will of course affects average layperson, citizen of Fresno, into thinking that the issue has no consequence to them, and that they would be wise to ignore it. The issue or issues I refer to are those encompassed by the Occupy Fresno/Occupy Wall Street/ Occupy Los Angeles, etc….Movement. But you are against the entire Occupy movement so it is no surprise that you want the protestors of Occupy Fresno as far away as possible. I mean why have the citizens of Fresno worry their pretty little heads? Right? I mean the Occupy movement is only concerned about how to remedy the downward spiral of the world economy. Why would people of Fresno want to be bothered with that?
Gabe Rola • Nov 17, 2011 at 12:39 am
I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR YOUR MOVEMENT! I AM A FRESNAN AS WELL. I HAVE YOU ALL IN MY PRAYERS.I WILL BE COMMING BACK TO CALIFORNIA SOON AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO WHAT I CAN AND HOPEFULLY LEND A HAND TO YOU AS I HAVE LEARNED A LOT HERE IN PORTLAND. IM EXITED FOR FRESNO AND I LOVE ALL OF YOU.