January, 2007

Who is Leading the March?
Politicians toying with Black history in Fresno

BY REV. FLOYD D. HARRIS JR.

Fresno homeless women tell their stories. Rev. Harris is at right. PHOTO/MIKE RHODES

As we come around to Black History month again -- it's business as usual with the city and county of Fresno. The same old lying politicians are playing with Black history. The government has done a wonderful job of manipulating people into believing that they care about oppressed people, but in fact they receive more profits by making sure the people are clueless about their rights.

Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. gave his life to fight for justice for Black people, following God's teachings. Every year we march in the streets of Fresno to celebrate the history of Dr. King, along with other civil rights leaders. There are tons of injustices taking place in Fresno--including police brutality, homelessness, dismantling of the Human Relations Commission, unemployment, AIDS, inadequate public education, environmental racism, bad air quality, bad water.

The City of Fresno received an "All American City Award" in June 2000 but it does not include poor people. This past year, the ACLU, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, and the Heller Ehrman Law Firm came to Fresno to file a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction to stop the relentless attacks on Fresno's homeless residents and their belongings.

The California State Chapter of The National Action Network (NAN), under the leadership of state President Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr., brought youths to clean up the homeless area to show the city of Fresno that they didn't have to destroy their belongings. NAN, along with other local and statewide organizations, had a sleep-out on the steps of Fresno City Hall to bring more attention to the problems. We formed a prayer chain in front of City Hall to pray for our leaders. We gave out socks, coats, shoes, food, etc. to replace things that had been destroyed by the Fresno Police and the Sanitation Department.

The people in power want to get close to you so you will not hold them to public accountability. I protest against police brutality 365 days a year--but on Dr. King's birthday I'm expected to march hand in hand with the politicians who are making life Hell for my people and sing "WE SHALL OVER COME SOME DAY." Malcolm X said there is too much singing going on in America and not enough "SWING." I'm not a HYPOCRITE. I don't eat from the oppressor's table. He or she has nothing that I want but liberation for my people. When you have people in political office who cannot stand up for you when you are being abused then those representatives need to be recalled.

If Dr. King were alive today I know he would have been on the front lines with us denouncing the Fresno Police Department, Mayor, City Manager, Sanitation Department and the representative from District #3 for violating the constitutional rights of poor people.

Nothing has changed in America but one thing. The KKK have taken off their white sheets and put on blue suits and a necktie. These people now sit in powerful positions in the government: Lawyers, Judges, Police Officers, Doctors, Congressman and Pastors. They will lead when you are marching or participating in the City of Fresno's 22nd Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration 2007, "Living the Dream: Let Freedom Ring for Peace, Justice and Healing for all."

I want you to look back on the past year and ask yourself:
Living What Dream?
Living What Freedom?
Living What Peace?
Living What Justice?
Living What Healing for all?