One more candidate has thrown his name into Fresno’s Mayoral Race: The Rev. Floyd Harris Jr. announced his run Monday night during a protest against Fresno police shootings.
The Fresno civil rights leader says his decision was influenced by the recently released video footage from 2017 that shows a Fresno police officer shooting 16-year-old Isiah Murietta-Golding in the back of the head. That video is now the focus of a civil rights lawsuit.
“We need leadership with backbone that cares about people first and has compassion,” Harris said. “And not shooting people down like they’re animals and dogs.”
Social justice advocate Gloria Hernandez organized the protest alongside the Fresno Brown Berets. She says the department has settled too many wrongful death shootings under former Police Chief Jerry Dyer’s leadership. He’s now a mayoral candidate.
“I want to notify the press that at 3:45, I served the U.S. Attorney with a request to investigate the patterns and practices of the Fresno Police Department,” Hernandez told the crowd.
She led chants of “No on Dyer,” and “Vote Dyer Down,” and says there will be weekly protests to come.
This year, Valley Public Radio is doing elections coverage differently. We’re asking listeners and residents, what do you want candidates to talk about? Are you concerned about healthcare, housing, or homelessness?We put out a survey from July through October to find out. More than 150 residents throughout the San Joaquin Valley took the survey.The most concerning issue for many is how the economy will recover from COVID-19. Others identified housing and homelessness in local communities as a major issue; others were most concerned for the environment. As we interview candidates and continue our election coverage, we’ll keep these responses in mind. You can keep up with our coverage on this page, or send questions about our process to Laura Tsutsui at ltsutsui@kvpr.org.
Community Advocate Announces Run For Mayor At Police Protest
Laura Tsutsui
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Valley Public Radio
