Fresno activates Brown Beret Chapter
On Friday, January 23, 2009, several students and community members came together to discuss plans to launch a Brown Beret chapter in Fresno in order to deal with many critical issues that are impacting there community negatively. More than 25 people of all ages were in attendance.
Many of the participants discussed the need for an active chapter and issues such as police harassment, the expansion of the prison industrial complex, environmental pollution due to pesticides, inadequate schools and budget cuts, poverty, gang injunctions, and immigration raids.
In attendance were representatives from various community organizations such as the Fresno Prison Moratorium Project, The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment (“CRPE”), and Youth Together. The Autonomous Brown Berets of Watsonville also gave a presentation of their work and history. They urged for the need for direct action and unity due to community similarities and conditions.
At the meeting participants made the decision to launch their Brown Beret chapter in order assist in Fresno’s historical collective effort to bring social justice and change. In the past Brown Beret chapters have existed in Fresno and during the 1960’s they took part in many actions to ameliorate the community.
In California, Fresno is one of the communities most affected by poverty and environmental pollution. It has one of the highest rates of police misconduct and incarceration of youth of color. The Brown Berets of Fresno needs your support. For more information contact: call Ernesto @ 559-284-9512 or Ruben @ 559-237-5587
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From the Fresno Brown Berets:
On BIENVENIDOS/WELCOME as well as GRACIAS/THANKS to all of you that attended the 1st FRESNO BROWN BERET’S meeting this past Friday, January 23, 2009.
Over 25 PEOPLE of ALL AGES and different BACKGROUNDS, from UP and DOWN the CENTRAL VALLEY including our PEOPLE from WATSONVILLE joined together in this truly POWERFUL and HYSTORICAL moment. JUST IMAGINE ALL THE CHANGE WE CAN MAKE IF WE ALL COME AND WORK TOGETHER…
LET’S KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING.
This FRIDAY, January 30, 2009 we will be MEETING once again- 7P.M. @ The California Prison Moratorium Project CONFERENCE ROOM located on 1055 N. Van Ness Ave. Suite C Fresno, Ca. 93728 (It’s right on VAN NESS on your LEFT…a block before you get to OLIVE; if that’s confusing what’s recommended is to use GOOGLE MAPS for specific directions)
*We are going to come up with and go over our CODES OF CONDUCT/VISION & MISSION; follow up on all our great project ideas from our last meeting; and discuss upcoming actions that we can help organize and be a part of.
ANYONE AND EVERYONE WILLING AND ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY IS WELCOME!! TIME and DEDICATION is a MUST. Feel free to bring snacks and your THINKING CAPS.
One person cannot do everything BUT everyONE can DO SOMETHING!
PA’LANTE!!
FRESNO BROWN BERET’S
p.s. If you have any questions, comments, et cetera feel free to call Ernesto @ 559-284-9512 or Ruben @ 559-237-5587
© 2009, tomas. All rights reserved.
My name is John X Mataka and I am a member of the Nation of Islam in Stockton, California. It does my heart good to see the Fresno Chapter of the Brown Berets up and running again. The Nation of Islam has been working on organizing our communities around the issues that effect our gente. We have done two Caravan For Justice trips to Sacramento to call attention to the 3 strikes law, the incarceration and criminalization of black and brown males, the killing of Oscar Grant, the dropout rate in our communities, andthe criminalzation of immigrants in particular Mexican Immigrants. We are planning another caravan in about one month and I hope to personally come to Fresno and speak to you about it. My e-mail is rmataka@yahoo.com PA’Lante!!! Bro John X Mataka
Hi. Wanted to know if you are still active and if the meetings are open to the public or accepting new members?
Yes they are, Please contact each chapter for information.
Ok. Where are they and when is the next march.
Meetings are every friday at 6pm in the Fresno Metro Ministries conference room at 1055 N Van Ness just south of olive.
I’m not sure when the next march is but we are presenting our petition to Fire Dyer! this thursday (8/19) to City Council @ 8:30am.