With sorrow, we announce the peaceful passing of William James Tranquilli on September 3, 2010, after a lingering illness. A well-known activist for many causes, Will enjoyed living in Fresno for many [...] Continue Reading
Columns
Grassroots Profile: Jason Chang
Jason Chang is the young president of the local chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League (JACL). And, he tells me, he is the newly elected vice president of planning and development for the [...] Continue Reading
Spoon
By Boston Woodard When people work at the same job for many years, live in the same locale, shop at the same stores, attend the same schools and churches, become friends and associates with those [...] Continue Reading
Carlos Alvarez: Socialist Candidate for Governor
Last month, I had the opportunity to talk with Carlos Alvarez, the Peace and Freedom Party candidate for governor. He was in Fresno the same day Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman held their debate at Fresno [...] Continue Reading
A War Veteran and Homeless
“I’m thankful to be alive,” answered Wilson, a homeless veteran with his homeless wife, “and I’m thankful to be in Fresno.” “Huh, thankful to be in Fresno?” I ask back. Before he answered, I [...] Continue Reading
Craig Scharton: Fresno’s Downtown Development Czar Talks to the Community Alliance
We printed an interview with three members of Southwest Fresno H.E.A.T. in last month’s issue of the Community Alliance newspaper. In that interview, the organizers raised concerns about high density [...] Continue Reading
The Ben Lomond Four (Muslims Targeted During Ramadan)
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) houses prisoners of every faith imaginable: Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Episcopalian, Baptist, Jewish, Mormon, Buddhism, Hinduism, [...] Continue Reading
Grassroots Profile
I remember when I first met Camille Russell. A group of us peaceniks was picketing against the bombing of Kosovo on what we now call “Peace Corner” at Shaw and Blackstone, and there was a newcomer [...] Continue Reading
Exposing Prison
There is no shortage of matters of importance that need to be brought to the attention of the public from inside California’s prison system. Its difficult to prioritize what is more important to write [...] Continue Reading
21st Cuba Caravan Packs a Few Surprises
Editor’s Note: Gerry Bill recently returned from the 2010 Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba, his fourth such caravan in as many years. These are his observations of this year’s events. By Gerry [...] Continue Reading
State of Art in Fresno
It’s hard not to like Mark Rodriguez. Maybe it’s something about the lines around his eyes when he is smiling. Which is something he does often when talking about what he loves to do and has been [...] Continue Reading
Credo: Gloria Hernandez
Ally or opponent, everyone knows that Gloria Hernandez means business. For decades now, since walking the UFW picket lines as a child with her parents, Gloria has been out front demanding justice and [...] Continue Reading