Turlock peaceful protests for Black Lives Matter continue, latest focuses on next steps
As protests against police brutality and for racial equality continue across the country, Turlock has become a somewhat unlikely hub for Central Valley Black Lives Matter activity of late.
The city has hosted a handful of peaceful marches, rallies and celebrations since the start of the nationwide movement spurred on by the death of George Floyd under the knee of Minneapolis police officer in late May. Saturday night, a group of some 20 people attended another entirely peaceful protest march and rally along the busy shopping corridor of Countryside Drive.
The passionate group walked from the shopping center at Countryside and Fulkerth Road, chanting and holding signs as it made its way to nearby Swanson Centennial Park. One of the organizers, Sharon Washington-Barnes, said she was focused on getting people to think beyond just protests for police reform and to understand the larger picture when it comes to systematic inequality.
“It isn’t just policing. It’s everything, it’s the system. It’s education. It’s health care. It’s our justice system. It’s our government,” Washington-Barnes said. “It goes beyond what we do in the streets.”
The Saturday evening protest was the fifth event focused on racism and the Black Lives Matter movement in Turlock in the past two weeks. Other events included a vigil attended by about 500 people, a large protest march at Stanislaus State and a Juneteenth event this past Friday. A Turlock Black Lives Matter group also was founded earlier this month.
In the city once most famous for having the most churches per capita in the United States, all of the protest events have been peaceful and officers from the Turlock Police Department have closed roads for marchers. Turlock has also famously hosted former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the Rev. Franklin Graham and gave Bill Cosby two standing ovations during a sold-out show while he was battling multiple allegations of sexual assault (he has since been convicted and is serving time in prison).
Turlock Police Chief Nino Amirfar was on hand for the Saturday evening event, and motorcycle officers blocked off part of Countryside Drive to allow the protesters to walk the about a half-mile to the park.
“(The protests in Turlock) have gone very well; they’ve been outstanding,” Amirfar said after watching the speeches given at rally. “People have a right to assemble peacefully, and we are here to facilitate that. We want to communicate as much as possible with them, that’s the bottom line.”
The Saturday event, billed as a solidarity and family-friendly march, had a few speakers give testimonials about racial inequality they’d experienced. Washington-Barnes told the crowd how her brother had passed away from sepsis after getting delayed care in an area hospital. Participants also were encouraged to fill out their Census forms and vote this November.
“This ain’t just one fight. It’s an overarching system of oppression that’s literally killing us,” she said. “Please take it past this day.”
