Fresno County Democratic Party Newsletter Week of April 16, 2021

On April 24, Fresno City Council Member Esmeralda Soria and Beautify Fresno will hold a special event at 10 a.m.–noon in the area around Lions Skate Park (4650 N. Marks Ave.) to beautify the area along Marks and Rialto avenues and down the median on Emerson Avenue from Marks Avenue to Hughes Avenue.

As part of this Earth Day celebration, plans will be unveiled for green space improvements along Emerson Avenue that will provide additional recreation space for the surrounding neighborhood.

Events like these could not be possible without your help; 75–100 volunteers are sought to help beautify the neighborhood and be the first to get a sneak peek at the transformation of this green space.

To volunteer, contact [email protected] or 559-621-7817 or visit

Hate at Tower Theatre Protests

Back in the before times, when we could drive across California in good conscience, we could see the clear pattern of old theaters with small numbers of screens have been turned into churches one by one.

The general layout requirements are similar, theaters have been a risky investment for some time and churches are granted a much lower tax burden. Downtown Fresno’s Wilson Theater is now Cornerstone Church.

Most recently, the Tower Theatre, the visual centerpiece of the Tower District’s bohemian culture, was set to be yet another church. But when the debate over the sale became public, many of the protesters backing the sale appeared more motivated out of spite for entire cultures than for support of that particular church moving into that particular space.

The church looking to move in, the Adventure Church, which is part of the global Foursquare Church network, has been accused of being antipathic to LGBTQ culture. Critics of the church cite practices of faith healing, speaking in tongues and opposition to expansion of LGBTQ rights. This has set the stage for the current cultural clash, which has escalated to a spectacle in Fresno’s live entertainment hub.

Fresno City Council Member Esmeralda Soria, who represents the part of Fresno that includes the Tower District, issued a statement denouncing the organizations who have been attracted by the protest.

The Proud Boys organization, a conservative nationalist terrorist group, has attached itself to the issue of the theater venue. This group, along with other hate groups, has brought unacceptable actions to otherwise peaceful protests. The Fresno Police Department has already fired one officer after his activities in the pro-church protests exposed his ties to the Proud Boys organization.

Read Esmeralda Soria’s full statement: https://fresnocountydemocrats.org/councilmember-soria-denounces-hate-at-tower-district-peaceful-protests/

Vaccine Hesitancy Endangers Lives

As of April 12, everyone in California over the age of 16 is eligible to receive the COVID vaccine. The United States has become one of the global frontrunners in distribution of the COVID vaccine, but there is a troubling threshold approaching.

A disturbingly large percentage of the U.S. population says they will not or are not sure if they will get the vaccine. You undoubtedly know at least one person who either refuses to be vaccinated or says “I want to wait.” This is not a matter of personal freedom; it is a dangerous disregard for the health and welfare of those around them.

Vaccine refusal is analogous to drunk driving. It increases the risk of death for both the one making the decision to risk it and those who just have the misfortune of being around them. Even if the worst speculations about the vaccine side effects were true, and they are not, it would still be viciously selfish for someone to refuse to take the vaccine when medically advised.

If you hear stories about complications from the shots, look into the actual numbers and the risk categories affected. Then look at the clear risk numbers associated with COVID and the proper course of action will be clear. Even just getting the first dose of a two-part vaccine drastically reduces your personal risk and helps you contribute to protecting the health of our society.

In This Newsletter:

Great American Cleanup in Fresno

Vaccine Hesitancy Endangers Lives