Border-crossing journalism from the Sacramento Valley
by Dave Waddell
There were two Republicans on the El Rey Theater stage for Saturday’s Chico forum on school gun violence — and only one was made of cardboard.
At center-stage throughout the program was a life-size cutout of a microphone-holding Rep. Doug LaMalfa, so real-looking that many in the audience at first thought the Richvale Republican was in attendance. Students organizing the event say LaMalfa was invited.
Frances Mann led the singing
by Dave Waddell
There were, appropriately, many passionate words Wednesday around peace and justice at Chico’s 50th anniversary observance of the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. – the soulful singing of Frances Mann quite notably among them.
A Mann-led rendition of Joan Baez’s “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” started off a march of about 50 people, who sang their way from the Dorothy Johnson Center on 16th Street several blocks to the statue of MLK at Community Park on 20th Street. There, a ceremony sponsored by the Chico Peace & Justice Center was led by Emily Alma.
CSUC President Gayle E. Hutchinson introduces “American Totem” at Bell Memorial Union auditorium Monday.
“American Totem,” a film exploring the topic of guns in America, was a project three years in the making which premiered as a free “sneak preview” public showing at the Chico State Bell Memorial Union on March 26, with hundreds of movie-goers nearly filling the 800-seat auditorium.
Political Science honor society Alpha Sigma Phi hosted the event and facilitated an audience Q-and-A panel discussion after the film.
At City Plaza
by Dave Waddell
Chico teenagers spoke out passionately Saturday against school gun violence to a crowd of thousands at City Plaza, leaving some of their older listeners not only admiring their steely resolve but in tears at their stirring words.
“Do you know how it feels to hear the ‘all clear’ in a Code Red and say ‘Thank god I’m alive’ when across the country parents are crying ‘God, why? God, why did my baby have to die, their lives stretching out before them, withering in opportunity and promise?” asked Bailey Christiansen, a 15-year-old Chico High School sophomore.
The “One Year Without Justice for Desmond Phillips” gathering at the Chico Women’s Club on March 17 had dozens of hamburgers and hot dogs left over that were given out with fellowship and kindness at Chico’s downtown plaza by Scott Rushing and David Phillips, whose sons were both killed in shootings that involved Chico police officers.
Sharon DeMeyer participated in the march along with her daughter, Zoe Karch, a student walkout leader.
by Dave Waddell
Hundreds of students of assorted ages poured into Chico’s City Plaza this morning, joining in a loud chant that didn’t let up for several minutes: “No More Silence, End Gun Violence.”
The students came from different campuses, ranging from Chico State to junior highs and charter schools, to participate in #Enough National School Walkout. The protest was inspired by the shooting deaths of 17 staff members and students Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Empower, the youth branch of Women’s March that helped in organizing events nationwide, had counted 3,136 walkouts at the time this story was posted.
