ChicoSol

Chico observes killing of MLK 50 years ago

March, songs, passionate words mark anniversary

by Dave Waddell | Posted April 5, 2018

photo by Dave Waddell

Frances Mann led the singing

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.

Alma told the crowd she was surprised she hadn’t met Mann, an Oroville resident for four years, until recently, calling her “my new best friend.” read more

ChicoSol intern hired by investigative newsroom

Sandoval gets award for reporting on CSU, Chico deal

by Dave Waddell | Posted April 4, 2018

photo by Dave Waddell

Bob Butler and Gabriel Sandoval at awards banquet

Former ChicoSol intern Gabriel Sandoval, recently honored by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) for his investigative reporting, has been hired by ProPublica as he prepares to enter graduate school in New York City.

Sandoval, who received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in December from Chico State, will do reporting for ProPublica, which describes itself as a nonprofit news operation producing investigative journalism in the public interest. ProPublica won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for public service.

Sandoval had caught the attention of ProPublica previously, as he was a member of its Emerging Reporters Program class of 2015-16. Sandoval also has completed summer internships at the Chronicle of Higher Education in Washington, D.C., and at public radio station WNYC in New York City. read more

“American Totem” gets ‘sneak preview’

The film: “We are not one nation when it comes to guns”

by ChicoSol staff | Posted March 27, 2018

photo by Guillermo Mash

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.

The 80-minute documentary film was co-directed by Sue Hilderbrand and Dan Carter, faculty members at Chico State and community radio personalities at KZFR 90.1 FM.

Learn more about the film at americantotem.com— photo feature by Guillermo Mash. read more

Teenagers fire up thousands in City Plaza

March for Our Lives speakers demand school safety

by Dave Waddell | Posted March 25, 2018

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.

“They had nothing to lose except the one thing that was taken from them: Their Second Amendment right to protect themselves with an assault rifle. Wait, what!? No! God, no! It was their lives that were taken, stolen, ripped away … and their souls too young to leave our world that were taken.” read more

Two fathers take food to City Plaza

Phillips memorial becomes an act of sharing

by ChicoSol staff | Posted March 18, 2018

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.

Tyler Rushing was killed in July, 2017, after being shot by a security guard and police, and Desmond Phillips was killed by Chico police one year ago. — video feature by Guillermo Mash

Hundreds of #Enough students pour into City Plaza

Walkouts protest gun violence on school campuses

by Dave Waddell | Posted March 15, 2018

photo by Dave Waddell

Sharon DeMeyer participated in the march along with her daughter, Zoe Karch, a student walkout leader.

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. read more