Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias released this statement Wednesday evening about the Tuesday night confrontation at his downtown condominium with conservative activist Ben Bergquam:

“Yesterday afternoon, as my two kids slept, the safety of our home was violated by a dozen out-of-town individuals led by Sanger resident Ben Bergquam, a self-identified member of the Proud Boys, which the Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as a racist hate group.

“Bergquam and his companions bypassed security to reach my private condominium residence unannounced. The short video that has been released only depicts a small fraction of a much longer incident. Indeed, the entire initial sequence of events, including the group members’ attempts to force their way into my residence, is not depicted at all.

“I asked him to leave my home, emphasizing my kids were home and that I would not allow them to be placed in danger. I took precautions to ensure the safety of my family and protect them from individuals known to be armed and dangerous.

“Since this incident, I have received numerous calls from outside the city and state, making additional threats against my family and I, requiring me to take additional precautions for our safety.

“At the same time, I have received overwhelming support from hundreds of city residents and community leaders from all political ideologies expressing support and concern for our family.

“In the coming days, I will explore all options to ensure that this does not occur again to my family nor anyone else’s family.

“I want to thank all those who have reached out and shown that our city will not allow a handful of outsiders to tear us apart.”