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Black Leaders Say Social Media Post Calling for Riots at River Park Is Fake
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
June 1, 2020

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Fresno black leaders say a social media post claiming that “Black Lives Matter riots” will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday in River Park is fake.

Businessman Chris Milton, who spoke Sunday in downtown Fresno at a peaceful protest of George Floyd’s death, said in a Facebook media video Monday, “I am going to tell you right now, it’s fake. That has absolutely nothing to do with Black Lives Matter. ”

Milton attributed the post to the “White Nationalist Movement” upset about blacks and whites uniting to confront problems in America.

Click on the video below to hear Milton’s complete remarks on the fake social media post and efforts to repair racial relationships in Fresno:

Fresno PD Says It Is Investigating the Riots Post

Meanwhile, the Fresno Police Department said on its Facebook page that it “is aware of the post that has been circulating through social media about a potential aggressive protest tomorrow afternoon. We have dedicated several resources to tracking the validity of this threat and we are working towards a peaceful solution to any group that may want to be heard in our community. The police department will be prepared to respond to any acts of violence against persons or property in our city. Stay strong Fresno.”

NCAAP Leader Denounces the Post

D’Aungillique Jackson, president of the Fresno State NAACP chapter, took to Twitter to denounce the “BLM Fresno Riots” post and to urge people not to show up at River Park on Tuesday.

“Tearing up Fresno” goes completely against the message that organizers of Sunday protests are trying to spread, she said.

“We were able to confirm that this post originated on Reddit from an alt-right source,” Jackson told GV Wire’ Nancy Price in a Zoom interview Monday.

Here is an image of the riots post circulating on social media:

Image of a post saying there will be Black Lives Matter riots on Tuesday, June 2, in Fresno, California. Black leaders say the post is fake.
Image of a social media post claiming there will be Black Lives Matter riots on Tuesday, June 2, in Fresno, California. Black leaders say the post is fake.

Watch: Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall Speaks About Protests Afterward

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Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

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