Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

9 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

10 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

13 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

13 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

15 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

15 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

3 days ago
At Golden Gate Protest, Fresno Man Is Hailed as Hero
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
June 10, 2020

Share

Motivated by his harassment from police, Shaheed Muhammad is attending George Floyd protests up and down the state.

The Edison High School graduate marched in Monterey, Los Angeles, and the May 31 event in downtown Fresno.

But, his actions on the Golden Gate Bridge last Saturday may have saved a life — or at least brought a new one into the world.

As reported by Maria Dinzeo of Courthouse News, Muhammad helped clear the bridge of thousands of protesters to allow a car carrying a woman in labor through.

Fate on the Golden Gate Bridge

“(Protesters) cleared the way in and they let the car through. It was beautiful. We just made sure everything went real solid.”Protester Shaheed Muhammad of Fresno

Muhammad, 24, strives to be a self-made man. He is a budding entrepreneur and musician. And, he drives for Lyft and Door Dash.

Seeing the social media posts of 17-year old organizer Tiana Day inspired him to attended the Golden Gate protest. He and his mom, Felicia Porchia, drove together from Fresno.

When he spoke with GV Wire on Wednesday, his voice was still hoarse.

“Some random guy, a white guy, handed me a megaphone. He was like, you know, this is for your voice. I was just so energetic. I got that. And I did not let him down,” Muhammad said.

Muhammad was leading chants from the center divider when the CHP asked him to help clear the gridlock.

(The officer told me) there’s someone going into labor, and he’s like, seriously, this is no joke. And so I’m OK. So (I tell the protesters), ‘This is an emergency. We have a pregnant woman in labor. We have to clear this and get to the sidewalk and let’s keep the same energy. Let’s keep it lit. Let’s keep it going. Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s go,’ ” Muhammad said.

Muhammad kept the chant going, leading protesters to the side of the road.

“The police were marching right behind me. It’s crazy. ‘Let’s get to the sidewalk. Keep it going. No justice! No what? Say his name.’ We got all the way to the end. One of the motorcycles came through. They cleared the way in and they let the car through. It was beautiful. We just made sure everything went real solid,” Muhammad said.

CHP Thanks Muhammad

CHP officers thanked Muhammad, and he asked them to hold up a fist in solidarity or take a knee. Muhammad said they declined, but offered a handshake and said they would take a bullet for him.

“It was all out of respect. It was still love. I still keep my spirit high. But that just showed me, like wow, you know, I did all that for you. You can’t do something that simple to show that you really appreciate,” Muhammad said, taking it in stride.

A CHP spokesman said the agency appreciated Muhammad’s help.

“In this situation, we were alerted to the presence of a pregnant woman who was on the way to a hospital when she became stuck in the traffic backup resulting from the lane closures,” said CHP officer Andrew Barclay.

“Upon being notified of the situation, one of the organizers of the event utilized their platform to work with demonstrators to clear the lanes of traffic. We are grateful that the demonstrators cooperated with us and allowed traffic to begin flowing again, allowing this individual to get where they needed to go.”

Interactions with Police

Muhammad attends protests because of his own experience with law enforcement.

“I’m not going to sit by my phone. I feel so emotional about it because I’m a victim. I’ve been pulled over … over a dozen times. My record is clean and (police) accuse me. I didn’t know my rights growing up. Ever since I’ve been driving, I’ve been pulled over,” Muhammad said.

“They search through my car, have me out sitting in the rain, handcuff me in the sun, often for no reason, because they say, ‘Oh, we’re gonna have to search your car.’ ” Muhammad said. “I didn’t know that I have a choice to tell (them) not to.”

Muhammad said that mistreatment by police hasn’t dampened his spirit: “I still continue to spread love. I don’t let them stop me.”

A Proud Mother

Initially, Porchia feared for her son’s safety when the officers sought his help.

“When (the CHP) approached him and asked to help with something that (protesters) weren’t listening to them for, I’m like, ‘They’re not listening to you. What makes you think they’ll listen to him, you know?” Porchia said.

But the protesters heard Muhammad’s words, Porchia helped clear the way, and they got the protesters to the side of the road.

“He took it on, and I’m like ‘Shaheed, alright, I got your back,’ ” Porchia said. “I’m very proud of him.”

She says protesting is in her son’s genes.

“I used to have a career of being a union organizer. I think he got his passion for social justice from me,” Porchia said.

Felicia Porchia (right) walks with her son Shaheed Muhammad at a Golden Gate Bridge protest on June 6 (Maria Dinzeo/Courthouse News Service)

 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

DON'T MISS

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

UP NEXT

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

UP NEXT

Buying a Home With Solar? Beware of CA Bill Written by Former Utility Co. Exec

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Sues Los Angeles Over Immigration Enforcement

UP NEXT

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

UP NEXT

Immigration Raids Leave Crops Unharvested, California Farms at Risk

UP NEXT

CA’s Population Shrank in Trump’s First Immigration Crackdown. It Could Happen Again

UP NEXT

Controversial Climate Rule That Could Raise Gas Prices About to Take Effect

UP NEXT

Tensions Flare at Announcement of Major Fresno County Gang Takedown

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

7 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

7 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

8 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

8 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

8 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

8 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

8 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

8 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

8 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

9 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday. Pathmani Goonawarde...

6 hours ago

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
6 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

fresno
6 hours ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

7 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
8 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
8 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
8 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend