Bredefeld, Crazy Bernie highlight Fresno Freedom Rally outside City Hall
At least 300 people gathered in front of Fresno City Hall at midday Wednesday for a Freedom Rally calling for an end to sheltering in place because of the coronavirus in California’s fifth-largest city.
The event unfolded the day after Mayor Lee Brand announced details of a plan to lessen restrictions with a first wave of businesses allowed to reopen beginning Monday.
Many restrictions will remain; the city’s shelter in place order runs through May 31.
Onlookers – many without face masks – waved U.S. flags and held signs with slogans like “Freedom over Fear,” “Open CA now” and “Fear is a Virus.”
Speakers included Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, who has called the city’s emergency ordinances “authoritarian,” and Crazy Bernie Furniture store owner Bernie Siomiak, who has been cited three times for operating his business contrary to those emergency ordinances. One by one, they stepped up on a small stage facing the fountain in front of City Hall.
Read more: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article242543411.html