Fresno GOP Goes To Great Lengths To Avoid Protesters
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
May 8, 2018
SB 54 protester in Fresno, 5/07/2018 (photo: Jahz Tello)

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A group of elected lawmakers met secretly about how to deal with SB 54, the “California Values Act,” or as some call it, the Sanctuary State law.
Organized by Fred Vanderhoof, chairman of the Fresno County Republican Party, the group was supposed to meet at an office in north Fresno. When word circulated about the meeting in the Los Angeles Times, protesters organized to be there, too.

Avoiding protesters motivated Fresno County Republican Party Chairman Fred Vanderhoof to change the meeting location. He did not disclose the new location when discussing the meeting with GV Wire after the event.
The law, which took effect this year, limits the interaction between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials. The Trump Administration sued over its validity.
Avoiding protesters motivated Vanderhoof to change the meeting location Monday afternoon. He did not disclose the new location when discussing the meeting with GV Wire after the event.
All he would say is that the meeting went well with guests Shawn Steel, Republican National Committeeman for California, and Susan Tully, National Field Director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Protecting Elected Leaders

Vanderhoof would not say who else attended the meeting, opting to shield the identity of the elected leaders. He said he understands how the secrecy may appear, but that this is a different era.
“I want to protect the elected leaders from the hate that is out there,” Vanderhoof said of the private meeting.
Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig said he dropped by for a half-hour near the start of the scheduled 5:30 p.m. meeting. Sheriff Margaret Mims also said she attended.
“The real story is that Republicans have to hide,” said one party member who did not want to be identified.

Southern California Communities Resisting SB 54

In March, Los Alamitos started a wave, mainly in the conservative areas of Southern California, to resist SB 54. That city in Orange County voted to exempt itself from the law. Other governments such as the Board of Supervisors of Orange and San Diego counties voted to join the federal lawsuit against California.
Last week, Porterville (Tulare County) voted against joining the lawsuit.
The goal Monday, according to Vanderhoof, was discussing strategies of what could be done in Fresno County.

Ten Protesters at Original Location

Ten people gathered at the meeting’s original location in an office park near the corner of Ingram and Cromwell avenues. Organized by Jennifer Rojas of “Keep ICE Out of Fresno,” they set up across the street from the office, with an amplifier.
The group spent an hour holding signs and chanting slogans. Rojas said the goal was to hold elected officials accountable: “We are the people voting them into their positions and letting them know they are speaking for us. In this case, their efforts to speak for us do not reflect us at all.”
 

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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

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