Category Archives: Help For Victims
Justice for Ishmael
Another family needs your help, please get the word out by copying and sharing this post. It has been six agonizing months since the Escalante family lost their beloved Ishmael who has been described by many as loyal, honest, generous, special and loved.
The family has organized an event at the intersection of ‘G’ Street and Olive Avenue in Merced, CA on June 20, 2015, from 4:00pm – 8:00pm. Supporters of the #JusticeForIshmael initiative will be rallying for justice and passing out flyers, a bake sale has also been organized to help fund #JusticeForIshmael. A march to raise awareness of this unsolved murder will begin at 6:45pm and all concerned citizens are invited to attend.
The city of Merced has seen a recent spike in the number of homicides this year with most of the victims being young people in their teens and early twenties.
However, this city with a population of over 81,000 people, employs a police department with less than 30 sworn officers. It is nearly impossible for them to keep up with the needs of such a growing city. The public’s help is needed more than ever; we must be the eyes and ears of our communities, and we must work together with local law enforcement to push forward the wheels of justice.
For more information on how you can help, please contact site administrator, Michelle Thompson at ContactUs or (559) 681-1185.
#JusticeForIshmael
The S.E.A.R.C.H.
Together Against Violence will be taking part in The S.E.A.R.C.H. (Successfully Engaging Adolescents through Resources Community Hunt) on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Kerckhoff Park, in Kerman, California. The S.E.A.R.C.H. is a city-wide scavenger hunt for teens which will also feature an after party with music and raffle prizes. Anti-Violence Advocates will be on hand to answer questions, give safety tips, and provide youth mentoring services. If you are interested in assisting at our booth, please leave a message in the comments section below or click on the Contact Us button at the top of this page.
This is a free, community-oriented event brought to you by the City of Kerman Parks and Recreation Department, for more information please call 559-846-9383. If you are unable to attend but would like to help, please feel free to share this post. #CommunityOutreach
The Journey to Justice
Today marks the end of one journey and the start of another for our family. Today Manuel Ray Villarreal was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his part in the stabbing death of Marcus Lynn Snowden. Although this sentence provides some relief we are still in a period of healing and will be for quite some time. We hope we have done the memory of Marcus justice, we hope we have provided everyone with some insight of how violence effects everyone because when lives are taken in such a violent matter, everyone suffers and everyone is a victim.
We will continue on the mission we have set forth and will now offer peer support to families who are dealing with the tragedy of losing loved ones to violence. If anyone would like to join us please feel free to message our page or fill out the contact form on our website; www.togetheragainstviolence.com
We also want to thank the all the first responders for the work they do every day, the Fresno County Sherriff’s Office, the Fresno County Office of the District Attorney, Kerman Police Department, Victim Witness Services, Central Valley Crime Stoppers and our family and community for all their love and support.
We also wanted to share a poem written by Marcus’ sister, Kendra Snowden. Her poem sums up a lot with only a few words and we thank her for allowing us to share it with you.
Two Young to Fall
Two people gone
One alive one dead
But not one got ahead
One lifeless
One soulless
Both young and intellectually unfed
The fight that ended both lives so they said
War against another all in vain
Now there are only chains
Chains on the soulless divided
Chains on the lifeless never to be reunited
Diversity a beauty and a beast
The separation between you and me
Like the serpent between God, Adam and Eve
Who are we?
Both the hearts stained blue
So sad alone and looking for the truth
Do not fear for our time should soon be here
Rise and fall
We do it all
One in the same so who’s to blame?
~ Kendra Snowden
#BringRyanHome
32-year-old Ryan Rodriquez disappeared on Friday, December 6 under suspicious circumstances near the Fresno County community of Huron, CA. He was working in the area and had stopped to fill up his water tanker truck, a co-worker had the last known interaction with him at around 10:30 am. Ryan’s family and friends have indicated that to their knowledge Ryan had no reason to want to cut off contact with anyone. His broken cell phone and sunglasses were found near his tanker truck and there has been no activity on his credit cards or bank account since his disappearance.
Ryan has no known enemies and is very close to his family and friends. It is very unusual for them not to hear from him on a regular basis. Ryan could be anywhere, the rural area where he was last seen is near Interstate 5. Police and volunteer search teams have combed the area on foot, by car and helicopter to no avail. No one knows if he is in danger and Ryan’s family is pleading for his safe return. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his whereabouts. PLEASE SHARE his story and be on the lookout for anyone fitting his description. Any sightings or information should be directed to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 559-600-3111.
Boston 2013
No matter how bad things are, it’s important for us not to give up on the good that is still out there in the world. Americans will stand together, becoming stronger in the face of adversity. After the explosions today, we witnessed first responders and citizens come to the aid of the injured without hesitation. Not knowing what dangers still lurked in the midst, they leaped into action before the smoke had even cleared. This is what makes America unique and this is why there will be resolve to this tragedy. Again our thoughts and prayers are with the citizens of Boston and everyone affected by this horrible tragedy.
Calling All Anti-Violence Advocates!!!
Did you know 40% of the Prosecutors in the Fresno County DA’s Homicide Division have resigned their positions since receiving a 9% pay cut in 2011? This is important to all of us because these Prosecutors are the people responsible for putting murderers behind bars. The reason there have been pay cuts is because of the budget imposed by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Yet, according to this insightful report “…current County contracts give higher salaries to Public Defenders than to Prosecutors.” An attorney working in public service is already taking a huge pay cut compared to what they could make in the private sector. Paying for college after law school is a huge expense; the dedicated Prosecutors who choose to represent “the People” rather than defending scum do so because they want to what is right by all of us.
If you think the Fresno County Board of Supervisors should reconsider their position on this matter and or raise the salaries of Prosecutors, let them know. Express your concern to them in the name of public safety, their failure to reconsider is a danger to all of us. Criminals can and will find the loophole in the system and exploit it.
Here is a list of the Supervisors, including the areas they represent and an email address. We urge you to email the Supervisor in your District and tell them how you feel about this situation. Remember through our combined efforts we can make our communities safe for one and all!
~Together Against Violence
Fresno County
- Supervisor Phil Larson
Western Fresno County (Firebaugh, Kerman, Mendota, San Joaquin and Neighboring Communities)
- Supervisor Debbie Poochigian
Eastern Fresno County (Clovis, Sanger, Prather, Auberry and Neighboring Communities)
- Supervisor Henry Perea
Central Fresno (Tower District, Mayfair, Calwa)
- Supervisor Andreas Borgeas
Fresno and Clovis (Fig Garden, Fashion Fair, Fresno State, Riverpark and Neighboring Areas)
- Supervisor Judy Case
Southern Fresno County (Selma, Coalinga, Kingsburg, Fowler and Neighboring Communities)
Together Against Violence 