Slideshow: Chico protests police violence

A growing slideshow of images from the ongoing police-violence protests in Chico

“We have nothing to lose but our chains!” cried out Chico State sociology professor Lesa Johnson, as several hundred people chanted the words back to her at the Juneteenth Gathering for Healing and Justice held Friday (June 19) in Chico City Plaza. The event was organized by Justice for Desmond Phillips in honor of Phillips, a 25-year-old black man killed by Chico Police in 2015, and Marc Thompson, whose body was found in a burned car in rural Butte County in 2014. His murder has never been solved. Thompson, also 25, was Phillips’ cousin. An earlier event called a Juneteenth Celebration & Continued Protest Police Brutality and organized by pastor Vince Haynie and other members of the faith community was held in the plaza from 3:30 to 5 p.m., when the Justice For Desmond Phillips-organized event started. (photo by Ken Smith)

Protests have broken out all over the world in the wake of the killing of George Floyd on May 25, including in Chico, where every day since June 2, people have taken to the downtown area to call for justice for victims of police violence and an end to institutional racism.

The Chico News & Review has been, and will continue to be, on the scene to tell the story and capture images.

  • Police violence protests, Chico City Plaza, June 4, 2020. (photo by Melissa Daugherty)