Activists Unite Against Brutality by Madilynne Medina STAFF WRITER
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Tuesday, Volume 156 March 9, 2021 No. 17 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934 WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY Activists unite against brutality By Madilynne Medina STAFF WRITER Several Bay Area advocacy groups organized a demonstration Monday to stand in solidarity against police brutality as the jury selection of Derek Chauvin, the fired Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd in May, began Monday afternoon. About 50 demonstrators stood in front of San Jose City Hall at 4 p.m. after the jury selection was paused and pushed back at least one day, according to a Monday CBS article. Kiana Simmons, a member of Human Empowerment and Radical Optimism (H.E.R.O.) Tent, said the proceedings were delayed because the U.S. government is scared of the people’s power. “They are scared of the wrath of millions of people who demand justice, as they should be,” Simmons said during the demonstration. Chauvin was recorded kneeling on the neck of Floyd, who was unarmed, for more than eight minutes and is being charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. BLUE NGUYEN | SPARTAN DAILY The other three officers involved in Floyd’s death will be tried together in San Jose residents Sabrina (right) and Maricon (left), who prefer to be identifi ed by their fi rst names, hold a banner at City Hall Monday. August, according to the same CBS article. “[Chauvin’s] trial is not just symbolic of (LEAD) Filipino; Black Liberation and “I saw myself in [Quinto],” the people of Minnesota but for the people Collective Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K. Lazo said. “The same feelings I had across the United States that suffered Outreach) and Students for Justice in with George Floyd and countless other injustices from the police,” said Bash, who [Chauvin’s] trial is not just Palestine at San Jose State. Black lives.” prefers to be identified by his first name Several members from the He said issues among minority and is a member of Anakbayan Silicon symbolic of the people of organizations spoke during the communities and issues of police brutality Valley, a local grassroots organization. Minnesota but for the people demonstration and highlighted racial are largely interconnected. Adrian Bonifacio, a community capitalism, police brutality and racism “A knee to the neck,” Lazo said advocate representative from Anakbayan across the United States as some of the biggest issues in need about Quinto’s death. “I hate that this is all Silicon Valley, said the demonstration that suff ered injustices from of reform. too familiar.” stemmed from a nationwide call by Bash spoke with frustration about Amer Vilogorac, club member of The National Alliance Against Racist the police. the continued acts of police brutality in Students for Justice in Palestine at SJSU, and Political Repression (NAARPR). the U.S. said he hopes young college advocates Bash NAARPR is a political organization Anakbayan Silicon Valley member “Imperialism is at its highest stage keep community support prolific. founded in 1973 that aims to pursue and racism is its conjoined twin,” “The best advice I can give is action against unjust treatment based on Bash said. collaborating with other clubs and making race and politics, according to its website. Several grassroots advocacy Daniel Lazo, a member of LEAD strong allies, especially when it comes to “We’re doing this in solidarity organizations attended the Filipino, discussed the death of racial prejudice,” Vilogorac said. with Minneapolis,” Bonifacio said demonstration: The Silicon Valley chapter Angelo Quinto, an Antioch man who during the demonstration. “They had of the National Association for the died in December after a police officer a huge mobilization today outside of Advancement of Colored People; Leaders pressed his knee on Quinto’s neck, Follow Madilynne on Twitter their courthouse.” for Education, Advocacy and Democracy according to a Feb. 17 KTVU article. @madilynneee Gregory Johnson Jr.’s life celebrated By Ruth Noemi Aguilar what would’ve been Johnson’s 33rd real birthday celebration and that’s Johnson’s parents called his death Passing drivers honked in support SENIOR STAFF WRITER birthday by marching from city hall something we wanted to establish a hate crime and a murder and have of the march and some rolled down to Backesto Park for a barbecue. as an annual thing,” said Lou Dimes, been advocating for a reexamination their windows to stick fists out The event was organized by social president of B.L.A.C.K. Outreach. of the case. in solidarity. Three local organizations came activist groups Black Liberation and Johnson was a 20-year-old SJSU “We will be taking space later, “I was happy to be a part of together Sunday with supporters to Collective Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) student when he was found dead but we intend to do it peacefully [the march] and to help out honor and celebrate the birthday of Outreach, Human Empowerment in the Sigma Chi fraternity house and we intend to do it in a way that Mrs. Johnson with whatever the late Gregory Johnson Jr. Radical Optimism (H.E.R.O.) Tent basement on Nov. 22, 2008. The honors Gregory Johnson Jr,” said an she needs,” said Leland Pama, a During the event, called and Justice for Gregory Johnson Jr. University Police Department independent volunteer medic who communications senior. “A Celebration of Life: Justice “We want to do something that and Santa Clara County Medical goes by the alias Flower for safety The group made their way to for Gregory Johnson,” San Jose was a lot more lively and fun for the Examiner-Coroner’s Office ruled purposes. “We wear yellow because Backesto Park where members of community members celebrated community to celebrate his life and the case a suicide. that was his favorite color and his H.E.R.O. Tent provided food, snacks favorite flower was sunflowers and groceries for participants. so we’re all here to honor him in “[This event is] just another way some way.” for the community and people that support it just to see the story in a different light and get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,” Pama said. Magazines, markers and other It’s a celebration of a art supplies were also provided by H.E.R.O. Tent to add an additional life that was taken too aspect to the event and allow soon because at the participants to express themselves. Leftovers from the barbecue were end of the day he was given to unhoused people around a happy person and he the San Jose area. “It’s a celebration of a life that was more than was taken too soon because at a victim. the end of the day he was a happy person and he was more than a Cristopher Acosta victim,” said Cristopher Acosta, political science senior political science senior. During the first portion of the day, participants marched through the streets holding signs and YAMI SUN | SPARTAN DAILY chanting for Black pride and justice Follow Ruth on Twitter Community members celebrate the birthday of the late Gregory Johnson Jr. at Backesto Park Sunday. for Johnson. @RuthNAguilar NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING LEADER! Self Nomination Form: bit.ly/as55selfnomination Nominate a Student Form: bit.ly/as55nominatestudent Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2021 sjsunews.com/spartan_daily 2 TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Marvel show mixes diff erent eras reprised their roles from the “Ant-Man” and “Thor” movies WandaVision extends respectively, while Parris plays franchise storyline an adult version of Maria through new Rambeau’s daughter from Disney+ addition. “Captain Marvel.” The trio makes what’s happening outside of the By Christopher Padilla anomaly as interesting as what’s SENIOR STAFF WRITER going on inside of it and are a joy to watch as they unravel WandaVision is a lot of its mysteries. things: a love letter to classic Their personalities work TV, the beginning of a new well together as Agent Woo chapter, catching up with old brings an awkward charm, friends and much more. Dr. Lewis a sardonic wit and The series made ripples across the Marvel Cinematic Universe Agent Rambeau a focused (MCU). Kevin Feige’s opening determination that salvo into Phase 4 of the MCU makes caring about in is, if nothing else, interesting. them easier. WandaVision follows Wanda Each episode of WandaVision Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) is exciting, not just because of and The Vision (Paul Bettany) the nostalgic attention to detail through their idyllic new life in or great character work but the fictional town of Westfield, because it does a good job of New Jersey and the hijinx they ILLUSTRATION BY BIANCA RADER setting up mysteries. get into while hiding their It does this so well that even superhero identities. Dyke Show,” “Bewitched” and to what’s really happening. no matter what time period when a mystery is solved further At least, this is what’s “The Brady Bunch” to modern Bettany and Olsen showcase or whatever shenanigans they initially presented. classics such as “Full House,” get into, Wanda and Vision are questions are raised, a pattern Underneath the veneer of “Family Ties” and “Malcolm in genuine chemistry, showing meant to be together. that persists to the final episode. classic TV, there are cracks in the Middle,” to contemporary Kathryn Hahn, who The show also fills in missing the format. Sporadically colored shows like “Modern Family” TV show plays Agnes the eternally details in previous MCU works, objects in an otherwise entirely and “The Office.” review nosy neighbor, deserves a including one stand-out scene black and white production, These episodes are loving special mention because she in episode eight that should’ve as well as characters acting homages to the source “WandaVision” provides comic relief in nearly been in “Avengers: Civil War.” strangely, hint something material with each having an every episode.