Wickey Twohands, 77-year-old Indigenous elder, was detained in October 2024 for standing on a sidewalk, an act deemed a crime under Fresno’s newly implemented "no-sit-lie or sleep" ordinance. The ordinance bans sitting, lying, sleeping or camping on public property. Twohands, a long-time resident of Fresno, was targeted by the Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) under the sweeping ordinance. The law criminalizes everyday survival for unhoused residents, turning sidewalks, streets, and alleys into off-limits zones for anyone without shelter.
“This isn’t just a bad policy, it’s inhumane,” said Dez Martinez, an advocate for the unhoused. “Arresting an Indigenous elder simply for existing in public is an act of violence against our community, our history, and our shared humanity.”
“We are not homeless on our own land,” added Dez Martinez.
Wickey Twohands moved to Fresno with his mother in the early 1990s. As housing prices surged, he struggled to afford rising rents. For a time, he found refuge in a rundown motel until Project Homekey, a state-funded housing initiative to address homelessness, led to its purchase and his displacement. Given just $1,400 to leave, Wickey was left without options and ended up living on the streets.
Despite his unhoused status, Wickey remained connected to his neighborhood, where local businesses and residents looked out for him. He worked odd jobs, helped neighbors, and was known and loved in the community. But on an ordinary day in October, his life was upended. Standing on a street corner, Wickey was approached by law enforcement, arrested, and had all of his belongings destroyed. He was released from jail just 30 minutes later without clothing, shelter, or any form of support. That night, he slept outside in the cold.
No shelter bed was offered. No services. No plan for his safety or survival.
“I had been staying there for almost a year and I was doing jobs up and down the street. And so the people had given me permission, but it's still against the city ordinances to be residing or sleeping on any kind of public property,” said Wickey Twohands in a video interview.
Interview with Wickey Twohands. Video by We Are Not Invisible.
Wickey Twohands has become a symbol of resistance against the City of Fresno’s criminalization of the unhoused. Wickey Twohands faces up to a year in jail for violating an ordinance many are calling a cruel attempt to erase the unhoused and marginalized from public view.
“How much of our taxpayer money is being spent to punish an elder who needs housing, not handcuffs?,” said Dez Martinez. “Why does Mayor Jerry Dyer continue to prioritize criminalization over care?”
A Call to Action
Community members are rallying behind Wickey, demanding his charges be dropped and calling for an end to the "no-sit-lie or sleep" ordinance. A protest and court support action is planned for April 10th, 2025, outside the Fresno Superior Courthouse, between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m., with supporters heading inside to attend the hearing before Judge Katherine Fogarty.
Organizers are urging the public to show up and stand in solidarity. They are also calling on residents to ask the hard questions:
- Why was no shelter bed offered to Wickey?
- Why has Fresno failed to implement rent control or expand outreach services?
- Why are elders of color being punished instead of protected?
“This isn’t just about Wickey,”said Dez Martinez. “It’s about all of us. About what kind of city we want to be and who we’re willing to let fall through the cracks.”
As the hearing approaches, pressure is mounting on city leaders to respond to growing public backlash. For many, Wickey’s case represents more than just one arrest, it is a mirror held up to a city’s conscience.
Want to get involved. You can check out the Facebook Event here and follow We Are Not Invisible.