On Tuesday, September 2nd, as the heat of the day began to wane, Central Valley activists gathered at the Southwest corner of Caldwell & Akers in Visalia to protest an event hosted at a local mega church.
The event entitled “Advancing the Mission” is held every September by a local anti-abortion group to support their “work and mission” to indoctrinate young people from preschool through high school to “reveal the value of human life from conception to natural death.”
According to their website they do this by “restoring the true science of life, imparting those facts professionally and compassionately,” while denying evidence-based information around medicated abortion being a safe procedure, part of comprehensive healthcare.
Additionally, they advocate for abortion pill reversal, a practice not based in science and that can be damaging to a person’s health according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
This year’s event featured far-right Christian nationalist and Turning Point USA co-founder, Charlie Kirk.
BREAKING: On Wednesday, September 10th, during the development of this article, Charlie Kirk was shot at 12:20 PM MDT. He was confirmed dead shortly after. Kirk was at Utah Valley University as part of “The American Comeback Tour”.
“Every -ist in the Book”
We spoke to Yocelyn (him/her/them), one of the organizers of the protest. When asked why they were gathering, he responded that it was to protest Kirk’s presence.
“There's a few key controversial points about Charlie Kirk. So as we know, Charlie Kirk is a racist, a sexist, a misogynist. Every single '-ist' in the book as far as he can fall under them."
Protestors carry signs protesting Kirk. Photos by Mars Santos.
They added that Visalia is "very conservative" and having someone like Kirk visiting and promoting his values makes people who align with him "feel real bold."
“We've gotten some nasty like comments. We've seen nasty things as people drove by…"
When asked about this protest compared to others in the area, they responded that the reactions they were receiving from many passersby and attendees were not typical, and that protests have generally been a positive community experience where people have shown up to exercise their first amendment right.
"I feel like these protests are (usually) really nice in our area, in our Tulare County...I feel like this is a beautiful way for people to get involved. I love seeing people coming out here and standing up for what they believe in.”
Several people walked amongst the crowd attempting to antagonize protestors, most of which were unsuccessful. Multiple volunteers helped keep the peace.
Another point of protest activists shared was that the event was targeting youth as young as 12 years old.
“He's within that church building being called a good role model by Tulare-King's Resources for Life. And this event is targeted towards youth ages 12 and up."
During our interview an unaccompanied child wearing a shirt that read "There R only 2 genders" and "Pro life" walked by.
"And as we see it now, we've seen a young kid running back and forth, back and forth wearing a shirt that promotes a hateful message...” Yocelyn said.
A child was seen pacing back and forth wearing a shirt that read "There R only 2 genders" and "Pro life" through the crowd of protesters. Photos by Mars Santos.
A similar situation occurred on April 29th when Turning Point USA (TPUSA) visited Fresno State when an unaccompanied person began speaking to protestors. A TPUSA representative jumped in front of them and exclaimed, "She's a minor!"
Chloe Campos of Turning Point USA visited Fresno State on April 29,2025. A young person standing alone began talking to protestors when a representative from TPUSA jumped in front of them and exclaimed "She's a minor!"(top left). Counter protestors hold sign in solidarity (top right). Queer people and allies debated Campos (bottom). Photos by Mars Santos.
Central Valley Solidarity
Over a hundred people attended the protest, many driving from Fresno and some traveling from as far as Modesto, more than a two-hour drive away.
When asked what motivated them to drive out, one attendee who would like to stay anonymous shared that they showed up so that Kirk and others who "consistently demonize marginalized communities” knew that “Visalia and the central valley will not be a platform for (their) rhetoric.”
“The Central valley is a diverse region with many cultures and ethnic backgrounds and that's what makes it strong and beautiful,” they said.
Another activist who drove an hour shared a similar sentiment saying, “This is not something we're going to normalize in the Central Valley, whether it be Fresno or Visalia or any other community.”
She added that, as a woman, she felt especially motivated considering Kirk’s conservative political stances regarding gender.
“Everything that he stands for promotes pretty much sexism, misogyny, strict gender roles and right wing ideologies when it comes to politics…that was something that I don't align with, and I had to take action with my comrades.”
A final reason she shared for making the trip was “to help build solidarity across the Central Valley”.
Visalia PD Presence
One protestor called out the high police presence. There were about 2 dozen Visalia PD officers stationed near the corner of the parking lot nearest the Southwest corner. Additionally, there were at least 3 drones flying overhead.
“I would say there was a ridiculous amount of police presence there and resources being used to monitor and intimidate protesters,” she said.
Over a dozen police and multiple drones surrounded the protesters. Photos by Mars Santos.
While the protest remained mostly peaceful, as the sun was setting an altercation resulted in police intervention.
Witnesses report a young white man “aggravating” the crowd before charging at an elder woman for allegedly throwing trash at him.
In a video that went viral online, Visalia activist and founder of Womxnwise calls out the implicit bias and systemic oppression demonstrated by the officers when they stepped in.
“When he came up here and attacked that group and you guys put your bodies around- *officer tries to interrupt* I'm not done-and y'all put your bodies around us instead of them. That's that systemic oppression we're talking about… Your job was to deescalate that. Instead you came after my people,” she explained to the officer.
Video from Instagram @Our.Moral.Imperative
According to another protestor who would also like to remain anonymous, defending agitators is on brand for Visalia PD. She shared an example from 2020 when Black Lives Matter protestors were intentionally run over,
“The vehicle that ran over those protestors faced no charges. And I think it just goes to show what side Visalia law enforcement lies on and who they're actually going to protect and what they're okay with and who can get away with what,” she said.
Video by Mars Santos.
Solidarity Over Supremacy
In addition to signs calling for Kirk to leave Visalia, many folks in the crowd were seen wearing pride flags, Palestinian flags, shirts that read "Fuck I.C.E", and signs advocating for various issues and the ongoing and escalating threat to democracy.
Protestors stood, chanted, and marched in solidarity. Photos by Mars Santos.
“All these issues are intertwined and I love seeing everyone standing up for what they believe in on top of standing up for women's rights. It's beautiful. It's raw, it's gnarly, and it's something that I'm so proud of and I hope that we can continue to empower people to stand up, even if they're the only ones or if they're in a small group.”
Activists believe now, more than ever, it is important to recognize the interconnectedness of struggles and come together.
“There is white supremacists organizing in the Central Valley...if you think we've made enough progress and you think that this doesn't exist anymore, it does,...there is propaganda being spread in the Central Valley, so it's very important to counter protest, and it's very important to let these groups know that their behavior and their actions and their efforts will not be tolerated and they will be stopped."
MOBILIZE
If you are in Tulare County and are interested in getting more involved with activism, you can reach out to Jocelyn at his Instagram @fknyocelyn to learn more about what they are doing.
"It is a lot of work being an activist...I'm hoping that for every person that's in that room with Charlie Kirk, we have 10 more people on our side showing up," they said.
Yocelyn and other activists we spoke to recommended these organizations and accounts to follow on Instagram and to reach out to if you’d like to get more involved with in the Central Valley
Visalia: COS.socialjusticeclub, Womxnwise, @Your_candidate_april_lancaster
Bakersfield: United Liberation Front for Palestine (ULFP)
Fresno: Fresno Brown Berets, Rural Resistance Network, San Joaquin Valley Resistance, Palirev.web, SPLFresno, Yourfnsm, Raza_against_war, Centralvalley4palestine,
Merced/Turlock: Central Valley Brown Berets
Northern Central Valley: Central Valley Black Indigenous People of Color Coalition (CVBIPOCC)
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) chapters located at Fresno City College and CSUs Fresno, Bakersfield and Merced
Other accounts to follow:
@Poweractionnow
@559socialjustice
@Yokutsland
@CVcommunityaction
@centralvalleypsl
Independent media to follow:
@aljazeeraenglish
@trtworld
@africandiasporanews
@wizard_bisan1
@middleeasteye
@ajplus
@telegraph
@thesungazette
@democracynow
@hasandpiker
@jewishvoicesforpeace
@ndncollective
@erininthemorning
@kenklipp
And our very own @usparkvalley