Killed soldier's picture is prohibited in Federal Building in Fresno

Fresno, CA
March 24, 2006
Fernando Suarez del Solar was prohibited by security officers at the Federal Building in Fresno today from possessing a 10" x 14" photograph on foamboard of his son, Jesus, a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq. The father had appointments inside the building at the offices of Senators Feinstein and Boxer during the Fresno leg of his 241-mile March for Peace (see http://guerreroazteca.org ). The officers claimed that no "placards" are allowed, and considered the photograph to be a placard. Suarez del Solar pointed out to the officials that no words were on the front or back of the photo, that it was nothing but a photograph of a soldier killed in the service of his country. He pointed out the irony of the photo being prohibited in the Federal Building. "What kind of country is this?" he asked. Stan Santos, of Fresno's La Raza Against the War, recorded the names and titles of all security officers involved. All of the officers claimed to carry no business cards. "We will pursue this matter to the fullest extent possible," Santos said. Suarez del Solar reluctantly left his son's picture outside the building, but in a gesture of protest, entered the Federal Building backwards, displaying to the security officers the back of his shirt which showed the same picture of his son, which they had prohibited.