ALSO: Weekly Calendar of Progressive Events
By Doug Porter
There were two more attacks on homeless people in San Diego. An early morning attack on a 55-year-old man in Golden Hill fit a pattern of evidence suggesting it was linked to four other recent assaults on homeless people, three of which have proved to be fatal.
Several hours later police arrested a person resembling the description of the killer on Laurel Street. On Thursday, police distributed an updated sketch of the purported serial killer.
Earlier in the morning at Second and Cedar Streets, police reported another incident matching the style of other attacks, wherein homeless people have been struck in the head by a person or persons riding a bicycle. There have been more than a dozen such attacks around downtown and the East Village in recent weeks. Today’s arrest does not appear to be connected to these incidents.
On Monday, police released suspect Anthony Padgett from custody after finding “exculpatory” evidence that left them unable to proceed with a case.
From the Union-Tribune, on the latest arrest:
“If it is our guy, we’re going to feel very relieved,” said police Capt. David Nisleit, who had headed a massive investigation since the first victim was slain, then set on fire on July 3. “We’ve been working around the clock.”
He said a large number of officers around the city have been on the lookout for the serial killer, and officers scouring neighborhoods around the latest attack found a suspect on Laurel Street near Union Street. Nisleit said he was told the man resembles the suspect whose image was caught on a Bay Park convenience store surveillance video after the first attack.
Two Harbor Police officers who were headed toward their station were passing through Golden Hill and heard a man screaming, Nisleit said. The two found a homeless man under the freeway overpass, bleeding from a severe chest wound. San Diego police were notified.
They quickly assessed that the attack fit the same pattern as the serial killings, in which men sleeping alone suffered major upper body chest wounds. Police have not disclosed what type of weapon has been used, and Nisleit did not say whether a weapon was found near the latest victim.
Screenshot from 10News
The latest attack on a homeless person occurred just outside downtown where ppl are going to escape the sweeps. pic.twitter.com/nFAXjufWFu
— Michael McConnell (@HomelessnessSD) July 15, 2016
The most recent round of attacks follows yet another sweep of homeless encampments by the City of San Diego on Thursday night.
Charles and Kerri have been on the streets a week. He is a vet waiting for surgery at the VA and she is blind. Tonight they were victims of a heartless city. The police had no place to offer for the two of them to go together.
Photos via Homelessness News San Diego
Charles was only getting a warning since it is the first time they have found him with his tent on the sidewalk. Soon it will be a ticket and then jail if it is not taken care of.
***
Weekly Progressive Calendar: Upcoming in San Diego
Get your event listed: I try to list the next 10 days or so of mostly non-commercial events I think our readers might find of interest. I source my material from social media listings and press releases. In cases where there are competing but similar events or campaigns of the progressive persuasion, I do my best to list everything.
Unfortunately, my subscription to the psychic hotline has lapsed so if you don’t tell me or Facebook, etc., about your event it won’t get listed. See my email address at the end of this column.
BASTA! Barrios Against STAdiums – Silent Protest Against Chargers’ Stadium
Friday, July 15, 11:30am-1pm
Corner of Newton/Beardsley in Barrio Logan
Info & Updates
The Chargers are bringing their pro-stadium propaganda campaign to Barrio Logan for the Family Health Center’s Spirit of the Barrio luncheon. B.A.STA!: Barrios Against STAdiums will hold a silent protest across the street from the luncheon on Newton and Beardsley. Because Family Health is a respected community partner we want the focus to be on the Chargers proposed stadium blocks away in the East Village and not on Family Health. Out of respect for Family Health we will quietly hold anti-stadium signs and banners across both streets. A press conference will also take place.
Justice for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile – Rally and Vigil
Friday, July 15, 6pm
City Heights/Weingart Library & Performance Annex
3795 Fairmount Ave
Info & Updates
Stand with us in support of black and brown communities targeted by police and against this ongoing murder of the people! We will be memorializing everyone murdered between now and the rally here. We must remember their names! No more bodies bleeding on the street!
***
Gay Pride Weekend, San Diego 2016
“Top 25” Listing of Events
Friday, July 15
Info & Updates – The Pride of Hillcrest Block Party (Admission)
Info & Updates – Spirit of Stonewall Rally
Info & Updates – San Diego Trans Pride
Info & Updates – QTPOC Art Show
Saturday, July 16 and Sunday July 17
Various Locations
Info & Updates – Music Festival (Admission Charge)
Info & Updates – Parade
Info & Updates – Pride 5K
Pride Festival: Free Rainbow Zone
Saturday, July 16, 11am
West End of Balboa Park
Info & Updates
Want to join the celebration, connect with community resources, and not have to purchase a ticket? This brand new addition to Pride has food, music, and info all for FREE!!!
Find: LGBT local artists with Art of Pride, our LGBT history by Lambda Archives San Diego, Senior Cool Zone, Youth Zone by Trevor Project, Pride Family Picnic by Family Services at the Center, LGBT Black Coalition, South Bay Pride, ShePower – Queer women’s health area by the Lesbian Wellness Project, ongoing sobriety support by Live & Let Live Alano Club, 211 San Diego & County resources, HIV testing, music all day and more!
San Diego Pride Full Entertainment Lineup:https://sdpride.org/entertainment/
San Diego Trans Pride
Friday, July 15, 1:30pm
Balboa Park, 6th & Quince
Info & Updates
Join us at our third annual event, which is free and open to all.
Food & BBQ 1:30-5:30pm
Open Mic 5:30-6:30pm
Spirit of Stonewall Rally
Friday, July 15, 1:30pm
Marston Point (Balboa Dr & 8th)
Info & Updates
Pride celebrations everywhere trace their heritage to the evening of June 28, 1969 when patrons of the Stonewall Inn in New York City said “No more!” to police harassment. That protest has grown to annual events held in major cities throughout the world.
In San Diego, our first rally was held in 1975. San Diego Pride’s Spirit of Stonewall Rally is a time to recognize and honor leaders who are working hard to preserve our gains and meet the many challenges still facing our community.
Come join us as cheering crowds and energetic speakers kick off San Diego Pride Weekend!
Queers Dismantling Borders: QTPOC Art Show
Friday, July 15, 7pm
Central Cultural de La Raza
2004 Park Blvd
Info & Updates
Our grief will not be militarized! There is magic and power in our voices and art!
Please join us for an evening of badass & radical QTPOC Art (Queer & Trans* People of Color), ranging from spoken word, to all visual art mediums and photography.
The Exhibition runs from 7/15-/730. The opening night is 7/15 at 7 PM
Live performances at the opening night include spoken word and a queer autonomous group of Hip-Hop and Ballet Folklorico dancers.
***
Protest Horse Racing at Del Mar Race Track
July 16
Del Mar Race Track
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd
Info & Updates
THIS IS TWO DAYS OF PROTESTING, BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. They are both from 11:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. (other protests dates and time will be posted soon)
Another summer of horse cruelty here in San Diego. This is the first of many protests over the summer. How many horses will die this summer? Please make homemade signs. We will meet at the entrance inside the parking lot.
WOSD- Free Film Night
The Changes Everything
Wednesday, July 20, 6:30pm
The Women’s Museum of California
2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16
Info & Updates
Directed by Avi Lewis, and inspired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller This Changes Everything, the film presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond.
Interwoven with these stories of struggle is Klein’s narration, connecting the carbon in the air with the economic system that put it there. Throughout the film, Klein builds to her most controversial and exciting idea: that we can seize the existential crisis of climate change to transform our failed economic system into something radically better.
Women Occupy San Diego offer a FREE FILM Screening every FOURTH WEDNESDAY each month.
OB Historical Society – The OB Pier Turns 50!
Thursday, July 21, 7pm
July 21st Thursday 7pm
Point Loma United Methodist Church
1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd
Info & Updates
Celebrate and Learn the Pier’s History! Our featured guest Ralph Teyssier is the son of Leonard Teyssier, owner of one of the largest construction companies in San Diego in the mid- 1960s. Leonard’s firm, Teyssier & Teyssier, Inc., built the Ocean Beach Fishing Pier.
Ralph is delighted to share with all of you the fascinating aspects of the engineering and construction that went into the building of the Ocean Beach Fishing Pier. Intrigued with structural engineering and construction from an early age, Ralph had the on-site opportunity to watch first hand, the building of the Ocean Beach Fishing Pier.
Walking Tours of Balboa Park–The Good and The Bad
July 30 & 31, August 6 & 7
Bea Evanson Fountain (between the Fleet Science Center and Natural History Museum.)
Hosted by the Balboa Park Heritage Association
Info & Updates (Fee Charged)
Unique tours of the best and worst of Balboa Park, lead by Balboa Park Heritage Association co-founder David Lundin, Brandon Carpenter and Randy Welts. Explore the beauty, history, deplorable current state of major elements of the Park and possible alternative futures for the Park.
Tours will focus on the history of the Park, from its founding in 1868 as “City Park”, the major additions resulting from the 1915 Panama-California and the 1916 Panama-California-International Expositions, the 1935 Fair and more recent trials, tribulations, failures and successes. Each tour will have a different primary focus. Some Park Trivia questions, fun prizes and some random Park SWAG as well. Guests of all ages are welcome and encouraged. NO charge for those under 10.
These are walking tours, so wear comfortable shoes, hats, sunscreen and bring drinking water. The Park will thrive only via healthy dialogue, so questions will be encouraged. The fee is a contribution to the works of Balboa Park Heritage Association [www.BalboaParkHeritage.org] and will assist in funding the three-day November 11,12 & 13 program, “Balboa Park, the Next 100 Years” , ongoing advocacy for the Park’s many needs and special projects to restore and enhance the Park.
The Tours are:
Saturday, July 30, 9:30 AM -11:00 AM [Followed by an optional no-host lunch or refreshment at Panama 66];
Sunday, July 31, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM [followed by the optional and free 2 PM concert in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion];
Saturday, August 6, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM [Followed by an optional no-host lunch or refreshment at The PRADO];and
Sunday, August 7, 11:30 AM -1:00 PM [followed by the optional and free 2 PM concert in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion].
PLEASE JOIN US. Each tour will be different, so if you are are a glutton for punishment, think of taking two different tours. Create groups of friends and associates. Make it a fun & informative day in the Park !
I’m Taking a Break & Going on Staycation.
The calendar will return August 5th. The column will be on hiatus July 21- August 1. (I’m moving to a new apt…)
On This Day: 1959 – A half-million steelworkers began what was to become a 116-day strike that shuttered nearly every steel mill in the country. 1971 – President Nixon announced he would visit the People’s Republic of China to seek a “normalization of relations.” 2006 – Twitter was launched.
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Doug Porter
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Deja vu: @10News report on #SDPD citing/harassing #homeless people in #SanDiego before #ComicCon in 2014. https://youtu.be/kxDfGHEjt2M
Thank You, and Happy Moving!