“What is the State of Your Conscience, San Bernardino County?”
Inland Empire Residents Protest the State of County Address
Peace activists from the Inland Empire, including members of CODEPINK and other organizations, staged a protest outside the "Empowering Tomorrow" State of the County event. Their mission? To bring attention to the region's complicity in the global military-industrial complex and the militarization of local communities.
Protesters gathered outside the venue where elected officials and community leaders convened, raising concerns about the county’s investments in the war economy. As attendees entered the ticketed event, they were met by a group of committed activists who wanted to send a strong message: the Inland Empire must no longer turn a blind eye to its role in perpetuating violence and militarization.
What drew particular ire was the billions of dollars that county officials have funneled into the military-industrial complex, including millions allocated for police equipment. For many constituents, this prioritization of militarization comes at the expense of other pressing local needs, such as resources to combat wildfires and other emergencies. Peace activists point out that while the region burns, literally and figuratively, the county’s leadership remains focused on arming itself rather than protecting and empowering its people.
CONNECTING THE DOTS:
The Inland Empire has seen a rise in warehouse developments, which protesters argue are linked to the broader militarization of the economy. These warehouses, they say, are part of a system that props up a global supply chain steeped in exploitation and violence. Simultaneously, activists have been calling on local, state, and federal officials to push for a ceasefire in conflicts worldwide, and to divest from companies profiting from genocide. Despite their persistent efforts, these pleads have largely fallen on deaf ears.
A direct line can be drawn from our region to the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Factories in the county manufacture weapons parts, logistics companies have military contracts, and local officials have made demands to continue arming Israel and/or remained silent about the atrocities being committed with our tax dollars. Attendees pleaded with business owners, elected officials, and all constituents in attendance to consider how we improve life for all of us here AND eliminate harm abroad.
One question echoing the loudest at the protest: What is the state of your conscience, San Bernardino County?
"We refuse to be ignored," a spokesperson for CODEPINK said. "And we will NOT be complicit."
The protest represents a grassroots effort to ensure that the future of the Inland Empire reflects the values of peace, justice, and sustainability, rather than perpetuating a system that thrives on war and oppression.
