Local houses of worship attend safety meeting

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Federal, authorities and section agencies gathered to connection information accusation and resources to faith-based organizations astatine People's Church successful Northeast Fresno connected Friday.

"We cognize houses of worship are vulnerable, they're susceptible to onslaught done coercion and hatred crimes," said 1 impermanent speaker.

Maricella Gutierrez was 1 of dozens who attended the event. She works for Divine Mercy Catholic Church successful Clovis. She said the gathering has changed her position connected safety.

"I consciousness similar things are a small spot antithetic now. We person to beryllium a small much proactive astir our information and the information of our communities," said Gutierrez.

It's a taxable that is timely for religion leaders successful the Valley.

In October of past year, an worker astatine Temple Beth Israel successful Northwest Fresno recovered 1 of the solid doors shattered.

Then successful May of this year, constabulary made arrests for alleged vandalism, trespassing, and making threats to unit astatine the temple.

Across the country, different places of worship person faced convulsive attacks, including shootings.

Jesse Rangel from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the symposium was astir giving radical tools to grip a crisis.

"This is simply a idiosyncratic speech that you're having with you, you each time long," said Rangel.

The gathering included accusation astir everything from however to use a tourniquet to however to study a crime.

"I talk to radical often, and they archer maine they don't report, due to the fact that of fearful of reprisal, I get a agelong database of reasons why, this is what we request to change. We privation to alteration that thinking, let individuals to recognize the value of reporting due to the fact that we tin mitigate these horrible events that occur," said Rangel.

Participants were besides fixed accusation astir California's Nonprofit Security Grant. It provides backing for carnal information enhancements to faith-based organizations and non-profits - that are astatine hazard of unit oregon hatred crimes.

If you didn't get to be the event, click here for much information.

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