Rev. Dr. Floyd D. Harris, Jr.

 

 

 

Biography Rev. Dr. Floyd D. Harris, Jr.

 

Reverend Floyd D. Harris Jr. is known to many in the Southwest Fresno area as a community and political civil rights activist.

 

In 1982, as a teenager, Floyd started cutting lawns with his father. In 1989, due to a family crisis, he declined a 4-year college basketball scholarship. He went on to take up another trade, joining the Cement Mason's Union, where he received an apprenticeship certificate. In that same year, he volunteered his services in the community and became a designated school bus driver and instructor for the West Fresno School District, EOC, the Orange Center, Pacific Union and Washington Union High School.

 

In 1990, Floyd and his father founded the Harris Lawn Manicuring Service. For nine years Floyd held the position as Superintendent of Operations. His responsibilities included securing weed abatement contracts from several different agencies, such as the Cities of Fresno & Clovis, Union Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads, PG&E, and other companies throughout the state of California.

 

In 1998, Floyd started his own business, C & H Landscaping Maintenance Service, which was named after his daughter Chynell Harris. Floyd got married and added two more of his children’s names to his business, Jeremy Perry and Floyd D. Harris III, calling it CJF Harris Disposal & Vendor Services (CJF).

 

Reverend Harris was appointed Chairperson of Southwest Fresno Neighborhood Watch by his community and Council Members for the Edison Southwest Advisory Committee. His service, past and present, on boards and committees is extensive:

• Member, Fresno NAACP

• Former Board of Trustee for the West Fresno School District

• Former Board Member for the Californians for Justice

• Former Board Member of the Fresno Community Alliance

• Former Board Member of the ACLU

• Former President of the West Fresno Democratic Club

• Former Board Member Fresno County Democratic Central Committee,

• National President of the National Network in Action

• Member, Fresno County Charter Democratic Central Committee in 2007 and 2006

 

He also has received numerous awards recognizing his service to the community:

• Congressional Recognition, 2009, Congressman Jim Costa

• Superstars of Justice Award, 2009, Californians for Justice

• Risk Takers award, 2008

• Dream Makers Southwest Fresno Community Leader Award, 2008, Fresno West Coalition

• Southwest Fresno Community Leader, 2008

• African American Heritage Award, 2006, awarded by Assembly member Juan Arambula

• Way of Peace Award, 2006, Fresno Center for Nonviolence

• Freedom and Justice for Justin Acknowledgment, 2004

• Fresno City Students Service for Participation, and Recognition, 2001

• Outstanding Leadership and Devotion, 2000, Committee of a United Community

• Bill Lockyer, Attorney General Recognition for Participation, Civil Rights Commission, 2000

 

Reverend Harris could see the injustices going on in his community and knew that he needed help from someone on a national level. He contacted Reverend Al Sharpton in New York and from this conversation in December, 2002, Reverend Harris was granted a charter. In May of 2003, the National Action Network (NAN) Chapter in California was formed. Reverend Harris opened the local chapter in Fresno and a year later was appointed California State President.

 

Reverend Harris has traveled across the country educating and empowering people to take a stand for justice. He is actively working with the Central California Criminal Justice Committee to assure that the Fresno community gets an independent Police Auditor. Focusing on the Southwest Fresno area as well as being an advisor to the department, Reverend Harris was approached by his community to represent them on the Fresno Police Department Advisory Board.

 

In 2006, Reverend Harris founded a civil rights organization called National Network In Action (NNIA).  Reverend Harris appointed Field Marshalls to the NNIA across cities and states: Elder Norris Kemp, Bakersfield CA; Dyronnica Harible, Antioch, CA; Grantrina Davis, Visalia CA; Sonny Scroggins, Kansas City, KS; Reverend Tim Malone, Yolo/Sacramento, CA; Rhonda Erwin, West Sacramento, CA; Nathaniel Lipscomp, Madera City, CA; Gloria Velyines, Pixley, CA; Mother Teresa Robinson, Madera County, CA; Yvette Smith, Antioch, CA, Dr. Liz Swearengin, Boise Idaho.

 

Reverend Harris has been asked to hold rallies and to speak to truth to power: Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development; Fresno Black Men and Boys; Know Your Rights When Confronted by Police Officers, Kansas City, California State University, Fresno, Craig School of Business, Fresno, Fresno City College, African American Department; Fresno Unitarian Universalist Church Panel Discussion; California State University, Fresno, Women’s Studies Department; California Central Valley Journey for Justice; Madera National Boycott of Whirl Pool, Benton Harbor, Michigan; California Prison Moratorium Project, Fresno; Southwest Fresno Neighborhood Watch; May Day Immigration March/Rally, Fresno; Peace Fresno Rally in the Valley; Death Penalty Focus; Fresno Worlds AIDs Day; Kansas City, Kansans Know Your Rights When Confronted by Police Officers; Shreveport, Louisiana, Police Abuse Training; New York City National Convention of Civil Rights organizations; and the Portland Oregon Rape Case.

 

In 2009, Rev. Harris received his California State Contractor's license D63 - Construction Clean-up & D49 - Tree Service Contractor. Reverend Harris is one of the top African American Construction Contractors in the San Joaquin Valley.

 

Reverend Harris was very concerned about African American people who were not being employed in his community; thus, he aggressively negotiated the following contracts: Fresno Housing Authority, The City of Fresno Weed Abatement, City of Clovis Fire Department Weed Abatement Brown Construction, Madera County Fire Department, and many private jobs. CJF implemented a training program to provide skills to help teach every employee to become successful and confident in their job task. CJF hired 49 employees in the community who were unemployed.

 

While working in his business, Reverend Harris began donating food and services to senior citizens in his community. From his experience with the City of Fresno concerning weed abatement, he spearheaded a task force to revitalize the community he lives in. He began by establishing the Walnut Garden Neighborhood Watch. Some targeted projects for the Neighborhood Watch were cleaning of the alleyways behind residential homes, cleaning yards of abandoned homes and tree trimming and maintenance of gutters and drains.

 

Reverend Harris is taking his business to another level while he is processing his application for the 8A program to receive Federal Contracts.

 

On August 29, 2003, Reverend Harris was involved in a civil disobedience rally with Fresno's SEIU and 10,000 Home care Workers. Reverend Harris spoke at the rally in support of a better contract for better wages, medical insurance, and access to job training. Reverend Harris took part in blocking the doorways of the County Hall of records so that no one could go in or out. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Department arrested everyone but Reverend Harris. On June 24, 2004 after almost one year of difficult negotiations, the Board of Supervisors approved the SEIU's first contract.

 

In 2008, Reverend Harris stood in support of Fresno Homeless Community against the City of Fresno, regarding their consistent violations against the homeless community. As a result, the City of Fresno was ordered to pay $2.3 million for their violations. Reverend Harris then organized a sleepover at Fresno City Hall, which over 100 people attended, to bring more attention to Fresno homeless crisis.

 

Reverend Harris has traveled across the country exposing racism and injustice. He is dedicated to educating his people about standing boldly and knowing their rights. Reverend Harris states, "We will teach our community how to use their own resources and empower their neighborhoods through education."

 

Reverend Harris continues by saying that his Chapters will build their membership on the same concept at the local and national level, based on visibility, support, and speaking out against injustice when it occurs. In 2011-2012, Reverend Harris's National Network in Action (www. nationalinactionnetworkorg) and (www.west fresno.org) stands in solidarity with the Occupy Fresno movement to deal with issues around homelessness, the school board, financial institutions, and foreclosures.

 

On September 2, 2012 Reverend Harris just happened to be in Vallejo, California, relaxing while watching TV at his hotel, when he noticed a mother on TV, crying, saying her son was murdered by the Vallejo Police Department. Mario Ramiro was shot at 30 times while he and his brother-in-law sat in the car. Reverend Harris felt the urge to go pay his respects at the candle light vigil at 7:00 pm that evening.

 

Reverend Harris felt in his sprit that two white police officers shooting two African American males sitting in front of their house with no weapons, was wrong. Reverend Harris organized and mobilized 300 residents of Vallejo Bay-Area to march to the Vallejo Police Department.

 

This murder-lynching rose to a national level, when National Radio Host, Davy D interviewed Reverend Harris about the killing. He put Vallejo on high alert to where he built a Vallejo Cop Watch web site. Reverend Harris called in experienced organizer Andrea from Berkley Cop Watch to train the Vallejo citizens how to video and document the police. Reverend Harris was not finished; he contacted Minister Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam, Western Regional Minister Christopher Muhammad of San Francisco, and Student Minister Keith Muhammad from Oakland Ca. Together Reverend Harris and the Nation held a gathering in front of murder victim Mario Ramiro’s home.

 

Reverend Harris told the community that Vallejo was being run like a plantation. Andrea from Louisiana, whose son was making a nonviolent video, was shot in the chest while holding a foam cup in his hand. Reverend Harris held a press conference with Andrea from Louisiana to file a class action law suit against the Vallejo Police Department.

 

Reverend Harris will earn his Honorary Doctorate Degree in Theology and will be hooded with dozens of other graduate on July 27, 2013, at Ecclesia University of Divinity, International. Congresswoman Maxine Waters will be the main speaker for the graduation.

 

Reverend Harris has been featured on many talk shows across the country and has created three Blog Talk Radio Shows. He and Dr. Jean Kennedy from Atlanta, Georgia, have teamed up to create the number one radio show in the country, Real Talk with the 1 Drs., on Blogtalkradio, featured Monday through Friday, 8:00 pm to 8:45 pm; National Network in Action, every Saturday, 8:00 pm to 8:45 pm; and the New Light for New Life Church of God every Sunday, 8:00 pm to 8:45 pm.

 

Reverend Harris currently serves as the Assistant Pastor for New Life for New Light with Senior Pastor, Reverend Paul McCoy. Reverend Harris’s preaching has been described as a "liberated theology" preaching style, because he speaks always to the social injustices within the communities. It's not unusual to attend his church and to see the congregation with a bible in one hand and a local newspaper in the other, as they refer to the injustices taking place in their community.

 

Reverend Harris is a dedicated father, who role models a strong sense of empowerment to his young sons, Floyd Harris III and Jeremy, and his daughter Chynell Harris, as well as two grandchildren, Jalaina and Ja'marcus. Reverend Harris thanks his grand-mother Bertha Harris for raising him to be passionate about his community, which he still is today.

 

Reverend Harris demonstrations begin wherever injustice begins, whether it's in the form of a protest, a rally, or a meeting of minds. The National Network in Action will always Educate, Motivate, Energize, Mobilize and Organize to take our community to a higher level.