Fresno, California – A man involved in a violent altercation at a music festival in Fresno is facing charges, although not for a hate crime. Francisco Samaniego is accused of attacking three women at the Tower District’s ‘Porch Fest’ event on April 27th.
The incident, captured on camera, showed Samaniego throwing punches at the women. Witnesses stated that he confronted them about their Pro-Palestinian views. Despite this, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office opted not to pursue hate crime charges after reviewing the case.
Prosecutors cited that Samaniego’s comments were predominantly directed at Hamas, leading to insufficient evidence for hate crime charges under the law. Instead, Samaniego is charged with battery and second-degree robbery for allegedly grabbing and damaging a victim’s cell phone.
Currently out on bond, Samaniego is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow morning to address the charges brought against him. The violent nature of the incident has sparked discussions about tolerance and the importance of peaceful dialogue among individuals with differing viewpoints.