Ontario, CA — On Sept. 18, San Bernardino County hosted the 2024 “State of the County” at the Greater Ontario Convention Center drawing over 1,300 business, government and community leaders. The annual event, themed “Empowering Tomorrow,” highlighted the county’s progress and discussed its ongoing efforts to promote economic growth, infrastructure development, and business investment.
This year’s theme focused on recognizing organizations advancing the county’s “countywide vision” initiative and featured presentations from local, national, and international business leaders who have chosen to invest in the region.
Topics covered included education, the environment, housing, public safety, water management, and economic growth, among other key sectors.
While the event showcased the county’s achievements and future goals, a contrasting scene unfolded just outside the venue.
Protesters, led by the local chapter of CODEPINK and Ontario United for Liberation, gathered to voice their dissatisfaction.
The demonstrators expressed grievances against county officials, claiming that lawmakers routinely ignore concerns from the community.
Jennifer Grigorov, the CODEPINK Inland Empire chapter point, along with Priscilla Garcia, a member of Ontario United for Liberation as well as CODEPINK, spoke to Inland Valley News (IVN) about their reasons for protesting.
Grigorov stated, “It’s almost been a year of genocide. We’re tired of being ignored.”
She emphasized the group’s frustration over what they perceive as the county’s lack of responsiveness to residents’ concerns.
Garcia echoed these sentiments, explaining how the State of the County event, while featuring high-profile attendees, did little to address the needs of everyday citizens.
“When we were here, very few people took our flier or engaged with us. These are county employees,” Garcia said. “These are people who are in charge of our lives, largely. They should be accountable to us, and so we’re here, even if they don’t talk to us, they’re at least aware that we’re here and that we’re not going to stop until they listen and hopefully, shift their positions.”
The protesters also claimed that several state, county and city representatives have either ignored their outreach or refused to meet with them to discuss their concerns. As part of their demonstration, they called on the county to divest from businesses that they argue have controversial ties to what they consider a genocide.
They claimed Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-35) was one of these representatives. IVN reached out to Rep. Torres’s office for a comment and has yet to receive a response.
CODEPINK and Ontario United for Liberation’s demands included the county’s divestment from Caterpillar Inc. and CBRE, a global real estate firm. Caterpillar, a major machinery manufacturer, has long been the subject of criticism from Palestinian rights groups for selling bulldozers to Israel through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program. These bulldozers have been used in sometimes illegal demolitions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
In June, supporters of the Chino Valley 4 Palestinian Liberation organization urged the Chino Hills City Council to divest from a $2.5 million Caterpillar bond, arguing that public funds should not be tied to companies involved in international conflicts. Similar calls were echoed at the protest outside the State of the County event.
CBRE, which was a Bronze Sponsor for the 2024 State of the County event, also came under scrutiny from protesters. The company has been publicly supportive of Israel in the ongoing conflict, a position that demonstrators said is inconsistent with community values.
The protest occurred against the backdrop of a wider geopolitical conflict, with Israel’s seemingly non-discriminate military campaign in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, drawing international attention. Since the conflict reignited on Oct. 7, 2023, 41,534 Palestinian civilians have been reported killed, including a significant number of women and children, according to CNN and various international monitoring groups.
In contrast, Israel has reported more than 1,200 civilian deaths within the borders of the nation from Hamas attacks. For Israel, this is one of the deadliest escalations in the region in recent years.
As of the latest reports, at least 97 of the original 257 hostages, including women, children and elderly individuals, remain in captivity in Gaza, while Hamas has confirmed holding several Israeli soldiers.
In Israel, nearly 300 Palestinians are believed to be held in military detention, further complicating the conflict’s resolution.
Protesters outside the State of the County event also cited a lack of transparency from county officials as a major point of contention.
“The State of the County never tells the real story. It’s a $50 buy-in. Why is that a thing? We should not have to pay $50 per ticket. We’re already paying their salaries,” Grigorov argued. “This should be an open address in a park somewhere, free to everyone to hear. The people that are in there are not the people they are targeting. It’s an echo chamber to themselves.”
Inside the venue, county officials and business leaders focused on job creation and economic development, with a special emphasis on logistics and warehousing. San Bernardino County, part of the Inland Empire, has experienced a surge in warehouse construction due to its strategic location as a logistics hub serving Southern California.
Garcia, who grew up in the region, acknowledged the economic growth but warned of its impact on local communities.
“A big theme is empowering tomorrow, and it’s focusing on job creation and economic growth in the region, and there definitely has been economic growth. I grew up here. I live here,” Garcia said.
However, Garcia noted, the emphasis on logistics has come with drawbacks.
“What I’ve noticed, and all of us have, apart from airport expansion, is the increasing growth of warehouses. They’re just focusing on job growth,” Garcia said. “They say things like ‘bring your business here, buy more land to build more warehouses.’ We have the worst air in the region and the biggest contributors to ozone contamination. What are the costs of that to our well-being?”
As the event concluded, it was clear that the divide between county officials and community advocates remains. While the State of the County event highlighted positive economic indicators and future goals, the voices outside the convention center demanded acknowledgement and change.
Protesters vowed to continue their campaign for greater transparency and a more inclusive approach to county decision-making.
“We’re not going to stop until they listen,” Garcia said, reflecting a sentiment that seems likely to persist as the region grapples with its role in both local and international issues.
