Author Archives: laborsolidaritycommittee

By Emily Wheeler, Strike Debt Bay Area The problem with the world is that we draw our family circle too small. –Mother Teresa In a sane society, all people have wholesome food, clean water, livable shelter, and medical care. But in this capitalist society, which is set up to benefit the 1% at the expense of the other 99%, fewer and fewer people can get these basic needs met. Nowhere is the current insanity more evident than in the US healthcare system. The drive to maximize profits for giant insurance and … Continued

UPDATE: On Feb. 2nd, OPD and Public Works came and raided The Village, removing the occupants and destroying the Tiny Homes. It was plot of grass off of MLK, under and astride the Maze, the tangled freeway interchange in North Oakland. Until January 20th, that is. Activists, as part of the MLK 120 hours of action, took over the plot of land and declared it a homeless (and anyone else in need) refuge – The Village. They began building a couple of simple Tiny Homes, small 100-200 sq. ft. structures … Continued

It’s been almost a year in the making. The Oakland City Council approved the creation of the Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission (OPAC) a year ago on January 19th, 2016. It held its first meeting on July 14th, 2016 and immediately began work on drafting the surveillance equipment regulation ordinance that it passed on Thursday, Jan 5th, 2017. Oakland’s Privacy Advisory Board just approved surveillance tech ordinance. Goes to council now for final approval. pic.twitter.com/SNGGs0eHnj — Darwin BondGraham (@DarwinBondGraha) January 6, 2017 The ordinance (OPAC-Surveillance-Ordinance-Adopted – PDF) demands that existing surveillance equipment … Continued

ANTI POLICE-TERROR PROJECT STATEMENT ON HIRING OF ANNE KIRKPATRICK AS NEW OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF January 5, 2017 (Oakland, CA) – Libby Schaaf’s selection of Anne Kirkpatrick as Oakland’s new police chief has been touted by some as a sign that the Oakland Police Department (OPD) will be “reformed”. The Anti Police-Terror Project does not believe that policing can be reformed.  Policing in America was born out of slave catching and today remains an institution rooted in deeply racist ideology that helps maintain modern day slavery via the prison industrial … Continued

Police Terror, Repression and Response in Oakland, the Bay Area and more – a Retrospective in articles posted to Occupy Oakland, 2011 – 2016 2011 Police Brutalize, Dismantle Occupy Oakland Camp Indigenous Solidarity Thanksgiving Celebration Attacked by OPD FREE KHALI!!! : An urgent message from OO’s Anti-Repression Committee OPD Arrests 9-12 people at Oscar Grant Plaza on Dec 30th regarding defense of tree sit and info/food tables   2012 Police end the year cracking down on Occupy Oakland; we start the year saying, “oh hell no!” 1/5/12 – Cops Raid … Continued

In Case You Missed It… A retrospective on Strike Debt Bay Area and its spinoff, Save the Berkeley Post Office, 2013 – 2016, as chronicled by articles on Occupy Oakland. 2013 Strike Debt Bay Area Says: “You Are Not a Loan!” General Assembly Proposal for Sun Jan. 27: Occupy Oakland Strike Debt Committee Debtors’ Assembly Saturday! Strike Debt Bay Area Says: “You Are Not a Loan!” Debtors’ Assembly Comes Down With Interest (0% Down, 0% Interest) Strike Debt Ideas into Action Strike Debt Bay Area Strikes Back On Tax Day! … Continued

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by Mike Zint Tuesday night, 12/13/16, the Berkeley City Council meets. Tent cities, a moratorium on the raids, tiny homes development, and getting rid of some anti homeless laws are on the agenda. The DBA (downtown business association) is actively organizing against these items. Why is the DBA against human rights? Why do the property owners think they have a say in a persons ability to shelter themselves? (because they only want people in town who can afford these sky high real estate prices) The DBA is privatized taxation without … Continued

By Mike Lee  Donations accepted here. In response to an ever escalating homeless crisis Disabled People Outside and First They Came For The Homeless organized a protest with tents at the HUB (the centralized intake for those homeless in Berkeley) and subsequently, as the conditions got worse, our community grew and grew. By default we became the only foul weather shelter available in Berkeley. The HUB themselves were bringing people to us. Severely disabled and elderly people were dropped at our feet.  People called and emailed me about people that … Continued

By Mike Wilson. FROM PROTEST TO RESISTANCE. GENERAL STRIKE COMMENCES JANUARY 20th, 2017 #j20 #turnyourback #unitedweresist #disruptj20 #notmypresident occupyoakland.org @occupyoakalnd Facebook: Turn Your Back Washington DC, New York City, Oakland, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Detroit, St. Louis, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Austin, San Jose, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Cleveland, Cincinnati and more… In recent days, you may have sensed fear and hopelessness from acquaintances. “What do we do to resist the success of neo-fascism in this country?” Real resistance to this increased … Continued