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From the Berkeley Daily Planet
An interfaith coalition representing over 40 Berkeley religious congregations is organizing “Interfaith Actions in Solidarity with Homeless” people Thursday April 9 5pm to 6:15am Friday–at Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza, Center and Shattuck Street, Berkeley.
Events will start with blessing of a meal at 5pm to 5:30pm by Rev. Michael McBride, long time pastor of The Way Christian Center; followed by An Interfaith Service 5:30pm to 6:15pm involving more than 20 local clergy 5:30pm to 6:15pm; followed by a “Night Out Sleeping Vigil” 6:15pm to 8pm & 6:15am in which clergy & members of the interfaith religious community will sleep on the BART Plaza with homeless people.
The event is in response to the proposed passage of new anti-homeless laws by Berkeley City Council on March 17th, despite Berkeley voters opposing passage of Measure S no-sitting laws in 2012 and the recent violent assault on a homeless man by one of the Downtown Business Association’s private “Ambassadors.”
According to Sally Hindman, a Quaker & Executive Director of Youth Spirit Artworks, “All the great religions of the world call us to stand up for justice—so we will be lying down tonight—sleeping on the sidewalk with Berkeley’s homeless. There are two year long waiting lists housing in Alameda County, so the very last thing we would want to do now is criminalize homeless people forced to live outside in our doorways!”
Pastor Michael McBride states, “Having just celebrated Easter, as Christians we are gathering to express God’s love and deep compassion for all people—including homeless people.” This is a Black Lives Matters issue as well—since a predominance of those being criminalized, who will be ticketed and arrested with these new laws are, once again, African American.
Celebrating Passover, Rabbi Michael Lerner of Beyt Tikkun emphasizes, “The clear message of our faith is that those who do not care for the poor and oppressed are defiling God’s name.”
Zen Abbot Geri Rosen adds, “in the Zen Buddhist tradition our practice calls us to selflessness, to peaceful positive solutions, never hurtfulness or violence. We move toward practices of loving kindness. There are multiple creative proposals for approaching the challenge of homelessness in downtown Berkeley we would want the City to support.”
Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman highlights, “Forty percent of homeless youth are marginalized LGBTQI young people who have left their homes and otherwise been forced out on the street—the very last thing our traditions call us to do is make life harder for them than it already is.”
Friday, April 10th is a “National Call to Action to Save Mumia’s Life.”
SIGN THIS PETITION:
sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/
For three months U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal showed signs of diabetes. He was examined by prison doctors multiple times with blood drawn three times in February alone, yet the diabetes was not diagnosed until he was taken to an outside hospital after fainting in the prison with blood sugar near diabetic coma levels. After a couple of days, he was sent back to the care in the same prison that put him at death’s door.
Keep making the phone calls urging the below named indidual permit Mumia’s family and friends to appoint the team of medical specialist. Please call in reference to Mumia’s legal name, “Wesley Cook:”
Richard Ellers
Director, PA Department of Corrections Health Care Services
rellers@pa.gov
(717) 728-5311
John Wetzel
Secretary, PA Department of Corrections
(717) 728-4109
SCI Mahanoy
Superindendent John Kerestes
(570) 773-2158
Mumia Abu-Jamal Needs Medical Care NOW!
https://www.indiegogo.com/
Special free screening of THE PIPELINE NEXT DOOR.
David faces Goliath when a village of Georgian farmers takes on the BP oil corporation in this character-driven documentary. The filmmaker’s verite approach captures the negotiations, breakdowns, heartbreak, and anger surrounding BP’s purchase of Georgian countryside to construct a 1700-kilometer pipeline from Kazaskstan to the Black Sea. A wrenching expose of the exploitation of common people.
Filmmaker Nino Kirtadze in person.
SAVE THE LIFE OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL!
STOP HIS EXECUTION BY MEDICAL NEGLECT!
DON’T LET THE STATE MURDER ANOTHER BLACK LEADER!
SHUT IT DOWN FOR MUMIA!
Stopped from carrying out the death penalty against Mumia Abu-Jamal by a worldwide movement that spanned three decades, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has been attempting over the past three months to execute him by medical neglect.
On March 30, Abu-Jamal was rushed, unconscious, to the Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, Pa., suffering from diabetic shock, with a dangerously high blood sugar level of 779. After just two days of treatment in the hospital’s ICU, on April 1, Abu-Jamal was returned to the prison infirmary at SCI Mahanoy in Frackville, Pa., into the hands of the very same doctors whose medical neglect and mistreatment nearly killed him.
Prison officials initially denied visits by family members, supporters and Abu-Jamal’s attorneys and only backed down after receiving thousands of calls. Those able to visit Mumia on April 3 reported he was extremely weak, had lost 80 pounds, and still had elevated blood sugar levels over 300. For lunch that day the prison fed him spaghetti, one of the worst foods to give a diabetic patient.
The murder of aging political prisoners by denying them inadequate health care has happened before. Earlier this year, MOVE 9 member Phil Africa died under suspicious circumstances at SCI Dallas. The lack of standard medical treatment impacts all prisoners, particularly those over 55.
We are demanding that the state of Pennsylvania cease and desist in their attempts to murder political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal:
●Allow daily visits by Mumia’s family, friends and attorneys. Their support and protection at this time of vulnerability should not be restricted.
●Allow Mumia’s choice of specialist doctors to examine and schedule treatment for him — NOW. Neither the prison staff at SCI Mahanoy nor the Schuylkill Medical Center has a diabetes specialist. There is precedent in Pennsylvania for this. Prisoner John E. du Pont, an heir to the du Pont chemical fortune, was allowed care by private doctors during imprisonment. Mumia deserves the same.
●Release Mumia’s medical records to his attorneys.
●Release from prison all the elderly age 55 and over. Mumia will turn 61 on April 24.
●Allowa full investigation of prison health care in Pennsylvania.
●Mumia is innocent and should never have been incarcerated. We demand his immediate release.
We are calling on everyone to participate in the following actions over the next few days:
●Twitter widely using the hashtags #mumiamustlive, #saveMumia and #Blacklivesmatter.
●Call, fax and email the following state officials to raise the above demands:
~ DOC Secretary John Wetzel: 717-728-4109; crpadocsecretary@pa.gov.
~ Gov. Tom Wolf: 717-787-2500; fax 717-772-8284; governor@pa.gov.
~ Prison Superintendent John Kerestes: 570-773-2158; contact.doc@pa.gov.
SAY YOU ARE CALLING ABOUT PRISONER WESLEY COOK, #AM8335
(note that this is a save the date placeholder, and the description, time, place could change)
One of America’s most provocative public intellectuals, Dr. Cornel West has been a champion for racial justice since childhood. His writing, speaking, and teaching weave together the traditions of the Black Baptist Church, progressive politics, and jazz. The New York Times has praised his “ferocious moral vision.” Currently the Class of 1943 University Professor in the Center for African American Studies at Princeton, West burst onto the national scene in 1993 with his best-selling book, Race Matters, a searing analysis of racism in American democracy. Race Matters has become a contemporary classic, selling more than half a million copies to date.
In his long awaited life story, BROTHER WEST: Living and Loving Out Loud, A Memoir, West offers a compelling exploration of his heart behind the human mind. Themes include faith, family, philosophy, love, and service. He has published 19 other books and has edited 13 texts. West also offers commentary weekly on The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI (Public Radio International). He was an influential force in developing the storyline for the popular Matrix movie trilogy and has served as its official spokesperson, as well as playing a recurring role in the final two films. West graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and has a PhD. from Princeton.
His CDs, Sketches of My Culture and Street Knowledge highlight his belief that growing divisions in our society foster the despair and distrust that undermines our democratic process. By working to create an ongoing dialogue between the myriad of voices in our culture, Dr. West is vigilant in his efforts to restore hope to America. He is a mesmerizing speaker, dynamic philosopher, and enlightened activist. With astute intellect and ferocious moral vision, Dr. West continuously challenges modern thought with great efficacy.
Become a Member today and Save up to 20%!
THIS FRIDAY! Join us at @oaklandqilombo as we celebrate #MotherEarth and @afrikatown with our #OpenMic and #SisterCypher!
Bringing you poetry, songs, beats, raps, rhymes, and rhythm from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm!!! See you there!
Mumia’s Life in Danger!
No Execution by Medical Default!
Free Mumia Now!
Dear Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal,Thanks for your efforts to flood the Mahoney Prison Superintendent John Kerestes with calls (570-773-2158 Ext. 8102). You should continue to do so!
But now is the time to mobilize across the country to unleash the power that has prevented Pennsylvania officials from executing Mumia in the past.
The refusal of prison officials to allow expert medical doctors in the field of diabetes amounts to criminal neglect. Just last week this neglect came close, within minutes, to ending Mumia’s life.
Dimond Library to Show uplifting film on Cuba’s urban gardens.
Can small-scale organic farming, localized community-based agriculture, actually feed large numbers of people? The answer is no further than a tropical island in the azure sea off the coast of Florida.
According Dale Allen Pfeiffer, author of “Eating Fossil Fuels,” “Cuba has disproved the myth that organic agriculture cannot maintain a modern nation.” Cuba is world-renowned for its urban gardens, its health and resiliency. For environmentalists and food policy activists in the East Bay, the normalization of relations with Cuba is a welcome event.
On Saturday, April 11th, 2:00 p.m. the Dimond Library hosts the award-winning film: “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.” Come join the discussion facilitated by columnist Paul Rockwell.
A meeting to come up with a collective proposal for Direct Actions on MayDay.
open mic & cypher at The Alan Blueford Center For Justice. Sign up at 7pm, show at 7:30, ALL AGES WELCOME.
Monthly interfaith prayer meeting, held on second Sundays, dedicated to survivors and victims of violence and police terror in Oakland.
We are organizing this gathering for the community to connect, share prayers, writings and poems from all spiritual traditions, reflect and recharge and build coalitions interested in healing.
In April, it will be two years since we started holding these prayer meetings at the Baha’i Center. Come share prayers, quotes, poems, and favorite passages from your scriptures with us. We will serve a simple breakfast.
Osha Neumann will be making large black and white, brush and ink drawings on newsprint and maybe newspaper, maybe other stuff. Maybe some will have color.
Osha will pin them to the wall, still wet and dripping. You get to take whatever you like.
All this, in honor of the publication of his book, Doodling on the Titanic: the Making of Art in the World on the Brink, which will be available for sale, though there will be no obligation to buy.
Vigil and march in loving memory of Yuvette Henderson. All aspects of the action are planned to be peaceful. This event is organized by the Anti-Police Terror Project with permission from the family of Yuvette Henderson. The APTP demands an open and public investigation, while knowing that a fair investigation will never occur if that investigation is left solely in the hands of the police. We have continued to make the following demands:
– Release of the video tapes that contain the shooting or any lead-up to the shooting of Yuvette Henderson
– Leave without pay for Michelle Shepherd and Warren Williams, the officers involved in the killing of Yuvette Henderson, while they are being investigated and, ultimately, the termination of Shepard and Williams from the Emeryville Police Department.
– The immediate return or destruction of all military styled weapons and accessories in the possession of the Emeryville Police Department and specifically the AR-15 rifles, like the one used to murder Justice 4 Yuvette Henderson -AR-15’s are a military-grade, automatic weapon; the same weapon used by the United States military in wars throughout the world.
– An account on what happened to Yuvette while in contact with Home Depot security, an explanation regarding how she sustained the head injury on Home Depot property, and a reason as to why she never saw the paramedics as a result of her head injury.
* Take a quiz on military spending (you’ll be shocked!)
* Discuss the connection between militarism and climate
* Explore the increasing militarism of local policing
* Learn about the Global Day Against Military Spending (Wedn, Apr 15/Tax Day)
Panelists:
Barry Hermanson, SF Green, long time opponent of military spending, former candidate for Congress, exploring a run for SF Mayor in Nov 2015
Susan Schacher, Oakland Green, active with the Bay Area New Priorities Campaign
Barry’s website: http://www.notmypriorities.org/
Global Day Against Military Spending (April 15):
http://demilitarize.org/
Bay Area New Prorities Campaign
http://newprioritiescampaign.org/
SPONSOR: Green Sundays are a series of free programs & discussions sponsored by the Green Party of Alameda County. They are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month. The monthly business meeting of the County Council of the Green Party of Alameda County follows at 6:45 pm. Council meetings are always open to anyone who is interested.
Iyad Burnat is the coordinator for the popular committee in Bil’in, Palestine, a small farming village 7 miles west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. For ten years Iyad and the Popular Committee have organized the people to Bil’in to participate in weekly non-violent demonstrations against the confiscation of their land, destruction of their olive trees, and Israel’s illegal Separation Wall and settlements. This past summer Iyad’s 15-year-old teenage son was shot in the leg by the Israeli military, severing a nerve and requiring ongoing medical care. This spring, Iyad will tour the U.S. describing what life is like under Israeli occupation, his village’s ongoing struggle for justice and freedom, and what inspires him to continue non-violent resistance.
Get involved with the fight against solitary confinement.
Become a human rights pen pal: Contact cws@igc.org
Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
BAAQMD Do Your Job: Our Regulatory Agencies are letting us down bigtime
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s job is “To protect and improve public health, air quality, and the global climate.” So how’s that going? Not so well lately.
Come and hear from members of the Sunflower Alliance and 350.org about the latest proposal to allow
crude-by-rail, aka “bomb trains” to come through Oakland, and what you can do about it.
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue on all sides of these critically important issues!
Q&A and Announcements to follow.
Since April 10th 2012, Oakland and Stockton have become one in the fight against police brutality. Donnie Smith-Downs has gone coast to coast in support of victims of police killing. She has shown us that solidarity is an action word by her presence in the fight against police brutality and the militarization of local police departments. Her son James Rivera was shot with an AR-15, piercing his body leaving holes the size of tennis balls.
Since 4/10 /12 Stockton has had a number of police killings, and momma Dionne has become a source of strength for those families in her community. The justice for James Rivera coalition over the past few years have been able to spread the word about the racism in Stockton police department that the department of justice is giving 6 cities funding to combat racism in, and Stockton is one of them. Show your solidarity with Dionne Smith-Downs as she fights for others in her community. Let’s imitate what her and Cyndi Mitchell have shown us.
Rally and March will begin at 12:30 PM at Eden Park, Stockton.
