Calendar
July 24, 2008 marks the last minimum wage increase in California.
While the cost of our basic needs–rent, groceries, healthcare, daycare, and gas–continue to increase, the minimum wage has remained at $8/hr for 5 years!
The City of Berkeley is considering a city-wide minimum wage increase, but opponents say that Berkeley workers don’t need a wage increase, and that those who work in the restaurant industry should be excluded if any increase does take effect.
No one who works hard should be living in poverty. We’re fighting to raise the floor for our lowest paid workers and to keep good paying, middle class jobs that allow us to support our families.
JOIN US! RALLY AND MARCH FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE!
5PM: Rally and March at Downtown Berkeley BART station
7PM: Berkeley Labor Commission meeting
North Berkeley Senior center – 1901 Hearst
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Initiating organizations: EBASE & FAME; Restaurant Opportunities Center; SEIU 1021; SEIU ULTCW; Unite Here 2850; ATU 1555; Our Walmart; Raise the Wage East Bay (RWEB); ACCE
A Proposal To Block Everything
The Zimmerman verdict reminds us that in the United States Black life is given no value by the forces of law, order, and property. While #hoodiesup shows a historical force drawn up in opposition, the direction of the protests is still uncertain. Some demonstrators call for a federal civil rights suit, while others draw attention to the larger structural oppression faced by black and poor people. Some want to stay focused on a single vigilante, while others draw the connection to Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo, and Rodney King. Some want to ignore the institution of the police, while the rest of us know that Zimmerman is a wannabe cop, and that every cop is a wannabe Zimmerman.
Leaders urge peace, calm, and obedience. But even if peaceful rallies result in a federal suit against Zimmerman, will that change what brought us into the streets in the first place? Do we mean it when we say, “Never Again”? What would it take to actually stop all this misery?
Every movement that’s ever meant anything has given itself the means to disrupt daily life. If there is a common thread that runs through Civil Rights to Black Power, this is it. The simple question is how to become a force. Moments of disruption teach us new ways to relate to each other and our cities. Most importantly, they teach us that we are powerful. A determined people doesn’t have to rely on wannabe cops or politicians. That’s why the cowards caution us to obey the law over the call in our hearts. They know this—and it terrifies them.
“I’m not shocked, I’m outraged.” The murder of a black teen is not the exception, but the norm; we are coming to fists with normal life in America. Hence, #hoodiesup must disrupt the places that sustain this normal: cities, highways, trains, ports, social media—all the flows that compose the false harmony of America. The sit-ins in Pittsburgh and Florida, the marches blocking streets around the country, the highway takeovers in Oakland, LA, and Houston, all share a wisdom: every place that politics and commerce carry on as if nothing has happened is ripe for disruption. Block everything!
It is an “EMERGENCY SITUATION! WE HAVE TO KICK OUR SUPPORT OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL!”
Meet us at MacArthur BART at 7:30 am for a day in Sarcramento – Speaking out, leafletting, rallying, banner-ing, and going out to the people. CALL US (510-926-5207). Facebook.
Statement by the Hunger Strikers.
Greetings of solidarity and respect to all of our supporters, all people of conscience around the world, and all similarly situated prisoners. You should know that once again our peaceful protest is making history, bringing international attention to our collective efforts to bring an end, once and for all, to the inhumane conditions and torture of indefinite solitary confinement.
We are being tortured each day by state officials (Governor Brown, his appointee CDCR Secretary Beard, and all his underlings). Increased retaliation has been perpetuated upon defenseless and starving prisoners who only seek what any human being strives for—humane treatment, dignity, equality, and justice for our families, loved ones, and ourselves. These are the fundamental rights of all people, including those incarcerated by the state. We are doing all we can, together with our outside supporters, to bring about a positive changes. Gov. Brown is not above the will of the people of California, and if he refuses to recognize the legitimacy of our human and civil rights struggle against the practices of this prison system, then it is the responsibility of the federal government and President Obama to use their powers to stop the harm being done to thousands of prisoners being held in solitary confinement.
CDCR officials are attempting to undermine the voluntary actions of prisoners who truly want better treatment and living conditions by wrongfully accusing us of forcing tens-of-thousands of prisoners across California, along with our supporters in the free world, to participate in our protest. Prisoners across the state are participating because of the inhumane conditions they are being subjected to. As HUMAN BEINGS prisoners are collectively resisting such treatment, and they are doing so peacefully. The attempted repression of our protest has not broken our spirits. In fact it has only helped to strengthen each of us—individually and collectively. Despite CDCR’s retaliations and propaganda, we remain steadfast in our commitment. We will see our peaceful hunger strike through to victory, even if this requires us to endure the torture of force-feeding. We believe at this point in our struggle we are prepared to do what is necessary in order for Gov. Brown and the CDCR to realize how serious we are, and how far and long we are willing to go to have our reasonable demands implemented.
We are hopeful that all those brave men and women across the state who are participating in this strike—all who are able health-wise—will be encouraged to issue public statements of their own, via media outlets across the country, letting the world know why they have taken part in this historic, collective struggle.
In closing, we want to inform the world that this hunger strike is far from over. We are in it for the long haul. Thus, we strongly urge Gov. Brown to return from his “get-away” vacation overseas and deal urgently with this crisis before more prisoners suffer serious health damage or death. If any deaths do occur, the responsibility for them will fall squarely on Brown and the CDCR in their callousness and inaction.
We believe that we will prevail.
In Solidarity,
PBSP-SHU Short Corridor Representatives
– Todd Ashker, C-58191, PBSP-SHU, D4-121
– Arturo Castellanos, C-17275, PBSP-SHU, D1-121
– Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa (Dewberry), C-35671, PBSP-SHU,D1-117
– Antonio Guillen, P-81948, PBSP-SHU, D2-106
The ONYX Organizing Committee, Advance the Struggle, People’s Community Medics, the Kenneth Harding Jr. Foundation, the Justice for Alan Blueford Coalition, Workers World, The Oscar Grant Foundation, Young Oakland, Healthy Hoodz and East Bay ISO call on the people to keep the pressure on the state. Not just for Trayvon but for ALL of the young Black and Brown lives that have been stolen by the state! We Need to STAY in these Streets!!!!!
A Rally in Direct Defense of our Post Office!
Our heritage is being auctioned off to privateers, as austerity and Congressional mandates squeeze the US Postal Service to the point of breaking. The same forces that want to privatize Social Security and prisons are now in the process of selling off Post Offices across the United States.
Come help save the Berkeley Post Office and send a message across the United States that our Post Offices – jobs, services, buildings and history – are worth saving!
– Starting at 1:00 pm at 2000 Allston Way (1 block from Berkeley BART), with speakers, music and dance, street theater, public forums, and a Birthday Cake to celebrate the founding of the Post Office in July 1775.
– We need everyone’s help to mount a defense that cannot be ignored.
– National Weekend of Action to save the Post Office, including actions at threatened post offices in the Bronx, New York; Portland, Oregon; Berkeley; Tacoma, Washington; and at the Southern Calif. offices of Rep. Darrell Issa, who’s leading the Congressional effort to dismantle and privatize the Post Office.
Help plan and run this event: Come to the organizing meeting. We need everyone’s help
Sponsored by: Direct Defense Action Team to Save the Berkeley Post Office in coalition with Strike Debt Bay Area.
Please show up at the City Council meeting at 6:30 PM, July 3oth on the third floor of City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland and tell the City Council what YOU think.
Fill out a speaker card on Agenda item 35 so you can let your voice be heard at the City Council meeting.
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityClerk/s/SpeakerCard/SpeakerCard/OAK032373
Read more here.
Send a message to Attorney General Eric Holder and Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels Jr. that Lynne deserves compassionate release!
Long-time National Lawyers Guild member and activist lawyer Lynne Stewart needs our help and she needs it now! The Federal Bureau of Prisons has denied Lynne Stewart’s application for compassionate release, despite recommendations in favor from the warden at her facility, the Regional Office Director, and vetting of Stewart’s release plans by the Federal Probation Office in New York.
Lynne Stewart’s condition is deteriorating rapidly. Medical treatment to arrest the cancer that is metastasizing in her body has been halted because she is too weak to receive it. She remains in isolation, as her white blood cell count is so low that she is at risk for generalized infection.
For over 30 years, Lynne Stewart devoted her life to the oppressed – a constant advocate for the countless many deprived in the United States of their freedom and their rights. She, herself, was targeted and prosecuted because she defended vigorously her unpopular clients – people the U.S. government sought to execute, disappear, and demonize.
In 2006, Lynne Stewart was sentenced to 28-months. In 2009, she was resentenced to 10 years in federal prison in response to the vindictive dictates of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In the fall, the Supreme Court will consider her Certiorari petition on the basis of both Lynne’s and her client’s first amendment rights.
Lynne Stewart’s prosecution and continued imprisonment are an attempt to intimidate all attorneys who would represent unpopular clients, particularly those accused of being terrorists. It is a message to those of us in the legal community who understand how important it is that everyone accused of a crime, especially those accused of the most serious crimes, have a capable attorney both able and willing to zealously defend them.
When BART workers went on strike July 1, the whole Bay Area was affected. BART hired a major union buster to put the workers on strike, then blame the workers in a highly visible battle to bring Wisconsin-style attacks to the Bay Area and drive down living standards for all of us. The 30-day contract extension expires Sunday, August 4 at midnight, yet BART management still refuses to negotiate, likely forcing the workers out again starting Monday, August 5.
BART workers represented by ATU 1555 and SEIU 1021 invite all workers to stand up against Wisconsin-style attacks in the Bay Area on Thursday, August 1 at 5pm at Frank Ogawa Plaza (Oscar Grant Plaza).
Special Guest: Bill McKibben
As the planet lurches past the ominous milestone of 400 parts per million atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, and Big Oil continues its irresponsible pursuit of ever more and dirtier fossil carbon to pump into our air, and local refineries begin to import Canadian tar sands for processing in the Bay Area, the moment has come to stand up to the industry that is wrecking our future.
Please join 350.org, several Richmond community groups, local unions, Gathering Tribes, Urban Tilth, Asian Pacific Environmental Network and others, three days ahead of the anniversary of the Chevron refinery’s (most recent) explosion and fire, for a march and spirited rally at the refinery’s main gate.
March: From Richmond BART to Chevron refinery
Rally: Main entrance to Chevron Refinery, Point Richmond
Article: Bay Area Battles Chevron’s Dangerous Tar Sands Refinery
It has been one month since CA Prisoners began a hunger strike demanding an end to indefinite solitary confinement and the cruel, inhumane and torturous conditions of confinement in CA Security House Units (SHU).
Stand in solidarity with CA prisoner hunger strikers as they enter their second months of an indefinite hunger strike:
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity.
STOP THE TORTURE!
One down and no end in sight… A bike ride following ART OUT! in solidarity with CA Prison Hunger Strikers, come out and help bring their message to the public sphere and wake up these sleeping masses. Let’s make their demand a reality!
~*In Memory of Billy “Guero” Sell*~
-Prisoner Demands-
• Eliminate group punishments for individual rules violations.
• Abolish the debriefing policy and modify active/inactive gang status criteria.
• Comply with the 2006 recommendations of the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons regarding an end to long-term solitary confinement.
• Provide adequate food.
• Expand and provide constructive programs and privileges for indefinite SHU inmates.
And in Support of the Hunger Strikers 5 Demands.
Bike for the Strike!!
Meet Up at 9 PM Friday August 9th at Oscar Grant Plaza.
Following Art Out 6-9 PM
Brought to you by Onyx, Young Oakland, & Hella Free Store
Sign Making & Bike Repair 2-6 PM
11:00 a.m. : Meet at the Berkeley Post Office, with signs and banners. Hear speakers, and sing with the music.
12 noon : March to CONNECT THE DOTS between FedEx, UPS, and the Blum Center at U.C.
Protest those who want to privatize our public postal service and eliminate union jobs.
We will then return to the Berkeley Post Office
There is a danger that the encampment may be raided and closed soon. Please support our
actions to protect our public property! See you Saturday!
SAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMONS
Committee to Save the Berkeley Post Office
Occupy and JAB photographer Daniel Arauz is to be arraigned tomorrow.
Everyone knows Daniel. He’s been taking pictures and videos at activist
events around Oakland forever. Most recently he took a great set of photos
for the rally and occupation at the Berkeley Post Office.
Some weeks ago he got pulled down and arrested by OPD for taking
pictures of the freeway blockade by Treyvon Martin protesters. He was
the only person arrested and they took his camera.
On Monday, at 9:00 AM, Daniel will arraigned at Wiley Manuel Courthouse
(7th & Washington, one block from the Police Station) in Oakland.
Please come out and support him!!
12 noon press conference, with Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Stop Mass Incarceration Network, people formerly Incarcerated in California Dept. of Corrections (CDCR) SHUs, SHU inmates’ families, and other voices of support and conscience.
If you want to go and need a ride, let us know at the contact number. If you can give a ride, please let us know as well. Most of us are meeting at the MacArthur BART Station @ 8am, but let us know if that doesn’t work for you and we’ll see what we can do.
The Stop Mass Incarceration Network and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, in support of the California Prison Hunger Strikers and their 5 Demands invite the public to visit an installation of a life-sized mock Security Housing Unit (SHU) Cell on the California State Capitol South Steps in Sacramento.
This stark multimedia installation will allow visitors to acquire a tactile and visceral understanding of the reality of solitary confinement that over 4,000 California prisoners have endured for years and decades, and why this is cruel and unusual punishment deemed torture by the UN and human rights groups. The installation includes images of SHU cells and prisoners and moving testimony from prisoners and others.
On July 8, 2013, 30,000 California prisoners began a hunger strike to end the torture of solitary confinement and for their basic rights and humanity. Their central demand is “comply with the recommendation of the U.S. Commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons (2006) regarding an end to long-term solitary confinement.” Now, 100’s of prisoners have gone over one month without food and many more in many prisons have supported the strike and gone on and off the hunger strike since its beginning. Millions throughout society support the prisoners, including prominent voices such as Jay Leno, Danny Glover, Cornel West, Noam Chomsky, Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Steinem; yet Governor Jerry Brown and the California Dept. of Corrections refuse to meet their just demands, have retaliated against the hunger strikers, and have publicly vilified the prisoners and the hunger strike. In a July 6 opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, CDCR secretary Jeffrey Beard claimed that the notorious SHU “is not ‘solitary confinement.’”
On July 5, Amnesty International stated that “rather than improving,” conditions in California prisons “have actually significantly deteriorated:” On July 22, 2013, Amnesty International called California Prisons and the CDCR’s response to the hunger strike an “affront to human rights.”
The Stop Mass Incarceration Network states “This is an EMERGENCY! One hunger striker, Billy ‘Guero’ Sell, has already died. Many more people need to stand NOW with the prisoner hunger strikers!”
City College provides an excellent education to tens of thousands of students, yet the ACCJC accreditation commission is threatening to close our school in 2014. We will not let this happen! CCSF must remain open and accessible to the Bay Area’s diverse communities. Students will march on City Hall to pressure Mayor Ed Lee to demand the immediate reversal of the ACCJC’s unjust decision, which is currently under appeal. If the Mayor actually supports CCSF and its students, he needs to join with us to take action against the ACCJC — an illegitimate, out of control body — and its imposition of cuts and privatization.
Are you outraged that California will start FORCE FEEDING people soon??
Come out and show your support for the thousands of prisoners who have participated in this peaceful hunger strike since July 8!
Come show your opposition to the recent ruling that prisoners can be force fed against their wishes!
They need our support NOW more than ever. We cannot remain silent while California denies these people’s humanity.
We will meet to rally at 5pm, then march to Jerry Brown’s condo on Telegraph and 27th!
PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND SHARE WIDELY!!
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity
Great news – three fired Oakland Airport worker leaders are headed back to work! Join them as they stand up for good jobs and organizing rights for themselves and other OAK fast food workers!
“I can’t wait to go back to work at the airport,” said Subway cashier Hakima Arhab. “My co-workers are feeling so strong – they understand now that we can stick together and stand up for our rights, and win!”
On August 12, the airport’s Subway and Jamba Juice franchises agreed to reinstate Hakima, Bikram Thapa, and Diamond Ford, who were fired last summer after they spoke out against injustices and labor law violations on the job.
Subway also agreed to restore the schedule of Hayat Selmani, who lost work hours after she began participating in the campaign (Hayat was one of the workers who struck to protest unfair labor practices at the airport on July 14). All four workers will receive back pay.
In May, the National Labor Relations Board issued complaints against Subway and Jamba Juice for retaliating against workers for organizing. The reinstatements are part of the settlement of that case.
But the airport workers’ fight isn’t over. Workers at Subway, Jamba Juice and four other airport fast food restaurants are demanding a card check agreement – so they can decide whether to unionize without fear of retaliation. Unionized fast food workers at the airport enjoy job security, living wages, and affordable family health care.
Join the workers for an action inside and outside Terminal 2 – and show the restaurants that the community is standing up for good jobs at OAK!
On Saturday, August 24th at 5pm join us at Oscar Grant Plaza to march in solidarity with the California prisoners on the 48th day of their hunger strike. As they organize behind the closed doors of solitary, let our support ring loudly through the streets. Let us voice the demands of the prisoners and demand justice for Guero, the first prisoner to die participating in the hunger strike (may he rest in peace.)
Come ready to make some noise!!
Sponsored by the Anti-repression crew.
Israel Hernandez was an artist who used a variety of mediums, including graffiti, under the name Reefa. On the morning of August 6th, Hernandez was tasered to death by Miami Beach police, who proceeded to high-five and congratulate each other. This sick incident of police brutality is nothing new, and the list of people slain by police gets longer and longer.
The evening of August 24th we will gather to seek justice for yet another wrongful death at the hands of the state, and decorate the city how Reefa did when he was murdered.
Original call for action on IndyBay.
More info on the murder from the Miami Herald.