The City of Oakland is planning a public forum on public banking in Hearing Room 3 of Oakland City Hall (14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland).

Presenters are:

• Marc Armstrong, member, Federal Reserve Faster Payments Task Force, co-founder and past President of the Public Banking Institute, co-founder and President of Commonomics USA;
• Jesse Arreguin, mayor of Berkeley, former Berkeley City Council member
• Tom Sgouros, author of Checking the Banks: The Nuts and Bolts of Banking for People Who Want to Fix It (2014), Senior Policy Advisor to Rhode Island Treasurer; and
• Nichoe Lichen, member of Santa Fe’s Brass Tacks Team (“public banking facts that stick”), Board Member of the Public Banking Institute; and
• Henry Wykowski, past prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office
 in Northern California, currently Harborside Health Center’s lead attorney, speaking on cannabis law as it relates to public banking.

Panel Discussion – How Do We Make This Happen?
Questions and Answers

Endorsing the Idea of Public Banks

“…a Public Bank here in California. I think it’s a good idea.”– Robert Reich, Professor of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, address to the California Democratic Convention.

“By using state deposits to finance local investments, the Public Bank will support billions of dollars of critical investments in infrastructure, small businesses, and student loans — saving our residents money and returning all profits to the taxpayers.” – Philip Murphy, leading Democratic candidate for New Jersey Governor. 

“Oakland has been raided by Wall Street for too long. Disastrous pipeline projects have been bankrolled by unaccountable banks for too long. Finance must be under democratic control for the good of our cities, towns, states, and country. Public banks are a real step in this direction.” – Hannah Appel, Professor of Economic Anthropology, UCLA, and former Oakland resident.

“Evidence from around the world suggests that public banks can be a powerful tool to support local economic development that is sustainable and inclusive.  Since giant private banks have lost the public trust for their predatory actions,   responsible city leaders must consider the option of a public municipal bank.”– Fred Block, Professor of Sociology, UC Davis. Author “Democratizing Finance”

Going Deeper

Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland: www.friendsofpublicbankofoakland.org

Commonomics: www.commonomicsusa.org

Public Banking Institute: www.publicbankinginstitute.org

Bank of North Dakota: bnd.nd.gov

(Essay) Public Banks: Bank of North Dakota: ilsr.org/rule/bank-of-north-dakota-2

(Book) The Public Bank Solution, From Austerity to Prosperity, by Ellen Brown

The words of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution were supposed to guarantee that slavery and involuntary servitude effectively were outlawed. With the exception of punishment for a crime where the “party shall have been convicted.” That’s the loophole. And as detailed in Ava DuVernay’s “The 13th”, the injustice system in America has not changed all that much since the earliest days of slavery.

The statistics DuVernay puts onscreen say it all: African-Americans make up 6.5% of the U.S. population but a whopping 40% of the prison population — in a country with the highest level of incarceration in the world; up more than tenfold since 1970 and existing mostly to put away black and Latino men. It all comes down to money. That was the driving force in the beginning, when slavery effectively was ended, but the South had to figure out a way to balance the economics when suddenly short about 4 million slaves. Using the loophole in the 13th Amendment, Southerners started putting blacks in prisons for petty reasons and used them as a workforce without calling them “slaves.” Today the practice is very much alive, overcrowding our prisons and filling them with minorities, the most vulnerable and underprivileged among us.

Sponsored by the BFUU Social Justice Ctee as part of our Conscientious Projector series.

Wheelchair accessible.

Join us for a ‘Black Lives Matter — Protect the Vulnerable’ Sing. Everyone welcome!

Free. Each documentary will begin promptly at 5:30 PM, discussion afterwards.  Food provided.

Feb 3 – John Henrik Clarke – A Great and Mighty Walk

Feb 10 – The House I Live In

Feb 17 – The Night Tulsa Burned

Feb 24th – 13th

On February 11th, there are rallies planned across the country to in support of defunding Planned Parenthood, a move which will cut off essential services to people all across the spectrum, but particularly those who are at or near the poverty line.

Join us in taking back the conversation around Planned Parenthood. The majority of the country does not believe it should be defunded, but we need to make sure that our voices are heard.

If you bring signs, make them short and clearly pro-PP/pro-choice. We want to make sure that we’re seen as a counter-protest and not part of the larger protest.

More details about the protests we are fighting against here: http://protestpp.com/locations. Additional details will be added here as they are determined.

Join us in ensuring quality, affordable health care for all!

Offerings:

• Massage therapy
• Energy work
• Acupuncture
• Birth Doula Practitioners
• Herbal Medicine
• Resource library
• Free Hot Meal
• Free Store
• Cafe Space to hang out, eat, make art and discuss what healing means to us by us and for us.

Emergency Information Session About New Executive Orders

Attorneys from CAIR – San Francisco Bay Area and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus will be on hand to:

*Share what is known and what is still unclear about the travel restrictions put in place on 1/27 through the #MuslimBan
*Share what you should know about the ban
*Share what you should to do protect yourself

Oakland! I'm speaking in about 45 minutes at 2607 Myrtle Street
Oakland, Ca 94607 pic.twitter.com/TWL7VtJXB7

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) February 12, 2017

Do you feel a drive to do something about the environment, immigrants’ rights, healthcare, Black Lives Matter, indigenous rights, reducing bullying, or building a culture of peace and inclusion? Are you looking for resources to turn your passion into action? Do you seek community support to help navigate the complications of the incoming administration?

If so, come meet like-minded neighbors, local activists, and peacemakers at the second Oakland Peace Center Activism and Advocacy Resource Fair.

Discover the ways you can get involved with activism, advocacy, and volunteering. Ask questions and get connected.

Learn about pressing issues and develop critical skills by attending FREE skill-building workshops offered at the fair.

Whether you are a long time activist or have never attended a rally in your life, your contributions matter!

Bring friends and loved ones. We are stronger together.

TABLING ORGANIZATIONS (more to come!):

* ACLU
* Arab Resource and Organizing Center
* Asian Americans Advancing Justice- Asian Law Caucus
* Bay Area 350
* Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS)
* CAIR- Council on American-Islamic Relations
* CircleUp Education
* Community Democracy Project
* East Bay Forward
* East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy
* Food First
* Healthcare for All- California
* Islamic Networks Group
* Islamic Relief USA
* Jewish Voice for Peace
* Niroga Institute
* Oakland Peace Ambassadors
* Our Family Coalition
* Senior and Disability Action
* Soul Shoppe
* Sunflower Alliance
* SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Oakland/Bay Area

WORKSHOPS (more to come!)

* Social Media for Activists
* Protest Safety
* Islamaphobia and It’s Impact
* HeartMath Trainings
* “What if I’m Cisgender, White and Heterosexual?” Privilege and Fierce Allyship
* Knowing Your Rights: Interacting with Law Enforcement when traveling, and at school

Updates with organizations who will be tabling and additional workshops will appear on the Facebook page.

Please note: the room is accessible, but bathrooms are up about 8 stairs. There is parking around the corner at 111 Fairmount avenue on the south side of the building.

JOIN OUR SANCTUARY RESTAURANT MOVEMENT TODAY!

On Monday, February 13th, 2017 (2.13*) join the Restaurant Opportunities Center – Bay Area and ACCESS: Women’s Health Justice in a pivotal event on the intersections of economic and reproductive justice. We will bring together workers, employers, academics, parents, activists and policymakers for a transformative discussion on how restaurant owners, co-workers and community members can support each other during these trying times.

Our opening panel discussion will bring in key leaders and workers to connect the issues and bring together the broader picture. In the second half of the event, we will break off into smaller groups to participate in active workshops and move together towards productive outcomes in regards to the surging Sanctuary Restaurants movement, which seeks to create dignified and safe working conditions for immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women of color and LGBTIQ people.

*~ CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED! ~*

Please RSVP (here: tinyurl.com/gngqpk9) or by clicking on the “ticket” link in the event!

AGENDA:
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Registration & Pastry Mixer
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Panel Discussion on Reproductive Justice + Economic Justice
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Lunch
12:15 PM – 2:15 PM Sanctuary Restaurants//Sanctuary Bodies Workshop/Teach-in
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM Closing Circle

BACKGROUND:
In the Trump era, both immigrant workers//families and *reproductive* healthcare are severely under attack. Both issues greatly impact the lives of low-income working women of color and put simply, affect families. Being one of the largest and fastest growing private sector employers, and one of the top employers of women and immigrants, the restaurant industry has great potential to be a strong stakeholder in the move to protect workers.

ACCESS – WOMEN’S HEALTH JUSTICE:
ACCESS Women’s Health Justice removes barriers to sexual and reproductive health care and builds the power of Californians to demand health, justice and dignity. Their English & Spanish ACCESS Healthline provides free, confidential and nonjudgmental information, referrals, peer counseling and advocacy on the full range of reproductive health services. Their Practical Support Network ensures that people in California can obtain safe abortion services without isolation or delay, with a network of more than 200 volunteers who provide rides, overnight housing, child-care, translation & other assistance to make reproductive health care access a reality.

RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES CENTER – BAY AREA:
ROC the Bay is one of 10 local chapters of ROC United, a national non-profit worker center and advocacy organization. ROC the Bay seeks to ensure a just workplace and build power through the creation of a strong community of restaurant workers in the Bay Area. They provide hospitality job trainings for low-income restaurant workers, help to enforce the minimum wage through know your rights trainings and work with restaurant owners to promote just working conditions, fair wages and racial equity.

*$2.13 is the federal subminimum wage for tipped workers, a wage that has remained stagnant for over 20 years. Although California has One Fair Wage, and does not participate in the tip-credit system, ROC the Bay seeks to build awareness around $2.13 and show solidarity for the workers in the 43 other states that continue to allow for workers to rely solely on tips for their wages.*

People of all faiths are invited to join Berkeley Congregations and members of the Justice 4 Kayla Moore coalition for an afternoon vigil in honor and celebration of Black History Month, and in remembrance of black lives murdered throughout American history: from the middle passage and slavery to the civil rights movement to the ongoing realities of hate crimes and police brutality. We will read names, sing, pray, reflect, and remember.

February 13 is the anniversary of the murder of transgender African American woman Kayla Moore by the Berkeley Police Department 4 years ago. The Vigil is being organized in partnership with the Justice 4 Kalya Moore Coalition.

Sources for names to be read include, but are not limited to: “Close Encounters of a Dangerous Kind: Unarmed African-American Women, Men, and Children and encounters with police 1970 to 2015 by Daniel Alan Buford published in Tikkun Magazine online September 28th 2016.

We Charge Genocide : The Crime of Government against the Negro people by William L Patterson historic petition to the United Nations for relief from a crime of the US government against African Americans 1951. Names of police brutality victims and those who were lynched under color of law.

#SayHerName: Resisting Police Brutality against Black Women includes violence on Transgender people.
We Charge Genocide- 2014 Shadow Report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committees
Tangled Roots and Trees slave name Roll Project Tangled roots and trees.Blogspot.com Plantation records auction inventory lists
Louisiana Slave Records 1800 to 1832 transcribed by Stephanie Kay Martin-Quiatte for the Louisiana genealogical project African American inventory of Plantation Slaves from all Louisiana parishes and slave auction inventories.

BART Police Citizen Review Board will discussing BART Police Use of Force Policy, as well as their Aggressive Panhandling Policy. We will be turning out… join us!

To get there the easiest way is to go in the entrance on Webster just down from CVS and take the elevator to the 3rd floor.

Sing for an hour with the Tax the Rich crew.

Event is cancelled if it is raining.

For the last few years, immigrant justice leaders and organizers have focused on decreasing deportations and immigration enforcement. These priorities will not change with any incoming administration, at either the federal or state level. With the help of political supporters, we have been able to advance pro-immigrant policies and legislation to ease the tension of xenophobic political practices and attacks. In the era of Donald Trump, our political supporters must move in a direction that is led by immigrant justice organizers.

We are calling on them to adapt to innovative tactics and strategies to move past the status quo on immigration enforcement. This can be done by using some of the state-level tools that have been developed in order to decrease deportations and any other attacks on immigrant communities.

Join us for a day of action in Sacramento!

Bay Area folks, if you’re interested in taking the train out to Sacramento on Tuesday to protest ICE raids, lmk https://t.co/0pzHMwTbh1

— Parker Higgins (@xor) February 11, 2017

Tech Policy Forecast: Digital Privacy and Net Neutrality under the Trump Administration: A talk by Heather West, Senior Policy Manager, Mozilla

Sponsor: Center for Technology, Policy & Society
Co-Sponsored by the Center for Technology, Policy & Society and Technology Applications in Public Policy at the Goldman School for Public Policy.

Heather is Senior Policy Manager at Mozilla, prior to which she has worked at the intersection of policy and cyber-security at Google and CloudFare, Inc. In 2014, she became Forbes 30 under 30 for her influential role as policy-to-tech translator and Internet strategist.

This talk is open to the public. Please RSVP at: https://goo.gl/forms/FhCE2NvTqJ1xmlCQ2

What: Leading the Way on Bail Reform

The Ella Baker Center and our allies are tackling California’s billion dollar bail industry and we need your help!

Join us next Wednesday at Leading the Way on Bail Reform, a community discussion for formerly incarcerated people, family members, activists, and advocates about reforming California’s unjust money bail system.

We will discuss the way the California’s bail system works, the reforms we are working on, and strategies for movement building. Help us build a strong grassroots movement that will overhaul an egregious money bail system that targets poor families of color.

RSVP here.

Vegetarian dinner will be provided and the building is wheelchair accessible. We ask that this meeting be a fragrance free zone for accessibility. Looking forward to seeing you next week.

P.S. Are you a member of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights? Join our membership today and stay updated on how to organize with us for jobs not jails, books not bars, and healthcare not handcuffs.