=========================

The Berkeley Anarchist Study Group (aka BASTARD: Berkeley Anarchist Students [of] Attack, Revolt, & Destruction) is one of the longest running (if not the longest running) anarchist reading groups in North America. We meet every Tuesday night from 7:30-9:30pm PST (note the new time!) at The Long Haul (3124 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley).

New participants are always encouraged to stop by regardless of your familiarity with anarchist ideas or practices. We warmly welcome newcomers and encourage them to make the group their own in the same manner we all do. To this effect, we endeavor to cultivate a convivial and gregarious atmosphere where everyone can contribute in whatever ways and to whatever degree they each desire. We do not, however, incorporate fixed practices aimed at creating an artificial “safe space” or prioritize the voices of certain participants as a way of ostensibly bringing about contrived parity amongst ourselves. We have no membership, no responsibilities, and no codes of behavior. In lieu of spurious standards for relating to each other, we look to every participant to find a balance between making their voice heard and hearing those of the rest of the group, between disagreeing passionately with each other and accepting our divergences without necessarily needing to resolve them. In summary, we eschew inflexible precepts for interaction and instead embrace spontaneous and honest dialogue, while leaving it up to each individual to make their voice heard and utilize the group as they see fit.

The study group organizes an annual gathering called the BASTARD Conference. This DIY event consists of informal, autodidactic presentations on anarchy and anarchists, presented by participants in the study group along with friends, guests, and accomplices from around the world.

In addition, this group has acted as a launching point for many texts, projects, and actions in its three decades of existence. Many attendees have been and continue to be integrally involved in projects which have left enduring impacts on international anarchist milieus over the years.

We pick readings for the coming week at the end of each session, after which they will be posted here. If you have a text you’d like to suggest, come pitch it to the group, but please be ready to kick off the following week’s conversation by introducing & sharing your reasons for choosing it.

If any of this sparks your interest or curiosity, then come join us every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9:30pm at The Long Haul (3124 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley). Email birdsoffire [at] riseup [dot] net with any questions. We hope to see you soon!

Walk expropriating and igniting!
Always leaving behind me howls of moral offenses
and smoking trunks of old things.

For the annihilation of all authority!
For the refusal of all submission!
Toward the beautiful idea of anarchy!

Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ Public Protection Committee is
taking up further AB1185 sheriff/jail oversight implementation
planning on Thursday, October 14th @ 10am. Make Your Voice Heard.
Links will be posted here: https:// bos.acgov.org/ committee-meetings/
Your emails to the Committee prior to the Oct 14th meeting can be sent
to Chair Valle, richard.valle@acgov.org and Supervisor Miley at
nate.miley@acgov.org supporting the principles that ICJJ, FIAEB, CPA
and allies are advocating (link) For additional followup information,
contact Bruce @ brucds@pacbell.net

Faith In Action East Bay, the Interfaith Coalition for
Justice in our Jails (ICJJ) and Coalition for Police
Accountability (CPA) have begun organizing broad
community support for implementation of the most
effective possible oversight of the Alameda County
Sheriff’s Office (ACSO). We know ACSO, which
includes control of Santa Rita Jail among its
assignments, has a record of the highest number of
inmate deaths and lawsuits in the region. Further the
US Department of Justice and ongoing lawsuits have
documented failure to provide adequate custodial
mental health services, and a variety of other practices
have been deemed violations of constitutional rights.
Members of the Board of Supervisors’ Public
Protection Committee, Chair Richard Valle of
District 1 and District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley, have
demonstrated serious interest in implementation of the
recent state law, AB1185, providing for communitybased
oversight boards and an office of Inspector
general, both with subpoena powers. FIAEB, CPA and
ICJJ have done extensive research.

We’ve identified several core principles:

First, we need both a community-based Oversight Board
as well as a professional, full-time Inspector General,
both with subpoena power and full access to all relevant
records and information related to ACSO law
enforcement operations in Santa Rita Jail.

Second, appointment of the community board, which
power is vested in the Board of Supervisors by state law,
should be a transparent, inclusive process with open
applications and evaluation of candidates from diverse
experience by an appointed selection panel which will
provide the Supervisors with the panel’s
recommendations. Current or former law enforcement
personnel will not be eligible to serve on the Board.

Third, it is essential that both the Inspector General
and the Oversight Board have legal counsel completely
independent of the County Counsel, which has conflicts
of interest as legal representative of the sheriff and
county in civil suits related to Santa Rita and the sheriff.

Fourth, the Board and office of Inspector General need
dedicated and adequate funding for administrative,
policy, community engagement and investigative staff –
we recommend a baseline of funding equivalent to 1% of
the sheriff’s budget.

Fifth, all Oversight Board meetings shall be open to the
public, with mandated public town halls and reports on
issues of community concern.

Full AB1185 Advocates Coalition Letter HERE:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BLgER7G2KMraT1mV_XyKG7GKLVfVHf3i/view

The post 9/11 war on terror framework further legitimized the targeting and criminalization of Muslim, immigrant and Black communities and produced techniques, agencies, and concepts of policing that are increasingly being used on all communities of color and protesters.  We will look at militarized policing, the development of ICE, fusion centers, “pre-crime,” the use of community leaders and social service organizations in surveillance, and what local communities are doing to push back.

Register: https://www.afsc.org/action/policing-and-war-terror

From October 11 to 15, thousands of people will take action at the White House, participate in civil disobedience, and demand that President Biden choose a side: People vs. Fossil Fuels.

This Friday we will take the message of the People Vs. Fossil Fuels week of action to our local federal building, in solidarity with the hundreds of activists that will be putting their liberty on the line in Washington, D.C.

Join us in making these demands: https://peoplevsfossilfuels.org/demands/

Protest the political repression under president Bukele. Free the FMLN prisoners. Show respect for human rights and democratic institutions in El Salvador. Respect the 1992 Peace Accords. We will picket outside the consulate.

Join us for a screening of the KQED-produced documentary “Dear Homeland” by award-winning Colombian documentary filmmaker Claudia Escobar. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the film’s director and singer-songwriter Diana Gameros, whose story is the heart of this film, and a live musical performance.

—–Unete para la proyeccion del documental producido por KQED “Querida Tierra” (o “Dear Homeland” en ingles) de la galardonada cineasta documental colombiana Claudia Escobar. La proyeccion sera seguida de una conversacion con la directora de la pelicula y cantautora Diana Gameros, quien compartira algunas canciones.

About the Film

“Dear Homeland” tells the story of Bay Area-based singer-songwriter Diana Gameros as she finds her voice as an artist and fights to define home for herself as an undocumented immigrant. Told in part through Diana’s hauntingly beautiful music, we learn of her nearly 20-year journey that takes her from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to San Francisco, California, where we watch Diana assert herself not only as a musician, but as an immigrant seeking citizenship and as an advocate for immigrant rights. It is through song and finding a community of artists and immigrants that she finds the courage to share her own story of being undocumented. She channels her fears and the weight of her separation from her family into powerful songs and activism – navigating the world she left behind in Mexico while finding a home in the United States. This lyrical and poetic film gives audiences a unique look into the challenges, aspirations and opportunities Diana experiences, providing a counter-narrative to the dehumanizing language that dominates present-day narratives about immigrants. Dear Homeland is a deep reflection on family, resilience and what it means to call a place home.

 
We’re calling on everybody to support Jonathan’s family in this moment. Jonathan took a trip to the corner store a month ago and never came home because he was gunned down by the FBI.

Unknown law enforcement agents have continued to call, harass, and follow members of his family, including at his funeral. This is terrorism.

On Saturday, let’s show the feds that the community is united in support of the family! We condemn Jonathan’s murder, call out the horrific acts of law enforcement on the day of his funeral, and demand justice and accountability.
RSVP
The family demands:

• The FBI must release all video recordings of Jonathan’s killing;
• Mayor Schaaf must name the officers or agents who were involved in Jonathan’s murder;
• Jonathan’s personal belongings must be returned to his family;
• All federal, state and local law enforcement must immediately stop harassing and following Jonathan’s family;
• Stop the ongoing character assassination of Jonathan.

In addition, the family and community are outraged that the City of Oakland has done nothing to protect us from outside law enforcement agencies like the FBI and the California Highway Patrol, which killed Erik Salgado last year. We demand answers and accountability.

Hope to see y’all tomorrow!

Sunday at the Marxist Library (online)

So, what does Lenin take from Marx’s vast works and summarize it succinctly? And specifically on Socialism. Some of us thought that last week’s discussion on socialism did not deal aqequately with Lenin’s scientific concept, so we invited Raj Sahai to lead a Group Discusion on this important topic. Raj will be joined by Gary Hicks and Eugene Ruyle to begin our open discussion. In preparation, folks are invited to read V. I. Lenin’s Karl Marx — a Brief Biographical Sketch with an Exposition of Marxism (1914), available at:

https://libcom.org/library/karl-marx-brief-biographical-sketch-1914-vladimir-lenin
LOGIN INFORMATION

We Intend to start the presentation as close to 10:30 am as possible, but the Zoom room will be opened up, as usual, at 10:15 for anyone to join and discuss technical matters, catch up with each other, say Hi, etc.. The program (and recording) will end at 12:30, but the Waiting Room will remain open until about 1 pm for informal discussion.

THIS ZOOM LINK IS GOOD FOR

Raj Sahai is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2591082607?pwd=WXc2dUlJcGNJektTcGlmSWhBMHZwdz09

Meeting ID: 259 108 2607
Passcode: ICSS1017rs
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,2591082607#,,,,*4131413530# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,2591082607#,,,,*4131413530# US (Houston)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
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+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 259 108 2607
Passcode: 4131413530

YOU GOTTA TAKE THIS CLASS!
Copwatch Presents: the Copwatch DeCal Class on Community-based Accountability

Mondays 5-6:30pm. Open to all.
Registration and more info: https://t.co/LdbC7tEcUe

This class includes opportunities for direct field monitoring of police on duty. pic.twitter.com/gyi5Wr2KWC

— Berkeley Copwatch (@Copwatch411) September 1, 2021

=========================

The Berkeley Anarchist Study Group (aka BASTARD: Berkeley Anarchist Students [of] Attack, Revolt, & Destruction) is one of the longest running (if not the longest running) anarchist reading groups in North America. We meet every Tuesday night from 7:30-9:30pm PST (note the new time!) at The Long Haul (3124 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley).

New participants are always encouraged to stop by regardless of your familiarity with anarchist ideas or practices. We warmly welcome newcomers and encourage them to make the group their own in the same manner we all do. To this effect, we endeavor to cultivate a convivial and gregarious atmosphere where everyone can contribute in whatever ways and to whatever degree they each desire. We do not, however, incorporate fixed practices aimed at creating an artificial “safe space” or prioritize the voices of certain participants as a way of ostensibly bringing about contrived parity amongst ourselves. We have no membership, no responsibilities, and no codes of behavior. In lieu of spurious standards for relating to each other, we look to every participant to find a balance between making their voice heard and hearing those of the rest of the group, between disagreeing passionately with each other and accepting our divergences without necessarily needing to resolve them. In summary, we eschew inflexible precepts for interaction and instead embrace spontaneous and honest dialogue, while leaving it up to each individual to make their voice heard and utilize the group as they see fit.

The study group organizes an annual gathering called the BASTARD Conference. This DIY event consists of informal, autodidactic presentations on anarchy and anarchists, presented by participants in the study group along with friends, guests, and accomplices from around the world.

In addition, this group has acted as a launching point for many texts, projects, and actions in its three decades of existence. Many attendees have been and continue to be integrally involved in projects which have left enduring impacts on international anarchist milieus over the years.

We pick readings for the coming week at the end of each session, after which they will be posted here. If you have a text you’d like to suggest, come pitch it to the group, but please be ready to kick off the following week’s conversation by introducing & sharing your reasons for choosing it.

If any of this sparks your interest or curiosity, then come join us every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9:30pm at The Long Haul (3124 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley). Email birdsoffire [at] riseup [dot] net with any questions. We hope to see you soon!

Walk expropriating and igniting!
Always leaving behind me howls of moral offenses
and smoking trunks of old things.

For the annihilation of all authority!
For the refusal of all submission!
Toward the beautiful idea of anarchy!

Oneof the country’s leading organizers and a co-creator of Black Lives Matter, Alicia Garza’s work has helped shape the discourse on activism and empowerment for more than a decade.

In 2013, Alicia wrote what she called “a love letter to Black people” on Facebook, in the aftermath of the acquittal of the man who murdered seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin. She wrote: Black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter.

Long before #BlackLivesMatter became a rallying cry for this generation, Alicia spent the better part of two decades learning and unlearning some hard lessons about organizing. The lessons she offers are different from the “rules for radicals” that animated earlier generations of activists, and diverge from the charismatic, patriarchal model of the American civil rights movement.

In her latest book, The Purpose of Power, Alicia reflects instead on how making room amongst the woke for those who are still awakening can inspire and activate more people to fight for the world we all deserve. Drawing on both her life and her work, Alicia shares a new paradigm for change for the next generation of change-makers.

Join performer, social worker, and activist Honey Mahogany for a powerful conversation with Alicia about her life, her work, and how to build transformative movements to address the challenges of our time.

Free, suggested donation of $20.

Join us along with @CAIRSFBA and @EFF for a CLE webinar that will survey what immigrants and noncitizens might face when entering or leaving a port of entry in California.

🗓 When: Wednesday, Oct. 20th from 6-8pm PT
✍️ Register here: https://t.co/dZL7JJJrum

(1/3) pic.twitter.com/XOtliMiieZ

— NLG San Francisco Bay Area (@nlgsf) October 5, 2021