Calendar
Join us for a conversation with Fred Glass, longtime friend of the Labor Center and author of a new book, From Mission to Microchip: A History of the California Labor Movement. The author will delve deep into the vibrant labor history of the Golden State where workers have engaged in politics, strikes, and a variety of organizing strategies to find common ground among its diverse communities to achieve a measure of economic fairness and social justice.
About the book
There is no better time than now to consider the labor history of the Golden State. While other states face declining union enrollment rates and the rollback of workers’ rights, California unions are embracing working immigrants, and voters are protecting core worker rights. What’s the difference? California has held an exceptional place in the imagination of Americans and immigrants since the Gold Rush, which saw the first of many waves of working people moving to the state to find work. From Mission to Microchip unearths the hidden stories of these people throughout California’s history. The difficult task of the state’s labor movement has been to overcome perceived barriers such as race, national origin, and language to unite newcomers and natives in their shared interest. This is an indispensable book for students and scholars of labor history and history of the West, as well as labor activists and organizers.
About the author
Fred B. Glass is Communications Director for the California Federation of Teachers and Instructor of Labor and Community Studies at City College of San Francisco. He is the producer of Golden Lands, Working Hands, a ten-part documentary video series on California labor history.
This event is free and open to the public.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event. Books are also available online from UC Press.
Space is limited. Please register for the event.
Join us as we welcome award winning filmmakers Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin, co-directors of the PBS film Shift Change as they screen their latest documentaries, WEconomics and La Empresa es Nuestra.
WEconomics was filmed in the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy which has one of the highest concentrations of cooperative businesses in the developed world. The capital, Bologna, is an industrial powerhouse, where prosperity is widely shared, and cooperatives of teachers and social workers play a key role in the provision of government services.
La Empresa es Nuestra, filmed in the Basque region of northern Spain, describes the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation, that largest cooperative corporation in the world. Founded in the town of Mondragón in 1956, it is the tenth-largest Spanish company and the leading business group in the Basque Country. At the end of 2014, it employed 74,117 people in 257 companies and organizations in four areas of activity: finance, industry, retail and knowledge.
SPACE IS LIMITED! PLEASE RSVP!
Please join us for a film screening and discussion of how these examples can be helpful toward developing a stronger coop economy in the U.S. and specifically the East Bay. Young and Dworkin have produced films about worker coops over a period of 15 years, first in Argentina after the dramatic economic/political collapse in late 2001, then in the Basque Country of Spain and across the U.S., including the Bay Area, for Shift Change. Their work encourages us to think and work toward a more just, equitable, sustainable economy.
In Cooperation,
Ricardo
Ricardo S. Nuñez
http://www.theselc.org/
A meeting is being held to join Bay Area organizations with the national struggle in December to free Mumia:
Many of us in the Bay Area have been fighting against the racist murders by police, and racist policies by those in Administrative Positions, (City Councils, School Boards, Boards of Supervisors, etc.) for a long time. Unfortunately many of our protests have been small and separate despite our common agreement on the issues.
Those of us fighting back in the Bay Area include:
-Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
-APTP – Anti Police Terror Project
-Oscar Grant Committee
-Oakland and S.F. Occupy
-Haiti Action Committee
-E. Oakland group for Omar Shakir
-Black Panther Party,
– Black Muslims.
-Black Lives Matter
-Open Circle- Families United 4 Justice:
Dionne Smith – Justice for James Earl Rivera Jr., Justice for Colby Friday
Rick and Julie Perez -Justice 4 Pedie Perez; Cyndi Mitchell- Justice for Mario Romero
Cadine Williams-Justice for O’Shaine Evans; Teresa Smith– Justice for James Smith
Maria Moore- Justice for Kayla Moore; Dolores Piper- Justice for Derrick Gaines
Uncle Bobby Justice for Oscar Grant; Anita Wills– Justice for Kerry Baxter Jr.
Tony Serrany-Garcia- Justice for Yanira Serrano-Garcia; Gilda- Justice for Diallo Neal
Stephanie Grant– Justice for Jose Paulino; Dee Na– Justice for Nate Greer
Laurie Valdez– Justice for Josiah
-Groups fighting for Justice for Alan Blueford, Mario Woods, Emile Lopez, and others.
-Code Pink
-Code Pink Wednesday night vigils for peace and justice at Feinstein’s office, SF.
-Yvette Felarka action group against Racist and Fascist violence, and rehiring HERO Ms. Felarka, who was fired from MLK Middle School for her activism against Racism and Fascism.
I know all of us are also very concerned about Mumia, his illness, and wanting him released. The Phillidelphia Police tried to execute him for being a Black Panther 35 years ago, then when they failed, they framed and imprisoned him. ONLY INTERNATIONAL MASS PROTESTS HAVE PREVENTED HIS EXECUTION!!
Can you see the importance of a coalition of all our groups to join with national movements to free him? All our groups will benefit from such a coalition.
Please send a representative to the Oct. 27th meeting so we can decide together the best plan:
– A march from OGC to the police station?
– A gathering at 1st Congregational Church, Oakland, with speakers such as Cornell West, Colin Kaepernick, Michelle Alexander, or others, to help build this movement?
– A gathering at Humanist Hall in Oakland to spread the word? Come give your opinion!!
FREE MUMIA!
Audrie & Daisy is an urgent real-life drama that examines the ripple effects on families, friends, schools and communities when two underage young women find that sexual assault against them has been caught on camera and distributed online. From acclaimed filmmakers Bonni Cohen and John Shenk, “Audrie & Daisy”– which made its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival — takes a hard look at America’s teenagers who are coming of age in this new world of social media bullying, spun wildly out of control.
“Audrie & Daisy” will be presented FREE in both Piedmont and Oakland by the Appreciating Diversity Film Series and by Piedmont Parents Network. The film was co-produced by documentary filmmaker and Piedmont High School alum Sara Dosa, who will be in attendance to facilitate a discussion after the film on October 27.
The directors were motivated by what they saw: “We are struck by the frequency of sexual assaults in high schools across the country and have been even more shocked by the pictures and videos, posted online–almost as trophies–by teens that have committed these crimes. This has become the new public square of shame for our adolescents. Unfortunately, the story of drunken high school parties and sexual assault is not new. But today, the events of the night are recorded on smartphones and disseminated to an entire community and, sometimes, the nation. Such was the case for Audrie Pott from Saratoga, California and Daisy Coleman, from Maryville, Ohio, 15- and 14-year old girls, living thousands of miles apart but experiencing the same shame from their communities.”
We invite you to this moving and meaningful film so that you can understand more about the world teenagers live in today.
The Appreciating Diversity Film Series is sponsored by the Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee, Piedmont League of Women Voters, Piedmont Adult Education, and the City of Piedmont.
Free, no RSVP needed, usually all are able to find seats.
http://diversityfilmseries.org
This screening is the Bay Area premiere of The Last Crop documentary.
The Last Crop is an intimate exploration into the lives of small family farmers Jeff and Annie Main of California’s Central Valley. The film follows these organic pioneers’ ten-year pursuit to ensure that a farm need not be imperiled at the end of every generation. Theirs is a story that is being echoed on farms across our nation as our largely aging farming population faces retirement. What sets the Mains apart is their resolve to create an alternative for their farm’s succession that ensures its productivity and affordability for future farming generations.
Post film panelists: Annie & Jeff Main, Andrea Davis-Cetina owner Quarter Acre Farm & National Young Farmers Coalition member, Evan Wigg, Executive Director, Farmers Guild, Kathryn Lyddan, Executive Director, Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust and filmmaker Chuck Schultz
Please contact us if you have any questions at info@blueprintproductions.biz
Because policing fails to meet people’s needs, and puts people in danger of arrest, imprisonment, and/or even death, we must eliminate connections between policing and healthcare.
Critical Resistance Oakland and The Oakland Power Projects present: The “Know Your Options: Chronic illness” workshop
This workshop is designed to increase people’s understanding of mental health-related experiences, events, trauma, and conditions so that we don’t default to 911 or the cops when a baseline or escalated mental health-related event or experience happens.
The “Know Your Options” workshop series aims to increase people’s access to the healthcare they need and to decrease people’s contact with law enforcement. Workshops are facilitated by healthcare workers and community organizers.
Food First is the original food policy think tank, founded in 1975 by activist author Frances Moore Lappe and Joseph Collins. Over the years, they’ve produced action-oriented research and analysis in order to help build the movement for food justice and food sovereignty around the world. Their projects range from working to stop ‘land grabs’ in the Americas to pollinator restoration and farmer to farmer education. Their Food Sovereignty tours to places such as Italy and Cuba are well known and sought after.
The October gala gathering celebrates the work Food First has contributed to the food justice movement and provides an opportunity to learn more about their organization. There is no cost to attend and no pressure to contribute financially, though opportunities to do so will be available if you so desire.
Loco Bloco, a non-profit performing arts organization and playwright Paul S. Flores announce their final full production of On The Hill, a play about the impact of the death of Alex Nieto. Directed by the renowned playwright Paul Flores, On the Hill tells the story of the impact that the death of Alex Nieto – at the hands of the SFPD- has had on youth of color residing in SF neighborhoods – neighborhoods that are currently being gentrified. The project uses music, dance and theater as a powerful tool for communities divided by issues of police violence, racism, gentrification and economic disparity,to find ways to dialogue with each other, and discover opportunities for solutions, healing and unification. Through their interpretation of death and life, the young actors incorporate spoken word, bilingual theater, drum, dance and video projection to retell the story of the night Alex Nieto was murdered on Bernal Hill in March 2014. The production is co-directed by Eric Reid.
It’s Time to Escalate!
For folks who can make a lunchtime demonstration in SF:
Noon rally in SF, please share widely.
#NoDAPL #MniWiconi #StandingRock
Join AIM-WEST and others in an urgent call for a NOON RALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO
When rubber bullets, tasers, bean bags and pepper spray fired, (dogs unleashed in the recent past), continued violation of treaties and human rights, protectors being jailed, media communications being jammed, it is time we stand together in the BAY AREA in solidarity with the Peoples of Standing Rock Reservation
in North Dakota, and against the Dakota Access Pipeline project.
Today, a large militarized police force raided the Treaty Camp on the banks of the Missouri River in North Dakota which has held a strong line against the Dakota Access Pipeline threatening the water of the Standing Rock Sioux and millions of other people downstream. Hundreds of police using armored personnel carriers, LRAD sound weapons, automatic weapons have begun to break up the camp that lay directly in the route of construction.
The message is clear and urgent. Oil companies, politicians and the police state have no regard for the health and safety of peaceful people standing in the route of power and profit. We urgently need you to join this struggle and organize bold and effective actions in solidarity with Indigenous people and allies on the ground in North Dakota.
We must continue to support those at Standing Rock who fight back every day. Thank you to those that have already hosted rallies, vigils and protests. We have raised the profile of the fight on Standing Rock across the world. But now we need friends and allies across the world to step up and continue to fight with Standing Rock.
The Red Warrior Camp has called for more action in solidarity with water protectors in North Dakota.
The asks are simple:
1. Go to North Dakota as resistance will continue through the winter. Email Organizer@nodaplsolidarity.org for more information.
2. Organize a solidarity action against a bank, oil company or politician profiting from this horrid pipeline. Sign up here.
3. Donate to the legal fund. Details here.
Please join the fight to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Thanks for all you do.
In solidarity, Rising Tide North America
. On Sunday, October 30th at 8pm EST/7pm CST/6pm MST/5pm PST, we’ll have a briefing and coordinating conference call to discuss our response to the police raids in North Dakota. Click here to register
People are also calling the White House to protest the illegal draconian crackdown on the peaceful protesters. White House: The public comment line (202-456-1111) is manned by volunteers recruited by the current administration. The White House switchboard (202-456-1414) is manned by professional White House operators.
URGENT: Tell the City Again: No New Jails OR Jail-like Facilities in SF!
Come to the Final Meeting of the SF Jail Replacement Project Work Group
Friday, October 28, 2-5 PM, 25 Van Ness, Room 610
A huge grouping of community groups, service providers, and justice activists stopped a new SF jail last spring, but there’s a danger the City may try again.
Last spring, the City set up the “Work Group to Re-envision the Jail Replacement Project” to decide what to do, or build, or plan INSTEAD of a new jail. At Friday’s meeting they will vote on proposed alternatives to present to the Supervisors.
The Workgroup had been considering alternatives to to jail construction and is proposing some strong and viable community based solutions, including more housing and reentry services. But now the list of proposals includes building a smaller jail, renovating jail cells, and a locked mental facility, in spite of overwhelming public and workgroup opinion against jail facilities. See list of proposals at http://tinyurl.com/zk395r9
We defeated the proposed jail last year; we can’t let the Mayor and Sheriff turn this around! Please come and speak out. We need everyone’s voice.
The No New SF Coalition has an 8-Step Plan for a jail-free San Francisco, based on open user-led facilities, community investment in housing and services, separating services from law enforcement, equitable access to care for all, bail and bond reform, pathways to permanent housing, and immediate closure of 850 Bryant. See http://tinyurl.com/jqurr7j The Coalition’s longer and more detailed report, Build Justice, Not Jails, is available at http://tinyurl.com/h7w2rmg.
Read more about Friday’s action at http://tinyurl.com/hb3w9yz .
Militarized police are gearing up to clear out the camps and arrest the water protectors who are defending their rivers and land – including Sioux sacred sites and burial grounds – against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Over 100 tribes have come together to fight back against this corporate encroachment.
We will protest at the Wells Fargo building, one of a long list of banks responsible for funding the pipeline companies to the tune of $467 million.
Capitalist expansion and the corporate drive for profit have caused untold suffering for native people throughout US history, and recent police aggression reveal once again who’s side the state is on. Join us to protest this government action carried out for big business.
Native speakers have been invited.
SOLIDARITY with STANDING ROCK!
FIGHT CORPORATE GREED!
EVICT THE REAL TRESPASSER: BIG OIL!
GREEN JOBS NOW!!
Hosted by Bay Area Socialist Alternative. In September SA helped raise $1600 and many supplies that we delivered to the Sioux camp.
Friday night Oct 28 is co-presented with San Francisco Vision.
IN PERSON: David Campos, filmmakers Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman, and housing rights advocate, Christina Olague, after the show.
Saturday night Oct 29:
IN PERSON: Lisa Geduldig, and filmmakers Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman, after the show.
The once free-spirited city of San Francisco is now a “Company Town,” a playground for tech moguls of the “sharing economy.” Airbnb is the biggest hotel. Uber privatizes transit. And now these companies want political power as well. Meanwhile, middle class and ethnic communities are driven out by skyrocketing rents and evictions–sparking a grassroots backlash that challenges the oligarchy of tech. Is this the future of cities around the world? The feature-length documentary, “Company Town,” is the story of an intense election campaign to determine the fate of the city at the epicenter of the digital revolution.
Produced and directed by Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow. Edited by Manuel Tsingaris. With Aaron Peskin, Julie Christensen, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Ron Conway,Brian Chesky, Joe “Fitz” Rodriguez, Jeffrey Kwong, Sunny Angulo, Shaw San Liu, Gordon Chin, Lina Chen. David Campos, Patrick Hannon, Chris Lehane David Talbot & Willie Brown. USA. 2016. 77 mins.
Former Panthers Melvin Dickson and Aunti Frances will be hosting a celebration and “stone soup” meal with other food justice activists and community members from the east bay, who will share their experiences and their stories.
Speakers (so far) include:
Van, Qilombo Oakland
Sita Bhaumik (and others), The People’s Kitchen Collective
Doria Robinson, Urban Tilth
Jocelyn Golden, Manna from Heaven
Aunti Frances, Self-Help Hunger Program
Joy Moore, local food activist
Kristyn Leach, farmer at Namu Farm
We will break bread together and celebrate with live music, dancing and fresh and organic fruits and veggies from the market.
Yes on 61, in partnership with California Nurses Association, presents Your Money or Your Life: A Free Documentary Screening & Panel.
Join nurses, veterans, seniors, and community leaders as they sneak preview a new documentary film –featuring BERNIE SANDERS– about pharmaceutical greed and discuss the groundbreaking changes Proposition 61 will bring for many Californians who are struggling to afford their medications. Film trailer: https://youtu.be/
Panel will include:
– Martha Kuhl, RN, CNA Secretary-Treasurer
– Jesse Brooks, AHF Patient Advocate
– Other distinguished speakers, including Veterans & Seniors, TBA
Light snacks & beverages will be served.
This event is free and open to the public.
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/korea-law-center/mentoring-next-generation/
To volunteer, for details, and to suggest ideas for this protest, please contact World Can’t Wait to tell us how you want to help: sf [at] worldcantwait.net
Jeremy Corbyn was just re-elected leader of the Labour Party in the UK by a landslide. In the process of electing a socialist leader, Labour has become the largest and fastest-growing party in Europe. At the same time, the election has sparked a civil war in the party, as the majority of Members of Parliament are right-wing and aiming to oust Corbyn. How will this critical moment be resolved? Will working class people win back their party, or will the Blairites find a way to squash the movement?
Join Socialist Alternative and Socialist Students for a discussion on Corbyn, Labour, and how we can build a left-wing party for workers, young people, and the oppressed in the US.
Hear Richard Brown of the Black Panther Party and the SF8 share his perspectives on their historic struggle. Also listen to a presentation on the current crisis in Syria by Judy Greenspan.
Light refreshments will be served. The space is wheelchair accessible.