Calendar
Andrej Grubačić is a US-based Yugoslavian anarchist theorist, sociologist, activist, lecturer, and co-author with Staughton Lynd, of the book Wobblies and Zapatistas.
How do we retain an uncompromising analysis of the violence of the status quo, including corporate capitalism, racism, and the police system that upholds both, while transcending the tired dynamics of us (the self-righteous good guys) and them (in this case corporate execs and cops)? How do we channel our anger into resistance of systems rather than struggles with individual figureheads for those systems?
Three mini…-workshops on Saturday, October 22:
9am-noon Making It Personal: Understanding the Violence of the Status Quo: In this workshop, we’ll connect our personal suffering (often understood as “merely”’ psychological) with social trauma connected to systemic violence. We’ll also fan out and listen to as many people at the protest as we can, and then come together to share what we heard.
1-3:30pm Nonviolence Training: This workshop is for those who, understanding the violence of the status quo, are interested in interrupting that violence with nonviolence. We’ll discuss what we can learn from past movements and how it might be applied to these circumstances.
4-5:30pm Loving Our Enemies: We will gather to do a loving-kindness meditation for everyone in the 99%, and then, if we can, extend it to the 1% and to the police in the area. Then we’ll debrief what that was like and what it means for our ongoing occupation.
Meet in the northernmost part of the ampitheater area of the plaza. In the event that Occupy Oakland ends before 10/22, we will meet at St. Mary’s Center, 925 Brockhurst (at San Pablo and 32nd).
Come to one or all three workshops.
Contact us at 510-225-8561 or info@seminaryofthestreet.org.
Get trained before Saturday’s mass march!
“Oakland’s Work Holiday” is a multimedia presentation that includes 80 original photos of the 1946 strike, in addition to video clips of newsreel footage and short interviews of participants in the strike (from a video of the 60th anniversary commemoration). It aims to not only to bring to life this nearly forgotten piece of working class history, but also to serve as a call to reinvigorate the traditions of solidarity and militant tactics that made the post-World War II strike wave the fiercest episode of class struggle in United States history.
Elders from native communities will discuss what this Occupation means in relation to the understanding that we have been on occupied and stolen land.
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Hear about the ILWU workers militant train blockade outside the EGT grain terminal at the Port of Longview that resulted in scuffles with riot police and 19 arrests. How can we at Occupy Oakland support Longshoremen and the next steps they are taking and build solidarity.
This workshop is being presented by Jack Gerson and Bob Mandel, who are former teachers, well-known OEA leaders, and radical activists.
Come hear a union member explain the various city unions’ debates about Occupy Oakland.
This workshop is especially geared towards folks on the Security and Safer Spaces committees, and is open to all who want to practice deescalation and have more options for resolving conflict.
Multimedia presentation
General Strike Press Conference to announce more details of Nov 2 plans: 4pm Telegraph & Broadway, site of 1946 Oakland General Strike
Chris Hedges, whose column is published Mondays on Truthdig, spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He has reported from more than 50 countries and has worked for The Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, The Dallas Morning News and The New York Times, for which he was a foreign correspondent for 15 years.
We are a group of theatre activists and drama therapists comitted to racial justice. We use Theatre of the Oppressed, Playback Theatre, and many drama therapy methods. We are offering a weekly interactive theatre workshop for community members who would like to partake in a space for anti-racist community building, working through dynamics with “isms” within the movement, letting off steam, and practicing embodying our racial justice ideals together.We encourage community members who do or who would like to embody anti-racist/ racial justice oriented ideals. We acknowledge that for white activists, this means practicing having the humility and compassion to continually challenge our assumptions, and distortions, and listen deeply to people of color. This space is for people of color and white people and acknowledges that we live in a world that is racially oppressive. For People of Color, this space can be a place to acknowledge the oppressive systems we are impacted by and how those systems manifest in our interactions with our communities, families, partnerships, and ourselves in the narratives and interactions we have about ourselves, our partners, families, friends, and community.The movement, at its best, can be about embodying racial justice ideals in order to make the change we need. We are inspired by histories of resistance to racial injustice and honor these legacies. Interactive theatre, like drama therapy, Theatre of the Oppressed, and Playback Theatre, are powerful tools to help with this process.
Candlelight Vigil for the death of democracy in America at the hands
of the 1% and rebirth of our nation in the hands of the 99%. We shed the myth of democracy in America. We pay respect to those passed souls who bore the torch of freedom and equality in this country, through struggle, bold action and sustained belief. We honor our ancestors and the souls of those that have strengthened life throughout the world. We will draw upon this collective spirit to guide us forward, as we claim our country for present and future generations.Oscar Grant Plaza AmpitheaterAfro/Cuban/Latin/Native DrummersSpoken Word, Song and StortytellingChild Friendly
The People of Color and Queer People of Color Caucus of Occupy Oakland cordially invite you to an event to honor our ancestors that died resisting colonial domination:
Our foremothers and our forefathers, ancestors who fought and rebelled from day one of this land occupation:
Slave Revolters, Freedom Fighters, Migrant Workers, Indigenous Warriors, Indentured Servants.WE PROUDLY HONOR inspirational figures from our diverse backgrounds and the resiliency of our communities that brought us to this pivotal moment in time.We will draw upon this collective spirit to guide us forward.
When: THIS Thursday! Nov. 17th from 7pm-9pm
Where: Oscar Grant Plaza–formerly frank ogawa plaza (if the plaza is inaccessible due to police activity, we will meet at 15th and Broadway)
***Because the cops took it upon themselves to destroy the altar at Occupied Oakland during their raid early Monday morning, we are asking participants to bring pictures (of loved ones or inspirational figures), flowers, and other offerings to construct a new altar that reflects our resistance and refusal to be silent in the face of state violence.
In Solidarity with the Occupy the Hood Movement
Special Performance by Rebel Diaz.
Words, Song, Percussion.
Please join us.
For more info contact Irina Contreras at 619.307.2444/ colaconcontra@gmail.com.
If you would like to perform or speak, please contact Rebecca Ruiz-Lichter at 415.902.2794/ rebecca415@gmail.com
POC Vigil November 17th
Eric Drooker, graphic artist, activist, musician, etc. is doing a slideshow and musical performance after the General Assembly. His slideshow covers his trip to Palestine doing solidarity work, his subversive artwork, and his work on the film Howl among other topics.