Calendar

East Meets West is a series of conferences and festivals that curate international entertainment and catalyze conversation around human potential + well-being, creative culture, professional development and social impact in order to bring about lasting human health and happiness.

Sing songs with Ocupella and hold signs, use a sign created by Tax the Rich or create your own on the GOP-Trump tax plan.

Mobilization to Submit Reports to the United Nations Regarding Racism and Human Rights Violations

November 20, 2017 is the deadline to submit reports to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute (MCLI) is reaching out to the community to ensure that all forms of racism by the federal, state, and local governments in the U.S. are included in a report to be submitted by MCLI and allies working in communities experiencing racism at the hands of the government.

With the election of Donald Trump racism in the U.S. has been amplified. The struggle of the Water Protectors at Standing Rock, the “Muslim Ban”, the repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the police violence against and mass incarceration of African Americans, harassment and criminalization of immigrant communities, and exploitation of immigrant labor are just some of the forms of racism that the MCLI would like to address in the upcoming report.

MCLI is holding this event to explain the process of holding the U.S. accountable for racism, to include the lived experiences of community members who have experienced racism at the hands of the government as well as social justice organizations working in communities of color, and to seek assistance compiling the report.

MCLI wants this report to be as expansive and comprehensive as possible. The only way we can do this is with community input and assistance. Please come to this event to find out how your experiences can be included and how you can help MCLI compile this report.

There will be a presentation by organizers working with MCLI followed by a Q and A.

OccupyForum presents…
Information, discussion, & community! Monday Night Forum!!

OccupyForum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!

Society for the Many:
A report-back from the inaugural People’s Congress of Resistance

“Millions of people desire a political revolution against the billionaire class. The interest in socialism has grown rapidly in the last two years. The will to create a more just and equal society, the will to revolution, grows daily. The People’s Congress of Resistance was assembled to give voice and vision to this revolution. What kind of world do we want? What kind of society is worth fighting for?

The question contains its answer. The kind of society worth fighting for is one organized for society’s own good, for the equality and emancipation of the many. It is a society that replaces oppression with self-determination. It is a society that meets people’s needs. It is a society that protects the land, water and well-being of the planet. It is a society where people welcome the future with solidarity and hope. Today the vast wealth produced collectively by the many is in the hands of the very few. Today these few destroy our common planet for their own private profit. Today too many see nothing but misery ahead. If we are to care for our environment and provide for our common lives and futures, what working people have created through their collective labor must become theirs.”

­– ­From the Manifesto

On Sept. 16-17, the People’s Congress of Resistance movement was inaugurated with a mass convening of grassroots organizers and frontline resistors at Howard University. All told, 727 delegates from 38 states and 160 towns and cities came to Washington, D.C., to discuss the People’s Congress of Resistance manifesto “Society for the Many: A Vision for Revolution,” to share organizing experiences to take back home, to express solidarity with each other and to resolve on common projects and actions for the future.

Local activists, Nick Pardee and Michelle Schudel, who traveled to the Inaugural event in Washington D.C. will give a report-back on their experience and what’s next for the People’s Congress of Resistance.

•http://www.congressofresistance.org/inaugural_people_s_congress_of_resistance_draws_together_grassroots_leaders_unified_by_a_revolutionary_vision

•http://www.congressofresistance.org/

•http://www.congressofresistance.org/resolutions_from_the_2017_congress

Time will be allotted for discussion and announcements.

Donations to Occupy Forum to cover costs are encouraged; no one turned away!

At the next Board of Directors meeting, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) will for the first time in many years consider revisions to their permitting process—Rules 2-X.   The Air District’s past record of permitting indicates a bad habit of rubber stamping “stationary source” projects that endanger community health and destabilize the climate.  Can that behavior be reformed?

Unfortunately, BAAQMD is once again using the recent passage of AB 398, the cap and trade extension bill, to argue that they are prohibited from passing any direct regulation of CO₂ emissions.  Although the bill specifically restricts Air Districts from taking actions that produce CO₂ reductions, BAAQMD legal staff insists that this prevents them from pursuing efforts that would merely prevent future emission increases.

As a result, their proposed improvements to current permitting rules will do nothing to control future CO₂ emissions.  Dangerous projects, such as the massive expansion of crude-by-ship into the Phillips 66 marina at the Rodeo refinery, will continue to be rubber stamped.  The “improvements” fail to prevent the increased emissions that will inevitably follow from changes to dirtier, more GHG- and toxics- emitting crude sources.

Staff is using the same interpretation of AB 398 to argue that Rule 12-16, the proposed refinery emissions cap, can no longer be considered.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 18th, to demand permitting rules and refinery emission caps that truly prevent increased future emission of carbon dioxide and toxic co-pollutants.  We must have Rule 12-16 back on the BAAQMD agenda where it  belongs. Talking points will be provided before the meeting.

Court Support for Hearing: New Time!
NOTE: The court changed the hearing time…again! We will now gather at 1 p.m.

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m: Gathering outside courthouse
1:30 p.m: Line up to enter courthouse
2:00 p.m.: Hearing begins in Courtroom#6
On Facebook: Click here for Facebook event
Accessibility: The court and gathering area outside are wheelchair accessible.
We will have folding chairs available for outside portion.
We won’t have ASL interpretation, unfortunately.
If you have questions or requests for other access needs in the future, please let us know: justice4kaylamoore@gmail.com.

Please join us in showing love and showing up for the Moore family at their final pretrial hearing before their jury trial begins. Show up and show the judge that we’re with Kayla Moore’s family – we remember Kayla and we know that her life and memory matter! At Wednesday’s hearing, the judge will rule on what evidence each party in the case will be able to bring before the jury.

The Moore family’s court case may set a national precedent for how the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) relates to policing and crisis response. Their case is call to action for Berkeley and all cities: it’s time to build ADA-compliant crisis responses that truly support Black people, people of color, trans people, queer people, and people with disabilities.

Save the date: The Moore family’s trial begins November 6th!
SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS: The judge might change the court dates/times again.
Text JUSTICE4KAYLA to 33222 to receive updates by text!

Get Involved

Show up for Court Support – November 6-10 (tentatively), San Francisco. RSVP and share our Court Support Event on Facebook.

Provide or request rides, food and accessibility support during the trial – Sign up here

Come to Meetings: We meet every Monday, 7pm-9pm, The Grassroots House, 2022 Blake Street, Berkeley.

Tell us about your work! Got knowledge about non-police mental health crisis response? Are you working towards justice and self-determination for trans people, disabled people and people of color? We want

We are a trans+queer led group acquiring N95 masks in large quantities and distributing them to encampments, folks on the street, and communities in need. We are too small and need more $ and people!

IF YOU STILL NEED AN N95 MASK
We will be at Impact Hub Oakland this Tuesday and Wednesday 2-6pm. 2323 Broadway. By donation, NOTAFLOF. We’ll be right in front with our cute sandwich board on the street. If you know a ton of people who need masks, you can buy a large chunk, or we might be able to give you a deal for those in need.

Do you have an idea to change your community for the better? Do you have questions about policymaking on a local or state level? Do you want to explore your inner policymaker?

Come get answers, ideas, and strategies from our center’s staff, experienced attorneys and policymakers!

This is a two-part event (You can come to both, or either!)

1. From 5:00PM – 6:00 PM, there will be a teach-in on navigating the CA State Legislature! You’ll learn about the process of organizing a CA legislative campaign, how to work with legislators and their staff, how laws get written and amended, how to research California statutes, and some tips and strategies for success in state-level policy advocacy.You’ll hear anecdotes from our staff, Christina Oatfield and Cameron Rhudy, about their years of adventures in and around our state capitol.
2. From 6:00PM to 7:30PM, we’ll be hosting a Policy Cafe and offering individualized consultations for folks who want to discuss their specific ideas and get advice on questions such as:

• What are the next steps after I have come up with my policy idea?
• How do I draft a policy proposal?
• How do I approach council members, county supervisors, or other legislators about my idea?
• How do I navigate the legislative process?
• In what ways can my nonprofit participate in policy advocacy?

The Policy Cafe will provide direct support to individuals and groups who are working to create new solutions for resilient local economies through policymaking and is part of our Transformative Policymakers project. It’s modeled after our Resilient Communities Legal Cafe, which provides donation-based legal advice for the community.

For questions, please contact our Director of Community Engagement, Eunice Kwon, at eunice@theselc.org.

DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

TIME: 5:00PM – 7:30PM.

LOCATION: Sustainable Economies Law Center, 1428 Franklin St. Oakland, CA 94612.

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AFF presents: Migration, displacement, hope: Refugee Stories (special program) This year we received multiple submissions from filmmakers from around the globe documenting stories of displacement. From the gut-wrenching to the experimental to the hopeful, we are honored to share these stories with you. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster, struggling to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.

Far from a one-size-fits-all marking of “experience” so often depicted on Western media outlets when it comes to the plight of the refugee, this program of 5 powerful short documentaries spotlight the multitude of hues that should be considered when discussions of the refugee experience are had. From the Yarmouk and Ain El-Hilweh camps, to the streets of Berlin: Refugee Stories shows what it takes to hold onto one’s dreams amidst devastating circumstances.

The shorts include the following:

Here You Are (2017)

Tyma Hezam

USA/Syria, 5 minutes

Engages the post-traumatic stress experienced by refugees after their arrival to their destination.

The Pianist of Yarmouk (2017)

Vikram Ahluwalia

Syria/Palestine/Germany, 14 minutes

Meet Aeham: a classically-trained musician attempting to escape the war in Syria for safety in Europe.

After the Spring (2017)

Mathilde Babo

Germany/Syria/France, 4 minutes

On the streets of Berlin, Ahmad recounts the early days of the Syrian revolution.

A Man Returned (2016)

Mahdi Fleifel

Lebanon/Palestine, 30 minutes

Reda is 26 years old. His dreams of escaping the Palestinian refugee camp Ain El-Hilweh in Lebanon ended in failure after three years trapped in Greece. He returned with a drug addiction to life in a camp torn apart by internal strife and the encroachment of war from Syria. Against all odds he decides to marry his childhood sweetheart; a love story, bittersweet. Winner of the Silver Bear Jury Prize (short film) at the 2016 Berlinale.

Through My Eyes: Hani’s Journey (2017)

Zahra Mackaoui

Lebanon/Syria/Canada, 30 minutes

Follows the journey of blind Syrian refugee Hani Al Moliya from the camps in Lebanon to Canada. Told through his photos, it is a story of triumph against adversity, set against the backdrop of the Syrian war.

After the program there will be a panel discussion with members of the International Rescue Committee.

The Erotic Service Provider Legal Education and Research Project appeals from the district court’s dismissal of its action challenging the constitutionality of Cal. Penal Code § 647(b), which criminalizes the commercial exchange of sexual activity.

The case is ESPLERP v Gascon, which seeks to strike down California’s prostitution law as unconstitutional.

— Mike Chase (@mikechaseRights) October 18, 2017

Background:

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9.30.2016
Contact: Maxine Doogan
415-265-3302, info@espu-usa.com

Sex Workers File Appeal For Decriminalization Of Sex Work
ESPLERP Files Brief With Ninth Circuit Appealing District Court’s Dismissal Of Challenge To California’s Anti-Prostitution Statute; Seeking Decriminalization Of Sex Work.

San Francisco, CA – The Erotic Service Providers Legal Education Research Project (ESPLERP) today filed a brief in the United States Federal Ninth Circuit appealing against the Northern California District Court’s judgement dismissing ESPLERP v Gascon, which challenged California’s anti-prostitution law Penal Code 647(b) on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

“The District Court Judge’s decision was deeply flawed,” said Maxine Doogan, President of ESPLERP. “He acknowledged that Lawrence v Texas defined a constitutional right to privacy in individuals’ sexual conduct, and also acknowledged that morality was not a basis to deny that right, but then found flimsy legal arguments to deny that right. He also ignored the recommendations of international organizations like Amnesty International, the World Health Organization, the Lancet, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Global Commission on HIV and the Law, all of which call for the decriminalization of sex work.”

“Lawrence v Texas made it clear that governments may not intrude into the private lives of consenting adults by criminalizing their sexual behavior” said Mike Chase, longtime human rights activist. “It is time that the courts fully recognized those rights.”

ESPLERP’s court case is mostly funded by individuals making small contributions, but our opponents (the State of California and various District Attorneys) have very deep pockets – essentially using our taxpayer dollars to deny us our rights. Contributions to support the court case can be submitted through our crowd fundraiser – www.litigatetoemancipate.com.

The Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) is a diverse community-based coalition advancing sexual privacy rights through litigation, education, and research.

Most Recent:

UPDATED PRESS ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4, 2017
Contact: Maxine Doogan
415-265-3302, info(AT)esplerp.org

Date for Oral Arguments Set Before the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Constitutional Challenge to California’s Prostitution Law

Sex worker group argue prostitution laws infringe on adults’ constitutional right to private consensual activity

Over two years ago, in March 2015, the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) filed a complaint in US District Court claiming that California’s outdated anti-prostitution statute known as California Penal Code 647(b), unfairly deprives adults of the right to private consensual activity, criminalizes the discussion of such activity, and unconstitutionally places prohibitions on individuals’ right to freely associate.

The court case known as ESPLERP v Gascon case number 16-15927 is now before the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Oral Arguments have been set for Thursday October 19th at 9am. The case is supported by amicus briefs from over thirty civil rights and LGBTQ organizations, including the ACLU, the First Amendment Lawyers Association, the Free Speech Coalition, Transgender Law Center, and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Each side will be allotted 20 minutes to make its case.

The named defendants are San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, Marin County District Attorney Edward S. Berberian, Jr. and Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch, together with Kamala Harris, then Attorney General of the State of California, all in their official capacities. Kamala Harris is now a US Senator, and it is assumed the new Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, will continue to act in the same official capacity.
The court case has been primarily funded by small individual donations from supporters and allies through crowdfunding sites such as Crowdrise – for example litigate-to-Emancipate

WHAT: Oral Arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals challenge to California prostitution laws.

WHO: Sex workers, allies and supporters – including the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP).

WHEN Thursday, October 19th, 2017. Press conference to follow immediately after conclusion of Oral Arguments – which start at 9 AM.

Rally to Save Temporary Protected Status for  Immigrants

The Trump administration is threatening to remove Temporary Protected Status from hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, Hondurans,Nicaraguans and Haitians and deport them. Many of these people have been here for years, even decades, coming to the United States during wars or natural disasters. This will tear families apart. It will be a major human rights disaster sending people back to situations of life-threatening violence where there are continuing conflicts or economic instability.

Bay Area Coalition to Save TPSRENASE- Red National Salvadoreña en el Exterior;

AHNCA- Asociaciòn de Hondureños  de Norte California;

Bay Area Chapter of Committee in Solidarity of People of El  Salvador (CISPES);

SF Living Wage Coalition;
African Advocacy Network;

CARECEN- Central American Refugee Center;

Immigrant  Legal Resource Center;

SEIU United Service Workers West.