Calendar
RPA Membership Meeting, Warming Up the House!
The Bobby Bowens Progressive Center has a new home in Civic Center! Come see the new digs and think about how to use our space for social justice and community enrichment. Get in sync with the campaign agenda as the efforts for Ben Choi and rent control lift off for November. Meet friends, share food as part of the potluck. We will treat this quarterly meeting as a more casual time to dialogue as members and prepare for the fall.
As always, members can join or renew at the meeting, and all RPA supporters are welcomed, too.
Those interested and able to stay after 5 are invited to continue conversation with food, beverages –and perhaps music– in celebration of our interdependence and our new home.
Monthly interfaith prayer meeting, held on second Sundays, dedicated to survivors and victims of violence and police terror in Oakland.
The Baha’i community of Oakland is organizing this gathering for the community to connect, share prayers, writings and poems from all spiritual traditions, reflect and recharge and build coalitions interested in healing.
Come share prayers, quotes, poems, and favorite passages from your scriptures with us. Simple breakfast will be served.
Join Berkeley Copwatch on Sunday, July 10th to get training on how to…
* deal with the police
* safely assert your rights
* safely and effectively observe the police in your community.
The workshop will be held at the Grassroots House at 2022 Blake Street in Berkeley at 11am. The trainings usually last 2 – 3 hours.
This is a free event; snacks will be included! Bring your bodies and your buddies, as well as questions, concerns, stories, resources.
And in the meantime, check out the Berkeley Copwatch Know Your Rights Pocket Card here: http://www.berkeleycopwatch.org/resources/pocketguide05.pdf
European activists are planning protests and a 3-day conference in Warsaw in response to the NATO Summit there next weekendhttp://www.no-to-nato.org/. In solidarity, Bay Area CODEPINK will focus our monthly Walk for Peace on opposition to the Cold War dinosaur, NATO. We invite Bay Area peace organizations to join us and help spread the word.
Considering the U.S. Global Empire with its 1,000 plus military bases, is a worsening threat to the world’s stability & the major player contributing to the dire refugee crisis, we call on all Bay Area peace organizations to co-sponsor this important event and join us to oppose the NATO Beast that feeds the U.S. Empire.
When: Sunday, July 10, Gather at 11:45 am; March/Rally Noon – 2 pm
Where: Golden Gate Bridge; all gather at South End Plaza and walk to middle of the Bridge
Parking (carpooling highly recommended): Arrive by 11:15 to get a parking space in parking lots near the SE or SW side of the bridge; OR park at Crissy Field parking and walk up the stairs to the South End Plaza.
Public Transportation: MUNI Bus #28
We are in support of the 5 demands sent to us by European peace activists:
** The end of confrontation with Russia! No troops and maneuvers at Russia’s Western border.
** No further armament in the NATO member states! It can only be financed by sharply reducing spending on education, health care and social security systems.
** No new nuclear weapons (and no modernization of existing arsenals) in Europe and worldwide.
** No missile defense system in Eastern Europe because this system only furthers the dynamic of armament and confrontation.
** No NATO operations against refugees.
http://www.codepink.org/no_to_nato
“Listen Up! Tips and Techniques for Great Presentations,” a workshop with Louise Chegwidden and Janet Johnson, will give you tools to build your speaking confidence.
We will also update you on current campaigns: BAAQMD, No Coal In Oakland, Fresh Air Vallejo. Join us at early for a potluck lunch. We need your participation and your voice!
The Occupy Oakland General Assembly meets every Sunday at 4 PM at Oscar Grant Plaza amphitheater at 14th Street & Broadway near the steps of City Hall. If it is raining (as in RAINING, not just misting) at 4:00 PM we meet in the basement of the Omni Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. On every last Sunday we meet a little earlier at 3 PM to have a community potluck to which all are welcome.
OO General Assembly has met on a continuous basis for over four years! Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally . Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.
At the GA committees, caucuses, and loosely associated groups whose representatives come voluntarily report on past and future actions, with discussion. We encourage everyone participating in the Occupy Oakland GA to be part of at least one associated group, but it is by no means a requirement. If you like, just come and hear all the organizing being done! Occupy Oakland encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.
General Assembly Standard Agenda
- Welcome & Introductions
- Reports from Committees, Caucuses, & Independent Organizations
- Announcements
- (Optional) Discussion Topic
Occupy Oakland activities and contact info for some Bay Area Groups with past or present Occupy Oakland members.
Occupy Oakland Web Committee: (web@occupyoakland.org)
Strike Debt Bay Area : strikedebtbayarea.tumblr.com
Berkeley Post Office Defenders:http://berkeleypostofficedefenders.wordpress.com/
Alan Blueford Center 4 Justice:https://www.facebook.com/ABC4JUSTICE
Oakland Privacy Working Group:https://oaklandprivacy.wordpress.com
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity: prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/
Bay Area AntiRepression: antirepression@occupyoakland.org
Biblioteca Popular: http://tinyurl.com/mdlzshy
Interfaith Tent: www.facebook.com/InterfaithTent
Port Truckers Solidarity: oaklandporttruckers.wordpress.com
Bay Area Intifada: bayareaintifada.wordpress.com
Transport Workers Solidarity: www.transportworkers.org
Fresh Juice Party (aka Chalkupy) freshjuiceparty.com/chalkupy-gallery
Sudo Room: https://sudoroom.org
Omni Collective: https://omnicommons.org/
First They Came for the Homeless: https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-they-came-for-the-homeless/253882908111999
Sunflower Alliance: http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/
Bay Area Public School: http://thepublicschool.org/bay-area
San Francisco based groups:
Occupy Bay Area United: www.obau.org
Occupy Forum: (see OBAU above)
San Francisco Projection Department: http://tinyurl.com/kpvb3rv
Bay area climate justice activists have a victory to celebrate: the Oakland City Council’s unanimous June 27, 2016 vote to ban large coal shipments from a new Oakland marine export terminal. The grassroots organizing that made this possible will be highlighted with a report back by Margaret Rossoff of No Coal in Oakland. Ella Teevan of Food and Water Watch will present on and contextualize the emerging campaign to ban fracking in Alameda County. Then both speakers will reflect on the state of the movement to stop global warming to prevent catastrophic sea level rise and offer their perspectives about where do we go from here. We will conclude with a vigorous, thoughtful conversation about next steps for the Climate Justice Movement in Alameda County and the Bay.
Margaret Rossoff is active in the Sunflower Alliance and a participant in No Coal in Oakland. She facilitated Occupy Oakland meetings and was a founder of the Occupy Oakland Environmental Justice Committee.
Ella Teevan is Northern California Regional Organizer for Food and Water Watch. She is leading the campaign to ban fracking in Alameda County. As a student activist at U.C. Berkeley 2011-2014, she participated in Occupy Cal.
Homework Assignment: Oakland Votes to Block Large Shipments of Coal
SPONSOR: Green Sundays are a series of free programs & discussions sponsored by the Green Party of Alameda County. They are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month. The monthly business meeting of the County Council of the Green Party of Alameda County normally follows at 7 pm. Council meetings are always open to anyone who is interested. Please visit our website https://acgreens.wordpress.com/
The Community Democracy Project is your connection to direct democracy in Oakland! Convened out of Occupy Oakland in Fall 2011, we’re gathering steam on a campaign to bring the people back in touch with the city’s resources through participatory budgeting.
Picture this: Across Oakland, Neighborhood Assemblies are regularly
held in every community. People come together to tackle the important issues of their neighborhoods and of the city. At these assemblies, people don’t just have discussions–they learn from one another, from city staff, and they make fundamental decisions about how the city should run. They decide the city budget.
Democratic, community budgeting is a powerful step toward building strong communities, real democracy, and economic justice–and it’s being done all over the world.
The budget of the City Oakland totals more than $1 billion per year. Although part of the budget must be used for specific purposes, still over half of the budget–over $500 billion per year–consists of general purpose funds paid by the taxes, fees, and fines of the people of Oakland. The Mayor and the City Council decide the city budget, with minimal input from the community.
Working together, we will not only get a seat at the table–we will REBUILD the table itself. Participatory democracy is real democracy–join us to say: Local People, Local Resources, Local Power!
The Anti Police-Terror Project calls on Oakland police officers: Blow the whistle on corruption, misconduct, and predatory policing
In the face of the growing scandal engulfing the Oakland Police Department, rather than focus on solving the problems Mayor Libby Schaaf has ordered an investigation to identify and punish whistleblowers who are bringing these problems to the attention of the public. Additionally, the mayor appears to be using distraction tactics by diverting attention to the so called “racist text messages,” while pointing out that these were sent by Black officers.
Oakland needs a Mayor who will embrace transparency and reform at a time like this, when public trust in city government is virtually non-existent. But even the mayor cannot legally create negative consequences for someone who does the right thing.
In light of the recent media attention to long-standing corruption in the department, some officers have said that they want to stop observing the “Code of Silence” about conduct that goes against their oath to protect and serve the City of Oakland. Many of those same officers may fear retaliation, a ruined career or worse as a result of going against the expectation to look the other way when the abuse of authority occurs.
APTP calls on all officers ready to speak up about illegal, unethical or biased conduct by other members of the Oakland Police Department or other City staff or officials to take a stand now. Our legal team at the Siegel & Yee law firm has created a hotline for you to call to report such conduct. We can provide you with legal advice if you are facing retaliation for going public with information about such conduct, and your anonymity will be protected.
In light of the recent media attention to long-standing corruption in the department, some officers have said that they want to stop observing the “Code of Silence” about conduct that goes against their oath to protect and serve the City of Oakland. Many of those same officers may fear retaliation, a ruined career or worse as a result of going against the expectation to look the other way when the abuse of authority occurs.
We would like to remind those officers that the Oakland Whistleblower Ordinance and State Law protect those who come forward and report misconduct from losing their jobs for doing the right thing.
Specifically:
“No officer or employee of the City of Oakland shall use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to restrain or prevent any other person who is acting in good faith and upon reasonable belief as a whistleblower.”
“No officer or employee of the City of Oakland shall use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to cause any adverse employment action as a reprisal against a City officer or employee who acts as a whistleblower in good faith and with reasonable belief that improper conduct has occurred.”
Siegel & Yee has a long track record of successfully representing City of Oakland and other public employees in whistleblower lawsuits.If you see misconduct, please call our hotline at 510.839.1200 or email evidence to policehotline@siegelyee.com.
Black Lives Matter Vigil and Community Healing Circle, UCB, Sproul Steps 4:30 on Monday, July 11th. pic.twitter.com/bayxUuF5S4
— Na'ilah Suad Nasir (@ProfNai) July 9, 2016
In January 1994 the Zapatistas took the city of San Cristobal in an armed revolution to fight for the rights and freedom of the indigenous people of Chiapas. This rebellion has not died down since ’94 though the media is ignoring it. The Zapatistas are now functioning in complete autonomy from the Mexican Government and have formed their government without hierarchy and based in consensus.
Maria Donjacour went and visited one of the Zapatista communities and is by no means an expert, but wishes to share some of the history of the movement, some of the native language she learned there (Tzotzil). In addition, there will be an engaged discussion in order to practice some of the ideas that emerge from the language that can help us in our organizing to fight the forces that destroy our communities as well as the ones in southern Mexico and around the world.
Maria grew up in San Francisco, and has attended many OccupyForum events. She is interested in dance, social justice and political change. She is a Division 2 student at Hampshire College, Amherst MA.
Pirate Party of San Francisco
Our next meeting will be at Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia Street on July 11th, 6:30pm, called by Patrick per shotgun rules.
We have a mailing list—join it to stay in the loop.
Previous Meetings
- Meeting 0 – June 27, 2016 – Notes
OTU’s Mission
The Oakland Tenants Union is an organization of housing activists dedicated to protecting tenant rights and interests. OTU does this by working directly with tenants in their struggle with landlords, impacting legislation and public policy about housing, community education, and working with other organizations committed to furthering renters’ rights. The Oakland Tenants Union is open to anyone who shares our core values and who believes that tenants themselves have the primary responsibility to work on their own behalf.
Monthly Meetings
The Oakland Tenants Union meets regularly at 7:00 pm on the second Monday evening of each month. Our monthly meetings are held in the Community Room of the Madison Park Apartments, 100 – 9th Street (at Oak Street, across from the Lake Merritt BART Station). To enter, gently knock on the window of the room to the right of the main entrance to the building. At the meetings, first we focus on general issues affecting renters city-wide and then second we offer advice to renters regarding their individual concerns.
If you have an issue, a question, or need advice about a tenant/landlord issue, please call us at (510) 704-5276. Leave a message with your name and phone number and someone will get back to you.
Imagine what free City College could mean for building enrollment at our College and for the studentsand would-be studentsin our City.
This Tuesday our supervisors will vote on the initiative to make City College of San Francisco FREE to city residents and workers. They will also vote on the identified funding source, a small increase in the transfer tax on SF luxury buildings and mansions. You can help show them how much our community supports making CCSF free for San Franciscans. Join us! We are delivering petitions and letting supervisors know: this is important for our City and our College!
City Hall (meet on Polk St. steps)
• join our delegation to deliver petition signatures
• tell supes to vote YES: make CCSF free for San Franciscans
• supervisors will be voting on the initiative to make City College of San Francisco FREE for city residents and workers
Scheduled for the July 12th Berkeley city council meeting is a proposal to draft an ordinance for civilian oversight over surveillance technology used by law enforcement in city limits. Surveillance oversight would be steered by an open participatory privacy working-group. Surveillance technology includes drones, camera systems, license plate readers, facial recognition software, IMSI catchers (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), social media aggregator software, and much more. A privacy working-group would place limits on how technology is used, the vendors that law enforcement purchases from, and the types of data sharing agreements law enforcement enters into.
At the meeting, there will be be a comment period for the proposed surveillance oversight ordinance, during which members of the public can speak in favor of community control over police surveillance. Members of the public may stay #Anonymous if they so choose – there is no requirement to state your name.
(Be aware that the item is listed last on the schedule as Item #41. The city council meeting starts at 7:30PM, but the item may not be heard until around 9PM or later. But even though the item is listed last, it could be moved sooner in the schedule. Bring food and a book to read while waiting.)
Next INTRO TO SURJ meeting. Join us as we engage white people to work for racial justice.
Press Event and Rally
Front steps of City Hall, Frank Ogawa/Oscar Grant Plaza
Join the Twitter/Facebook/Call-in storm at 1:30-2:30pm!
* Information for Twitter/Facebook/Call-in Storm: Thurs. July 14, 1:30-2:30p
#protectoaklandrenters
“Please support Kaplan’s Renter Protections Act as it will be introduced on July 19th without gutting or weakening the existing language!”
@DanKalb @Abel_Guillen @annieforoakland @LynetteGM @LibbySchaaf
- District 1/North Oakland- Kalb: 510 238-7001
- District 2/Eastlake/Chinatown/San Antonio/Trestle Glen/Crocker- Guillén: 510-238-7002
- District 3/West Oakland/Downtown/Adams Point- McElhaney: 510-238-7003
- District 4/Hills/Laurel/Dimond/Allendale- Campbell-Washington: 510-238-7004
- Mayor Libby Schaaf: 510-238-3141
Please Join us in a PEACEFUL-FAMILY FRIENDLY Vigil/Rally and March for our Brother Teodoro Valencia Jr..
Teo was known and loved by many people. Teo was charming, caring and a loving person with a beautiful smile. He was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend. On March 11, 2016 Teo was wrongfully killed by the Newark Police Department. He was shot intentionally in the back with an AR-15 Assult Rifle by a single police officer.
Our family’s goals are to bring justice for Teo, as well as truth and light to the darkness that the police have been using to mislead and opress our community.
Our demands for this event include the following:
1.) Get Justice for Teo. This includes a retraction and public apology from the Newark Police Department; as well as exposing the officer, prosecuting and firing him.
2.) De-militarize the Newark Police Department. This includes the removal of AR-15 Assault Rifles and similar combat weapons; as well as training the police to do their job with minimum use of force.
We welcome everyone and anyone who has a heart and cares about their community, family, and friends. We do not want this injustice to happen to anyone else. “Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” -1 John 3:18
Additional Details:
– We will be meeting on the sidewalk, and we ask that you park your car on the street or in the shopping center to the left of 7-11- not in the St. Edwards Church or KFC Parking Lots.
– We will update you with details as we receive them
It’s all hands on deck here at the Ella Baker Center and we need your help!
Join us at the Ella Baker Center’s monthly member meeting this Thursday, July 14th to learn about what we do and get involved in our organizing efforts.
We will be planning for Night Out for Safety and Liberation, an event on August 2nd where we will redefine what safety means for us in Oakland. We will also be organizing around the campaign to Stop Urban Shield in Alameda County.
Vegetarian dinner will be provided and the building is wheelchair accessible. We ask that this meeting be a fragrance free zone for accessibility.