Calendar
“Climate change and healthcare are not separate issues. Marginalized communities consistently are exposed to the greatest amount of pollution. Our health, our communities health, and the health of our planet are interconnected systems.”
8:30 -9 AM: Nonviolent Moral Fusion Direct Action and support role training, required for everyone participating in the direct action and for medics, marshals, and peacekeepers
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1300 N St, Sacramento
9-12 AM: Final Training for everyone planning on participating in the Direct Action or as a Marshal or Peacekeeper.
12 – 2 PM: Set-Up & Learning Songs (anyone who wishes to volunteer is welcome to meet up at the volunteer tent on the Capitol steps to help set-up)
2 PM: Rally and Press Conference
West Steps of the State Capitol
10th St and Capitol Mall
3 PM Demonstration.
More information and RSVP here
Arrange transportation from the Bay Area here
Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
OccupyForum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
Historical Context, United States Decline,
and the Corporate-Owned Media
We will examine the United States’ attempts to prevent its Global Hegemonic decline and the implications of that effort by situating United States foreign policy within “Historical Context.”
Current geo-political examples which need to be situated within “Historical Context” include: 1.) The United States violating the Iranian nuclear agreement by withdrawing from it; and, 2.) United States-North Korean relations, including the Trump administration pulling out of the scheduled June 12 summit.
This topic raises the following questions: 1.) What is meant by “Historical Context” and “Hegemony;” 2.) Why does the corporate-owned media (and the PBS News Hour) not situate United States foreign policy within “Historical Context;” and, 3.) What does situating United States foreign policy into “Historical Context” tell us?
To address these questions the talk will: 1.) Explain what is meant by “Historical Context” and “Hegemony;” 2.) Discuss the role of the corporate-owned media (and the PBS News Hour) in presenting “News” about United States foreign policy; 3.)Place the recent geo-political crises in “Historical Context,” with an emphasis on the Trump administration; and, 4.) Assess the geo-political contradictions that the United State policy operates in (and intensifies).
Professor George Wright taught Political Science at California State University, Chico from 1969 to 2003. He also taught History at Skyline Community College from 2004 to 2013. His major research includes United States Politics, International Political Economy, and the Politics of International Sport. He has a Ph.D. from the Department of Politics at the University of Leeds (UK).
Time will be allotted for announcements.
Donations to Occupy Forum to cover costs are encouraged; no one turned away
Because of the COVID pandemic we will be meeting virtually via Zoom on the first Monday of the month.
Meeting ID: 828 0976 4186
The Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality & State Repression (OGC) is a
grassroots democratic organization that was formed as a conscious united front for justice against police brutality. The OGC is involved in the struggle for police accountability and is committed to stopping police brutality.
In alliance with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) we organized the October 23, 2010 labor and community rally for Justice for Oscar Grant. On that day the ILWU shut down the Bay Area ports in solidarity. Our mission is to educate, organize and mobilize people against police and state repression. Sisters and brothers! The Oscar Grant Committee invites you to join us in this vital struggle.
We meet on the 1st Monday of each month
You can join our discussion list by sending a blank (doesn’t even need a subject) email to
oscargrantcommittee-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Meet local author Nancy Schimmel, who will discuss her work and read from her book, Occupella: Singing in the Lifeboats.
About the Book:
An account of the first year of Occupella, an activist song-leading group that grew out of song circles at Occupy Oakland and Occupy Berkeley formed by five professional singer-songwriters in 2011. Occupella is still busy leading songs at rallies, marches and meetings..
About the Author:
Nancy Schimmel is a veteran of the sixties peace movement and the women’s movement. her songs have been sung by Pete Seeger, Sally Rogers, and Grupo Raiz. She is working on a biography of her mother, Malvina Reynolds, who wrote “Little Boxes” and other songs.
For 22 years East Bay Food Not Bombs has been providing free food to the public in People’s Park and various locations in Oakland, AND bringing food to protests and encampments. Our message: you’re not poor and homeless because you suck, it’s because a sick society prioritizes war and greed over basic human needs.
Free soup for the Revolution!
The Privacy Advisory Commission provides advice to the City of Oakland on best practices to protect Oaklanders’ privacy rights in connection with the City’s purchase and use of surveillance equipment and other technology that collects or stores our data.
Agenda:
4. 5:15pm: Surveillance Equipment Ordinance – Oakland Department of Transportation/Vendor use of UAV/Drones. Review and take possible action on use policy and anticipated impact report.
5. 5:25pm: Illegal Dumping Project – a) staff update on project and District Attorney direct monitoring of video; b) discuss Surveillance Equipment Ordinance compliance next steps.
6. 5:30pm: Surveillance Equipment Ordinance – status update regarding department outreach for survey of existing equipment.
7. 5:45pm: Drug Enforcement Administration Memorandum Of Understanding – review and take possible action on staff proposed MOU.
8. 5:55pm: Surveillance Equipment Ordinance – “Large Scale Event” – discuss potential monitoring of Warriors championship parade.
9. 6:25pm: Surveillance Equipment Ordinance – Oakland Department of Transportation/Automated license plate reader proposal. Review and take possible action on use policy and anticipated impact report.
We are holding the event at OneFam Cafe to additionally highlight the tragic story being repeated too often across the City: Black people being pushed out of Oakland. Tony Coleman has been fighting to hold onto his 7th street spot. So we’ll show him some love and hear how we can support before diving into the evening’s topic.
This campaign is committed to building our platform in partnership with the community. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. We want to uplift the amazing progressive grassroots work that is already happening.
Over the next few weeks, we will host People’s Assemblies on everything from public safety to education. Together we will imagine an Oakland with housing security, true public safety, sanctuary for all, and create a plan to get us there.
Our first People’s Assembly will focus on the arts, and the displacement of the very artists who make Oakland the place where everybody wants to be. Join us to dream about an Oakland where we recognize the contributions of artists to our shared culture, and support them so they can remain in the community they helped to create. We invite artists and culture keepers to join us for this critical conversation where we will explore:
– How are artists being pushed out of Oakland?
– What do artists need to stay in Oakland?
– What should the City of Oakland be doing to keep art and artists in the Town?
Light refreshments provided.
KPFA Radio 94.1FM & Project Censored present
Advance Tickets at:
Books Inc/Berkeley, Pegasus (3 sites), Moe’s, Walden Pond Bookstore, Mrs. Dalloway’s. East Bay Books
Wheelchair access
Medea Benjamin, one of America’s best-known and most effective activists,co-founder of Code Pink and Global Exchange, is the author of Drone Warfare and Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S—Saudi Connection. In 2012 she was awarded the U.S. Peace Memorial Foundation’s Peace Prize, and in 2014 the Gandhi Peace Award.
Now Medea has written the first general-audience progressive book on Iran’s history and politics, recounting Iran’s history from the pre-colonial period through the CIA-engineered coup that in 1953 overthrew the country’s democratic leadership, to its emergence as the only nation (other than Russia, of course) both Democrats and Republicans regularly denounce. Benjamin draws upon her firsthand experiences with Iranian politicians, activists and everyday citizens to provide a deeper understanding of the extraordinary complexities of Iranian society and the national role in the region.
In 1979 the Iranian Revolution brought a Shia theocracy to the 80 million inhabitants of the Middle East’s second largest country. In the decades since, bitter relations have persisted between the U.S. and Iran. Yet how is it that Iran has become the primary target of American antagonism, when Saudi Arabia – a regime far more repressive – has become one of America’s closest allies?
Tackling the contradictions in Iran’s systerm of government, its religion, and its citizens’ way of life, Inside Iran cuts sharply through the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding U.S.-Iranian relations to present a realistic and hopeful case for the two nations’ future.
Mickey Huff, Project Censored’s current director, is also president of the nonprofit Media Freedom Foundation. To date, he has edited or coedited eight volumes of Censored and contributed numerous chapters to these books. In addition, Mickey is at he frequent host of the Project Censored show aired on KPFA Radio.
KPFA benefit
There will be an informal get-together to celebrate:
– The awesome lawsuit victory in United State Postal Service v. City of Berkeley, validating Berkeley’s Historic District Zoning Overlay Ordinance!
– The long and so-far successful struggle to keep Berkeley’s historic and culturally important downtown Post Office preserved and operating!
We will gather on JUNE 8TH, 2018 at (where else?) THE SIDEWALK AND STEPS OF THE DOWNTOWN BERKELEY POST OFFICE, at 5:00 PM.
The principal gastronomic experience will be provided, while you’all are encouraged to bring your very own dishes, desserts and delights.
The gathering will be informal. Perhaps a (very) brief summary of the lawsuit victory and what might come next, followed by an open mic for anyone who wishes to speak briefly about the struggle or in memory our comrade John.
We look forward to good cheer, good conversation, reminisces and reuniting for all.
The West Oakland Community clinic offers donation based holistic healing modalities monthly, on the second Saturday.
We are committed to creating a safe space and affordable (even free) massage therapy and other therapies and services to those most marginalized in the community.
This month we will have:
Massage Therapy of various styles
Energy work
Cranialsacral
Australian Osteopathy
Narcan Kit training and Harm reduction (4 Pm- pick up kits anytime)
We always have a free VEGAN hot Meal.
There are other various donations at times- e.g traditional chinese medicine supplements.
You can pre-book a session (not required) by emailing us at:
westoaklandclinic@gmail.com
Email us to get involved or for all other inquires as well.
Hope to see you there!!!!
Mark your calendar and register on Eventbrite! pic.twitter.com/cBuCfwEVVk
— Coalition for Police Accountability (@oakcopoversight) May 23, 2018
June 9, 2018: 2-5pm
RSVP for location
https://www.surjbayarea.org/events/immigrant-solidarity-rapid-response-training
Join the Immigrant Liberation Movement and the Alameda County
Immigration Legal and Education Partnership for a special solidarity
training for immigrant freedom and justice in the East Bay. The need to
unify in support of migrants and their families is greater than any time
in recent memory. Participants will train in documenting and monitoring
ICE activity in real time, learn how to accompany immigrant families
impacted by ICE raids and other ways to strengthen existing local
immigrant defense and rapid response capacity.
The event is coordinated by the surj Anti-White Supremacist working
group and Kehila synagogue. Location in Oakland.
Free Food – Live Bands & Performances
OneFam and Bikes 4 Life have a rich history, but they are facing eviction unless we unite to defend it.
OneFam, located in West Oakland, is a community-based organization that utilizes a series of for-profit social enterprise businesses to support its non-profit mission. OneFam started years ago with Bikes 4 Life. It has since grown to include the other units on the property: the 7th Street Rev Cafe, and other land subleased for gardening projects. The goals of OneFam are as follows:
— Inspire community members to take part in politics by building a social justice movement with a diverse mix of artists and activists
— Raise the consciousness of young people and turn them into local leaders by creating a space for education and awareness about the issues of their community.
OneFam has roots in the Oscar Grant movement. Many meetings happened in OneFam spaces. OneFam is an amazing community organization. Unfortunately it has a troubled history with its property owners.
Help save 7th Street Culture! Come out for the BBQ block party!
#OneFam #DefendOneFam
This spring, teachers and other school workers in predominantly right-to-work “red” states organized together and struck for more education funding in confrontations with their state governments. They won unprecedented gains. What can we – in a “blue” state with collective bargaining rights like California – learn from their experiences? What challenges lie ahead? Join us for this critical discussion with key leaders and activists from West Virginia, Kentucky, and Arizona.
Speakers:
Rebecca Garelli – Middle School Math and Science Educator; Arizona Educators United Lead Organizer
Tia Edison – Elementary School Teacher, Jefferson County (Kentucky) Education Association Executive Board, Black Lives Matter
Barbara Boyd – Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
Nicole McCormick – Music Teacher PreK-5, Mercer County (West Virginia) Education Association President-Elect
This event is sponsored by the Oakland Education Association and co-sponsored by the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, the United Teachers of Richmond, the Peralta Federation of Teachers, and United Educators of San Francisco
Meet Local Author Lise Pearlman, who will discuss her work and read from her newest book.
About the Book:
Call Me Phaedra: The Life and Times of Movement Lawyer Fay Stender provides an inside view of activism during the McCarthy Era, the Civil Rights Movement, Free Speech Era, the rise of black power, and the Women’s Rights Movement. It chronicles the extraordinary life and career of Fay Stender, focused particularly on her work as a rare female criminal defense lawyer and ground-breaking prisoners’ rights advocate. The book focuses on Stender’s achievements and challenges representing two black revolutionary clients. Her work both won her international acclaim as a top Movement lawyer and propelled her to a tragic end. The saga of this feminine icon will fascinate those who lived through these eras as well as young adults today interested in the history of American activism and, particularly, women who challenged white-male monopoly power. Those who are working to change American society for the better today can draw valuable lessons from this important new biography and history book which reflects years of research, including access to several unpublished private collections and scores of exclusive interviews.
About the Author:
Lise Pearlman appeared in Stanley Nelson’s acclaimed 2015 film “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” as the country’s leading expert on the 1968 Huey Newton death penalty trial. Her first history book, The Sky’s The Limit: People v. Newton, The Real Trial of the 20th Century? [Regent Press 2012] won awards in the categories of law, history and multiculturalism. Pearlman was an undergraduate in the first class that included women at Yale University when Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale was tried for murder in New Haven. She then moved to the Bay Area where she attended Berkeley Law School and then clerked for California Chief Justice Donald White before practicing law in Oakland. From 1989-1995, she served as the first Presiding Judge of the California State Bar Court. Pearlman has spent almost all of her adult life in Oakland where the Newton trial took place and where she still resides. www.lisapearlman.com
Russia in the 20th century was the site of enormous upheavals the Bolshevik Revolution, the massive industrialization, the Great Patriotic War, the Cold War, the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the Yeltsin era. The Putin presidency (2000-present) poses particularly difficult political and theoretical problems for imperialists and Marxists alike. to review imperialism’s (U.S.) incessant lying attacks on ex-USSR/Putin, see this source;
https://consortiumnews.com/2018/02/06/understanding-russia-un-demonizing-putin
For 30 years Sharon Tennison, with high marks for her work in particular by some Leftists, talked to Soviets/Russians and U.S. Americans to try to bring them together, to prevent mutual atomic bombing. Her work took a surprising turn, one that needs examination by us. Her report is The Power of Impossible Ideas: Ordinary Citizens’ Extraordinary Efforts to Avert International Crises.
Two ICSS members will examine these factors from a Marxist perspective. Presentations by ICSS members Richard Fallenbaum, a retired tech worker, and Norma Harrison, a woman, mother, public school teacher, wife, electronics journey-one, Realtor.
On Sunday, June 10, 2018 at 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the MCLI office at 1715 Francisco Street, Berkeley, CA 94703. MCLI will be hosting a Potluck/BBQ. This will be a casual event and we encourage all MCLI supporters to come and bring friends, family, and colleagues.
This will be a great opportunity to socialize with friends and to meet the new board members and leadership, learn about new and ongoing work, and eat great food with others who care about human rights.
RSVP AT 510-355-7010
NOTE: During the Plague Year of 2020 GA will be held every week or two on Zoom. To find out the exact time a date get on the Occupy Oakland email list my sending an email to:
occupyoakland-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
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 for some reason the amphitheater is being used otherwise and/or OGP itself is inaccessible, we will meet at Kaiser Park, right next to the statues, on 19th St. between San Pablo and Telegraph. 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. (Note: we tend to meet at 3:00 PM during the cooler months from November to early March after Daylights Savings Time.)
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 six years, since October 2011! 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
We document current events, make films together, steward an editing suite and share a film equipment library. We also host film screenings, often with local directors, and put on an annual short film festival for independent Bay Area filmmakers. Our goal is to make the digital filmmaking accessible – no overpriced college degree or certificate program required!
We are also a good group to reach out to if you’d like to screen a film at the Omni. We can be reached at liberatedlens@lists.riseup.net
We usually meet in the basement, unless otherwise noted.
Strike Debt is building a debt resistance movement. We believe that most individual debt is illegitimate and unjust. Most of us fall into debt because we are increasingly deprived of the means to acquire the basic necessities of life: health care, education, and housing. Because we are forced to go into debt simply in order to live, we think it is right and moral to resist it.
- Presenting debt and inequality related topics at forums, workshops and in radio productions.
Promoting single-payer / Medicare for All to end the plague of medical debt - money bail reform and fighting modern day debtors’ prisons and exploitative ticketing and fining schemes
- Tiny Homes and other solutions for the homeless.
- Student debt resistance. Check out the Debt Collective, our sister organization
- helping out America’s only non-profit check-cashing organization and fighting against usurious for-profit pay-day lenders and their ilk
- Working on debarring US Banks that have been convicted of felonies from municipal contracts, and divesting from the Wall St. banks
- Promoting the concept of Basic Income
- Advocating for Postal banking
- Organizing for public banking in Oakland! We made the first steps happen… now there’s a spinoff group
- Bring your own debt-related project!
If you are new to Strike Debt and want to come early, meet one or two of us and get a briefing on our projects before we dive into our agenda, email us at strike.debt.bay.area@gmail.com .
Strike Debt – Principles of Solidarity
Strike Debt is building a debt resistance movement. We believe that most individual debt is illegitimate and unjust. Most of us fall into debt because we are increasingly deprived of the means to acquire the basic necessities of life: health care, education, and housing. Because we are forced to go into debt simply in order to live, we think it is right and moral to resist it.
We also oppose debt because it is an instrument of exploitation and political domination. Debt is used to discipline us, deepen existing inequalities, and reinforce racial, gendered, and other social hierarchies. Every Strike Debt action is designed to weaken the institutions that seek to divide us and benefit from our division. As an alternative to this predatory system, Strike Debt advocates a just and sustainable economy, based on mutual aid, common goods, and public affluence.
Strike Debt is committed to the principles and tactics of political autonomy, direct democracy, direct action, creative openness, a culture of solidarity, and commitment to anti-oppressive language and conduct. We struggle for a world without racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and all forms of oppression.
Strike Debt holds that we are all debtors, whether or not we have personal loan agreements. Through the manipulation of sovereign and municipal debt, the costs of speculator-driven crises are passed on to all of us. Though different kinds of debt can affect the same household, they are all interconnected, and so all household debtors have a common interest in resisting.
Strike Debt engages in public education about the debt-system to counteract the self-serving myth that finance is too complicated for laypersons to understand. In particular, it urges direct action as a way of stopping the damage caused by the creditor class and their enablers among elected government officials. Direct action empowers those who participate in challenging the debt-system.
Strike Debt holds that we owe the financial institutions nothing, whereas, to our friends, families and communities, we owe everything. In pursuing a long-term strategy for national organizing around this principle, we pledge international solidarity with the growing global movement against debt and austerity.