On October 22nd, Andy Lopez, a 13 year old boy was shot and killed by deputy Erik Gelhaus,(a supposed firearms expert that writes columns for many militia magazines) who says he mistook the toy gun that Andy was carrying for a real rifle. The deputy ended up shooting 8 rounds – 7 hitting and killing Andy. 2 months later, no justice has been served, initial findings from the Sheriff’s Department show that the deputy acted according to procedure in his use of deadly force, and on December 10th, Gelhaus returned to administrative work at the Sheriff’s Department.

Information source and livestream info.

Don’t  Steal our Postal Services Rally

In front of the Staples store

2352 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

The Berkeley Post Office and post offices all over the US are under threat of being fraudulently sold!

In a new attack, US postal services have been snuck into 84 Staples stores all over the country – including Berkeley.  Postal services are being provided by low-wage Staples employees, not living-wage Postal professionals.

Please join us to:

• Oppose privatization of the US Postal Services and all public resources. Privatization brings higher prices and worse quality.
• Oppose union busting – replacing union jobs with low paying jobs that offer poor or no benefits.  

Non-union pay lowers everyone’s standard of living (USPS compensation $20-$30/hr + benefits. Staples $8 – $12/hr, few if any benefits)

 Sponsored by Berkeley Post Office Defenders.  Supported by Strike Debt Bay Area.

Rally Poster.

Our weekly open meeting for members and supporters to discuss the weeks tasks and projects. Come get plugged into ongoing housing defense work! We have abundant and varied work for all folks in any number of meaningful projects.

Rain location: SF Pizza, 1500 Broadway, Oakland

Our weekly open meeting for members and supporters to discuss the week’s tasks and projects. Come get plugged into ongoing housing defense work! We have abundant and varied work for all folks in any number of meaningful projects.

Rain location: SF Pizza, 1500 Broadway, Oakland

Through the end of January we will have General Assembly at the sudoroom on 2141 Broadway, Oakland, CA.

Here are instructions to access the room, the entrance is on 22nd Street:

https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Getting_there

This Sunday will be a Cryptoparty at the sudoroom, along with the third Sunday in January, these will be opportunities to update your digital profile so the government can’t easily track your every move.  More blather on this to follow this afternoon when I have a moment.

Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally and has equal decision-making power. Occupy Oakland’s General Assembly uses a participatory decision-making process appropriately called, “Occupy Oakland’s Collective Decision-Making Process.” Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.

Autonomous Action & the General Assembly
The bulk of the work of Occupy Oakland does NOT happen in the General Assembly. It happens in various committees, caucuses, and associated groups that report back to the general assembly. Everyone participating in Occupy Oakland should be part of at least one associated group. Occupy Oakland encourages autonomous actions that do not require consensus from the General Assembly. This encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.

General Assembly Standard Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Welcome Announcements
3. Agenda Overview
4. Forum
5. Reports from Committees, Subcommittees, Caucuses, & Working Groups
6. Action Announcements
7. General Announcements

The Occupy Oakland General Assembly will convene over food and libation this week at Mike’s house in El Cerrito.  We normally meet at 2:00 PM, but our holiday GA, hike and social will begin later than our usual time: 3:00 PM for a hike on the Albany Hill, 4:30 PM for a short meeting, 5:30 PM for a holiday meal.
If you would like to attend either:

– send email to Mike (electionamend@gmail.com) for directions
– call Mike at 510-299-0493 for directions
– show up at the Oscar Grant Plaza amphitheatre by 2:30 for a ride to Mike’s house. Or call Ed at 510-763-0591 for a ride

All are welcome! Please bring something to share if you can.

This will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Federal Reserve.

Monday evening from 6 – 9, OccupyForum will hold its meeting at the FED (101 Market) and have a panel of speakers.

There are some Scheduled events.

5:30 – anti-corporate caroling

6-6:30 – Illuminator will project a message onto the Fed,  also the Petaluminator, possibly Light Brigade
Please bring flashlights and other ways to “shed light” on the FED

6:30 – 7:00 – Occupy Forum, topic the Federal Reserve and alternatives (see below)

 And other ideas:

– Chalkupy: Ideas for a giant monopoly board are forming, also everyone can write messaging, answer the question “Why are you FED UP with the monetary system?” (or other messaging)

– Blankets: We’re asking everyone who can to drop by a Goodwill or Salvation Army or thrift store and get a blanket (they’re cheap! a few bucks)… The idea is to keep warm while we’re there and then leave them in the free pile for folks who need them.

– Caroling (with words to describe the FED provided)

The FEDERAL RESERVE BANK (commonly called the Fed) and Wall Street banks create just about all the money we use every day. Most people think that the Fed is an agency of the Federal Government. But it’s not. It’s 100% owned by the largest private banks in the US. The Fed uses its incredible power to decide how much new money to create and, more importantly, where to spend it, to benefit the Wall Street banks.

Since most of us think new money is generated by government, we would also expect that money to be directed toward things that benefit all of us such as highways and other infrastructure, education, health care and social security.

However, all money the government spends has to be borrowed at interest from the banks and the Fed. The banks and the Fed create this money, instead, by investing in areas that will provide them with maximum profits – usually wars, the coal and oil industries and real estate. This results in crashes like the current one which started in 2008, and depressions, and no consideration is given to the moral or environmental costs of these investments. Profits over people as usual.

The Fed operates largely in secret, and is not required to be accountable to anyone. There has never been a proper audit of the Federal Reserve Bank. The power to create money is arguably the most important single power in the US economy and yet the people have no control over it!

It’s time to shine a light on the workings of the Fed. We need to start discussing solutions like making the Fed accountable and handing over the power of money creation to the Federal Government! This could be the single most powerful way to create a more democratic economy that serves the interests of all of us – not just a few who profit immensely off of our labor.

Join us this Monday, Dec. 23 at 5pm on the Federal Reserve’s 100th Birthday when we will Illuminate the Fed!

Speakers will include Occupy activist Jane Smith, who will provide us with details on how the Fed works (or doesn’t work), and how we can take control of money creation away from big banks. The Illuminators will be there to project images and messages onto the FED building and there will be other events as well, listed below. Bring flashlights! Bring blankets! Bring ideas for chalking: “Why are you FED UP?”

This meeting we will be discussing the Shock Doctrine Documentary, video-lectures from Michael Hudson, and a debate between the Monodern Monetary Theorists vs. the Austrian School of Economics.  Additionally, an edition of the Real World Exonomics Review headed by Steve Keen is attached and can be discussed as well.  Come join the raucus assembly of amateur economic theorists!

Shock Doctrine video

Michael Hudson on Money, Debt, and History video

Modern Monetary Theory vs. the Austrian School of Economics video

64th Real World Economics Review

Subject: Urgent Action: Protest against Korean Government Repression on Dec 27 Noon

SF Rally to Defend the Right to Strike! Free All Arrested Strikers!
Stop Mass Firings of South Korean Railway Workers!
Victory to the KCTU General Strike!

8,565 Korail workers have been suspended and their union offices raided because of their strike action against privatization which began on December 9, 2013. This is not the first attack by the Korean
government on the labor movement. Teachers’ unions have been threatened with being banned and workers have been sued personally for going on strike causing personal bankruptcy and suicides.

The Transport Workers Solidarity Committee TWSC has initiated the call for a solidarity rally and labor/community delegation to go to the Korean Consulate in San Francisco and submit a statement
opposing the suspension of Korea Rail Workers, the attack on their union and in support of their struggle against privatization. Similar schemes also threaten transit workers and public workers in the Bay Area including the ongoing attack on ATU 192 AC Transit workers and BART ATU 1555, SEIU 1021 and AFSCME 3993. This attack was directly connected to international companies like Veolia who are privatizing transit services in complicity whith state governments run by both Democrat and Republican Parties, are pushing to outlaw strikes and collective bargaining.

We urge all transportation workers, public workers, trade unionists and all workers to join us in the action in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in Korea and against the action of the Korean Railroad corporation (KORAIL) supported by the Korean government. This rally is also endorsed by the United Public Workers For Action www.upwa.info

If you would like to endorse this action please contact Transport Workers Solidarity Committee www.transportworkers.org (415)282-1908

Our weekly open meeting for members and supporters to discuss the weeks tasks and projects. Come get plugged into ongoing housing defense work! We have abundant and varied work for all folks in any number of meaningful projects.

Rain location: SF Pizza, 1500 Broadway, Oakland

Our weekly open meeting for members and supporters to discuss the week’s tasks and projects. Come get plugged into ongoing housing defense work! We have abundant and varied work for all folks in any number of meaningful projects.

Rain location: SF Pizza, 1500 Broadway, Oakland

Through the end of January we will have General Assembly at the sudoroom on 2141 Broadway, Oakland, CA.

Here are instructions to access the room, the entrance is on 22nd Street:

https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Getting_there

This Sunday will be a Cryptoparty at the sudoroom, along with the third Sunday in January, these will be opportunities to update your digital profile so the government can’t easily track your every move.  More blather on this to follow this afternoon when I have a moment.

Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally and has equal decision-making power. Occupy Oakland’s General Assembly uses a participatory decision-making process appropriately called, “Occupy Oakland’s Collective Decision-Making Process.” Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.

Autonomous Action & the General Assembly
The bulk of the work of Occupy Oakland does NOT happen in the General Assembly. It happens in various committees, caucuses, and associated groups that report back to the general assembly. Everyone participating in Occupy Oakland should be part of at least one associated group. Occupy Oakland encourages autonomous actions that do not require consensus from the General Assembly. This encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.

General Assembly Standard Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Welcome Announcements
3. Agenda Overview
4. Forum
5. Reports from Committees, Subcommittees, Caucuses, & Working Groups
6. Action Announcements
7. General Announcements

Celebrate the New Year by joining comrades in the street on NYE in Oakland, CA:

March to North County Jail
Bring friends, noisemakers, fireworks

Bring the noise to inmates in North County Jail. In solidarity with prisoners and prison rebels across the globe. In honor of fallen comrades. Against prison society. In the spirit of total liberation.

All rebels to the streets!

Source.

Come out and march on January 1st at 3pm starting at 24th street BART Plaza and ending at 16th street BART.

“On January 1st Mission residents and agitators want to ring in the New Year with a big “fuck you!” to the San Francisco Police Department. The elevated pig presence in the neighborhood is unavoidable and many have already felt its effects. In November, four Valencia Gardens residents were attacked and then arrested by SFPD officers. The expansion of police surveillance at the 16th street BART plaza has lead to increased harassment of young people of color, homeless folks, and sex workers.”

Source.

On January 3 a revised deal with Barclays bank will go before the bankruptcy judge in Detroit. This deal that slightly improves the original one, will still exempt Bank of America and United Bank of Switzerland from the bankruptcy process that threatens Detroit workers pensions and the assets of the people from art, to water and parks.

Demo at BofA near Fruitvale BART at noon to support Detroit. (They are demonstrating at the courthouse Friday am and then going inside to pack the courtroom.) NY is working on a demonstration near Wall Street for Jan. 3, as well.

Cancel Detroit’s Debt –Make the Banks Pay, They Owe Us
Hands Off Our Pensions
Save City Services and Assets
Make the Banks Fund a Jobs Program

Oppose Barclays Swap Deal Which Will Cost the City of Detroit Its Future

Facebook event, RSVP and more info.

Join us as we start a new year and plan a rally for early February demanding that Kamala Harris prosecute Miguel Masso for the murder of Alan Blueford. The subcommittee meeting for this campaign will take place immediately following the main coalition meeting.

Get up-to-date on the civil lawsuit that is proceeding against OPD and the City of Oakland.

We will also be planning other events in conjunction with other groups, including an action in Sacramento in late January.

Getting There

Join Oakland Privacy Working Group to organize against the Domain Awareness Center (DAC), Oakland’s citywide mass surveillance center.

If you are interested in joining the Oakland Privacy Working Group email listserv, send an email to: oaklandprivacyworkinggroup-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

Through the end of January we will have General Assembly at the sudoroom on 2141 Broadway, Oakland, CA.

Here are instructions to access the room, the entrance is on 22nd Street:

https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Getting_there

This Sunday will be a Cryptoparty at the sudoroom, along with the third Sunday in January, these will be opportunities to update your digital profile so the government can’t easily track your every move.  More blather on this to follow this afternoon when I have a moment.

Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally and has equal decision-making power. Occupy Oakland’s General Assembly uses a participatory decision-making process appropriately called, “Occupy Oakland’s Collective Decision-Making Process.” Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.

Autonomous Action & the General Assembly
The bulk of the work of Occupy Oakland does NOT happen in the General Assembly. It happens in various committees, caucuses, and associated groups that report back to the general assembly. Everyone participating in Occupy Oakland should be part of at least one associated group. Occupy Oakland encourages autonomous actions that do not require consensus from the General Assembly. This encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.

General Assembly Standard Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Welcome Announcements
3. Agenda Overview
4. Forum
5. Reports from Committees, Subcommittees, Caucuses, & Working Groups
6. Action Announcements
7. General Announcements

The Postal Service has put the Berkeley Post Office up for sale!!

The Postal Service has started to outsource Post Office services to Staples, replacing union jobs with low-paying, low benefit work.

In November the Planning Commission passed on to the Berkeley City a proposed Zoning Ordinance that would make the Post Office property less desirable to potential purchasers of the capitalist variety. We are still waiting for action on this from the City Council and are organizing to put pressure on City Council members to make sure this measure is brought up and passed.

The Postal Service has announced that they are contracting with Staples to provide Post Office window services inside Staples stores, using Staples employees instead of Post Office employees. There is already a pseudo Post Office operating inside the Berkeley Staples store (Shattuck & Durant).  We conducted our first action against this privatization of postal services on December 21st.

Come and help plan our next actions in defense of our Post Office and against privatization and non living-wage jobs. We want to send a message to CBRE, the Post Office, Staples and Berkeley politicians that the sale will not be tolerated!

Check out the video of Peter Byrne’s talk at one of our Save the Post Office Rallies in the Fall of2013!