With May Day approaching in less than two weeks, the Safer Spaces committee invites activists and allies together for a two and a half hour panel and skill share session on:

*Basic tips for a sustainable street action

*Emotional First Aid: trauma education, emotional self care tips for pre, during and post action

*First Aid: simple street medic tips, physical self-care for pre, during and post action

*Coping with activist burnout and keeping the movement connected

When: 4/29/12 (Sunday)

Time: Noon-2:30 (hope everyone is ok with a slight overlapping of the GA)

Where: 19th and Telegraph

Come and help be a part of Occupy Oakland’s planning for May 1st, 2012, and the call for an international general strike, otherwise known as a Day without the 99%. Meetings are held at 5pm at 19th and Telegraph due to stay away orders, and will be moved into an indoor location if the weather forces the situation.

For  individual or group trauma support, mediations and anti-oppression advocacy, please contact Safer Spaces:

Tel: (510) 502-9466

Email:saferspaces@occupyoakland.org

Healing can take place in the form of reconnecting with Mother Earth.

It can be little steps like birdwatching, hiking, going to the beach or eating freshly picked berries. Ask your five senses what do I see, hear, taste, touch, smell?

Have you tried gardening? Or are you already a gardener? What does your body, mind and soul experience when you dig that dirt, plant the seed, water, trim the weeds, ask the ladybugs to kindly tell some insects to be nice to your plants and watch the phenomenon of  seeds turning into fruits,vegetables or flowers? What does it feel like to struggle with a plant that won’t thrive but one day you go out and it turned into something beautiful? What does it feel like when you can be sustainable and self-efficient through this entire process? What does it feel like to share stories and tips with your fellow Green Thumbs? What does it feel like when you can share your harvest with your friends, family or community?

Healing from trauma is about your body regenerating and flourishing much like  plants. Sometimes you may have to become  a seed again in order to recover. There may be ups and downs but because you are part of Mother Earth, you have the resilience and strength to overcome, no matter how difficult. You are also your own gardener. What can you do for your garden? Our movement went from seeds to the bountiful harvest that it is now because of the care, faith and dedication you  and your comrades gave to it.Take care and be kind to yourself. Take care of each other. We can heal as a community.

On that note, there’s some beautiful healing going on at Occupy the Farm today! Please come if you can.

When: Thursday, May 3

Event Schedule:
“Occupy the Farm”: Permaculture workshop and Maypole 
Join Starhawk and friends to support the wonderful farm being created on a piece of vacant land in the East Bay by the Occupy movement.
Permaculture workshop, 3:00 p.m: Learn some of the basic ethics and principles of permaculture as we put them into practice at this reclaimed farm site.
Maypole celebration, 6:00 p.m.: Dance the Maypole to celebrate the rising tides of life, the diverse forms of love, and the power of regeneration.

Bring food to share.  Donations of seeds and starts for the farm are much appreciated.
Cost: Free! Kids welcome.
Location: Marin between San Pablo and Jackson streets, Albany, California
For more information: http://www.takebackthetract.com/

Occupy Oakland will have a table set up at Art Murmur this Friday, May 4th. The exact location of the table is to be determined, but we will be raising money for OO by selling prints and other things for folks passing through.

In response to the May 1st vandalism of small businesses and private property in this largely working class neighborhood, we at the Brooms Collective are planning on gathering at the 16th Street Mission BART Station at 11:30 on Saturday morning to participate in a neighborhood clean-up and outreach action. Many people seem to believe that these deplorable actions were attributable to supporters of the Occupy Movement, and even Occupy Oakland in particular. Many of us in the Brooms Collective found this truly senseless destruction wholly out of step with our beliefs, political, social or otherwise, and we believe that many others feel the same way. An action such as this is the only way that we could even hope to repair the damage that was done in the name of a movement that many of us believe would never have condoned it in the first place.

This Friday, May 11th, there will be an action in front of the OPD Station at 7th and Broadway to protest and bring light to the murder of 18 year old Alan Bluford this past weekend. It will begin at 5pm and will include such speakers as Jack Bryson from Occupy Oakland amongst others.

The family of Alan Blueford has asked allies to come to the Oakland City Council Meeting at 6 pm on Tuesday to demand justice for the OPD killing of their son! Get there by 6 pm to demand a real investigation into the circumstances of the killing! The police officer should not be on paid leave, beyond that, what is his name, and why are they still on the force?

The working class is facing an unprecedented assault from
employers and the state. We must build solidarity in collective
struggle. In this spirit we invite all workers – paid and unpaid,
employed and unemployed, union and non-union, full-time and
precarious – to join a Workers’ Assembly.

We aim to encourage communication and solidarity between
different sectors of the working class. We want to encourage
common struggle against the 1% and their agents who exploit
and oppress us, for a society based on justice and equality, where
the needs and desires of all working people are given first priority.

This will be the 2nd meeting of the Workers’ Assembly.
It will take place at the SEIU 1021 Hall, 155 Myrtle St, Oakland, CA.

Please join us — And there is such thing as a free lunch!

Our comrade Jesus is being sentenced on Thursday, but a show of our strong community support can improve his sentence.

Jesus was originally charged with three counts of felony assault of an officer with a folding chair, among other things, for an incident that occurred during the December 30th raid of Oscar Grant Plaza. A jury has convicted him of one felony count of deterring an officer. Jesus has been inside Santa Rita Jail since late January; on Thursday we’ll find out how long he’ll have to stay there.

Let’s show the judge and DA how real our solidarity is!

When: 9AM, Thursday, May 24, 2012
Where: Dept 14, Rene Davis Courthouse

Join Occupy Oakland and Earth First! for

The working class is facing an unprecedented assault from
employers and the state. We must build solidarity in collective
struggle. In this spirit we invite all workers – paid and unpaid,
employed and unemployed, union and non-union, full-time and
precarious – to join a Workers’ Assembly.

We aim to encourage communication and solidarity between
different sectors of the working class. We want to encourage
common struggle against the 1% and their agents who exploit
and oppress us, for a society based on justice and equality, where
the needs and desires of all working people are given first priority.

This will be the 3rd meeting of the Workers’ Assembly.
It will take place at Lakeside Park (Belleview & Grand, Oakland, CA).
The exact location within the park is yet to be determined
and the starting time of 11:30 AM is subject to change. Please check
back.

An Occupy Oakland barbecue will be taking place at 2:00 PM at the same
location; the Workers’ Assembly will transition into that event.

This meeting’s primary goal will be to figure out the organization of the Workers’
Assembly and its future roles.

What’s Next? Occupy Oakland BBQ

COMMUNITY OF POLICE WALKING TOUR!  – LUNCH WITH THE SHERIFFS!

Occupy Oakland Foreclosure Defense Group with the Anti Repression Committee
offers a walking tour and info picket of cop and capital headquarters downtown.

Friday, June 15th
11:30-1:30
Meet at 19th and Telegraph in the park.

If the community had control over the police would thousands of of people be evicted under the threat of violence from armed sheriffs?

If the community had control over the police would Alan Blueford, a 17 year old high school senior, have been shot dead in the street? Would his killer remain at large on paid leave?

If the community had control over the police would Santa Rita be an instrument of abuse and torture?

If the community had control over the police would Occupy Oakland members be subject to the summary judgement and violence we have endured these last 6 months?

NOTE!: AS OF THIS POSTING, ANOTHER COMRADE WAS SNATCHED OFF THE STREET AFTER THE H.E.A.T. ACTION AND IS FACING $110K IN BAIL!!

IF THE COMMUNITY HAD CONTROL OVER THE POLICE, WOULD MELVIN BE KIDNAPPED AND SITTING IN SANTA RITA BLUES??!!  FREE MELVIN!

Community Control of Police was rightfully one of the points of the Black Panther Program. It still is rightfully at the top of the people’s agenda and this includes control of the Sheriffs, the armed agents of the foreclosure crisis and the keepers of the county prison system.

We will be touring various relevant sites and offices downtown during lunch hour on Friday to picket, canvass and shine the light on the repressive, displacing, anti-social apparatus of the sheriffs department.

Speakers at stops along the way will include members of the Anti-Repression Committee, homeowners fighting evictions, and more.

We will have plenty of flyers and handbills for everyone so come prepared to canvass and engage your fellow Oaklanders on the street.

And come ready to MAKE SOME NOISE!

Join the Occupy Oakland Foreclosure Defense Group and the Anti-Repression Committee as we rally and march against evictions, and pay a visit to the Alameda Sheriff (responsible for doing the banks’ dirty work of evicting people from their homes), perhaps the Alameda County DA, and some big banks in the downtown area.

We’ll assemble at 19th & Telegraph and move on from there.

Speakers will include Boots Riley and a homeowner fighting eviction.

Join us for the first gathering to begin re-imagining the General Assembly on Saturday June 16 at Mosswood Park, starting with music and food at 1:00pm.

Please fill out our survey to share you thoughts on the GA:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8YDSBC2

Please spread the word!

RAISE YOUR VOICE!

Castlewood Country Club Valley Course
(Castlewood Dr. at Pleasanton-Sunol Rd, Pleasanton)
Saturday, June 23, 8-11 am

Once again, the golfers of Castlewood Country Club are gearing up for their biggest tournament of the year – while keeping their workers out on the street. Remember last year’s tournament?

Most of the golfers have been deaf to the workers’ cries for affordable health care, job security and respect. So this year, let’s see if music gets through.

Bring your voices, bullhorns, whistles, trombones, and vuvuzelas, and sing out for justice!

Occupy Oakland has supported the locked out Castlewood workers on their picket lines and in helping to organize a march and a mock 1% rally. (“Golf Is A Human Right!”)

They are still locked out, and they could still use our support.

***

LOGISTICS

For questions or rides, contact Sarah Norr at 510-502-5344 or norr.sarah@gmail.com.

Want to caravan from Oakland? Meet at 14th and Broadway at 7 am (RSVP first to make sure we have enough cars).

Driving/parking directions: Castlewood’s Valley Course is located along Castlewood Drive between Foothill Road and Pleasanton-Sunol Road. Coming from the Oakland area, take 580 East to 680 South. Take the 3rd exit for Castlewood Dr/Sunol Blvd and turn right at the exit onto Pleasanton-Sunol Road. The first right is Castlewood Drive. Park along Pleasanton-Sunol Road, then walk up Castlewood Drive to the golf course.

Can’t make it? Consider making a donation to the hardship fund instead.

BBQ HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 30 JUNE. ARROYO PARK.

The OO AC Transit Committee is working with the BBQ Committee to throw a BBQ around the Occupy AC-Transit issue. There will be a driver/rider speak out, button-making, and maybe posters and t-shirts.

Arroyo Park 2:00 Facebook page.

Facebook page description:

The Occupy Oakland BBQ committee is having an Occupy AC-Transit BBQ that will feature great food and music, as always, and a speak-out with riders and drivers talking about the effects of cuts and fare increases. We will give a short presentation on what we have been doing and how you can get involved. We will also be making Occupy AC-Transit buttons and t-shirts (bring a blank t-shirt in case we run out). Other committees will also be talking about their ongoing organizing and how to get involved.

To help build up for the BBQ we will be having a rally and speak-out Friday at 11am at Eastmont Station. More details are here: http://www.facebook.com/events/319902598093813/

We are also doing mass outreach downtown and in East Oakland on Thursday from 4-7. If you would like to help, more info, is here: http://www.facebook.com/events/312095595547544/

Come out, eat some good food, and find out how Occupy Oakland is going to make this a hot Summer!

The 1st General Assembly of Occupy Oakland in the month of July is this Sunday, and there are a number of interesting proposals that are being put forth, such as:

1. The proposal to endorse and help organize the Occupy Oakland Liberate Everything Conference this summer, geared towards providing a more radical tone and communicating the unique perspective of Occupy Oakland to others and the world,

2. A proposal to jointly plan an Occupy Oakland July 4th action of some sort or another

3. A proposal to deal with the (rather glaring) issue of quorom

…and much, much more!

There will be a surprise guest speaker as well!

Also, it is out dear friend Chris of TAC’s birthday this Sunday, so we encourage folks to bring cake, food, and make merry as we all celebrate together as Occupy Oakland!

Dear friends, comrades, neighbors, and colleagues,

Please join us to celebrate Day 16 of the Lakeview Sit-In and the People’s School with a community potluck and film screening this Sunday, July 1st, at 6 pm. For two weeks now we’ve been running a free summer program out of occupied Lakeview Elementary, serving over 30 children with programming in social justice, art, PE, and gardening. At the same time, we’ve been organizing to pressure Tony Smith and the school board to reopen all five closed elementary schools, repudiate the state debt, stop busting teacher and school workers’ unions, reverse the cuts to special education, and fully fund public education for every student. This Sunday, we kick back and grub. The potluck starts at 6 pm at the People’s School (746 Grand Ave), followed by a screening of “The Inconvenient Truth behind Waiting for Superman.” Please bring a dish or a non-alcoholic beverage to share.

In love and solidarity,

The Lakeview Sit-In and People’s School for Public Education