What skills, tools and approaches are useful in encouraging white people to sustain balanced engagement with anti-racism/racial justice education and work? How can we cultivate resilience (as opposed to white fragility) in ourselves, our communities, and our movements?

White Fragility is defined by Robin DiAngelo as “A state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves. These moves include the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation (2011).” What skills, tools and approaches are useful in encouraging white people to sustain balanced engagement with anti-racism/racial justice education and work? How can we cultivate resilience (as opposed to white fragility) in ourselves, our communities, and our movements? Resilience is, in part, defined as:

1. Staying with the conversation

2. Giving and receiving information and feedback from facilitators and peers without becoming highly defensive, reactive, or shut down/dissociated for long period of time

3. Managing the guilt and shame that can arise in learning about the history and current reality of race and racism in the US.

This workshop will explore the role of the body, community, spirituality, intellectual knowledge and other themes that you bring from your experience. We will cover basic information about how the brain and body responds to perceived threats, and explore how to work with this toward greater resilience in moments of challenge.

This workshop is for all experience levels. Participants will be invited to discuss in small groups, move around the space, and hold their bodies in different shapes for 1-2 minutes if available. Content will be presented in both verbal and written formats.

Attend one of the 300 actions around the country demanding that Barr immediately release the full Mueller report and underlying evidence.

Last night, Donald Trump’s hand-picked attorney general, William Barr, missed the deadline set by Congress to release the full Mueller report.

That’s why tomorrow, Thursday, April 4 at nearly 300 events around the country the Nobody Is As Above the Law coalition is joining together to demand that Barr immediately release the full report and supporting evidence.

Click here to check out a map of the actions and RSVP to join a “Release The Report” event near you tomorrow, Thursday, April 4.

As Rachel Maddow reported live on her show Monday night, these #ReleaseTheReport actions will be critical to getting the backs of congressional Democrats who are subpoenaing the full report and underlying evidence and pushing back against Barr and Trump’s stonewalling.

We’ll be gathering with friends and neighbors to hold signs, chant, grab local and national media attention, and amplify our demand that Barr to release the report – and that Congress to use all its power to obtain the full report if Barr fails to act.

This is a monthly interfaith ceremony to demonstrate our solidarity for immigrant justice. This is also an educational opportunity for the community to learn about how current immigration policies impact our neighbors. We invite the audience to get involved in concrete ways.

Join us to pray, sing, hear testimony and demand an end to detentions, deportations and policies which hurt our communities.

The Coalition for Police Accountability has issued a Call to Action: Come to City Council at 4:00 pm, Tuesday April 30th at City Hall & support the Oakland Police Commission. The Commission needs full authority over the Inspector General position & its own independent counsel. pic.twitter.com/9HAC2ZtOwf

— Pamela Price (@PPriceCares) April 29, 2019

Sunrise is building a movement of young people to make climate change an urgent political priority and support the #GreenNewDeal to safeguard our generation’s future, create good jobs and transform our economy.

Check out more at www.sunrisemovement.org. Register here: https://forms.gle/LC7Ho9JGugEvq8eh9.

> WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TRAINING <
1. A deep dive into the Sunrise strategy, story, and structure that make up the movement’s 4-year plan (This is a 9 hour training, with breakfast and lunch provided. We ask people to attend the whole training to get the full experience, and it’s a ton of fun! We promise!)
2. Lots of time to have fun and get to know other young people from around the Bay Area.
3. Hands-on practice and skill building to strengthen your climate organizing skills.
4. Time to dig into the Sunrise Bay Area strategy for making the #GreenNewDeal a political priority and join a team/sub-committee to help make it happen.

> WHO IS THIS FOR? <
It’s for YOU! Whether you’ve come to Sunrise Bay Area events and meetings before or whether you’re just finding out about Sunrise and the Green New Deal and are inspired to learn more, you are welcome!

This is a movement of young people – that means we have members of our hub who are high school students, college students, non-students, working young people, and more (generally between 16-35). People of all identities and backgrounds are welcomed and supported in this space. We are stronger when we join together, and we believe we need all of us to win. Join us.

What if the internet wasn’t about connecting to Comcast, AT&T, Google, or Facebook? What if it meant connecting directly with your friends, neighbors, and community…? Come over to the Oakland Public Library West Branch’s auditorium for the Build Your Own Internet (BYOI) workshop. Let’s discuss how the internet works, and how you can be part of the People’s Open Network, an open, community-owned mesh network.

* No technical expertise needed. Technical curiosity very necessary. *

KAISER HAS LOST ITS WAY. IT’S ON US TO GET KAISER BACK ON TRACK.
JOIN US FOR A RALLY TO SAVE KAISER GARDENERS!

LABOR, COMMUNITY, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND INTERFAITH LEADERS WILL JOIN US
AND SEIU-UHW FOR THEIR MAY 7TH/MAY 8TH ACTIONS AT ONE KAISER PLAZA,
OAKLAND, CA AGAINST KAISER PERMANENTE. ONCE KNOWN AS A LEADER FOR GOOD
JOBS, KAISER IS NOW AGGRESSIVELY OUTSOURCING JOBS TO LESS EXPERIENCED
WORKERS FOR POVERTY WAGES AND NO BENEFITS.

TUESDAY, MAY 7TH

· 5PM: RALLY/PRESS CONFERENCE

· 6PM: SET UP GARDENING AREA/SET UP TENTS

· 9PM: CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Let Libby Schaaf know how we can fix Oakland’s broken budget when she presents her budget at the Oakland City Council Meeting on May 7th. Tell her we need to Defund OPD and Invest in Community!!

[Event] Defund OPD and Invest in Communityhttps://t.co/aEDPOYzE6Z

— Indybay (@Indybay) May 6, 2019

On May 8th, the NewSchools Venture Fund (NSVF) will hold its annual conference in Oakland. NSVF — funded by billionaire donors is a venture capital fund that works to expand charter school proliferation in local communities like Oakland. Unchecked charter growth already costs OUSD schools over $57 million a year. Oakland kids deserve better — and Oakland won’t let NSVF hold a conference in our Town without a response.

Join us in the streets on May 8th as the conference begins, and we’ll tell NSVF to get out of Oakland! Educators, parents, students, and community members are all welcome and encouraged. We want to show that working class solidarity is strong in Oakland, so let’s show up in force! Bring any signs and DSA/OEA swag you have!

OEA will be organizing speakers, music, and providing food.

Monday, May 20, 2019
6:30 pm SHARP Rally
7:00pm Speakout
During Public Comment Period
at the City Council Meeting

Pittsburg City Council
65 Civic Ave
Pittsburg, CA 94565
(One block North on Railroad Ave Exit off HWY 4)
(Railroad Drive Stop at End of Line BART Extension Trolley)

Contact Info: 510-674-8181 or 925-565-8393 or email: oscargrantcomittee.ogc@gmail.com

Demand Number One: FIRE KILLER COP DILLON TINDALL
The people of Pittsburg are NOT safe with trigger happy cop Dillon Tindall on the police force. He has shown bad judgement in killing Terry Amons without just cause. At the very least, he must be fired to prevent further tragedy.

Demand Number Two: PASS THE RICHMOND ORDINANCE
District Attorneys work closely every day with the police and rely on them to get convictions. More often than not they turn a blind eye to police misconduct. We need laws and policies that hold trigger happy cops accountable. The Richmond City Council, responding to public pressure, passed. an ordinance to have an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION of all police killings, to avoid this conflict of interest. Pittsburg and other cities must pass similar laws as a first step to justice.

Terry Amons, Jr., a 43 year old Black man, was. shot and killed by Pittsburgh police late Friday night on January 12, 2018, while eating dinner inside his car outside of Nations Burgers in Pittsburgh, as was his habit before going to work on his night shift job as a delivery driver for Presidential Propane Company. The police claim that Terry was reaching for a gun, but body cam video, which clearly shows Amons attempting to comply with shouted contradictory orders from two cops with guns drawn and aimed at him. At no time did Amons make any move toward the holstered pistol that was in plain sight in the central storage area between the front seats.

The video shows Amons complying with orders to place his hands on the steering wheel, then attempting to comply with frantic commands to “get out of the car” before being senselessly gunned down while attempting to comply.

We hold the Pittsburgh PD responsible for murdering an innocent Black man. Terry’s mother, Sandra, said: “They executed my son. The Pittsburgh Police Department (PPD) illegally, without a warrant, searched Terry’s home after they killed him.”. The PPD did not provide Terry’s family with the names of the officers involved. The Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights is the legal justification for withholding this information. Only months later did the Oscar Grant, Committee learn the names of the Police Officers involved: Dillon Tindall, who fired, the shots, and Jesus Arellano. According to the East Bay Times, the body cam video, shows Terry being shot by Tindall after. shouting “Do not reach for that fucking gun.” As Terry falls out of the car he continues fo say, “I wasn’t reaching for nothing, swear to God.” Then the officers handcuffed him. Terry died at John Muir Medical Center in Martinez.

The police claim they were responding to a drug dealing complaint that provoked the initial contact. No drugs were found on Amons or in his car.

The family is considering filing a lawsuit.‘ Family and friends of Terry Amons have launched an on-going struggle for. . Justice4Terry, along with the OGC, SURJ (Stand Up for Racial Justice), and others. So far, three monthly protest actions have been held with up to 60 energetic people involved. Monthly meetings to plan ongoing events are open to the public.

Join the struggle, for more info contact: 510-674-8181 or 925-565-8392
Or email: oscargrantcommittee.ogc@gmail.com

Click on Image to download PDF flyer

The Oscar Grant Committee . Justice4Terry Amons Committee

You can help! Join the Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality and State Repression
Born from the struggle for justice for Oscar Grant, murdered by BART police on Jan 1, 2009. We organize working class resistance in support of families whose loved ones were murdered by police.
JOIN US, our meetings are normally on the First Monday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Avenue in North Oakland
Confirm time at: www.oscargrantcommittee.org . oscargrantcommittee.ogc@gmail.com

Agenda

Item 12 (Acquisition of Bearcat armored vehicle)

The Josh Pawlik killing in March 2018 is a key event conditioning responses to this request to approve the acquisition of a second Bearcat. In that event, OPD deployed its existing Bearcat, as well as officers armed with AR-15 assault rifles. Compliance Director Robert Warshaw and the Executive Force Review Board pointed out that “officers did not use the armored vehicle as cover. They utilized it as a shooting platform.” (see attached, p. 2) The killing was wholly preventable. Yet OPD’s review of the event made no reference to the Bearcat deployment rules included in Chief Kirkpatrick’s supplemental report – which had been re-distributed to OPD commanders only 11 days before the killing of Mr. Pawlik.

• The Department has no use policy for the Bearcat or other armored vehicles, only “rules for deployment,” and even those apply only to the Tactical Operations Team, not other officers who use the Bearcat.
• The deployment rules state that neither the Bearcat nor Armored Suburban will “be deployed for incidents that do not involve actual, threatened, or suspected violence, related to loss of life or serious bodily injury, or crowd control situations unless articulable facts dictate the need to deploy the equipment.” Yet the report says that “The Bearcat is frequently deployed to planned events to deter attacks or respond to attacks if they do occur.” This interpretation of “articulable facts [that] dictate the need to deploy” the Bearcat renders the rules for deployment wholly meaningless.
• The reasons given for deployment and rationale for obtaining a second Bearcat also broaden the permitted uses outlined in the rules for deployment. These include blocking in vehicles to prevent drivers pursued by police from fleeing.
• Studies indicate that police departments in the United States that acquire military-grade equipment are more likely to use violence and are no more successful in reducing crime than those that acquire less such equipment.

Questions raised or that remain unanswered by the supplemental report:

• How many deployments of the Bearcat in each of recent years were to events other than critical incidents of “actual, threatened or suspected violence”?
• What impact does frequent deployment of the Bearcat have on relations between OPD and community members? The supplemental report says OPD receives positive comments when it is deployed to special events, but this clearly does not reflect community members who feel intimidated and scared of OPD or do not voice their concerns directly to OPD.
• By what date will Chief Kirkpatrick commit to the incorporation of deployment rules for the Bearcat and Armored Surburban into policy for both a) tactical teams and b) other officers?
• How are deployments of the Bearcat documented and evaluted? Who is responsible for such documentation and evaluation?
• If the Bearcat is deployed or used in a manner that violates the rules for deployment, what process does the Department to discipline those responsible for this violation?
• Did the OPD consider application of the state COPS grant for other expenditures, such as other cities have done – such as overtime or juvenile justice programs? If not, why not? If so, why did OPD conclude that the Bearcat was a higher priority for this application?

In light of the fatal misuse of OPD’s Bearcat in the killing of Josh Pawlik, the Council should not approve the acquisition of a second Bearcat, at the very least, until OPD has incorporated a use policy for the Bearcat, applicable to all members of OPD, that is considered and approved by the Police Commission.

Other points: A Public Records Act request was file for records of OPD’s deployments of the Bearcat and other armored vehicles since the beginning of 2016, including reasons for deployment, demographics of those contacted during the deployments, and any harms documented. Their response was extended and is now due on June 1.

State legislation last year (AB 3131) would have required, for police departments’ acquisition from any source of all military-grade equipment, including Bearcats: use policies, reporting on use, and approval by city councils. The Senate and Assembly approved the bill, but it was vetoed by Governor Brown. Similar state legislation is expected to be re-introduced next year.

By Young Adults from St. Paul’s Episcopal School

About #FridaysForFuture

#FridaysForFuture is a movement that began in August 2018, after 15 years old Greta Thunberg sat in front of the Swedish parliament every schoolday for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis. She posted what she was doing on Instagram and Twitter and it soon went viral.

On the 8th of September, Greta decided to continue striking every Friday until the Swedish policies provided a safe pathway well under 2-degree C, i.e. in line with the Paris agreement.

The hashtags #FridaysForFuture and #Climatestrike spread and many students and adults began to protest outside of their parliaments and local city halls all over the world. This has also inspired the Belgium Thursday school strikes.

Global Facebook Event Page