Calendar
The Political Affairs Discussion Group sponsored by the Communist Party (Oakland/Berkeley) invites you to a discussion of:
If Black Lives Don’t Matter, Whose Do?
Class Struggle and the Fight Against White Supremacy
Background readings:
Jarvis Tyner, ‘Black Lives Matter! The Struggle Against Police Murders, Brutality and Abuse
http://www.politicalaffairs.net/black-lives-matter-the-struggle-against-police-murders-brutality-and-abuse/
Jake Halpern, ‘The Cop’ New Yorker Profile of Darren Wilson
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/08/10/the-cop
Come support the Perez family in their continuing quest for Justice for their son, Pedie, shot and killed, unarmed, by a Richmond Police Officer one year ago. Learn about new developments in the ongoing lawsuit.
There may be a short march after the BBQ.
*Who*: You–at ANY level of skill (newbs encouraged to attend)!
*What*: Work Party (fun, learning, labor, love)! — Also see TASKS list below!!!
*When*: *Sat 9/5 @ 12 noon* (And Every Saturday, FOREVER)!
*How*: With our bare hands, feet, noses, etc — plus tools and stuff!
*Why*: Omni Commons needs some serious elbow grease to get ship-shape, for the safety, accessibility, and delight of all!
*TASKS*
* Doors (re-hanging and installing closers)
* Carpentry in the basement
* Plumbing, tile, and other water-related activities
* Drywall ’til you drop
* Felt the feet of our ballroom furniture
* Protect our building from confused critters like pigeons!
* General cleaning / tidying / arranging / creativity / expression / explosions / excitement / activity!!!!!!!
* much much much more!
Please join your fellow volunteers, especially the zany and rambunctious
Building and Maintenance Working Group (woooohooooooooooooooooooooo)!
- student debt resistance
- organizing for public banking.
- advocating for Postal banking.
- ongoing study group
- helping out America’s only non-profit check-cashing organization and fighting against usurious for-profit pay-day lenders and their ilk
- our famous Strike Debt radio program
- staging Debtors’ Assemblies
- Restaging our recent presentation on money and debt at the US Social Forum
- Working on debarring US Banks that have been convicted of felonies from municipal contracts
- saving the Berkeley Post Office and stopping the Staples non-union takeover of good Post Office jobs
- and much more!
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.
THE ANASTASIO PROJECT RETURNS TO OAKLAND
The widely acclaimed multidisciplinary arts project brings to life local stories of state violence
WHEN: September 11 – 13 and 18-20, @ 8:00 pm
Across the country, the #blacklivesmatter movement has forced to the surface a conversation that has been happening under the mainstream radar in communities of color for centuries. Today, America can no longer ignore the epidemic of state violence that she is enacting on Black, Brown and poor communities by her various law enforcement agencies.
For two weekends – September 11-13 & 18-20 – in partnership with Eastside Arts Alliance, José Navarrete and Debby Kajiyama of NAKA Dance Company surface these conversations once more by returning to the stage their acclaimed production of the The Anastasio Project; a multidisciplinary performance investigating race relations, state brutality and border violence.
Combining interactive video, original music, a large-format mural, spoken word and dance, The Anastasio Project draws on personal experiences of violence endured by people of color living in Oakland to create a profound and moving community event.
Prior to the performance, audience members are encouraged to explore the art galleries where pieces by various local artists will kick start conversations on the impacts of state violence in communities of color. For the complete list of artists, visithttp://nkdancetheater.com/anastasio/.
The Anastasio Project was inspired by the tragic story of Hernandez-Rojas, a Mexican national who was beaten to death by a dozen customs and border patrol agents at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2010.
“When we saw the cell phone footage of the beating of Hernandez-Rojas, we were devastated as we watched the Border Patrol inflict so much pain on another human being,” said Kajiyama in an interview with The Triangle Lab. “People were screaming at the Border Patrol to stop; Anastasio was asking for clemency; but nothing stopped the officers, and they continued to beat him.”
These are the kinds of stories flooding the daily airwaves and social media platforms of America and why the return of The Anastasio Project is so timely and critical. “The youth that we’ve worked with at Eastside Arts Alliance are not afraid to tell the truth and have themselves become the vehicles for social change,” said Navarrete. “We are concerned about their future, and the legacy that we leave for them. Most people from East Oakland are people of color, and youth are likely targets for racial profiling and police brutality. We want to learn from them; we want to share their perspectives.”
The Anastasio Project asks how we can avoid repeating the tragedies of Hernandez-Rojas, Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, Natasha McKenna, Tamir Rice and thousands like them in cities across the country.
Three of the performances will include pre-show conversations with community activists and organizers including Bertha Gutierrez & Families of San Diego (9/12), Cat Brooks of the Anti Police-Terror Project (9/13) and Mujeres Unidas y Activas with Matt Gonzalez from the SF Public Defenders Office (9/19). These dialogues will explore the complexities of state sponsored terror: ICE, the police, FBI, the military and their supporters. All conversations begin at 4:00 pm and will be followed by a light reception prior to the performance.
Development of The Anastasio Project is supported by: The MAP Fund, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; William & Flora Hewlett Foundation; City of Oakland Cultural Funding; The Kenneth Rainin Foundation; The East Bay Community Foundation’s East Bay Fund for Artists; The Open Circle Foundation; the Center for Cultural Innovation Investing in Artists Grant; EastSide Arts Alliance; Theatre Bay Area’s CA$H Grant; the Zellerbach Family Foundation; the Akonadi Foundation; the Della Davidson Prize; the California Arts Council Creating Places of Vitality Grant, California Shakespeare Theater’s Triangle Lab, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, and many generous individual donors.
NAKA Dance Theater and Eastside Arts Alliance present the return of The Anastasio Project
TICKETS: To purchase tickets online visit brownpapertickets.com.
For more information visit nkdancetheater.com or eastsideartsalliance.org.
Kerie Campbell is a fiercely devoted mother of two who has been waging an agonizing and expensive battle to regain legal custody of her children, lost originally because she reported a biased custody evaluator for violating her medical confidentiality. In July of this year she and her lawyer prevailed and her legal rights were temporarily restored. There is one final hearing in January 2016 to solidify the court’s order. Things look good for Kerie to keep her rights, but the legal bills are piling up.
Let’s pull together as a community and show Kerie that she doesn’t have to do this alone. Money should not be the barrier standing between her and what’s best for her kids.
Brunch buffet (suggested donation $10-20)
A la carte items priced individually
Silent auction – art, crafts and jewelry
If you can’t attend the café but still would like to help, you can donate directly to Kerie’s legal fund here.
Discuss the criminalization and murder of Black Women in America. Can police ever create public safety for black women? What are our alternatives? What is the next step for the movement for Black Lives and the Oakland Collective?
Unist’ot’en Camp Report Back, Film Screening & Fundraiser
The Unist’ot’en Camp is an Indigenous homestead located in the far north west of so-called Canada, where the people (Unist’ot’en), who have always lived there, are occupying and utilizing their traditional territory, as they have for centuries.
Numerous companies, including Chevron and TransCanada, are illegally encroaching on the Unist’ot’en’s territory, attempting to push forward the proposed pipeline project that threatens the Unist’ot’en’s traditional territories, clean water, and generations to come. As well, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s presence is currently forcing the camp to remain on high alert.
At this report back, two supporters of Unist’ot’en Camp will screen films about the camp. Artwork and CDs will be available for sale, to raise funds for the camp. Discussion very welcome and we hope to hear from people in the Bay Area, on Ohlone Territories, who are working on on fighting environmental racism, resource extraction and colonialism, to build connections and solidarity!
This event is being hosted on Ohlone homelands. We will also hear about upcoming events to protest the cannonization of Junipero Serra and more, at this event.
Accessibility info: La Commune Cafe and Bookstore is wheelchair-accessible on the ground floor. There is a lift to the bathroom through the Ballroom.
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.
A lot has been happing behind the scenes in Alameda County over the summer: we have been pushing for transparency around the county’s criminal justice spending, uncovered a secret plan to expand Santa Rita jail, and joined our allies in demanding #Justice4Mario.
Next week, the Board of Supervisors will resume their regular meetings and we want you to join us and our allies as we flood their meeting.
We hope to see you next Tuesday, September 15th at the park across from 1401 Lakeside Dr. at 9:45 a.m.
We will join longtime Ella Baker Center Books Not Bars member Sheri Costa to seek justice for her nephew Mario Michael Martinez, who died in the custody at the Santa Rita jail in July of an asthma attack as the deputies stood by and watched.
Mario’s death is a reminder of the continued injustices of the prison system, and the need to move resources away from it.
Stand with us and our allies at the Alameda County Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and CURB as we voice our opposition to the Alameda County Sheriff’s secret plans to expand the jail, and demand that the Board of Supervisors increase transparency and involve the community in the way they spend public safety realignment funds.
The Board of Supervisors needs to know that we are united, that we are powerful, and that we demand that things change. We will no longer remain silent as business goes on as usual. Please come out and support #JobsNotJails.
Last week, over 600 people signed our petition to demand a public meeting about Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern’s secret plan to expand the Santa Rita Jail. Next week, the Board of Supervisors will resume their regular meetings — and thanks to your pressure, the jail plan is on the agenda!
We want you to join us and our allies as we flood the room to demand more answers to our questions: Will there be new jail beds? Why a mental health unit in the jail, instead of more services in the community? What better alternatives to incarceration could this money be spent on?
We hope to see you next Tuesday, September 15th at 1221 Oak St #512, Oakland. The meeting begins at 10:45am and the jail is agenda item #66.
If you aren’t able to attend the entire meeting but want to be informed that the agenda item is approaching, email Tash.
Stand with us and our allies as we voice our opposition to the Alameda County Sheriff’s secret plans to expand the jail, and demand that the Board of Supervisors increase transparency and community involvement in their decisions over our public safety realignment funds. The Board of Supervisors needs to know that we are united, that we are powerful, and that we demand that things change. Please come out and support #JobsNotJails.
The FLIR (Heat-Sensing, Helicopter-Mounted, OPD Camera) Privacy and Use Policy, Written in the spring by the Ad Hoc Privacy Committee for the Domain Awareness Center as its last official act, will be on the agenda of the Oakland City Council’s Public Safety Committee.
Subject: FLIR Privacy and Data Retention Policy From: Office of The City Administrator Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Establishing The City Of Oakland Forward Looking Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera System (FLIR) Privacy And Data Retention Policy Which Prescribes The Rules For The Use Of The FLIR; Establishes Oversight, Auditing And Reporting Requirements; And Imposes Penalties For Violations
Come and help put the kibosh on arbitrary and unwarranted use of technology by OPD.
Climate Courage Forum.
Want to help protect our children’s climate, but have no idea where to start? Do climate activities seem way too complex, technical, and hopeless? Come to this introduction to climate activities in the East Bay. Meet with others to share your concerns, learn what’s up locally, and clarify how you might want to use your skills/interests to contribute in humanity’s biggest effort.
(No RSVP required. Just show up.)
Celebrate the launch of our national community-driven report that documents the experiences and resilience of families impacted by incarceration. The event will feature a gallery of data from the report and a panel discussion with formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.
Free event, light food provided. RSVP on Facebook.
Sponsored by: Forward Together, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Essie Justice and Causa Justa :: Just Cause.
Come support the family of Pedie Perez, shot and killed by the Richmond Police, as they and the community put forth a resolution to hold an open hearing whenever there is extreme use of force by the Richmond Police.
The Anti-Police Terrorism Project is a project of the ONYX Organizing Committee that in coalition with other organizations like the Alan Blueford Center for Justice, Workers World and Healthy Hoodz is working to develop a replicable and sustainable model to end police terrorism in this country.
We are led by the most impacted communities but are a multi-racial, mutil-generational coalition.
Subcommittees / action teams include First Response, Media, Santa Rita Jail, Yvette Henderson/Emeryville and more.
We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month at Eastside Arts Alliance at 7:30 pm.
Omni General Assembly
omni working group meeting
Come by our open Delegates Meetings every Thursday evening at 7pm! We’ll give space to brief announcements, updates from working groups, proposals up for consensus, and discussion around important issues. The schedule is created weekly at the following url: https://pad.riseup.net/p/omninom
Hosted by Richard Wolinsky
Over the past few centuries, as Western civilization has enjoyed an expanding geographic domain, Westerners have observed other cultures rarely, and then usually with scant interest in what they saw in us. What the Rest Think of the West, unprecedented in its scope, at last provides a rich historical look through the eyes of observant outsiders as they survey and scrutinize the politics, science, technology, religion, family practices, and gender roles of civilizations not their own. The book emphasizes the broader figurative meaning of looking west in the scope of history.
Focusing on four civilizations-Islamic, Japanese, Chinese, and South Asian-Laura Nader has collected observations made over centuries by scholars, diplomats, missionaries, travelers, merchants, and students reflecting upon their own “Wests.” The accounts variously express critique, adoration, admiration, and fear, and are sometimes humorous, occasionally disturbing, at times controversial, and always enlightening. Nader provides informative introductions to each of the selections.
“There are things that only outsiders can see, and the true promise of anthropology has always been to use such insights to allow human beings to understand more of their shared humanity, to understand how we are the same through our differences.”
-David Graeber, author of Debt: The First 5,000 Years
“Intellectual exchange between the West and Asia has long been one-sided, handicapped further by lack of translations. This superbly introduced and edited anthology, which shows the diverse ways in which visitors from Asia perceived modern Western society and culture, fills a big gap in our self-understanding.” -Pankaj Mishra, author of From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt against the West and the Remaking of Asia
Join us for a night with Omar Barghouti, the co-founder of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Barghouti will be presenting on academia’s role in the struggle for freedom and justice in Palestine.
This event is open to the public and is free of charge!
**Refreshments will be provided as well**
Sponsored by Cal Students for Justice in Palestine, UAW 2865-Berkeley, Friends of Sabeel North America, Jewish Voice for Peace- Bay Area, and Middle East Children’s Alliance.