Calendar

AFF presents: Migration, displacement, hope: Refugee Stories (special program) This year we received multiple submissions from filmmakers from around the globe documenting stories of displacement. From the gut-wrenching to the experimental to the hopeful, we are honored to share these stories with you. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster, struggling to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.

Far from a one-size-fits-all marking of “experience” so often depicted on Western media outlets when it comes to the plight of the refugee, this program of 5 powerful short documentaries spotlight the multitude of hues that should be considered when discussions of the refugee experience are had. From the Yarmouk and Ain El-Hilweh camps, to the streets of Berlin: Refugee Stories shows what it takes to hold onto one’s dreams amidst devastating circumstances.

The shorts include the following:

Here You Are (2017)

Tyma Hezam

USA/Syria, 5 minutes

Engages the post-traumatic stress experienced by refugees after their arrival to their destination.

The Pianist of Yarmouk (2017)

Vikram Ahluwalia

Syria/Palestine/Germany, 14 minutes

Meet Aeham: a classically-trained musician attempting to escape the war in Syria for safety in Europe.

After the Spring (2017)

Mathilde Babo

Germany/Syria/France, 4 minutes

On the streets of Berlin, Ahmad recounts the early days of the Syrian revolution.

A Man Returned (2016)

Mahdi Fleifel

Lebanon/Palestine, 30 minutes

Reda is 26 years old. His dreams of escaping the Palestinian refugee camp Ain El-Hilweh in Lebanon ended in failure after three years trapped in Greece. He returned with a drug addiction to life in a camp torn apart by internal strife and the encroachment of war from Syria. Against all odds he decides to marry his childhood sweetheart; a love story, bittersweet. Winner of the Silver Bear Jury Prize (short film) at the 2016 Berlinale.

Through My Eyes: Hani’s Journey (2017)

Zahra Mackaoui

Lebanon/Syria/Canada, 30 minutes

Follows the journey of blind Syrian refugee Hani Al Moliya from the camps in Lebanon to Canada. Told through his photos, it is a story of triumph against adversity, set against the backdrop of the Syrian war.

After the program there will be a panel discussion with members of the International Rescue Committee.

Monthly APTP meeting, held on every 3rd Wednesday of the month.

– Strategize on addressing proposed changes to the BART police use of force policy.
– Find out ways you can use your talents and resources to support APTP and get involved with the work, including how to join various committees such as the Black Leadership Committee, First Responders, Action, Policy, Media, and Security committees.
– Find out more about the #DefundOPD campaign.

The Anti Police-Terror Project is a project of the ONYX ORGANIZING COMMITTEE that in coalition with other organizations, like Idriss Stelley Foundation, Community READY Corps and Workers World Party – Bay Area, 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.

For the July meeting:

There will be report backs on some of our recent actions including the Defund OPD campaign around the city budget process, including our shutdown of the Council budget meeting. You’ll also hear about our action to protest the promotion of rapist OPD Cops at their “secret” promotions ceremony.

We’d also love to have you get involved with APTP on a regular basis, by joining one of our committees. We will have committee breakouts as part of Wednesday’s meeting, so you can learn about what the different committees do. We know you all have lots of ideas and talent, so please contribute to further APTP’s on-going work.

Some of the committees include:
– Black Leadership
– First Responders
– Action
– Comms/Media
– Policy
– Security
– Fundraising

See you all on Wednesday!

The Erotic Service Provider Legal Education and Research Project appeals from the district court’s dismissal of its action challenging the constitutionality of Cal. Penal Code § 647(b), which criminalizes the commercial exchange of sexual activity.

The case is ESPLERP v Gascon, which seeks to strike down California’s prostitution law as unconstitutional.

— Mike Chase (@mikechaseRights) October 18, 2017

Background:

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9.30.2016
Contact: Maxine Doogan
415-265-3302, info@espu-usa.com

Sex Workers File Appeal For Decriminalization Of Sex Work
ESPLERP Files Brief With Ninth Circuit Appealing District Court’s Dismissal Of Challenge To California’s Anti-Prostitution Statute; Seeking Decriminalization Of Sex Work.

San Francisco, CA – The Erotic Service Providers Legal Education Research Project (ESPLERP) today filed a brief in the United States Federal Ninth Circuit appealing against the Northern California District Court’s judgement dismissing ESPLERP v Gascon, which challenged California’s anti-prostitution law Penal Code 647(b) on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

“The District Court Judge’s decision was deeply flawed,” said Maxine Doogan, President of ESPLERP. “He acknowledged that Lawrence v Texas defined a constitutional right to privacy in individuals’ sexual conduct, and also acknowledged that morality was not a basis to deny that right, but then found flimsy legal arguments to deny that right. He also ignored the recommendations of international organizations like Amnesty International, the World Health Organization, the Lancet, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Global Commission on HIV and the Law, all of which call for the decriminalization of sex work.”

“Lawrence v Texas made it clear that governments may not intrude into the private lives of consenting adults by criminalizing their sexual behavior” said Mike Chase, longtime human rights activist. “It is time that the courts fully recognized those rights.”

ESPLERP’s court case is mostly funded by individuals making small contributions, but our opponents (the State of California and various District Attorneys) have very deep pockets – essentially using our taxpayer dollars to deny us our rights. Contributions to support the court case can be submitted through our crowd fundraiser – www.litigatetoemancipate.com.

The Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) is a diverse community-based coalition advancing sexual privacy rights through litigation, education, and research.

Most Recent:

UPDATED PRESS ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 4, 2017
Contact: Maxine Doogan
415-265-3302, info(AT)esplerp.org

Date for Oral Arguments Set Before the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Constitutional Challenge to California’s Prostitution Law

Sex worker group argue prostitution laws infringe on adults’ constitutional right to private consensual activity

Over two years ago, in March 2015, the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) filed a complaint in US District Court claiming that California’s outdated anti-prostitution statute known as California Penal Code 647(b), unfairly deprives adults of the right to private consensual activity, criminalizes the discussion of such activity, and unconstitutionally places prohibitions on individuals’ right to freely associate.

The court case known as ESPLERP v Gascon case number 16-15927 is now before the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Oral Arguments have been set for Thursday October 19th at 9am. The case is supported by amicus briefs from over thirty civil rights and LGBTQ organizations, including the ACLU, the First Amendment Lawyers Association, the Free Speech Coalition, Transgender Law Center, and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Each side will be allotted 20 minutes to make its case.

The named defendants are San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, Marin County District Attorney Edward S. Berberian, Jr. and Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch, together with Kamala Harris, then Attorney General of the State of California, all in their official capacities. Kamala Harris is now a US Senator, and it is assumed the new Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, will continue to act in the same official capacity.
The court case has been primarily funded by small individual donations from supporters and allies through crowdfunding sites such as Crowdrise – for example litigate-to-Emancipate

WHAT: Oral Arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals challenge to California prostitution laws.

WHO: Sex workers, allies and supporters – including the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP).

WHEN Thursday, October 19th, 2017. Press conference to follow immediately after conclusion of Oral Arguments – which start at 9 AM.

Tomorrow we rally at 1300 I street in Sacramento.!!! @AGBecerra, meet with us tomorrow at 1pm.. Thank you.. #MarchForJusticeSF DAY 13 pic.twitter.com/BM36aJa6Dj

— Equipto (@EQUIPTO) October 18, 2017

If you are coming after 6pm, please call 408-499-7912 to be let upstairs.
——
As many of you may have already heard, people locked up in our county jail in downtown Oakland (Glenn Dyer) are on their 4th day of Hunger Strike. This Hunger strike will span across 2 counties and 4 jails. Santa Rita Jail, Santa Clara County Main Jail and Elmwood D.O.C. will continue the strike in solidarity on October 22.

Tentative Agenda:

• Updates
• Hunger Strike at Glenn Dyer
• Follow up on Zine/Video Project
• Akonadi Grant
• State of the Jails Hearing on 11/9
• Outreach

p.s. we are now meeting every other week so our next meeting will be on Thursday November 2nd

Come by our open Delegates Meetings every First and Third Thursday of the month 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

Rally to Save Temporary Protected Status for  Immigrants

The Trump administration is threatening to remove Temporary Protected Status from hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans, Hondurans,Nicaraguans and Haitians and deport them. Many of these people have been here for years, even decades, coming to the United States during wars or natural disasters. This will tear families apart. It will be a major human rights disaster sending people back to situations of life-threatening violence where there are continuing conflicts or economic instability.

Bay Area Coalition to Save TPSRENASE- Red National Salvadoreña en el Exterior;

AHNCA- Asociaciòn de Hondureños  de Norte California;

Bay Area Chapter of Committee in Solidarity of People of El  Salvador (CISPES);

SF Living Wage Coalition;
African Advocacy Network;

CARECEN- Central American Refugee Center;

Immigrant  Legal Resource Center;

SEIU United Service Workers West.

Informational Meeting

Waffles & Zapatismo Classes – The next 2 classes on Zapatismo are scheduled for September 23 and October 21, 2017.

Sept 23rd is the fifth in a series of classes and discussions that include Zapatista history, projects and thinking. This fifth class will focus on the EZLN’s re-emergence on December 21, 2012  and its subsequent re-statement of the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandón Jungle, the EZLN’s current political analysis.

We’ll also discuss the Escuelitas zapatistas (Little Zapatista Schools), the murder of Compañero Galeano, the “death” of SCI Marcos and his rebirth as SCI Galeano. Classes are free and open to all those interested in learning about the Zapatista movement, which governs its own territory through an anti-capitalist government parallel to that of the Mexican State.

We’ll be serving waffles and Zapatista coffee. Classes are held downstairs

Chiapas Support Committee/Comité de Apoyo a Chiapas
P.O. Box 3421, Oakland, CA  94609

RSVP for address

Through art, photos, music, poetry and video, native artists help to educate the public about indigenous peoples’ efforts to recognize and protect their lands and rights. With work by many native artists, Dignidad Rebelde &#HonorNativeLand.

Support Black Trans Liberation! SURJ Queer and Trans Committee House Party to Benefit TGIJP

Save the Date! The Queer and Trans Committee of SURJ Bay Area is throwing a party, and you’re invited!

Please join us in eating, drinking, and dancing to support TGI Justice Project. We’ll be celebrating and fundraising to support the critical work TGI Justice Project does to make our communities safer for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex folks of color. We’ll also be discussing what white folks can do to be in solidarity with Black Trans Liberation — and how important it is for us as white people to move our resources and make reparations to support this work — so invite your friends!

Please RSVP here: http://www.surjbayarea.org/qt_houseparty

Can’t make it? Please donate here: http://www.tgijp.org/donate.html

More details to come! Please email queertrans@surjbayarea.org with accessibility questions.

Read more about TGI Justice Project’s work here: http://www.tgijp.org/

Are you interested in direct action but just don’t know how to go about it? Are you ready to know the ins and outs of participating in blockades and protests while also learning about how to handle police interactions? Do you want to learn how to be at actions in a way that is accountable to and working in solidarity with people of color- led groups?

Now is an important moment in the movement. The white supremacists are openly mobilizing in the Bay Area and the state has an active strategy of criminalizing dissent. This is a critical time to develop our skills and be in community with each other.

Join SURJ Bay Area in our Direct Action Training workshop dedicated to teaching you the framework and the hard skills needed to participate in direct actions for racial justice. This interactive workshop is designed to give you real-time experiences of being in an action and dealing with police and white supremacist interactions. It also aims to build an understanding of direct action from the perspective of white people centering Black and POC voices in the movement for racial justice.

Space is limited to 60 people per workshop and you must pre-register to attend.

Cost: The workshop has a suggested donation of $10 – $25 to cover event expenses, and support future organizing within SURJ Bay Area and our partner organizations. No one turned away for lack of funds – please contact mobilization@surjbayarea.org with ticket requests or questions. Lunch and light snacks will be provided.

Materials: Please take a moment if you have not already done so to familiarize yourself with the SURJ Mission, Vision and Values (http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/about). Also, another document that guides a lot of our work is the BASAT Protocol and Principles for White People Working to Support the Black Liberation Movement (https://baysolidarity.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/protocolandprinciples/).

Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible. Bathrooms are ADA compliant. Please refrain from wearing perfume or heavily scented products our of respect for people with chemical sensitivities. There will *not* be sign language interpretation during the workshop, however, HOH folks will be accommodated with prioritized seating during group discussions and participatory activities. Inform people from our SURJ team, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

COME OUT to Sproul Plaza this Sunday to hear from Jovanka Beckles and fellow progressive candidate Nurse Dotty Nygard who is running for Congress in CD 10!

On the same steps where CAL Berkeley students launched the Free Speech Movement in the 1960’s, Richmond Vice Mayor Jovanka Beckles and Congressional District 10 candidate Nurse Dotty Nygard will talk about the powerful momentum the progressive movement has built here in California. United across the state, progressive candidates are in positions to bring true change to the State and Country!

Folk musicians around the country are holding simultaneous themed fundraising concerts to support needed causes. The cause for this concert is Racial Justice, and the Ella Baker Center has been selected as the beneficiary. Lineup includes: Faye Carol, KTO Project, MoToR/dance, Austin Willacy, Cascada de Flores, Oakland Youth Chorus.