Calendar
Hey @arstechnica fans!
Our next Ars Live in #Oakland on June 13 at 7pm, with my triumphant return to the Eli's stage!
We’re breaking format this time to have @Annaleen and I interview each other about our books, AUTONOMOUS, and HABEAS DATA. Both will be for sale at the event!
— Cyrus Farivar (@cfarivar) May 31, 2018
The trial of the Berkeley 5 started today, with three witnesses for the prosecution, a cop, a fireman, and the neo-fascist Quillinan (see details below), who will take the stand again tomorrow morning. The trial is expected to last at least through the rest of the week, and possibly into early next week.
Please come out and support our antifascist comrades again tomorrow, Thursday, June 14, 9am, in Department 109 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse at 661 Washington Street (at 7th Street) in Oakland.
TONIGHT, we will speak in San Francisco about the US government’s infamous attempt to deport Harry Bridges. Bridges was a labor leader who in the 1930s led the strike that resulted in longshoremen up and down the West Coast being unionized. As a result, the United States spent the next two decades trying to deport him. After four separate trials, and two Supreme Court opinions, they failed, and Bridges eventually became a naturalized citizen.
I am joining Peter Afrasiab, who authored Burning Bridges: America’s 20-Year Crusade to Deport Labor Leader Harry Bridges, for this exciting discussion. The panel will be moderated by famed Constitutional law scholar Erwin Chemerinsky. Pre-registration is required.
Moderator
Erwin Chemerinsky
Dean of Berkeley Law and Scholar of Constitutional Law
Panelists
Peter Afrasiabi, Esq.
Partner at One LLP, Newport Beach, California
Author of Burning Bridges: America’s 20-Year Crusade to Deport Labor Leader Harry Bridges
Chip Gibbons, Esq.
Journalist and First-Amendment lawyer;
Policy and legislative counsel for
Defending Rights & Dissent, Washington, D.C.
This event is free and open to the general public!
To reserve a space, you must register online.
Tickets will not be available at the door.
The Bridges saga has wide ranging implications:
- The Bridges deportation case was never just about Harry Bridges. First and foremost, it was about smashing a successful labor union by decapitating its leadership. Following the successful 1934 strike, the ILWU grew into one of the country’s most powerful, most militant trade unions. For anti-radical ideologues, this could only be the work of outside forces.
- Since the inception of the labor movement, immigrants had been blamed for bringing “foreign” radicalism to the US and injecting discord into otherwise harmonious capital-labor relationships. Labor organizing was viewed as tantamount to disloyalty, and immigrants were suspected of working to remake the US in the image of their “un-American” ideas. All that was needed to make America great again, and roll back working-class victories, was to remove them from the country.
- The Bridges case was also a stand-in for a larger anti-immigration politics. When asked about one of the many efforts to deport the ILWU leader, Senator Robert R. Reynolds (D-NC) told the media, “Bridges should not be permitted to make the trip out of the country alone. There are thousands of others who ought to be deported or put into concentration camps until we can get rid of them.”
- Camps, mass deportations – these are the tools of those who want to “make America great again.” A xenophobic streak is unquestionably at the root of this. But make no mistake: in Bridges’ time and in our own, reactionaries’ ultimate vision of policing – and expelling – political heresy from the body politic extends far beyond the foreign-born.
Are you eager to power your home with clean electricity? At the same price (or less!) than PG&E, you finally can. East Bay Community Energy, Alameda’s Community Choice Energy provider, is already serving commercial customers in Alameda County. Residential customers will automatically be enrolled this fall. Learn about your choices as a customer, how this energy program advances climate mitigation and environmental justice efforts, and how you can get involved as an advocate for community choice energy. Light snacks and beverages provided.
Safety Is… Rethinking Violence Using a Restorative Justice Lens
The Ella Baker Center will host a panel discussion and planning session where community members can engage with advocates on how we can re-envision safety. The panel discussion will be followed by small group facilitated action planning. Dinner will be provided.
Moderated by David Muhammad, Executive Director of National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.
Panelists include:
Reverend Daniel Buford (Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action), John Jones III (Community and Political Engagement Director, East Oakland Black Cultural Zone) and Jessica Travenia (Development Coordinator, Roots Community Health Center).
Join us for SAFETY IS… panel discussion and planning session where community members can engage with advocates on how we can re-envision safety. Dinner will be provided.
The Follow-up meeting to Caring For Our Community – Responding to the Houseless is Thursday evening. So often the message to the homeless seems to be top down. The last meeting included a panel of homeless people who responded to the question of what are their most immediate needs. The responses included: access to bathrooms (or porta potties), drinkable water, showers, food, a place to store their belongings, pick-up of trash, a place to be (evictions, raids, towing of vehicles)
Agenda: 2nd Street eviction of houseless people, closure 9th Street Shelter, ongoing threat of citing and towing of RVs and campers.
The New Rulers Of The World (2001) is a documentary about how the US, UK, Dutch Neo-Colonial Corporations plotted General Suharto’s removal in 1966 of the first elected President of Indonesia, Sukarno, who had ruled from 1959 – 1966. It analyzes the corporate globalization economy and reveals that the divisions between the rich and poor have never been greater.Sponsored by BFUU Social Justice Committee’s Conscientious Projector Film Series for the 99%
Wheelchair accessible.
For occasional email notices of peace/eco/social justice alerts and related events at BFUU, send any email to:
bfuusjev-subscribe [at] lists.riseup.net
For weekly notices of BFUU services etc. go to:
http://www.bfuu.org/signup.html
KPFA Radio 94.1 FM & Marcus Books present
Michael Eric Dyson is one of America’s premier public intellectuals. The author of last year’s outstanding bestseller, “Tears We Cannot Stop,” Dyson is University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University, a frequent contributor to the New York Times, and an editor of The New Republic. Ebony magazine named him one of America’s 100 most influential African-Americans. In addition, Dyson is a uniqely outstanding public speaker, employing exceptionally deep knowledge with a talent for Immediacy, terrific wit, and an extraordinarily rich voice.
His new book, What Truth Sounds Like: RFK, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America deftly explores the tense intersection of the conflict between politics and prophecy— of whether we embrace political resolution or moral redemption to fix our fractured landscape. Dr. Dyson examines key players today, from Jay-Z to Jordan Peele and LeBron James, from Ta-Nehisi Coates to Kamala Harris. He ends with a paean to Makanda, the all too mythical nation celebrated in the film “Black Panther”. “If James Baldwin and his glorious crew could gather again, they could hardly have a better place to reconvene and let the beautiful momentum of blackness eash over them as they sought to make America truly great. For the first time.”
What Truth Sounds Like reveals how every big argument about race that persists to this day got a hearing in a crucial meeting convened in 1963 when Robert F. Kennedy invited James Baldwin and a few of his friends to discuss Black America’s rage: disdain for black dissent, the belief that black folk wallow in the politics of ingratitude and victimhood, and that they lack hustle and ingenuity.
Kevin Cartwright has been a radio producer, media trainer and music programmer for Pacifica Radio station KPFA-FM since 1994. He has produced and contributed to a number of local and national public affairs programs that have included Living Room with Larry Bensky, Democracy Now, the KPFA Evening News, and The Morning Show. Kevin is a communications strategist who continues to work with a number of social change organizations across the country to help improve their overall communications.
KPFA benefit
Tickets: brownpapertickets.com
Marcus Books, Pegasus Books (3 stores), Books Inc (Berkeley), Moe’s, Walden Pond Bookstore, East Bay Books, Mrs. Dalloway’s
Combating Hate in the East Bay
Former white extremist Christian Picciolini will speak on Uniting Against Hate Picciolini will share his experience in addressing hatred and discrimination through empathy and conversation that can result in a more inclusive world. He will be introduced by Holocaust camp survivor, Ben Stern, who led the 1978 fierce public battle against Nazis in Skokie, Illinois, and neo-nazis at the 2017 Rally Against Hatred in Berkeley, California. The event is sponsored by the ACLU, the Alameda Labor Council, Indivisible Berkeley, Not in Our Town, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, Berkeley Citizens Action, and the Berkeley Progressive Alliance.
Christian Picciolini is an award-winning television producer, a public speaker, author, peace advocate, and a former white-supremacist skinhead. After leaving the hate movement that he helped create during his youth in the 1980s and 90s, he began the painstaking process of making amends and rebuilding his life. Since abandoning white-power ideology, Picciolini has been dedicated to helping others overcome hate. He now leads the Free Radicals Project, a global extremism prevention and disengagement platform, helping people exit hate movements and other violent ideologies.
Picciolini has spoken all over the world, including Berkeleyside’s Uncharted conference and on the TEDx stage, sharing his unique and extensive knowledge, teaching all who are willing to learn about building greater peace through empathy and compassion.
Tickets may be ordered through Eventbrite and cost $12. Costs may be waived–please contact MargotS999@aol.com. All are welcome, wheelchair accessible.
“Divest From War” is an action-focused event featuring beloved author and eco-philosopher Joanna Macy, Codepink Co-founder and world renowed peace activist Medea Benjamin, musician Betsy Rose, brief presentations on active divestment campaigns from Idle No More SF Bay, Indivisible Berkeley Economic Justice, Fossil Free Calif., Public Bank of Oakland, as well as an organic vegetarian potluck dinner @ 6:30pm, live music, and a dessert reception with homemade pies, tea and wine to benefit Codepink Women for Peace Golden Gate Chapter.
Medea will sign copies of her new book Inside Iran.
Cosponsored by Codepink Golden Gate Chapter and the BFUU Social Justice Committee
An action of UNITY is taking place in OAKLAND this SATURDAY June 16✊️10-12PM – Meet at The Arches
Come Join #HandsAroundLakeMerritt with us!
Oakland is about unidad & protecting one another and we do I️t with love. @APTPaction @CatsCommentary @MusicNegrito @EastBayExpress pic.twitter.com/Ia0d4auUh0
— Gina Madrid (@RawwG) June 14, 2018
The housing crisis in the Bay Area and beyond is a wholly preventable disaster, created and maintained by the notion that housing is a commodity and not a human right.
Join us (DSA) in the campaign for the Affordable Housing Act — a proposed ballot initiative that that will give our cities and counties the power to adopt rent control necessary to address the state’s housing affordability crisis by repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act upholds landlord interests, and — in tandem with the housing crisis — has deeply exacerbated social disparities, displaced longtime communities, driven homelessness, and dealt a blow to working-class power by making housing ever more insecure and inaccessible.
Come learn more about repealing Costa-Hawkins and then we’ll hit the streets to talk with our neighbors about housing justice and the Affordable Housing Act!
Join us for CPF's Community Celebration for Human Rights and Dignity event. June 16th 12;30 to 4:30 at Ogawa/Grant Plaza in downtown Oakland.
Invite your family and friends and help us get the word out. pic.twitter.com/qQ1FoQLTD2— California Prison Focus (@CAprisonfocus) June 1, 2018
This campaign is committed to building our platform in partnership with the community. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. We want to uplift the amazing progressive grassroots work that is already happening.
Over the next few weeks, we will host People’s Assemblies on everything from public safety to education. Together we will imagine an Oakland with housing security, true public safety, sanctuary for all, and create a plan to get us there.
Our next People’s Assembly will focus on housing, and the crisis of affordability that is displacing Black communities and forcing thousands of long-time Oakland residents into the streets. We believe public land should serve the public good – not generate profit for developers. Join us to dream about an Oakland where housing is a human right, and displaced Black families have the right to return to the communities from where they were displaced.
It's a big day for #PeoplePower @ #LakeMerritt in #Oakland!
10 AM: Oakland Hands Around Lake Merritt—Lake Merritt Arches
1 PM: People's Assembly on the Housing Crisis—Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Join APTP, #CatBrooksForMayor, SURJ, & more to uplift our community & imagine together! pic.twitter.com/DErbUTf4W5— Elizabeth Fitzer (@ItsBethFitzer) June 16, 2018
The City of Berkeley holds it’s Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday, June 17, from 11am to 7pm. This cultural event celebrates African American culture and traditions, as well as promotes community diversity.
The event – featuring music, food, health screenings, historical exhibits & art for children – takes place along Adeline Street, from Ashby to Alcatraz in Berkeley.
Please join us to watch the award winning documentary ‘Gods In Shackles’. Bring along your favorite vegan dish (enough for 6-8 people)
6:00 to 6:15: Mingle with attendees and enjoy the delicious food
6;15 to 7:45: Screening of ‘Gods in Shackles’
7:45 to 8:00 PM: Call for donations and Q-A with Seema Vaid
Details about the film:
Gods in Shackles is a feature-length documentary film, an exposé revealing the dark side of the southern Indian state of Kerala’s glamorous cultural festivals that exploit temple elephants for profit under the guise of culture and religion.
By exposing the abhorrent torture suffered by India’s heritage animal, Gods in Shackles offers hope to the thousands of endangered captive and wild elephants in India through heightened awareness that will inspire key stake holders and policy makers to enhance the living conditions of these highly social animals.
By film maker Sangita Iyer (B. Sc., M.A. PGD Journalism), Filmmaker born and raised in Kerala, India
Event Co-ordinator: Seema Vaid, Volunteer, Voice for Asian Elephants Society a non profit organization that has the following vision:
“Creating sustainable communities through caring for, and protecting endangered captive and wild Asian elephants”
Note: This event is free but donations would be much appreciated. Funds will go towards, creating a safe havens for temple elephants rescued from the endless abuse and cruelty in Kerala.
We document current events, make films together, steward an editing suite and share a film equipment library. We also host film screenings, often with local directors, and put on an annual short film festival for independent Bay Area filmmakers. Our goal is to make the digital filmmaking accessible – no overpriced college degree or certificate program required!
We are also a good group to reach out to if you’d like to screen a film at the Omni. We can be reached at liberatedlens@lists.riseup.net
We usually meet in the basement, unless otherwise noted.
8am – Rally at Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, 661 Washington Street (at 7th Street) in Oakland
9am – Support Comrades Awaiting Verdict in Department 109 (5th Floor)
The trial of the Berkeley 5 ended with the last two defendants taking the stand, as well as another witness for the defense, who had been at the protest in March. The prosecution’s case unraveled by the end of the day, and the prosecutor got increasingly vicious, which backfired and resulted in the judge dismissing the bogus weapons charge against one defendant.
The jury will begin deliberating Monday morning at 9am, and is expected back sometime after 10am. Please come out to support our antifascist comrades as we wait for the jury to deliver the verdict.
The Guardian published the following story about the case earlier this morning:
GET ON THE BUS TO PASS AB 931-Mobilization to Sacramento 6/19!
On Tuesday, June 19, AB 931 the Police Accountability and Community Protection Act, will be heard in committee for the first time! Please read below to RSVP and sign up for free travel and food.
We need to let the Legislature know that higher standards for police use of force is critical to save lives– they must pass AB 931 out of the Senate Public Safety Committee! AB 931 will make it more difficult for CA police to justify violent use of force against our communities. Show up to Sacramento on June 19 to pack the room and deliver a short ‘me too’ statement to the Senators to voice your support!
RSVP AND REGISTER HERE: www.bit.ly/RSVPJUNE19
**TRAVEL SUPPORT TO SACRAMENTO**
**NorCal: One charter bus will leave from Oakland on Tuesday, June 19 morning (Roughly 6am). NorCal bus will return on Tuesday, June 19.
*OAKLAND PICK UP LOCATION: Fruitvale BART,
3401 East 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601
Feel free to ask any questions here or on Twitter or Instagram: @YouthJusticeLA.
#NoCopOuts #ProtectThePeople #RightToLive
Hosted by White People 4 Black Lives / SURJ Affiliate Los Angeles, Anti Police Terror Project, more
This coming Tuesday, longtime socialist and labor activist Mike Parker will be joining East Bay DSA for a special event: a discussion of the rise and fall of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). June 19, 7pm, East Bay Community Space, Oakland pic.twitter.com/fPGhCfyfkQ
— East Bay DSA (@DSAEastBay) June 16, 2018