Calendar

Californian’s face a drinking water crisis. Pat Elder’s 20 city California Military Poisons Tour calls attention to the military’s role in contaminating land and water on bases and in nearby communities with PFAS “forever chemicals” linked to chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Former residents of California’s George Air Force Base will tell of the toxic legacy across generations of exposure while serving there. We’ll discuss what California is doing about this crisis and Next Steps for Action. Help us build a movement for human rights, environmental and health justice, and peace for present and future generations.

Speakers are:

Pat Elder, an investigative journalist with Civilian Exposure and Board Member of World BEYOND War.

Patricia Hynes, a retired Professor of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, and Director of the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice.

Gar Smith, an award-winning investigative journalist for Project Censored, author, editor, co-founder of Environmentalists Against War and a board member of World BEYOND War.

Lisa McCrea and Denise Torri served at George Air Force Base and Lauren Coletrain who was born there.

Liz Rosenbaum, an organizer of Fountain Valley Clean Water Action Coalition, (link www.fountainvalleycwc.wixsite.com/water ) in Colorado that has one of the largest and most contaminated populations in the country.

Sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom’s Earth Democracy and Disarm/End Wars Committees, BFUU Social Justice Committee, Code Pink, WorldBeyondWar, Veterans For Peace and Civilian Exposure.

Forum details and speaker bios here.

Register at https:/eventbrite.com

Let’s get together and share prayers, quotes, and poems for spiritual nourishment. Everyone and all traditions are welcome. Information to connect via zoom is below. You can download the free app at: https://zoom.us

“Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” ~ Bahá’u’lláh
“Remember the saying: ‘Of all pilgrimages the greatest is to relieve the sorrow-laden heart.'” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

https://zoom.us/j/6699780656

See invite list
GoingMaybeNot Going

Zach Norris, ED of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, has a new book titled We Keep Us Safe: Building Secure, Just and Inclusive Communities. In this moment of heightened anxiety and growing white supremacy, Norris will talk about the need to distinguish between crime and harm and how each of us can take steps toward achieving real safety and prosperity

RUSSELL JACOBY

ON DIVERSITY: The Eclipse of the Individual in a Global Era 

With Steve Wasserman

advance tickets: $12: brownpapertickets.com ::T: 800-838-3006  or Pegasus Books (3 sites), Books Inc (Berkeley), Moe’s, Walden Pond Bookstore, East Bay Books, Mrs.Dalloway’s Books $15 door, benefits KPFA Radio 94.1FM

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“Russell Jacoby is one of the most prescient and important writers in the United States. His prose is as lucid and penetrating as his intellect. His moral compass makes his observations prophetic.” — Chris Hedges

Diversity is a word much repeated in the news, in universities, in casual conversations, even at television awards’ shows. But what does the word actually mean? How do we square our seeming love of the word with the fact that our world is actually becoming increasingly less diverse and more homogenous all the time? That conformity in virtually every way is in fact rapidly accelerating? That we are all too often marching to the same potentially fatal drumbeat?

At last, one of America’s greatest intellectual gadflies directly takes on this question with straightforward prose . On Diversity: The Eclipse of the Individual in a Global Era delves into language, fashion, politics and even childhood experience to present a surprising, often

penetrating analysis of our cultural moment. When so many of our public thinkers appear to be tangling with one another in order to be credited with the latest proper opinion, Russell Jacoby offers a fresh, dangerous, liberating injunction: just stop and think.

The author bracingly affirms the importance of the individual distinction that our classic thinkers identified as the ultimate aspiration for an age of increasing conformity in how we raise our children, what we wear, how we talk, even how we hobble our own brains.

“On Diversity is first-rate intellectual history and penetrating cultural criticism.”

— George Scialabba, author of What Are Intellectuals Good For?

Steve Wasserman, Publisher & Executive Director of Heyday Books, is former Editor of the Los 

Angeles Times Book Review and was Deputy Editor of the Los Angeles Times‘s Sunday Opinion

Section and Op-Ed Page, after which he became editor-in-chief of New Republic Books.

He also served as Editorial Director of Times Books/Random House and Publisher of Hill &

Wang and The Noonday Press, both divisions of Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Main Street’s Victory over Wall Street:

New California Law Creates Public Banking Pathway

Starting a bank costs money. Starting a public bank is no exception. So we’ve invited Assemblymember David Chiu, one of the two co-authors of AB 857, to come speak about the law and the future of public banking in California. We’re hosting a brunch in a lovely backyard spot in Berkeley.

Tickets are limited, and the cost for an individual is $50.00 ($20 seniors/students/unemployed/ no one turned away for lack of funds). We’d love to have you join us. To purchase a seat, click the donate button at the top the right of

We are settling into crazy times, but it’s still a good time to share hope, support, compassion, and ACTION. You are invited to a Friday gathering to boost our spirits, get activated together, and make some online activism posts and calls.

All are invited! We will:
– “Meet” & greet each other,
– Take some time to get grounded,
– Share resources AND
– Take Action

Where: Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/727108084?pwd=YVhTOTk1TFlodzMwc3ZqWkg2ckNoZz09

Meeting ID: 727 108 084
Password: 082166

If you just love Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1352373044953911/

Monthly interfaith prayer meeting, held on second Sundays, dedicated to healing.

The Bahá’í community of Oakland is organizing this gathering for the community to connect, share prayers, writings and poems from all spiritual traditions, reflect and recharge and build coalitions interested in healing.

Come share prayers, quotes, poems, and favorite passages from your scriptures with us. Refreshments will be served.

Doors open: 10:00 AM
Prayers: 10:30-11:30 AM
Refreshments and socializing: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunrise is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. We’re building a movement of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across the US, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and well being of all people. This presentation will cover our approach to the Green New Deal, as well as our mobilization to the covid crisis and beyond.

Karaline Bridgeford has been with the Sunrise Bay Area hub for over a year and  serves on the solidarity and presentations teams. She got her start in organizing as an undergrad student with the university fossil fuel divestment movement and now works in City government.

Itxaso Garay is originally from Barcelona but has lived all over the US (Florida, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, California, etc) since she was 7, and she currently calls Oakland home. She had the privilege of growing up on the ocean and the beach in all of the places she has lived; rising oceans encroaching on her tiny town in Rhode Island and the threat of hurricanes in Florida was her first exposures to the threat of climate change and motivation to mediate these issues. Since the shelter in place order happened she has been comforted by calls from old friends and trying out yoga; her partner has been baking a lot and she have been lucky enough to be the taste tester for his creations.

Elizabeth Villano is a native of Illinois and grew up swimming in Lake Michigan. As much as she misses the fresh water, she’s already acclimatized to the winters out here so isn’t positive she can ever leave. She’s been with Sunrise Bay Area for about a year, serving as the presentations coordinator, and with action planning for different events.
More info about Sunrise, is here:  https://www.facebook.com/BayAreaSunrise/  and here:  https://www.sunrisemovement.org/

April 12th, 5:00 to 6:00 pm
Via Zoom: please see access info below

Green Sundays are a series of free public programs & discussions on topics “du jour” sponsored by the Green Party o f Alameda County and held on the 2nd Sunday of each month. The monthly business meeti ng of the County Council of the Green Party follows, at 6:15 pm. Council meetings are open to anyone who is interested.

Zoom Topic: Green Party of Alameda County

Description: Green Sunday presentation at 5 PM
(Followed by County Council business meeting at 6:15. All are welcome to attend)

Time: Apr 12, 2020, 5:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/498225054?pwd=REV3MUFTWno3UWM2b2JMMVlRaUhnUT09

Meeting ID: 498 225 054

Password: 2020

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Meeting ID: 498 225 054

Password: 2020

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PLANET PEOPLE PEACE
befor e profit!

EMAIL STRIKE.DEBT.BAY.AREA@GMAIL.COM FOR CONNECTION INFO.

Strike Debt Bay Area proudly hosts a non-technical book group discussion monthly on new and radical economic thinking. Previous readings have included Doughnut Economics, Limits, Banking on the People, and Capital and Its Discontents.

We will be reading the first half (Chapters 1-3) of How to Be an Anti-Capitalist in the 21st Century (Amazon, Abe Books, Verso) for the April 18th meeting and the rest of the book for the May 16th meeting.

What is wrong with capitalism, and how can we change it?

Capitalism has transformed the world and increased our productivity, but at the cost of enormous human suffering. Our shared values—equality and fairness, democracy and freedom, community and solidarity—can provide both the basis for a critique of capitalism and help to guide us toward a socialist and democratic society.

Erik Olin Wright has distilled decades of work into this concise and tightly argued manifesto: analyzing the varieties of anticapitalism, assessing different strategic approaches, and laying the foundations for a society dedicated to human flourishing. How to Be an Anticapitalist in the Twenty-First Century is an urgent and powerful argument for socialism, and an unparalleled guide to help us get there. Another world is possible. Included is an afterword by the author’s close friend and collaborator Michael Burawoy.

Join us for an online panel discussion of leading attorneys, human rights defenders and social justice activists as the London trial of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is underway. If Assange is extradited to the United States, he faces the first-ever charges under the Espionage Act of 1917 for the publication of truthful information in the public interest. Speakers will present the critical legal and policy issues involved as well as rebut government efforts to undermine the reputation and credibility of Assange. In these difficult times for civil liberties and democratic rights we demand: Free Julian Assange! Defend Free Speech and the First Amendment!

Register for the panel event here

Sponsors: Bay Area Julian Assange Defense Committee  National Lawyers Guild Bay Arrea, Courage Foundation United National Antiwar Coalition

Initial co-sponsors: CodePink Bay Area, Social Justice Center of Marin, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, US Section  Kevin Zeese, Popular Resistance, advisory board, Courage Foundation, past Steering Committee member Chelsea Manning Support Committee, Marin Peace and Justice Center, Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal

The Courage Foundation is an international whistleblower support network that campaigns for the protection of truthtellers and the public’s right to know. For ongoing updates, resources, and more information on Assange’s case, visit defend.wikileaks.org

Where:

Online Panel Event

Join us tomorrow at 3pm for a socially distanced rally!!!

See twitter thread: https://twitter.com/redpomgranat/status/1252132501855678464

CALL TO ACTION: SPEAK OUT AGAINST COP MURDER IN #SANLEANDRO MONDAY 4/20

@ San Leandro City Council Virtual Meeting public comment

DEMAND:
1) Immediately investigate & suspend w/o pay officers involved in the shooting
2) Vote NO on 10.A – reject surveillance spending

SHARE! https://t.co/0ePJkImklN

— marxist lizard (@redpomgranat) April 20, 2020

Show up online! Your voice is important! #SanLeandro City Council Meeting 7pm, Mon, 4/20/2020 Action Item 10.A

Show up online! Your voice is important!#SanLeandro City Council Meeting
7pm, Mon, 4/20/2020
Action Item 10.A

Public Comment: Speak on agenda action item 10.A (surveillance) access the meeting through zoom: https://t.co/mY7iLYAS9P.

INVEST IN CARE NOT SURVEILLANCE!

— marxist lizard (@redpomgranat) April 20, 2020

Agenda and online connection and participation instructions:

https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Police-Commission-4.23.20-Agenda-Packet.pdf

Items of possible interest:

IV. OPD Interim Police Chief Introduction The Commission will introduce Susan Manheimer, the Interim Police Chief at OPD.

VIII. Update on City Auditor’s Commission and CPRA Audits The Commission will provide an update on the status of the Police Commission and CPRA audits that are being conducted by the City Auditor’s office. T

IX. Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): OPD and National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) The Commission will discuss a draft MOU between OPD and NICJR to establish an effective partnership committed to the successful implementation of the Neighborhood Opportunity and Accountability Board Diversion Program (NOAB). This is a new item. (Attachment 9).

Landlord Harasses, Bullies and Serves Illegal Notices on Oakland Tenants in a Global Pandemic and Eviction Moratorium

In the Middle of the Covid19 Pandemic and a state and county-wide Eviction Moratorium – A Landlord Harasses, Bullies and Serves Illegal Notices on Oakland Tenants.

“Raj Properties has given several tenants 3 day notices and threatened to tow cars from tenants legal parking spots, its why we launched a rent strike,” said long-time tenant and Oakland resident Momi P.

Please -Join Zoom Press Conference with this link on April 27th at 3pm PST
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9432352233

Meeting ID: 943 235 2233

While people locally and globally struggles with a shelter in place mandate — and the massive loss of work, abusive landlords like Raj Properties continue to operate as though there are no laws and protections in place for tenants.

Since March of 2020 The County of Alameda and the State of California have eviction moratoriums in place to protect tenants just like the 37 units at 3080 Richmond

Background on the Tenants of 3080 Richmond, Oakland

Raj properties are guilty of illegal harassment of these tenants, and with this struggle 3080 Richmond joins other working class, Black and Brown tenants across Oakland who have faced harassment from landlords who refuse to follow the laws put in place to protect tenants, said Lisa Tiny Gray-Garcia, formerly homeless, legal advocate and co-founder of POOR Magazine/Prensa POBRE and Homefulness- a homeless peoples. “These tenants are sheroes and heroes, ” Lisa Tiny concluded.

The tenants have officially decided to transform this abuse into a rent strike, joining another group of tenants and Moms4Housing in refusing to accept the abuse and harassment of predatory, capitalist greed for profit over their human and civil rights as tenants in the State of California

Statement from the Tenants
RAJ PROPERTIES, our landlord, is being especially vicious during this time. We need your support to help stop the harassment from Raj properties. The city of Oakland has passed a rent moratorium, yet Raj Properties is ignoring it! They are using scare tactics to intimidate those who cannot afford it. They are violating the moratorium by putting “3-day notice” of evictions, threats to tow cars, and even increasing monthly rents. Tenants are having to borrow money from family, take out loans, go without food, etc. because Raj has no respect for its tenants and clearly functions unethically.

The tenants are asking for support from politicians and community to stand with them in this rent strike and for all landlords to stop harassing tenants in this time of Covid19

Tenants at 3080 Richmond and their advocates, other homeless and formerly homeless advocates at POOR Magazine/Homefulness and other organizations plan to hold a Zoom Press Conference on Monday, April 27 @ 3pm- and then plan a follow-up action on MayDay- they are asking for widespread support and organizations and individuals to sign on- If you are willing or able to co-sponsor or help please email poormag@gmail.com

Please -Join Zoom Press Conference with this link on April 27th at 3pm PST
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9432352233

Meeting ID: 943 235 2233

POOR Magazine is a poor and indigenous people-led movement creating media , education, art, advocacy and solutions for low and no-income and homeless youth , adults and elders locally and globally.

Mass strikes have played a central role in the history of left movements, and they have long captured the imagination of socialists and other radicals. Mass strikes represent the explosion of class struggle outside of a single workplace or industry, bringing the working classes of entire cities or countries into revolt against the prevailing order. Such occurrences can act as the catalyst for significant pro-worker reforms, or even lead to revolution.

Recent movements against austerity in France and Chile show that mass strikes are far from a thing of the past. And with the coronavirus causing a global social and economic crisis, along with sparking an upsurge in labor militancy, it’s not hard to imagine similar events breaking out in the U.S. or across the world.

Join East Bay DSA’s Socialist Night School for a discussion of the history and theory of mass strikes, with a focus on drawing lessons for the current crisis.

Readings:
“General Strikes, Mass Strikes,” Kim Moody
Excerpts from “Depression Decade,” Strike!, Jeremy Brecher
“The Great Minneapolis Strikes,” The History of American Trotskyism, James P. Cannon
“Even in a Pandemic, Workers Can Fight Back,” Nick French

Zoom link for meeting: https://dsausa.zoom.us/j/307978083