Calendar

At the next Board of Directors meeting, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) will for the first time in many years consider revisions to their permitting process—Rules 2-X.   The Air District’s past record of permitting indicates a bad habit of rubber stamping “stationary source” projects that endanger community health and destabilize the climate.  Can that behavior be reformed?

Unfortunately, BAAQMD is once again using the recent passage of AB 398, the cap and trade extension bill, to argue that they are prohibited from passing any direct regulation of CO₂ emissions.  Although the bill specifically restricts Air Districts from taking actions that produce CO₂ reductions, BAAQMD legal staff insists that this prevents them from pursuing efforts that would merely prevent future emission increases.

As a result, their proposed improvements to current permitting rules will do nothing to control future CO₂ emissions.  Dangerous projects, such as the massive expansion of crude-by-ship into the Phillips 66 marina at the Rodeo refinery, will continue to be rubber stamped.  The “improvements” fail to prevent the increased emissions that will inevitably follow from changes to dirtier, more GHG- and toxics- emitting crude sources.

Staff is using the same interpretation of AB 398 to argue that Rule 12-16, the proposed refinery emissions cap, can no longer be considered.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 18th, to demand permitting rules and refinery emission caps that truly prevent increased future emission of carbon dioxide and toxic co-pollutants.  We must have Rule 12-16 back on the BAAQMD agenda where it  belongs. Talking points will be provided before the meeting.

Court Support for Hearing: New Time!
NOTE: The court changed the hearing time…again! We will now gather at 1 p.m.

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m: Gathering outside courthouse
1:30 p.m: Line up to enter courthouse
2:00 p.m.: Hearing begins in Courtroom#6
On Facebook: Click here for Facebook event
Accessibility: The court and gathering area outside are wheelchair accessible.
We will have folding chairs available for outside portion.
We won’t have ASL interpretation, unfortunately.
If you have questions or requests for other access needs in the future, please let us know: justice4kaylamoore@gmail.com.

Please join us in showing love and showing up for the Moore family at their final pretrial hearing before their jury trial begins. Show up and show the judge that we’re with Kayla Moore’s family – we remember Kayla and we know that her life and memory matter! At Wednesday’s hearing, the judge will rule on what evidence each party in the case will be able to bring before the jury.

The Moore family’s court case may set a national precedent for how the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) relates to policing and crisis response. Their case is call to action for Berkeley and all cities: it’s time to build ADA-compliant crisis responses that truly support Black people, people of color, trans people, queer people, and people with disabilities.

Save the date: The Moore family’s trial begins November 6th!
SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS: The judge might change the court dates/times again.
Text JUSTICE4KAYLA to 33222 to receive updates by text!

Get Involved

Show up for Court Support – November 6-10 (tentatively), San Francisco. RSVP and share our Court Support Event on Facebook.

Provide or request rides, food and accessibility support during the trial – Sign up here

Come to Meetings: We meet every Monday, 7pm-9pm, The Grassroots House, 2022 Blake Street, Berkeley.

Tell us about your work! Got knowledge about non-police mental health crisis response? Are you working towards justice and self-determination for trans people, disabled people and people of color? We want

We are a trans+queer led group acquiring N95 masks in large quantities and distributing them to encampments, folks on the street, and communities in need. We are too small and need more $ and people!

IF YOU STILL NEED AN N95 MASK
We will be at Impact Hub Oakland this Tuesday and Wednesday 2-6pm. 2323 Broadway. By donation, NOTAFLOF. We’ll be right in front with our cute sandwich board on the street. If you know a ton of people who need masks, you can buy a large chunk, or we might be able to give you a deal for those in need.

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.

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

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.