Calendar

A general strike is a strike action that includes a large part of the total labor force in a city, region, or country. General strikes are characterized by the participation of workers in a multitude of workplaces, and tend to involve entire communities. The idea of the general strike is powerful precisely because a massive and persistent withdrawal of labor can bring a capitalist city or even an entire economy to a halt.

The last general strike in the United States occurred here in the East Bay in 1946. One hundred thousand members of the American Federation of Labor shut down the economy of four local cities for two and a half days. Thousands of strikers took over the streets of downtown Oakland. It was an explosive protest against employers’ refusal to recognize the union of newly organized retail workers, and against police intervention to disrupt picket lines.

What touched off the Oakland general strike and why did it end almost as suddenly as it began? Why have there been no subsequent general strikes in the United States in over 70 years? Should activists on the left today be calling for general strikes? Or following Rosa Luxemburg, should we view general strikes as historical phenomenon resulting from specific social conditions?

To find out the answer to these questions and more, please join us for a special edition of Socialist Night School. Fred Glass, local labor historian and author, will be joining us to give lead-off talk on the history of the last Oakland General Strike.

Find the readings here: https://www.eastbaydsa.org/night-school/

You believe in making a difference, but when it comes to racial justice, are your actions aligned with your beliefs? The work begins with looking in the mirror. Without intentional learning and reflection, white people may uphold beliefs and systems that perpetuate injustice. Join us for an intimate and interactive workshop in which we will unpack how whiteness has shaped our lives and discuss how white people who care can take action for racial justice.

This workshop offers those who are new to racial justice work an opportunity to reflect on and analyze the role that whiteness has played in their lives. Through individual, small-group, and whole-group activities, participants will be invited to:

*Reframe racism as a system, rather than a product of individuals who are “good” or “bad”
*Reflect on how their own racial identity has influenced their experiences in the world
*Create a plan for taking at least one action in their own lives to deepen their commitment to racial justice

This workshop welcomes anyone who would like to participate, but it is especially well-suited for white people who are:

*In the early stages of exploring what it means to be white
*Seeking to grow their skills in analyzing and discussing the effects of racism
*Feeling ready to take action to create a more just world

Preregistration is required due to limited space.

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Join Oakland Privacy to organize against the surveillance state, police militarization and ICE, and to advocate for surveillance regulation around the Bay and nationwide.

We fight against “pre-crime” and “thought-crime,” spy drones, facial recognition, police body camera secrecy, anti-transparency laws and requirements for “backdoors” to cellphones, to list just a few invasions of our privacy by all levels of Government, and attempts to hide what government officials, employees and agencies are doing.

We draft and push for privacy legislation for City Councils, at the County level, and in Sacramento. We advocate in op-eds and in the streets. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and believe no one is illegal.

Oakland Privacy originally came together in 2013 to fight against the Domain Awareness Center, Oakland’s citywide networked mass surveillance hub. OP was instrumental in stopping the DAC from becoming a city-wide spying network.  We helped fight and helped win the fight against Urban Shield.

Our major projects currently include local legislation to regulate state surveillance (we got the strongest surveillance regulation ordinance in the country passed in Oakland!), supporting and opposing state legislation as appropriate, battling mass surveillance in the form of facial recognition and other analytics, and pushing back against ICE.

On September 12th, 2019 we were presented with a Barlow Award by the Electronic Frontier Foundation for our work.

If you are interested in joining the Oakland Privacy email listserv, coming to a meeting, or have questions, send an email to:

contact@oaklandprivacy.org

Check out our website: http://oaklandprivacy.org/   Follow us on twitter: @oaklandprivacy

Check out our sister site DeportICE.

“WATCHING YOU WATCHING US”

Oakland Privacy works regionally to defend the right to privacy and enhance public transparency and oversight regarding the use of surveillance techniques and equipment.  Oakland Privacy drove the passage of surveillance regulation and transparency ordinances in Oakland and Berkeley and is kicking off new processes in various municipalities around the Bay.  To help slow down the encroaching police and surveillance state all over the Bay Area, join us at the Omni.

The Anti Police-Terror Project meets the third Wednesday of every month.

August’s agenda will include an update on developments at Santa Rita jail and an active shooter response training.

In September we’re giving updates on our Police Commission campaign and about a local campaign to audit Sheriff Ahern; showing a short film about Dujuan Armstrong, who died in police custody at Santa Rita Jail earlier this year; and giving a quick update about our newly formed Sacramento chapter. Let us know if you can join us!

Join us to find out how you can get involved.
This space is wheelchair accessible. Please contact us for any additional accessibility questions or concerns.

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Come by our open Delegates Meetings! 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

This meeting usually happens in the Ballroom, but the the location may change depending on the access needs of people attending and other events taking place in the building.

EVICTION SUPPORT NEEDED: Tomorrow morning, Friday in Berkeley. Camp across from Seabreeze Deli, University & Frontage Rd.
CalTrans is coming between 7:30 & 11:30am. Come ready to assist residents and document. #WhereDoWeGoBerk

— Indybay (@Indybay) September 20, 2019

Three documentaries will screen outside on the plaza at National Nurses United headquarters.

The art exhibition “Recognition: Labor Meets Art in Explorations of Social Justice and Identity,” will be open to the public during the screenings.

The films feature three locations where Registered Nurse Response Network (RNRN) volunteers have deployed to provide direct relief and response to humanitarian, environmental, and social injustice: Post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, Standing Rock, and rural Arizona. RNRN volunteers will introduce the films with stories of how RNs have intervened to provide direct care in support of social justice.

Big Charity: The Death of America’s Oldest Hospital

This documentary by Alexander Glustrom tells the story of Charity Hospital, from its roots in 1736 as a hospital for the poor to its controversial closing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The film features firsthand accounts of healthcare providers and hospital employees who withstood the storm inside the hospital and interviews with key players involved in Charity’s closing. Today the towering art deco building stands empty, and the community continues to suffer devastating consequences from its absence. Screens as part of “Recognition and Response,” National Nurses United’s fall outdoor documentary film series.

Climate Emergency Discussion at City Council Meeting:

The El Cerrito City Council is expected to discuss a resolution to declare a climate emergency and request regional collaboration on an emergency mobilization effort to restore a safe and stable climate.

Please urge your city council members to join the other 9 Bay Area cities and over 800 jurisdictions across the globe to take leadership and address climate change as the global threat that it is. Remind the Mayor and City Council members to support a strong Climate Emergency Resolution that supports:

–An urgent citywide climate emergency mobilization effort to reverse global warming with all segments of the community to rapidly transition to zero greenhouse gases

–Reduction of city Greenhouse Gas Emissions as quickly as possible toward zero net greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2045, and a 50% reduction by 2030.

–A regional Bay Area-wide Collaboration on a just transition to a sustainable economy and to work to catalyze an urgent climate mobilization at the local and state level.

Come to the council meeting, and/or write your city council members. And please RSVP below so we can keep you posted on any last minute changes.

Mayor Pardue-Okimoto: rpardueokimoto [at] ci.el-cerrito.ca
City Councilmembers: jabelson [at] ci.el-cerrito.ca.us; gquinto [at] ci.el-cerrito.ca.us;
pfadelli [at] ci.el-cerrito.ca.us; glyman [at] ci.el-cerrito.ca.us

Link to the city agenda materials : http://www.el-cerrito.org/Archive.aspx?AMID=41

In the Bay Area, the following jurisdictions have adopted Climate Emergency Resolutions for regional collaboration on an immediate just transition and emergency mobilization effort to restore a safe climate: Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, San Francisco, Hayward, Fairfax, Petaluma, Cupertino and Richmond. Other CA jurisdictions include Santa Cruz and Mendocino Counties and the cities of Chico and Santa Cruz.

Matewan is an awesome film by John Sayles, based on a historic coal miners strike in West Virginia. Highly recommended!

PEOPLES PARK MOVIE NIGHT
a part of the people’s park potluck initiative

Free Popcorn!
Park movie Nights, every friday at 8pm:
bring food and friends to share
help build and develop this community of Resistance
Protect our Green space, trees, Community, historical landmark, free speech, social justice, civil rights, gardens, music, art, style, freebox, recreation, climate, ecology, education, sports
People’s park committee
peoplespark.org

Join us in support of the Global Climate Strike. Learn, engage and find ways you can act in the fight against climate change.

Every day you hear daunting news about the negative effects climate change is having both locally and globally and the issues may seem too big and out of reach for you to make an impact. But don’t despair, you can act and make a difference. The Global Climate Strike is happening from the 20th September to the 27th of September in countries, cities and towns all over the world.

In support, East Bay Climate Action Network is holding a Rally and Environmental Fair. We will have exciting speakers, displays and representatives from different groups and organizations involved in environmental programs, who will educate and engage you, providing you with different ways to get involved. The second part of the event will give you the opportunity to participate in Action Groups working for change.This is a free family friendly event. Bring water bottle and blanket for lawn seating. East Bay Climate Action Network: Turning energy into action for a healthy climate. facebook.com/EastBayClimateActionNetwork #climatestrike globalclimatestrike.net

We turn 4 this year and we would love for y’all to be a part of the celebrations!

Cult Mind
Younger Lovers
Godstomper
Grosero
The Leave Me Alones

We will have raffle prizes and vendors!

And as always, we will have our usual narcan trainings and harm reduction supplies for our event!

Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library

Honduras: Refugees & Resistance

Our speaker will be Karen Spring, the Honduras-based Coordinator of the Honduras Solidarity Network (HSN), a group of over 30 organizations from Canada and the United States, website: http://www.hondurassolidarity.org. She has lived and worked in Honduras since 2009 and works closely with community-based organizations affected by US and Canadian foreign policy and investments. Karen has written or contributed to several reports about mining, militarization, and human rights issues and blogs at: http://www.aquiabajo.com

Karen is married to Edwin Espinal who was a political prisoner for 18 months and fought for his release as well as the freedom of over 30 political prisoners in Honduras. Her husband’s trial is pending.
Karen is on a speaking tour, sponsored by the Task Force on the Americas (TFA) to raise awareness and funds for political freedom and independence for Honduras.

About Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library
A weekly discussion series inspired by our respect for the work of Karl Marx and our belief that his work will remain as important for the class struggles of the future as they have been for the past.

“Where do we go?” March to the West Berkeley Town Hall Meeting

Join the unhoused residents of the Seabreeze and I-80/University encampments in a march to the West Berkeley Homeless Town Hall Meeting. If you are housed, please march with us in solidarity.

Objective: This is a march to demand an answer to the question: “Where do we go?” Homeless residents at these encampments are tired of the constant harassment, citations, and arrest. All want a clean and safe place to stay. They want a lawful place to stay. Instead of harassment, they want an answer: “Where do we go?”

Where: We will meet at the Seabreeze Market, 598 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710

When: We will gather at 1:30 p.m, Sunday, 9/22/19. We will begin the march at 2 pm.

Route: Is approximately 1.9 miles. Exact route TBA. We will march to 999 Harrison Street, Berkeley

Want to Help: We need paper for signs, pens, water, food, rides back from the meeting, rides to meetings, etc. We need a bullhorn too.

Bring: Please bring signs, drums, etc. We will also make signs at the Seabreeze Market.

NOTE: During the Plague Year of 2020 GA will be held every week or two on Zoom. To find out the exact time a date get on the Occupy Oakland email list my sending an email to:

occupyoakland-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

The Occupy Oakland General Assembly meets every Sunday at 4 PM at Oscar Grant Plaza amphitheater at 14th Street & Broadway near the steps of City Hall. If for some reason the amphitheater is being used otherwise and/or OGP itself is inaccessible, we will meet at Kaiser Park, right next to the statues, on 19th St. between San Pablo and Telegraph. If it is raining (as in RAINING, not just misting) at 4:00 PM we meet in the basement of the Omni Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. (Note: we tend to meet at 3:00 PM during the cooler months from November to early March after Daylights Savings Time.)

On every ‘last Sunday’ we meet a little earlier at 3 PM to have a community potluck to which all are welcome.

OO General Assembly has met on a continuous basis for over six years, since October 2011! Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally. Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.

At the GA committees, caucuses, and loosely associated groups whose representatives come voluntarily report on past and future actions, with discussion. We encourage everyone participating in the Occupy Oakland GA to be part of at least one associated group, but it is by no means a requirement. If you like, just come and hear all the organizing being done! Occupy Oakland encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.

General Assembly Standard Agenda

Welcome & Introductions
Reports from Committees, Caucuses, & Independent Organizations
Announcements
(Optional) Discussion Topic

Occupy Oakland activities and contact info for some Bay Area Groups with past or present Occupy Oakland members.

Occupy Oakland Web Committee: (web@occupyoakland.org)
Strike Debt Bay Area : strikedebtbayarea.tumblr.com
Berkeley Post Office Defenders:http://berkeleypostofficedefenders.wordpress.com/
Alan Blueford Center 4 Justice:https://www.facebook.com/ABC4JUSTICE
Oakland Privacy Working Group:https://oaklandprivacy.wordpress.com
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity: prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/
Bay Area AntiRepression: antirepression@occupyoakland.org
Biblioteca Popular: http://tinyurl.com/mdlzshy
Interfaith Tent: www.facebook.com/InterfaithTent
Port Truckers Solidarity: oaklandporttruckers.wordpress.com
Bay Area Intifada: bayareaintifada.wordpress.com
Transport Workers Solidarity: www.transportworkers.org
Fresh Juice Party (aka Chalkupy) freshjuiceparty.com/chalkupy-gallery
Sudo Room: https://sudoroom.org
Omni Collective: https://omnicommons.org/
First They Came for the Homeless: https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-they-came-for-the-homeless/253882908111999
Sunflower Alliance: http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/
Bay Area Public School: http://thepublicschool.org/bay-area

San Francisco based groups:
Occupy Bay Area United: www.obau.org
Occupy Forum: (see OBAU above)
San Francisco Projection Department: http://tinyurl.com/kpvb3rv