Calendar

Answering the Call of Love: Immigration Policy and our Response

Dear Beloved Community,
Because of the interest shown by our loving congregation in the current immigration policy,  we want to share some good news with you:

On the first Saturday of each month the
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and the East Bay Interfaith Immigration Coalition
sponsor a Vigil at the West County Detention Center in Richmond, CA.

On Saturday, Dec.2, UU Oakland will be leading this Vigil and YOU are warmly invited to
join with us to answer this call of love and  stand in solidarity with our immigrant friends and neighbors.

Join Pastor Jacqueline and Lay Members as we lead this monthly VIGIL.
These vigils have been ongoing for over 4 years.  It is our honor to lead in December.

–        For the immigrants held in detention in our backyard (Richmond), many pre-trial who cannot afford bail.

–        For the millions of other people disproportionately black and brown  incarcerated by our racially biased, unjust criminal justice system.

–        In solidarity with those impacted by detention, incarceration and deportation  – and with other people of faith.

If you or someone you know, are directly impacted by our current immigration laws, detention or deportation policies and you would be willing to share your story at the vigil, please contact Lauren Poole (lpoole53@gmail.com).

We need more hands organizing the vigil.  Please contact Lauren if you are interested in helping.

Looking for new ways to show up for racial justice? Interested in how we can build our capacity and leverage our grassroots power to support the Movement for Black Lives Policy platform and the legislative priorities of our POC partners?

Please join the SURJ Policy Working Group on Saturday December 2nd from 1:30pm to 4:30pm for an interactive legislative advocacy workshop. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how the legislative process works in California, including how to track bills, lobby your legislator and bring your voice to the political process. All levels of experience are welcome!

In addition to practicing new skills and learning how lobby visits fit into the legislative process, we will hear from special guests Justin Rausa, Senior Field Representative for Assemblymember Rob Bonta, on the power of constituent office visits and Zoe Wilmott, the Manager of Advocacy and Programs from Essie Justice Group, on the journey of SB10, California Money Bail Reform Act of 2017 and the role lobby visits play in campaign strategy.

Please RSVP as space is limited.

 CHIAPAS SUPPORT COMMITTEE

We are hosting 2 speakers from Oaxaca. They will talk about Marichuy’s campaign for president and the aftermath of the September 7 earthquake. Art from the Zapatista Communities will be on display.

Home of the Compañero Manuel blog on the Zapatistas & Mexico
Chiapas Support Committee (CSC) News & Announcements

A Huge Thank You to everyone who supported us by attending the screening of Zapatista Moon!

Below are 3 opinion articles that explore the social and political changes in our society. Enjoy!

!. The end of democratic societies in Latin America – Raúl Zibechi reflects on what he considers the erosion of the cultural and political bases of democracies, faced with the brutal social polarization that is being experienced and asks why a new right has emerged so reactionary that it has torn apart the social fabric from the United States to South America. He says the cause is the extractive model and the Fourth World War. A good read!

En español: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2017/10/13/opinion/021a1pol

2. Revolt and Confrontation – Gustavo Esteva expands upon the question of fascism raised by Zibechi, defines the “us” and the “them,” and has some thoughts on the concept of dignity.

En español: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2017/10/23/opinion/020a1pol

3. From the end of the cycle to the consolidation of the right – Zibechi goes into more detail as to how changed in economic production contribute to changes in political alliances. He emphasizes that social movements of the left must adapt to the changes in the social subjects of their organizing.

En español: http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2017/10/27/opinion/016a1pol
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To honor Woods’ memory, on December 2nd at 3:30pm, a memorial march will begin at Third and Armstrong and will end at the site where he was killed.

Parents of victims killed by police have been invited and will be given seats of honor at the front of the rally.  An altar will be constructed in memory of Woods and other victims of police violence including, Idriss Stelly, Kenneth Harding, Derrick Jones and Jessica Williams.

Civil rights attorney John Burris and Officer Joel Babbs, who has gone on record about the racist practices of the police department will speak at the rally. Awon Ohun Omnira will perform a ceremony for Woods, sung in the Yoruba language and accompanied by Bata drums.

Come celebrate the release of the first edition of
“ABO: a queer prisoners comix anthology”
with all $$$ from the comic benefiting the artist’s commissary fund

Peep some art from incarcerated comrades, make a comic, write a holiday card to a new pen pal, & listen to some jamz by…

COPYSLUT
HEARTILLERY
+1 TBA

Fundraiser for Black & Pink and the next edition of ABO

Don’t miss “GENERATION ZAPPED”, the important just released documentary on how to reduce wireless tech risks!
Learn the facts and how to minimize associated risks during this technological revolution.
Today we encounter a hundred thousand times the level of radiation from wireless technologies than we did decades ago.
Safety standards are outdated.  Prolonged exposure to Radio Frequencies (RF) affect health, from links to breast and brain cancer, to associations with infertility and genetic mutations related to autism/ADHD, to new illnesses such as Electrical Hyper-Sensitivity (EHS).
“A wifi classroom is like the inside of a microwave oven set at very low power. Children are exposed to that wifi radiation 6 hours every school day, 5 days a week.” – Magda Havas, Save the Date

Discussion afterwards led by:
Lloyd Morgan, Senior Research Fellow, Environmental Health Trust, Retired Electronic Engineer, and
Ellen Marks, Director of the California Brain Tumor Association
Opening remarks by BFUU Social Justice Committee co-chair Phoebe Sorgen
For more info: http://generationzapped.com/

A project of WIRED (WIreless Radiation Education & Defense) and the BFUU Social Justice Committee
Wheelchair accessible.

Bill of Rights Day

� Doors at 12:30 p.m.
� Program at 1 p.m.
� Reception to follow.

Tickets will not be sold at the door.

This AeroSoul event is a reception and celebration for the completion of the only Black self-determined, community produced, public mural in West Oakland dedicated to the legacy of the Black Panther Party. Please join us in honoring the Black Panther Party’s legacy of grassroots service to the Black community. There will be former rank and file Panthers (TBA) in attendance to testify to the work that was done as well as more historically famous members of the BPP (TBA).

As we approach our 3rd Year Anniversary and get closer to obtaining our Official Federal 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Status we are working on the educational part of our mission. We hope to show the community that most of the people that are living on the streets are not unlike ourselves, other than life circumstances.

We will be presenting full length documentaries on individuals that have become homeless. Our first event is the award winning movie “Queen Mimi”. This is not only an interesting and entertaining movie, it will be a day you will not want to miss.

The Berkeley Premiere of the award-winning film “QUEEN MIMI,” 
followed by a Q&A with the director, Yaniv Rokah.
Dinner follows, both vegan and meat lasagna, cooked by the famous CTH Chefs.

MOVIE SYNOPSIS
Marie “Mimi” Haist defied her adulterous husband and moved onto the streets in her 50s, living in parking lots and doorways until finding her “home” one stormy night between rows of washers in a Californian laundromat. Encouraged to stay by a more than generous laundry owner, Mimi’s ‘the past is the past’ philosophy endeared her to regular fluff and fold clients and, after more than 20 years, Mimi has made some unlikely friends, ranging from local loves to Hollywood A-listers Zach Galifianakis and Renee Zellweger. Filmed over 5 years by barista/actor/director Yaniv Rokah while he worked at a cafe across the street,

Queen Mimi is the story of an unlikely hero. Now 90+, Mimi reminds us to never give in and never give up, and that if you ever find yourself in the gutter, to never stop looking at the stars.

PROGRAM (Times are approximate)
3:00PM: Doors open
3:30PM: Screening of the film, Queen Mimi
5:00PM: Special Q & A with the director, Yaniv Rokah
6:00PM: Dinner is Served
We are serving a meal prepared by the infamous chefs of Consider The Homeless’ hearty soups. On the menu will be both Vegan and Meat Lasagna, seasonal fresh veggies and garlic bread.

RSVP/ TICKET PURCHASE INFORMATION
• Ask any of our fabulous Volunteers
OR
• Email: Barbara AT ConsiderTheHomeless DOT org
• Call: 510-717-0181
• Postal Mail: Consider The Homeless!
PO Box 2771
Berkeley, CA 94702
Please remember to
1) include a check made out to Consider The Homeless!
2) Let us know how many seats you are reserving.
If you are getting dinner,
3) how many ___vegan lasagna? ____meat lasagna?

• If you want to pay by credit card, please use our PayPal account at paypal.me/ConsiderTheHomeless
then Email and give us the above information.

Bay Area folks: there's a tax protest tomorrow in SF at noon, organized by every @IndivisibleTeam group around. Be there or be square. Be advised the the House could pass the Senate bill tomorrow and the bill would not go to any conference committee. pic.twitter.com/asIZglitxN

— RedwoodWitch🌹 wants healthcare & housing for all (@RedwoodGirl) December 3, 2017

The Surveillance Regulation Ordinance that a coalition of groups, including Oakland Privacy, has been working on for a year and a half is finally up for consideration before the Berkeley City Council (agenda).

Support 23a and oppose 23b.

We will be hosting Ángel Kú and Valiana Aguilar, two compañeros from
the Center for Encounters and Intercultural Dialogues and the
Universidad de la Tierra, Oaxaca for a conversatorio on Indigenous
autonomy.

They will be traveling throughout California to share
information about Indigenous autonomy and community self-determination
across Mexico but especially in Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Yucatán. They will
provide important updates about the current initiative of the Congreso
Nacional Indígena (CNI) and the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación
Nacional (EZLN), especially their effort to support the CNI’s Consejo
Indígena de Gobierno’s spokesperson, María de Jesús Patricio
Martínez, (Marichuy) and her effort to enter the national election as
an official candidate.

Finally, we will be informed about the current
autonomous efforts to rebuild communities impacted by the hurricane and
earthquake in Oaxaca’s Isthmus.

Update: The SEIU/IPTE strike has caused the cancellation of the 12-5 Public Safety Committee. New date (12-12) is tentative and will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Deport ICE: The Resolution To End Cooperation With ICE

On December 5th, Oakland’s Public Safety Committee will debate a resolution from Desley Brooks and Rebecca Kaplan to end all Oakland Police Department cooperation with ICE, after assistance in an August 16 raid violated the city’s sanctuary policy.

Video Samples from the November 28 hearing on the ICE Raid
https://oaklandprivacy.org/2017/11/29/oakland-turns-out-for-long-delayed-ice-raid-hearing/

On August 16, HSI/ICE conducted an AM raid on the 700th block of 27th Street in West Oakland with OPD assistance. The raid was advertised (erroneously) as a search warrant for the sexual trafficking of juveniles, biut there were no actual allegations of sexual abuse, no juveniles were removed from the home and the solitary arrest was for being undocumented. The 25 year old arrestee is now in the deportation process. At an October 5th investigation and hearing that the OPD Chief did not attend, Oakland’s Privacy Commission concluded that the raid violated Oakland’s sanctuary city policy and several statements made by OPD chief Anne Kirkpatrick about the raid were false.

Video of the OPAC hearing is here. https://oaklandprivacy.org/2017/10/06/privacy-advisory-commission-investigation-of-oakland-ice-raid-concludes-violation-of-sanctuary-city-policy/

East Bay Express coverage is here:
https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/oakland-police-chief-made-false-statements-about-ice-raid/Content?oid=9793923

City Council members Desley Brooks and Rebecca Kaplan have now initiated legislation to end the sanctuary loophole but need our help to get it through the full Council.

Oaklanders and other Bay Area residents who want sanctuary legislation taken seriously around the Bay should attend.

Much else also of interest on the agenda for activists keeping tabs on OPD, Urban Shield and ICE.

https://oakland.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=574689&GUID=4AFF07E1-1E60-4C10-8516-7C380353658B&Options=info&Search=

• Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative Program MOU
• Fiscal Year 2017 Urban Area Security Initiative Program Grant Agreement
• OPD Crime Analysis Software Contracts
• Regarding The HSI/ICE Raid In West Oakland On August 16, 2017
• Resolution Clarifying And Reaffirming Policy On Non-Cooperation With ICE
• Overtime Expenditures In The Police And Fire Departments For FY 2017-18

NOTE: THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY THIS MEETING WILL BE CANCELLED DUE TO OAKLAND CITY WORKERS GOING OUT ON STRIKE.