Calendar
Want to learn how to join the Bay Resistance team? Come get oriented on our strategy so we can build sanctuary and power together in 2018!
At this training, we’ll share our plan for how to win against the Right, dig into our approach to making change, and meet in teams to plan work in 2018.
We’ll also build art, to make the Resistance irresistible through creativity and culture. Come build community and political power with your neighbors from around the Bay. We are each other’s greatest resource!
Childcare and lunch provided – please RSVP so we know what to set up.
Space and bathrooms are ADA accessible; there are no stairs to enter the event space on the first floor. Please be in touch if you have other accessibility needs that we can address.
our first-ever Family Law Clinic for people with criminal records is this Saturday!
We still have openings available for one-on-one appointments with our reentry attorneys, so sign up to reserve your spot at the clinic by clicking on the sign-up link below or by calling Root & Rebound at 510-279-4662!
Sign up for an appointment here!
If you are supporting or working with someone in reentry that you would like to refer to this clinic, please feel free to share this email with them or encourage them to call us at 510-279-4662 with any questions.We look forward to seeing you there!
At this clinic, get help with family law issues like:
- Understanding your rights in family court, probate court, or dependency court as a person with a criminal record.
- Filling out court forms or writing declarations.
- Understanding your rights as a parent, caregiver, or someone interested in fostering or adopting.
- Reviewing parole conditions or stay-away orders that relate to family members
- Other family law issues.
Please note: Our assistance at this clinic will be limited to day-of support. We will not be taking on representation of clients in court.
A Celebration of Abundance & Community During Challenging Times. This year’s FAIR combines a wide variety of activities provided by a wide variety of groups that were SMOKED OUT by the North Bay fires in October. The FAIR will be opened by a blessing offered by the Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow Committee.
Here’s a partial list of the activities that will follow:
FOOD CONTEST, hosted by the BYA Youth Gardeners
SEED SWAP, hosted by Transition Berkeley
SWAP with CROPS, COTHING, BOOKS hosted by Transition Berkeley at NOON
DIY Garden Exhibition, hosted by Spiral Gardens
HEALTH FAIR (Spanish/English), hosted by Multicultural Institute
EMERGENCY Evacuation Prep, hosted by BFD and Berkeley Disaster Prep Neighborhood Network
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS, by SlingFin Expedition Gear
COOK BOOKS (see sample) will be distributed by the Berkeley Community Gardening Collective
KIDS FUN ZONE, hosted by the Rec Divison
ADULT FUN ZONE, hosted by a variety of groups
FOLK DANCING, hosted by Melvin Mann
SOUND HEALING Instrument Petting Zoo, hosted by Emile Janse & Jordan Blake
POETRY NOOK, hosted by many
CARTOONS for our Times, hosted by Damon Guthrie
FRESH TACOS by familia Chavez
In addition, there will be a speech by Mayor Jesse Arreguin and poetry reading by City of Berkeley Poet Laureate Rafael Jesus Gonzalez.
COURSES (15 minutes each)
To encourage exploration of the community, there will be a morning and afternoon session of 15-minute courses, demarked with the sounding of a GONG. The course list keeps growing, but so far, here’s the preliminary list: Pimp My Bug Out Bag, Intro to Tai Chi, Intro to Mindfulness Meditation, Intro to Cyber Security, Intro to IRA Accounts, Intro to Acupressure, Sound Healings. Intro to Moving Qi, Intro to Feldenkrais, Intro to Exercising Your Memory, Intro to Portuguese, Duct Tape First Aide
Transition Berkeley’s First Saturday North Berkeley Crop, Book and Clothing Swap will be held at the RESILIENCY FAIR, Please bring crops, plants, seeds to share and clothing and books in good condition to Transition Berkeley’s table at the Resiliency Fair. Meet old friends and new, help create a strong sustainable community.
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.
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.
Please join us as we celebrate a year of resistance on Sunday, Dec. 3 at our 44th annual Bill of Rights Day! Get tickets now
For those who cherish civil rights and civil liberties, 2017 has been the fight of our lives. President Trump has used his vast power to try to strip vulnerable groups of their constitutional rights. It seems this administration is determined to roll back the clock on progress.
However, the ACLU and our members have fought back. From California becoming a sanctuary state, to ensuring that we will never participate in a federal Muslim Registry, we’ve achieved some huge victories this year.
None of this would have been possible without your support. Let’s celebrate all that we’ve accomplished together, and recognize these visionaries in our movement: Karen Korematsu, Jim McQuillen, and Natalie Hewitt Wormeli. The event will again be hosted by our hilarious friend, Aundr� “The Wonderwoman” Herron.
Join us after the program to enjoy appetizers and refreshments.
Bill of Rights Day
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the program begins at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for low-income people and students or $25 general admission. Tickets will not be sold at the door. For more info on the venue and parking, see here: www.aclunc.org/bord.
The Bill of Rights has never been more important, or more worth celebrating.
Thank you and see you there!
Abdi Soltani
Executive Director
ACLU of Northern CA
We the people dare to create a more perfect union.
American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California
39 Drumm Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
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.
The Occupy Oakland General Assembly meets every Sunday at 3 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 3:00 PM we meet in the basement of the Omni Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. (Note: we meet at 3:00 PM during the cooler months, once Daylight Savings Time springs forward we tend to assemble at 4 PM).
On every ‘last Sunday’ we meet a little earlier at 2 PM to have a community potluck to which all are welcome.
OO General Assembly has met on a continuous basis for over five years! 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
- Steward an Editing Suite
- Share an equipment library
- Teach each other and make films together
- Host screenings with local filmmakers
- Organize a short film festival
We have flexible rates for event videography, music videos, short documentaries, etc.
Anyone with an interest is welcome to attent.
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
Berkeley Forum-Charters, Privatization And School BankruptciesCharters, Privatizations and School Bankruptcies-How We Can Fight Back And Defend Public Education Now!
If door is locked call (415)282-1908
Charters are proliferating throughout California and the US. They are pushed by billionaires like the Bill Gates and his foundation, The Walton Family Foundation owned by the family that owns Walmart, The KIPP Foundation owned by the Fisher family which own the GAP corporation, the A’s and runs Rocketship Schools, The California Charters School Association CCSA which Netflix owner Reed Hastings runs, Facebook owner Zuckerberg’s Foundation which is setting up charters schools in the bay area and nationally.
These billionaires helped pass California charters school laws in 1992 and Prop 39 which forces public schools to co-locate breaking up public schools and relieves them of the Field Act to protect school kids health and safety.
Now LAUSD and OUSD may go bankrupt because billions of dollars (5) are being siphoned off from the public school systems. Also, these same profiteers are privatizing community colleges at CCSF and Laney where John L. Fisher owner of the A’s and the Gap who also runs KIPP want to take Laney land for his ball park and corporate land development plans.
This forum will have teachers, educators and advocates of public education who will report on the growing assault on public education and what we can do to fight back in the bay area, statewide, nationally and internationally.
Initial List of Speakers:
Kristyn Jones, UTR elected rep to NEA convention
Steve White, Teacher
Carlos Taboada, Retired UTR Teacher
Kimberly King, Peralta Federation of Teachers Executive Board Member and Laney Professor or a representative from Local
Sponsored by Labor Rising
Endorsed by Defend Public Education NOW!
For more information go to
https://www.facebook.com/laborrisingagainstrump
https://www.facebook.com/groups/defendpublicednow/
Because of the COVID pandemic we will be meeting virtually via Zoom on the first Monday of the month.
Meeting ID: 828 0976 4186
The Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality & State Repression (OGC) is a
grassroots democratic organization that was formed as a conscious united front for justice against police brutality. The OGC is involved in the struggle for police accountability and is committed to stopping police brutality.
In alliance with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) we organized the October 23, 2010 labor and community rally for Justice for Oscar Grant. On that day the ILWU shut down the Bay Area ports in solidarity. Our mission is to educate, organize and mobilize people against police and state repression. Sisters and brothers! The Oscar Grant Committee invites you to join us in this vital struggle.
We meet on the 1st Monday of each month
You can join our discussion list by sending a blank (doesn’t even need a subject) email to
oscargrantcommittee-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Action & Rally to #RepealCostaHawkins & Demand #RealRentControl NOW
Meet-up at 11:30am on the front steps of SF’s City Hall
(please be on time; group will be leaving around 11:45 to a nearby location (walkable from City Hall). Follow us on Twitter @stopsfevictions for location updates.)
Tenants are taking action to demand an end to the evictions and rent gouging that are destroying their health, livelihoods and futures. Join them in the fight to close the loopholes in our rent-control laws that leave them unprotected or that incentivize speculators to force out long-time tenants in order to jack up prices to luxury/market rates. Our seniors, families, workers, children, disabled folks and vulnerable residents can’t wait any longer while greedy speclator landlords profit off their displacement.
*Costa Hawkins is the main state law that incentivizes landlords to harass and push out long-time tenants to spike the rents to rates most of us can’t afford.
This law legalizes a landlord’s ability to raise rents on vacant units…that is, when someone moves out, the landlord can jack up the rent, and when a master tenant moves out, subtenants are left unprotected. It also restricts rent controlled units in SF to units that were built on or before 1979 and does not allow for rent control on single family homes or condos. We need to repeal Costa Hawkins NOW!
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.
| 23a. | Proposed Ordinance: Surveillance Technology Use and Community Safety From: Police Review Commission Recommendation: Adopt first reading of an Ordinance governing the approval, acquisition, and use of surveillance technology by the City of Berkeley. Financial Implications: Staff time Contact: Katherine Lee, Commission Secretary, 981-4950 |
| 23b. | Companion Report: Proposed Ordinance: Surveillance Technology and Community Safety From: City Manager Recommendation: Refer this item to the City Council Agenda Committee for scheduling to return to the City Council no later than January 30, 2018 to allow additional time for City staff to resolve differences with the Police Review Commission’s recommendations or develop alternative recommendations for the City Council to consider. Financial Implications: Staff time Contact: Andrew Greenwood, Police, 981-5900 and David Brannigan, Fire, 981-34 |
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.