Omni Commons is throwing a work party. We welcome volunteers who’d like to work on: – rehanging doors, putting on closers & panic bars – learning how electricity works – laying ethernet cable – fixing other small things around the building All skill levels welcome. We will feed & teach you. If you can, RSVP to volunteers@omnicommons.org. Otherwise, just show up! 

A door is blown off its hinges! Into a blasted room of scarred walls and shattered windows, armed with M-16’s, America’s bravest duck and dodge for cover, finally training their deadly gunsights on… an old black man watching TV on his couch? This isn’t Baghdad or Kandahar – its home, and for ex-Black Panther Malcolm Haywood it’s just another wrong door police raid in the War on Drugs. So of course Malcolm is horrified when the grandson he’s tried to protect, Nathaniel, returns from serving in Afghanistan only to find another war zone at home – and one where young Black men like Nathaniel are in the crosshairs! Meanwhile the Mayor and the Police Chief – one desperate for votes, the other desperate to fund his militarized police force – ramp up the fear (and their shiny new tank) to fight the newest, drug threat to America… worse than weed, meth, coke, crack, or crank, it’s… SNORF!! And, of course, the SNORF trade is centered in the.. darkest… part of town…

Are the police out of control? What happened to “innocent until proven guilty”? Is Malcolm’s neighbor Lluis (an undocumented immigrant,) actually a SNORF-lord? And can Malcolm convince his grandson that it is safer to re-up and fight overseas than to try to survive here at home, in Freedomland?

Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library

“Dangerous Circumstances:”
The CFR Proposes a New Grand Strategy Towards China

“…preserving U.S. primacy in the global system ought to remain the central objective of U.S. grand strategy in the twenty-first century.”
Background: The CFR and its Grand Strategy China Report: The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is the think tank of monopoly-finance capital, Wall Street’s think tank. It is also a membership organization: the ultimate networking, socializing, strategic planning and consensus forming institution of the dominant sector of the U.S. capitalist class. The CFR’s activities help unite the capitalist class to become not just a class in itself, but also a class for itself. It is the world’s most powerful private organization, the “high command” body of the American plutocracy. The Council has an almost century long history of forming study groups to plan America’s overall “grand” strategic policies. It sets the agenda for debate, builds consensus among both the powerful and attentive publics, then inserts its own network of people into public office to implement its favored doctrines in the real world. One of its latest efforts, a study group on U.S. grand strategy toward China, completed its work and issued a report– approved by the CFR board of directors–entitled Revising U.S. Grand Strategy Toward China, in March of 2015. This report used the term “dangerous circumstances” to describe the growing tensions between the world’s most powerful two nations.
Laurence H. Shoup will outline the CFR’s worldview, their critique of current U.S. policy toward China, their view of China’s grand strategy, what they think U.S. grand strategy should be, a critique of this CFR report, and the eco-socialist revolution that we now need.
Laurence H. Shoup is author of Wall Street’s Think Tank: The Council on Foreign Relations and the Empire of Neoliberal Geopolitics 1976-2014 (forthcoming, New York: Monthly Review Press, 2015).

Sunday, August 9, 2015 – 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
6501 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland (just North of Alcatraz Ave.)

Seating is limited, so plan to come early. We start promptly.
FREE – but hat will be passed for donations to NPML

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.

For info or to subscribe to our weekly announcements,
Call Gene Ruyle at 510-332-3865 or email: cuyleruyle [at] mac.com
For our full schedule, go to icssmarx.org
https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2015/07/27/icss-fly-2015-08-09-cfr-china-1.pdf

Across the country, on this day, many will take time to pause in remembrance of Mike Brown and the movement his murder sparked in Ferguson and across the country.

Join us in Oscar Grant Plaza as we take time to remember Mike Brown and all of our fallen.

Bring items for an altar, bring poems and songs to share. Bring your passion and commitment to continue the struggle to end police terror in our communities.

We invite you to join us on Sunday, August 9th at the Omni Commons. We are assembling a Volunteer Design & Facilitation Team that will plan and steward a collective visioning and planning process with all of Omni Commons. This future process, which we are calling BECOMING OMNI COMMONS, will seek to:

* expand and transform our collective sense of possibility
* clarify our shared values
* examine our cultures, narratives and processes
* create priorities to move towards more sustainable and supportive ways of being together and being in the world
* design an action-calendar for our visioning and planning process

A plan for BECOMING OMNI COMMONS will be presented to the Omni Commons delegates council (our governance body) and actualized as soon as possible.

The details:
Who: You! Anyone interested in joining our Volunteer Design & Facilitation Team (described above)
What: A fun four-hour facilitated, preparatory meeting, followed by DINNER!
Where: Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Ave, Oakland, CA 94609 (and possibly on-line if you cannot be physically present)
When: Sunday Aug 9th 2pm-6pm (you must arrive on-time and stay for the entire session)
Why:
Given our present circumstances:
* We are in a serious financial pickle right now.
* We have an opportunity to potentially buy the building very soon.
* We are struggling with interpersonal conflict, overwork, and burnout.
* We have never had the opportunity to engage in a visioning process since moving into 4799 Shattuck a year ago.
We need to:
* Reform our processes to be inclusive of as many perspectives as possible.
* Align our work and our organizing with our ideals and our politics.
* Provide a safe platform for constructive criticism and reflection.
* Invest openness, patience and respect for the diversity of perspectives and experiences of all of those who have been involved or impacted by Omni Commons in some way or another.
How: If you’d like to join the team and can attend the meeting, RSVP to becoming@lists.omnicommons.org and share any important requests or dietary needs.

RSVP to becoming@lists.omnicommons.org

If you cannot make it and would like to participate, please fill out this survey by August 2nd: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BXGHX2N

Love and solidarity,
Laura Turiano, Yar Cohen, Sarah Pritchard, Julio Rios, Dusty Mabry, Matt Senate, Joe Liesner, Libbie Cohn

“The Fresh Juice Party rose to stardom nearly a year and a half ago when they roasted President Obama, with a song in support of Bradley Manning, at one of his fundraisers in San Francisco. The protest elicited a high-profile response including one from Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and Jon Stewart from “The Daily Show.” ”

Come learn about continuing developments in the battle save the Berkeley Post Office and the Postal Service from privatization, support our Occupiers and help us plan our next steps in opposition to the theft of our public commons.

The postal service wanted to sell the post office to Hudson-Mcdonald, a local developer. The City of Berkeley sued the post office to stop the sale. Hudson-Mcdonald backed out of the deal in early December.

Federal Judge William Alsup decided to dismiss the lawsuit in April because the Postal Service says it is not currently selling the building.  But we’re not fooled. The Postal Service could “find” a buyer at any moment. Fortunately, the Judge ordered the Postal Service to provide 42 days notice before any sale, so that the lawsuit could be refiled.

Check out the Community Garden at the Post Office.

In the latest developments, Berkeley has Declared War on Its Homeless, and an ordinance criminalizing the homeless came before the City Council on June 30th (see here and here) but was tabled until September.

Also check out our website and the Save the Berkeley Post Office website, and First they Came for the Homeless Facebook for updates.

BPOD is an offshoot of Strike Debt Bay Area, which itself is an offshoot of Occupy Oakland and a chapter of the national Strike Debt movement, which is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.

LIBRARYGATE:   Community coalition exposes Fraud, Waste, and Abuse by Berkeley Library Director

Explosive new documents reveal an illegal and unethical cover up of the destruction of tens of thousands of books/items  from the Berkeley Public Library (BPL) in 2015. This unedited list of 13,850 deleted last copies validates librarians and former librarians concerns about the inaccuracy of the library director’s claim that only 2,200 books have been discarded this year.  Additional computer printouts are also available revealing that over 39,000 books/items were deleted in 2015.

Retired Librarians, Authors, and booklovers will unite in reading from a newly released list of 13,850 titles of last copies deleted from the BPL.  The complete list of last copies and the computer printout will be released at the event, and will be available by email.

ILLEGAL: The Library Director violated state law by failing to respond in a timely way and by failing to provide most of the documents requested in two California Public Records Act (PRA) requests.  After the Library Director refused to release details in response to numerous emails, a Bay Area News Group correspondent and a Berkeley High School student both wrote PRA’s.

WASTE:  Books that could have been donated to community groups or the public have not been made available to Berkeley or Bay Area groups. Prominent community groups such as the Maya Angelou Library and Literacy Center are urgently seeking books but are not allowed to save these books from disposal. Even the Friends of the Library did not get to review many books available for donation.

FRAUD:  Numerous emails from the Library Director have falsely informed residents leading them to believe that only a small percentage of books/items have been deleted. However, as a result of the recently exposed documents, it is evident that the vast discrepancy between the alleged 2,200 and the actual 39,140 books/items deleted is drastic.

ABUSE:  Concerned volunteers who asked questions have been called disparaging names and librarians have been threatened that if they continue to speak out they “will be held accountable.”  Knowledgeable librarians whom are skilled in the procedure of weeding books, have been unceremoniously yanked out of the decision making process. Many books are being disposed of so rapidly that subject experts do not even get to review the merits of that list.

CONTACTS:   Pat Mullan, Retired Head of BPL Art and Music:
Andrea Segal, Former Reference Librarian:
Diane Davenport, Former BPL Head of Reference:
Roya Arasteh, Former BPL Staff:
Kriss Worthington, Berkeley City Council

The final PRC meeting before summer recess. (The next meeting will be September 9) Note that the meeting will be a long one, starting at 6pm rather than 7pm and concluding at 10pm. The reason for the extended length is that we are at the city council’s deadline for a report-back on the investigation of the police response to the BlackLivesMatter protest of December 6. Even if we have to ask the council for a time extension, it is important that we make every effort to complete the investigation as quickly as possible, so it remains a timely report.

Here is the link to the full PRC packet:

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Police_Review_Commission/Commissions/PRC%20Pkt%208-12-15..pdf.

The packet contains background information on the city’s ban on using helicopters in most situations.  It also contains the police chief’s statement on the department’s response to the July 27 laundromat robbery, including the Alameda PD’s use of an armored car and a dog from the OPD.  A letter from Andrea Pritchett of CopWatch on this subject is also included.

Current status:

– The Findings are almost complete and are relatively strong as a critique of the BPD’s actions. There will be compromise language in there but it is a good beginning to the conversation.  The final discussion on the Findings this Wednesday may be brief, though there is still time for public comment.

– The Recommendatioons, by contrast, are contested on almost every point.  We have deferred critical decisions about many aspects, including the BPD’s desire for helicopters, less-lethal weapons in crowd situations, how to handle baton abuse, and the contentious debate over who controls mutual aid agencies’ activities and equipment, plus any overall recommendations about accountability and discipline.

Public comment in the PRC meetings has been very effective in strengthening the report.  There will reportedly be significant participation this Wednesday by students of color from UC Berkeley.  Please join them!  Your input on any of the topics mentioned above, or others related to the right to protest or racialized policing, are welcome and appreciated.

Do you know who picks your strawberries, cucumbers and pumpkins? Have you heard of the Driscoll’s produce company? Did you know that workers just hours south of the Bay Area are getting paid starvation wages? Did you hear that these workers waged a historic strike demanding dignity earlier this year?

Join us at a forum to hear a reportback on the struggle of agricultural workers in the San Quintin Valley of Baja CA, Mexico. A delegation of Bay Area activists along with a local San Quintin organizer (via Skype or in person, depending on their travel schedule) will present information on the historic strike that happened earlier this spring and how you can connect with and learn from the ongoing organizing of farm workers just across the border.

Sponsored by Advance the Struggle

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you that one of our longtime Ella Baker Center Books Not Bars family members, Sheri Costa, lost her nephew while he was inside Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail.

On July 15th, Mario Michael Martinez suffered from an asthma attack in his cell while calling for the emergency medical support that would have saved his life.

Tomorrow night, Sheri Costa and the Martinez family will hold a press conference and candlelight vigil to honor Mario, his loved ones, and those who have been victims of carceral violence.

Stand with us as we fight for #JusticeforMario, and for those who are incarcerated to have their immediate medical and safety needs met.

As we mourn Mario, we are thinking about how his death was caused by the same pattern of neglect and racism that allowed Sandra Bland, Rexdale Henry, and countless others to be taken away from us while behind bars.

We at the Ella Baker Center know that the only way to end this violence in our communities is to move resources away from law enforcement and towards communities, to build greater self-determination.

From Waller County, Texas to Alameda County, it is clear that our criminal justice system targets the most vulnerable members of our society: women, trans and queer people, people of color, people with disabilities, the poor, and the homeless.

Without overwhelming pressure from our communities, this pattern will continue. Together we will demand Alameda County make real and lasting investments in the health and sustainability of our city!

May we continue to honor how Mario touched our lives and continue our work in his spirit.

#BlackPoetsSpeakOut: Oakland

Black poets across the country have shared video responses in solidarity with those who refuse to accept the nation’s continuous murders of black people as a normal condition of black life. Black Poets Speak Out organized by Mahogany L. Browne, Amanda Johnston, Jonterri Gadson, Jericho Brown & Sherina Rodriguez has being using literary arts and technology to transform policy. Lead organizer: Mahogany L. Browne will present a community reading at Oakland’s City Hall for an intergenerational poetic protest. This community platform will engage leaders, activists and artists in a creative and healing discussion.

Visit www.blackpoetsspeakout.org for more information and for the full list of videos.

A Black man was killed by OPD on MLK Blvd and 27th in the afternoon on Wednesday, August 12th. We are gathering this Friday to mourn and rage.

This is a fourth Black man killed by OPD since June. This is also third vigil within the last 7 days. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.

IndyBay listing source

🔥🔥🔥🔥 This Friday! Changing it up! We will be holding the Open mic🌟& Sistar Cypher ✨ at Alan Blueford center4justice pic.twitter.com/SaBxD5SPZ4

— WomynsCC (@womynscc) August 14, 2015

THE BERKELEY PROTEST FESTIVAL

(a benefit for the Social Justice Committee of the Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists)

Some of the performers:

MC #2: Mrs. T-Bill Banks (12:55-4 pm)
#31 Country Joe McDonald
#32 Randy Berge
#39 Occupella
MC #4: Chris Chandler (8 pm to the end)
#45 Harbinger (my grandson Isaiah’s group)
#48 Hali Hammer

More info.

Thanks to everyone who came last weekend to help fix up Omni Commons. We’re throwing another work party this Saturday August 15, 12-6pm. There is plenty more to do. All skill levels welcome. If you can, RSVP to volunteers@omnicommons.org. Otherwise, just show up.