Calendar
This Tuesday the Oakland City Council decides whether or not to sell off the East 12th parcel to private developers. Join us for a rally at City Hall to demand that public land be used for public good, not for private profit!
Background
In the midst of a housing affordability crisis in Oakland, the City is proposing to sell publicly owned land to private developers UDR and Urban Core to create a 24 story, 300 unit luxury high-rise apartment tower right by Lake Merritt, where the median rent will be 3k per month. The development will have no affordable units and no real community benefits. The property is on E12th and 1st Ave street, right by the new pedestrian bridge at the end of Lake Merritt.
Long-time residents are being pushed out of Oakland every day because of skyrocketing housing costs. The city’s number one priority right now should be figuring out how to make it possible for working families to stay in Oakland – not developing luxury high rises for the rich that are just going to raise rents and exacerbate displacement.
May 5th come rally for development without displacement in Oakland now! Stay for the City Council meeting to speak out against gentrification in Oakland and for affordable housing!
These local organizations, representing the people Oakland endorse this fight!
Asians4BlackLives
Asian Pacific Environmental Network
Black.Seed
Causa Justa Just Cause
Classroom Struggle
Communities for a Better Environment
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice
East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy
East Bay Housing Organizations
East Bay Solidarity Network
Eastlake United for Justice
Oakland Education Association
Oakland Rising
Oakland Tenants Union
Public Advocates
SEIU 1021
Transform
Thank you all for your support and your work! #SaveE12th
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.
The Oscar Grant Committee meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
Keystone XL is the fuse to one of the biggest carbon bombs on Earth, and would unlock development of Canada’s tar sands oil field. For years, Hillary has bobbed and weaved as reporters have tried to ask her where she stands on the pipeline, always giving some variation of “no comment” in response. Wednesday afternoon, as Hillary dines with donors in Pacific Heights, join us to demand a permanent rejection of Keystone XL.
Sponsored by Idle No More SF Bay, Center for Biological Diversity, Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, Martinez Environmental Group, 350 Bay Area
How the Gentrifiers are Gentrifying City College: Land Grabs, Student Push-out Policies and Downsizing
Join in a roundtable discussion of the rotten underbelly of the City College accreditation crisis: An official in Sacramento told Tom Ammiano that Mayor Lee did not want the elected Board of Trustees to be reinstated yet, as important real estate deals need
to be completed.
We will analyze the “January surprises” in which the current administration pushed out some 3100 already-
enrolled students in a single week—in the middle of a major enrollment crisis! On January 7, 2015, some
1400 students with small overdue payments were robo-dropped about five weeks before their financial aid
arrived, throwing their work schedules and childcare arrangements into chaos, and losing the college many
thousands in state appropriations.
On January 9th, the administration announced the abrupt closure of the Civic Center Tenderloin campus on
one afternoon’s notice, on the grounds of seismic concerns. When some 2000 new immigrant students
showed up for their ESL classes on Monday, the doors were locked and the administration provided
directions to alternate sites—written in English! Only 300 students ever made it to an alternate site. 1700
more students gone—the same “disposable” non-credit students de-prioritized by the Student Success Act
and the administration. Fiasco– or downsizing policy?
We will have a round table to share analysis and information (invited speakers below):
The Shock Doctrine and Disaster Capitalism—short videos on lessons from Chicago, where public school
closures have been concentrated in gentrifying Black and Latino neighborhoods close to valuable downtown
real estate;
A short slideshow on the Reservoir Wars in the 80s and 90s, in which the real estate industry
unsuccessfully tried three times to pass a ballot measure for luxury housing development at the Reservoir.
Grassroots organizing won the day! The real estate industry also tried to tear down Balboa High School to
build condos—grassroots organizing won the day!
MECHA and Asian Student Union organizers will discuss the payment policy;
James Tracy will discuss the Civic Center closure and community resistance;
AFT 2121;
Update on the PAEC and the May 5th meeting about the Reservoir.
Terminal Logistics Solutions, the developers of City-owned land at the former Oakland Army base, announced this week that it has received $53 million dollars from four Utah counties to export up to six million tons of Utah coal out of Oakland each year. It intends to begin construction on a mega shipping terminal within a few months.
Terminal Solutions? Six million tons annually? Do we need any more symbolic reminders that this project needs to be shut down?
Sign this emergency petition to the Mayor Libby Schaaf.
Fossil fuel activists recognize this as yet another instance of whack-a mole. Jess Dervin-Ackerman of the Sierra Club points out that “major organizing victories squashing export proposals in Oregon and Washington mean that Big Coal has turned its sights on California. Bay Area communities are already burdened by poor air quality caused by our five oil refineries and the shipping industry. We even have some coal snaking through our neighborhoods by rail and shipping out of a private terminal in Richmond. Now Oakland is in Big Coal’s crosshairs.”
Oakland Fossil Fuel Resistance, a coalition of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, Sierra Club, 350 East Bay and Sunflower Alliance, is meeting at the Sierra Club office in Berkeley on Thursday at 4 pm to begin community mobilization against the project. Oakland residents are particularly urged to attend.
Join other OccufFarmers for reflection on our April 25th/26th days of action, to share thoughts on what we can do better next round, and give props to those who made this one successful! We especially invite the input of folks NEW to the Gill Tract struggle, as fresh eyes offer important insights.
If you are able, bring a snack or dish to share.
6-7pm is food and socializing. 7-9pm facilitated discussion
In the wake of the recent unjust murders of Dontre Hamilton, Corey Stingley, Derek Williams, Brandon Johnson, Larry Jenkins, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and so many more at the hands of police officers and racist vigilantes, people in cities across the nation have risen up to demand Justice in their communities. For every individual killed, there is a mother who has suffered a loss greater than any one person should have to bear. We, the mothers of this movement, are calling on all concerned community members to join us in our fight. Together we unite to stand against police brutality and racial injustice and to demonstrate our love and determination to protect our children and our country. On May 9th, 2015, Mother’s Day Weekend, The Mothers for Justice United will march on the US Department of Justice in our nation’s capitol, Washington DC. Will you stand with us?
“My name is Maria Hamilton and I am Dontre Hamilton’s mother. I am overwhelmed bearing the loss of my son to police brutality. I ask with a humble heart – Join us in Washington on Mother’s Day as we take this fight directly to our elected officials. We need you.” – Maria Hamilton, Founder of Mothers for Justice United.
Mothers for Justice United is an organization of mothers whose unarmed children have been killed by police officers and white vigilantes. It is also comprised of concerned mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, clergy, and other citizens nationwide who care about the loss of these valuable lives cut short unnecessarily. We are committed to halting the epidemic of the killing of unarmed people of color by police and white vigilantes in this country through direct action, legislation, and community building.
If you know of any mothers in your own community who have lost loved ones to police brutality and racist violence and you think they may be interested in joining us on Mother’s Day, please let us know. We are working to raise funds and to secure transportation and housing for the moms to be able to make this trip. We are also in search of people to help us in our endeavor by organizing and spreading the word in your own communities
Join us for a day long event hosted by Inter Council for Mothers of Murdered Children. Event starts at 12 pm and continues until 10 pm. The Fundraiser will be held at Humanist Hall, and includes Speakers, Games (Chess, Dominoes), snacks, brunch, and dinner, as well as video clips . Families who have lost their loved ones through Gun violence and Police Misconduct will share their stories. We are scheduling a food giveaway and Vendor’s Booths are available for rent (contact Event Coordinator for details).
The Inter Council For Mothers of Murdered Children is a Non Profit 501 (c)3 Organization. Our Mission is to assist families who are in need of support and assistance after the death of a loved one. All donations are tax Deductible.
Celebrate the victory of saving the Berkeley Post Office from being sold.
Appreciations to the attorneys who argued for us in Federal Court. Appreciations to Judge Alsup who recently ruled favorably in the lawsuits against USPS practices, lawsuits filed by the City of Berkeley and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.Music! Speakers! Cake! More Music !!!
Appreciations to our entire community!
oin in behind schedule celebration of Anka’s birthday and Gabby’s return to the bay! Both Anka and Gabby are always helping out the community, so let’s say thank you by sharing food/drinks/and stories!
Where?….. Athens Garden near the corner of San Pablo and Athens avenue
When?….. Saturday May 9th of this year
Time?….. 4:30PM
This is a potluck so bring what you can to share for food and this is BYOB as well.
If any of you have something for music, bring it along so we can shake our asses as well.
Every 1st Friday & every 2nd Sat of the month we sing, dance, and share Revolutionary Love at The Alan Blueford Center For Justice-ABC4J.
The next open mic & cypher is Sat May 9th, doors & sign-up at 7pm, show at 7:30pm, all ages, suggested donation $5, please.
Monthly interfaith prayer meeting, held on second Sundays, dedicated to survivors and victims of violence and police terror in Oakland.
We are organizing this gathering for the community to connect, share prayers, writings and poems from all spiritual traditions, reflect and recharge and build coalitions interested in healing.
In April, it will be two years since we started holding these prayer meetings at the Baha’i Center. Come share prayers, quotes, poems, and favorite passages from your scriptures with us. We will serve a simple breakfast.
Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library
Essentials of Scientific Socialism
Part of an ongoing series
“Clarity about the aims and problems of socialism is of greatest significance in our age of transition.”
Einstein’s comment remains true in our Century, when the growing interest in socialism is matched by a growing confusion about socialism. This workshop, led by Gene Ruyle of the ICSS, will be part of an ongoing series seeking to overcome this confusion through study and discussion, focusing on the classics of scientific socialism: The Communist Manifesto, by Marx and Engels, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, by Engels, Critique of the Gotha Program, by Marx, and Fundamentals of Leninism, by Stalin. This session will focus on a close reading of the Communist Manifesto. In preparation, participants are urged to read, or re-read, this important document.
Sunflower Alliance general meetings offer a great opportunity to learn more about fossil fuel resistance and climate justice efforts in our region. Your voice matters.
We welcome newcomers.
Sara Fonseca spends roughly 23 hours a day confined to a small concrete prison cell. The inmate, who is in her early thirties and goes by the nickname “Mariposa,” has been behind bars for nearly thirteen years, and since 2012 has been locked in a so-called “Security Housing Unit” — a highly restrictive setup commonly described as solitary confinement. That means she has extremely limited communication with anyone inside the prison — the California Institution for Women, located in Corona, forty miles east of Los Angeles — and virtually no contact with the outside world.
But this week, audiences across the Bay Area will get a chance to hear Mariposa’s story — in her own words. Mariposa and the Saint, a play Mariposa co-wrote with longtime friend Julia Steele Allen, gives viewers an intimate look at the impact of incarceration from the direct perspective of an inmate housed in what advocates describe as one of the cruelest features of the prison system. The 45-minute play, which Allen will perform at La Peña Cultural Center (3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley) on May 10, is the culmination of two years of letters between Mariposa and Allen.
This will mainly be a letter writing event. There will be a brief case overview of political prisoners that have signed onto the June 11th event, and attendees will provide direct support for long-term anarchist prisoners by selecting a pen-pal and mailing them words of solidarity. There might be drinks and refreshments.
Occupy Forum devoted to planning and expanding the coalition event of
“Listen Up Mayors…coming up June 19-22
at Union Square, SF and other locations nearby TBD.
Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter
Stop “Fracking” Mother Earth
Stop Crude By Rail
People Before Profits
Homelessness is not a Crime
Medicare for All
Strike Against Student Debt
Tax the Rich
and Jobs Not Jails
These essential demands have been opposed by most Big City US Mayors.
So….Listen Up Mayors.. We are the 99%
In the SF Bay Area,
Gentrification and Home Foreclosures
only serve the 1%
WE MUST RESIST TOGETHER
also see http://www.ussocialforum.net/ussfgoals
Join California Coalition for Women Prisoners for a performance of Mariposa & the Saint and a conversation about the shocking conditions in California’s women’s prisons and what can be done to change them.
In 2012, Mariposa was sentenced to fifteen months in solitary confinement. In 2015, she is still in a special confinement unit. Through letters with longtime friend Julia Steele Allen, who met her through a CCWP prison visiting team, Mariposa brings her experience to the stage.
Written by Sara (Mariposa) Fonseca & Julia Steele Allen
Directed by Noelle Ghoussaini
A Benefit for the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Doors open at 7:00 pm, play begins promptly at 7:30 pm