Calendar
Come share vigil for Peace in Gaza and Palestine
We have flags and large signs
Text SAVETHEPARK to 41372 & share widely. If possible, disable yr phone’s “do not disturb” for the 1st week of January to get nighttime alerts.
🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧
Heads up, Park defenders.
Emergency meet-up today (12/31) at noon at People's Park. Cop invasion expected Tues. 1/2 at 5:00 a.m. Come organize park defense. Meet great people. This is a vital last bit of green space, where ppl are allowed to just exist. 1/2
— ~🦥~ (@becauseberkeley) December 31, 2023
People’s Park Rapi: SHOW UP: we’re taking over Telegraph, starting at the corner with Haste, until we get our park back! Come anytime;Rally at 11am; live updates via Instagram @peoplesparkberkele
Cops entered the park last night around midnight. They used bulldozers and cut trees down. Several people were arrested.
SF Vote for Ceasefire Resolution! Join us to continue to demonstrate overwhelming support for #ceasefire. Monday, January 8 @ 9am Rules Committee Meeting and Tuesday, January 9 @ 1pm Full Board meeting and vote. Email Board of Supervisors: https://t.co/PEvWrq1bqu #SanFrancisco pic.twitter.com/7LnE5Jfj98
— AROC #FreePalestine (@AROCBayArea) January 5, 2024
There’s going to be an Oakland Port Shut Down in Solidarity with Palestine this Saturday 1/13. 5am
Please spread the word with Bay Area people. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/WJhqE44UFB
— Only Ceasefire Fans 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@lesuperburp) January 9, 2024
Resistance is Town Bizness! Join us January 15-19, 2024, for the 10th Anniversary of our annual celebration reclaiming MLK’s Radical Legacy with our march and week of action.
For the 10th year in a row, the Anti Police-Terror Project invites you to hit the streets for a mass march on King Day to demand a world free of white supremacy, war, capitalism, and imperialism.
This year, as Israel’s brutal siege and genocide on Gaza continues, we will continue to be in full solidarity with our Palestinian siblings and comrades in their calls for a ceasefire, no more military aid for Israel, and an end to the occupation.
Our march will begin in Oakland on MLK Day, Monday, January 15th at 11am at Oscar Grant Plaza (14th & Broadway). It will be followed by a full week of actions, trainings, teach-ins, film screenings, and healing offerings in King’s honor as we get ready for another year of solidarity, community and liberation. RSVP today to make sure you get updates.
When: January 15-19, 2024
Where: RSVP to get more details!
APTP acknowledges that Black liberation and Palestinian liberation are tied together, and that none of us will be free until all our people are free.
Dr. King’s legacy of radical direct action teaches us that real change comes from the people. For decades Oakland has been at the vanguard in the fight for Black liberation and collective freedom. That’s why � rooted in a tradition of Black revolutionaries standing with otther oppressed and colonized peoples across the globe � our moveement for a world without state violence is in fierce solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle. RSVP to let us know you will be with us.
Bay Area: Pack the court for the Bay Bridge 78!
The #BayBridge78 are back in court on the heels of San Francisco’s historic ceasefire resolution, joining the millions demanding an end to the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Join us to tell San Francisco DA @BrookeJenkins_SF to DROP THE CHARGES!
Bay Area: Pack the court for the Bay Bridge 78!
The #BayBridge78 are back in court on the heels of San Francisco’s historic ceasefire resolution, joining the millions demanding an end to the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Join us to tell San Francisco DA @BrookeJenkins_SF to DROP THE CHARGES!
Here’s an opportunity to join climate activists converging on the state legislature to promote bills to tackle the climate crisis.
Following the California Climate Policy Summit March 19, Environment California will lead a day when people can meet directly with legislators and their staff to show them that climate is a top priority for voters in the state and push them to do everything they can to get climate bills passed.
After a brief “Lobbying 101” training, the group will walk from the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel over to the state capitol to begin meetings with legislators and their staff. Lunch will be provided at noon.
THIS FRIDAY – PACK THE COURT! 🖤🔥
Please join us this Friday, March 22 at 2pm to show solidarity in the fight for #Justice4StevenTaylor ! We will be in Department 8, at 1225 Fallon St.
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/ZRzt04XizG
— Anti Police-Terror Project (@APTPaction) March 21, 2024
Ready to advance climate and health justice in Berkeley? A grassroots community and worker coalition is organizing to get two exciting ballot measures on the Berkeley ballot in 2024!
Join us for a signature gathering launch and training. We will meet in the middle of the Park across from the flag poll. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided! If you can’t make it this weekend, stay tuned for a subsequent kick-off announcement for next weekend.
RSVP Here
Berkeley Large Buildings Fossil Fuel Emissions Tax
Healthy City Buildings Ordinance
Learn More
Please let us know if you are part of an organization that would like to endorse these measures, and whether you wish to donate to the signature gathering effort. We intend to rely mostly on volunteer signature gathering, but may also need some paid signature gatherers to qualify by the May 9 deadline.
Sincerely,
Healthy Buildings Berkeley Coalition
Wednesday 5/1: May Day General Strike to Stop Genocide & Rally at Harry Bridges Plaza https://t.co/ohbvkOKm6i
— Indybay (@Indybay) April 6, 2024
🚨 This May Day, workers across the Bay Area and across the country will Rise for Palestine 🇵🇸 !
Join an action in Oakland or San Francisco, talk to your coworkers and get them involved.
Check this thread for Bay Area actions happening on 5/1! pic.twitter.com/2EatggvEX9
— East Bay DSA 🌹 (@DSAEastBay) April 26, 2024
Emergency Call to Action!
All out for Rafah!
Sproul Plaza, at UC Berkeley!
Tuesday, May 7th at 4pm! pic.twitter.com/aCQ3WVzhfI— Mama Lisa (@LisTeague) May 7, 2024
We’re days away from the California State Senate voting on three transformative bills to hold Big Oil accountable and protect communities from deadly oil and gas pollution. We just need to secure a few more votes to get these crucial protections passed into law.
How do we do this? Come out to the Capitol on Monday 8/26 at noon for a big joyous outpouring of support for this important legislation. Senators will be reviewing hundreds of bills in the final days of the session. We need to focus their attention on these bills and secure their support.
Sign up here to take a stand on the Capitol lawn!
Front groups for the oil industry have spent millions of dollars lobbying to sink these bills and protect Big Oil profits. One notorious oil industry group (sounds like whiska!) is even planning a rally next Monday at the Capitol. At high noon. Are we going to let them outflank us? Outnumber us? Nope!
About the bills:
- Idle Well Clean-Up (AB 1866 – Hart): Forces oil companies to clean up their idle wells much faster.
- Low-Producing Well Accountability Act (AB 2716 – Bryan): Fines oil companies operating in the Inglewood Oil Field $10,000/month for operating low-producing wells near communities.
- Local Environmental Choice and Safety Act (AB 3233 – Addis): Protects local governments’ authority to restrict oil & gas production in their jurisdictions. Passage of this bill will enable a Contra Costa drilling ban.
All of us together can show that our movement, and not Big Oil, has the people’s support. Please join us on Monday! Sign up and recruit others from your networks. Childless cat ladies most welcome.
Again, here’s the link to RSVP and request or offer a ride.
Cosponsors include 350 Sacramento, 350 Bay Area Action, California Environmental Justice Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, The Climate Center, Food & Water Watch, Greenpeace USA, Last Chance Alliance, Oil & Gas Action Network, Sacramento Climate Coalition, Sunflower Alliance and Third Act Sacramento.
Let’s have some fun on Monday and get these bills across the finish line. Yes, We Can win these vital protections for Californians, local democracy, and our climate! Please join us at this important demonstration of people power.
Sunflower Alliance
https://350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/
The City of Oakland is planning a massive eviction, so the People have planned a Resource Fair.
Beginning Monday, September 16th, at 8am at West Grand and MLK. pic.twitter.com/ueqlzaCCMW— Mama Lisa (@LisTeague) September 15, 2024
The resolution to fund and expand ShotSpotter will come before the full Oakland City Council Tuesday, October 15th at 3:30pm. That means there is still time to urge your city council member to vote against the resolution.
The Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission recommended to the Council that the Shotspotter contract not be renewed, because of lack of evidence that it is effective, noting that the monies could be used for things that are known to be effective in reducing crime. The Council, however, is leaning towards ignoring that recommendation, a recommendation made by the Commission the Council, well, commissioned, to make such technical evaluations.
ShotSpotter, produced by SoundThinking, is an acoustic gunshot detection system (AGDS). Its many sensors and microphones constitute a mass surveillance network that does more harm than good to residents of cities across the U.S., including Oakland.
Write to Council members before Tuesday and urge them to say NO to ShotSpotter.
Why ShotSpotter Does Not Belong in Oakland’s Communities
Other U.S. cities, including Chicago and New York, are questioning or outright discontinuing their contracts with SoundThinking because the technology does not live up to its claims of improved public safety or police effectiveness. Houston’s mayor plans to end the city’s contract with SoundThinking, calling their technology a “gimmick” that did not improve the city’s public safety. After a one-year pilot program, Durham, North Carolina’s city council voted against continuing their contract after an audit showed abysmal results. Oakland’s Privacy Advisory Committee (PAC) voted against funding ShotSpotter on April 4th, 2024.
The technology attempts to triangulate the location of gunshots and decrease officer response time to shooting incidents. The Oakland Police Department (OPD) touts ShotSpotter as a crime deterrent that reduces gun violence and keeps communities safer. A growing body of evidence indicates that ShotSpotter fails to achieve any of its supposed benefits.
OPD reports there were 8,318 unique gunshot incidents detected by ShotSpotter in 2023. Of these incidents, only four lead to an arrest. According to OPD’s incident reports, 73% of gun violations were for negligent discharge of a firearm, not a violent crime. OPD Captain Lewis has confirmed “many of the ShotSpotter firearm recoveries are from gun owners doing ‘target practice in their backyard.'” ShotSpotter artificially bloats OPD’s workload, diverting them away from actual community needs.
OPD’s average time to respond to the most serious 911 calls for help has increased. The same increase has occurred in Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis. This trend can be partly explained by the artificial workload ShotSpotter creates for officers. For example, in St. Louis, AGDS added 3,400 new calls per average year in addition to 2,800 citizen-initiated calls – a 67% increase in service calls. OPD categorizes ShotSpotter alerts as a Priority I call (immediate dispatch). Therefore, officers are being diverted from urgent and potentially life threatening emergencies to address ShotSpotter alerts that have a decent chance of being nothing more than a loud noise.
ShotSpotter often sends police officers to chase false positive alerts. The technology is notorious for reporting fireworks, automobile backfires, and construction noises as gunshots. False reportage is not only a waste of time. It leads directly to civil liberties abuses and false arrests, as was the case for 65-year old Michael Williams. In his case and others, court documents reveal that law enforcement frequently requests that ShotSpotter’s analysts modify alerts to support their narrative of events.
U.S. Senators have urged the Department of Homeland Security to investigate funding of ShotSpotter for civil rights violations and discriminatory policing. In Chicago, the 12 districts with ShotSpotter installations are those with the highest populations of Black and Latinx residents. In NYC, 70% of acoustic sensors were placed in precincts with majority Black or Latinx residents. The same racist pattern holds for Kansas City, MO; Cleveland, OH; Atlanta, GA; and Boston, MA.
In Oakland, ShotSpotter has been deployed in four geographic phases. The first two phases of deployment were in predominantly Black, Latinx, and Asian communities, which is easily observed by comparing OPD’s map of ShotSpotter deployment (see page 6) with a race, ethnicity, and diversity map of Oakland. A Stanford University study found that OPD officers display a stark racial disparity in who they search, detain, and arrest. Placement of ShotSpotter sensors consistently follows patterns of historical over-policing, and Oakland is no exception.
The money wasted on ShotSpotter would best serve Oakland residents if redirected toward other community needs. Please write to your city council members to tell them that ShotSpotter is a wasteful and dangerous surveillance technology.
