Calendar
If you can make it to #AfrikaTown today in #WestOakland at SanPablo and Brush that would be awesome. We need bodies to defend the garden.
— Minister Flashes (@Federal_flashes) March 11, 2015
Africatown pic.twitter.com/vLNQoFbDII
— Bud (@buddrums) March 11, 2015
RETALIATE AGAINST WORKER INTIMIDATION BY FAST FOOD CORPORATIONS AND POLICE
Remember two Fridays ago in San Lorenzo, CA when Jack in the box fired a worker unjustly, then called the county sheriffs when she came back with her union comrades demanding her job back???
We are fighting back with a weekly “EFF YOU FRIDAY” picket at various local Jack stores. We gotta send the message to corporations and police that we will not back down from fighting to improve workers’ lives.
WE WILL BE CONTINUING THESE ACTIONS EVERY FRIDAY AT DIFFERENT JACK-IN-THE-BOX LOCATIONS WITH THE SAME OWNER.
FRIDAY THE 13TH: Good Luck Comes to Good Bosses!
Join us for our picket line to support our union brothers and sisters at HS Lordships!
Workers at HS Lordships have been bargaining for a contract for more than four years. These longtime workers are asking for a fair contract, but management continues to propose drastic cuts in medical benefits. Workers have offered to give up sick days and vacation time and participate in a new healthcare plan with an increased deductible and reduced benefits. The restaurant, however, continues to propose making it harder for workers to qualify for healthcare.
At the restaurant, servers make $9 an hour and pay more than $500 per month for family insurance. Workers are fighting for affordable medical insurance and saying “NO MORE” to skyrocketing healthcare costs!
“I have worked at HS Lordships restaurant for ten years. I am a mother of six boys, and my family needs medical insurance in order to provide for and protect our children so they can grow and develop in the healthiest way possible. We need medical insurance that is accessible and affordable so that our basic needs can be met.”
-Adelaida Cisneros, Pantry Cook
Questions or need a ride? Contact Nicole Zapata at nzapata@unitehere.org
www.facebook.com/unitehere2850
UNITE HERE Local 2850, 1440 Broadway, Suite 208, Oakland, CA 94612, Tel. 510-893-3181
Next Saturday the art activists of Animals Against Extinction will unfurl a striking banner at the pedestrian overpass at University Avenue at I-80, Berkeley. The banner will focus the attention of thousands of drivers on the ongoing threats that climate change poses to all living species.
If you’d like to be a part of this action, please gather at noon Saturday, March 21 at Sea Breeze Cafe at the foot of University and Frontage Road, immediately west of I-80.
This action will also serve as a dress rehearsal for actions at First Friday in Oakland, and the Earth Day celebration in Martinez (at the site of Shell and Tesoro) on April 18th. We will expose Big Oil’s murderous role in contributing to the climate crisis.
Everyone is encouraged to come to People’s Park Friday, March 27th, beginning at 6:00 AM throughout the entire day, as the scheduled tree cutting will last until 3.
At 6AM Thursday morning, the Professional Tree Care Company arrived at People’s Park accompanied by the Berkeley Police Department. They surrounded the area with orange fencing and brought their wood chippers in. Over the course of the day, the work crew proceeded to begin chopping down three oak trees and a few other trees including a plum sapling. A UC landscape architect named David A. Johnson watched over the whole affair pointing out which trees should be cut down.
At noon several defenders arrived at the park. They watched as limbs were severed from a perfectly healthy tree. We yelled at David Johnson as he directed the workers and handed out fliers explaining why they were cutting down the trees. Soon after he was confronted and tried to excuse himself saying “I was defending people’s park pulling up concrete in 1969.” We told him plainly that he sold out and there should at least have been a meeting with the community about the trees. He went back and forth about how many trees were scheduled to be cut down but we confirmed with other sources that the total was 29 over the weekend.
As workers used their cherry picker to begin cutting down branches one of the defenders stood under the branch being cut and the worker yelled for them to get out but the defender refused. The worker stopped and came down to tell management to call over the nearby police. Soon the cops biked over and told the activists to move from under the tree but the defender refused while saying it was their legal right to be on the side walk. The arborist went to cut down a different tree but the same thing happened there as well. We mournfully watch as a plum sapling was uprooted by a tow rope pulling the whole tree straight into the chipper. As more people began to show up in opposition to the project, management decided to call it a day and pack up. After the landscaper David Johnson told the cops to make sure no homeless people slept within the fence line saying that the bedding of mulch was for the trees not the people.
People will be meeting at the People’s Park stage at 9 PM Thursday evening to discuss possible next steps. We strongly encourage everyone to come by People’s Park tomorrow at 6 AM to prevent further damage to the park. Everyone is encouraged to come to People’s Park tomorrow throughout the entire day, as the scheduled tree cutting will last until 3.
In the meantime, here are some numbers to call and ask that the park not be desecrated:
David A. Johnson (Assistant Director, Project Management)
510-642-7533
Christine Shaff (UC Berkeley Real Estate)
510-643-4793
A Downtown Berkeley Association (DBA) employee (now fired) attacked a homeless person some days ago. The DBA has essentially declared war on the homeless in downtown Berkeley, pushing the City Council to enact and enforce ordinances meant to criminalize the homeless.
A call has gone out to protest the DBA as a result of the incident caught on video below (trigger warning):
police killing is a problem…. and we are starting to realize it. but we need to come out and show that realization, show our frustration…. I don’t know were we’re marching exactly, something like the millions march, I just hope people show up and we take it from there.
theres too many names to list here of all the dead but here are a few. RIP DAVID BREMER RIP OSCAR GRANT RIP ERIC GARNER AND ERIC DORNER, RIP THE WHITE N TRANSGENDER KILLED RIP THE MENTALLY DISABLED WHO ARE KILLED RIP KELLY THOMAS RIP THE MISSING 43, REMEMBER MR PATEL THE INDIAN MAN BEATEN IN MADISON, RIP SHAIMAA AL-SABBAGH!RIP TO ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
I don’t care for looting or destruction of property, were coming for the police… not anybody else… nobodys mom and pop OR whole foods has done shit to us… so lets not break their stuff.
all I have left to say is this poem I wrote about police brutality…I hope it means something to somebody…
Im sick of people dying
Im sick of people dying as you can guess just from the title,
I hope that people hit the streets and attempts iv made are vital,
I try to hit the heart say “its your boy were fighting for”, n people say they’ll come today but never come I scorn, I really hold resentment about the way that people talk, cause then when it comes down to it they don’t fuckin walk the walk….to me its really simple as I look around the world, Bahrain and Gaza/Israel the CAR abroad, Remember Ali Baddah, n FREE Nabeel Rajab and watch for things to escalate the Kurds just want auton, the shits short for autonomy, we want it all the same, so viva Kurdistan and all resistance to the state, resistance to oppression, and resistance to ideas, that land kids just walking home in mourges with grieving peoples, im talking bout the boy, 14 and walking home, n Turkish Special Forces shot him n no not in the dome, they shot him in the heart, and it went out through his spine, n what he did was nothing, he didn’t do a crime, he just really didn’t know that there were soldiers on the line, n that on his way from work hed turn that corner n a dime, it seems it was the wrong corner n BOOM the rifle shot, and now I sit here as a mourner my moral begins to rot, but I remember that the struggle cant be brought down by the evil, the shit we struggle hard against so please bring out the people, Im sick of people dying as you can tell just from the title, so FUCK THE PEOPLE KILLING US ill say it with a smile….
I hope ALL types show up wear black for the fallen, this IS everybodys problem…lets show them we get that. power to the people VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
police_beating.jpg
- March to OUSD HQ at 1000 Broadway.
- Better Contracts for Students and Teachers.
- Keep Public Schools Public.
- Hard Caps for Special Eduction.
- Money for School Sites not Upper Administration.
- Counselors not Cops.
Since October 2014 the bodies of 55 immigrants were found in the Rio Grande River Valley in Texas and 15 other bodies were pulled from the waters of the Rio Grande River.
These were people trying to cross one of the most militarized borders in the world.
Amilcar Perez-Lopez, Guatemalan immigrant was unjustly killed by SFPD on February 26.
Antonio Zambrano was brutally executed by Pasco, Washington police on February 10.
2059 immigrants were arrested nationwide by ICE agents in “Operation Cross Check”.
March and Forum for Ayotzinapa
Community March:
Mission and 16th Sts.
1:30pm- Danzantes welcome the community
2pm- Start of the rally
2:30pm- March starts towards 24th St.
Community Forum:
Buena Vista Horace Mann Elementary
3351 23rd St., between Bartlett and Valencia Sts.
4-6pm
Saturday, April 4th, San Francisco welcomes the families of the 43 students disappeared by the Mexican government this past September, 2014, joining with their demand for justice with their caravan throughout the US.
We are in solidarity with their struggle and welcome everyone to a community and family-friendly march from 16th St. to 24th St. on Saturday, April 4th. This march is called for 2pm and will arrive at Buena Vista Horace Mann (3351 23rd St.) where a community forum organized by KPOO, Radio Bilingüe and Rompeviento TV USA, will be held. Here, all attendees will learn about the atrocities committed by the Mexican State as well as the struggle for justice. Ayotzinapa is the most recent and horrific example of a State that exercises violence with impunity against its citizens and social justice fighters.
We also recognize our own experiences in the United States where police kill our people in the streets, just as the case of Almicar, or any other community, especially the Black community.
Its time to say, “Stop State-Sponsored Terror in the Mission, San Francisco, the Bay Area, California and throughout the United States! Justice for all victims of State violence! A State that disappears and murders its own citizens does not deserve to govern! The Mission stands with Ayotzinapa! Stop State-sponsored terror on both sides of the border!
Special thanks to the United Educators of San Francisco for their support in sponsoring this community event.
Initiated by:
Bay Area Committee in Solidarity with Ayotzinapa
With the momentum of nationwide actions for divestment currently happening, we call on Chancellor Dirks to stand with students, not with fossil fuels. Join us for a climate sleepover and Breakfast for Divestment!
Get trained on direct actions, media, and other skills and come support Fossil Free Cal as they fight for a livable future!
We envision a future not overwhelmed by a global (and state-wide) water crisis, rising sea levels, ravaged by superstorms, and plagued with economic and racial injustice, ruled by the fossil fuel industry for the sake of profit over people. We envision a planet where all can thrive together.
What:
A night-long action that includes music, speakers, spoken word, important trainings about media and direct action, and FUN (of course)
On Thursday morning at 9am, we will set up a table for the Breakfast for Divestment and await Chancellor Dirks’ arrival.
Dirks has been invited in person to attend our breakfast to publicly endorse our campaign so that he can finally answer the question: whose side are you on? the side of corporations or the side of your students?
Join us and bring your friends!
P.S.: Prior to our event, please join us in signing on our pledge!
From the Berkeley Daily Planet
An interfaith coalition representing over 40 Berkeley religious congregations is organizing “Interfaith Actions in Solidarity with Homeless” people Thursday April 9 5pm to 6:15am Friday–at Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza, Center and Shattuck Street, Berkeley.
Events will start with blessing of a meal at 5pm to 5:30pm by Rev. Michael McBride, long time pastor of The Way Christian Center; followed by An Interfaith Service 5:30pm to 6:15pm involving more than 20 local clergy 5:30pm to 6:15pm; followed by a “Night Out Sleeping Vigil” 6:15pm to 8pm & 6:15am in which clergy & members of the interfaith religious community will sleep on the BART Plaza with homeless people.
The event is in response to the proposed passage of new anti-homeless laws by Berkeley City Council on March 17th, despite Berkeley voters opposing passage of Measure S no-sitting laws in 2012 and the recent violent assault on a homeless man by one of the Downtown Business Association’s private “Ambassadors.”
According to Sally Hindman, a Quaker & Executive Director of Youth Spirit Artworks, “All the great religions of the world call us to stand up for justice—so we will be lying down tonight—sleeping on the sidewalk with Berkeley’s homeless. There are two year long waiting lists housing in Alameda County, so the very last thing we would want to do now is criminalize homeless people forced to live outside in our doorways!”
Pastor Michael McBride states, “Having just celebrated Easter, as Christians we are gathering to express God’s love and deep compassion for all people—including homeless people.” This is a Black Lives Matters issue as well—since a predominance of those being criminalized, who will be ticketed and arrested with these new laws are, once again, African American.
Celebrating Passover, Rabbi Michael Lerner of Beyt Tikkun emphasizes, “The clear message of our faith is that those who do not care for the poor and oppressed are defiling God’s name.”
Zen Abbot Geri Rosen adds, “in the Zen Buddhist tradition our practice calls us to selflessness, to peaceful positive solutions, never hurtfulness or violence. We move toward practices of loving kindness. There are multiple creative proposals for approaching the challenge of homelessness in downtown Berkeley we would want the City to support.”
Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman highlights, “Forty percent of homeless youth are marginalized LGBTQI young people who have left their homes and otherwise been forced out on the street—the very last thing our traditions call us to do is make life harder for them than it already is.”
Vigil and march in loving memory of Yuvette Henderson. All aspects of the action are planned to be peaceful. This event is organized by the Anti-Police Terror Project with permission from the family of Yuvette Henderson. The APTP demands an open and public investigation, while knowing that a fair investigation will never occur if that investigation is left solely in the hands of the police. We have continued to make the following demands:
– Release of the video tapes that contain the shooting or any lead-up to the shooting of Yuvette Henderson
– Leave without pay for Michelle Shepherd and Warren Williams, the officers involved in the killing of Yuvette Henderson, while they are being investigated and, ultimately, the termination of Shepard and Williams from the Emeryville Police Department.
– The immediate return or destruction of all military styled weapons and accessories in the possession of the Emeryville Police Department and specifically the AR-15 rifles, like the one used to murder Justice 4 Yuvette Henderson -AR-15’s are a military-grade, automatic weapon; the same weapon used by the United States military in wars throughout the world.
– An account on what happened to Yuvette while in contact with Home Depot security, an explanation regarding how she sustained the head injury on Home Depot property, and a reason as to why she never saw the paramedics as a result of her head injury.
Since April 10th 2012, Oakland and Stockton have become one in the fight against police brutality. Donnie Smith-Downs has gone coast to coast in support of victims of police killing. She has shown us that solidarity is an action word by her presence in the fight against police brutality and the militarization of local police departments. Her son James Rivera was shot with an AR-15, piercing his body leaving holes the size of tennis balls.
Since 4/10 /12 Stockton has had a number of police killings, and momma Dionne has become a source of strength for those families in her community. The justice for James Rivera coalition over the past few years have been able to spread the word about the racism in Stockton police department that the department of justice is giving 6 cities funding to combat racism in, and Stockton is one of them. Show your solidarity with Dionne Smith-Downs as she fights for others in her community. Let’s imitate what her and Cyndi Mitchell have shown us.
Rally and March will begin at 12:30 PM at Eden Park, Stockton.
HS student in #Oakland challenging you to #ShutDownA14 https://t.co/KAock7PZwy #WalterScott @mrdaveyd @Carl_Dix pic.twitter.com/3c1Nx2YK7P
— Revolution Club (@RevClub_bay) April 11, 2015
Stop Business as Usual.
No School! No Work!
Say No More! To The System Giving a Green Light to Killer Cops!
Sprouts is known for their low pay, labor violations and union-busting. Across the country, fast food and minimum wage workers are standing up and speaking out for their rights. On 4/15, we are shutting down Sprouts to protest their paving of historic farmland at the Gill Tract, and to stand with workers across the country demanding $15 and a Union.
Join us on April 15th, as we protest the paving of historic farmland at the opening of a new Sprouts in San Rafael – sandwiched in the middle of a DAY OF ACTIONS in solidarity with the Nationwide Fight for Fifteen.
Join us throughout the day as we travel from Oakland to San Rafael and back to Berkeley!
Tentative Schedule
8am: McDonald’s action in Oakland with Fight for Fifteen! Location TBA
12pm: Sprouts shut down in San Rafael
3pm: Return for Rally & March in Berkeley!
More information about why Occupy the Farm is calling for a national boycott of Sprouts “Farmers Market”: www.BoycottSprouts.com
We need not only land, but a complete transformation of the food system. That means challenging corporations, and lifting up workers. Join us!
On April 15, join the Fight for $15 and be part of the largest low-wage worker protests in modern American history.
There is a crisis in America. Working families have endured decades of stagnant incomes. We are increasingly forced to choose between keeping a roof over our heads, paying our bills or feeding our kids.
Meanwhile, the corporations we work for have record profits and their executives earn ever-increasing salaries.
On April 15, here in the Bay Area, families, workers, people of faith, students, artists, leaders, and community supporters will be taking to the streets to say that “We won’t stand for this.”
This movement unites adjunctprofessors airportworkers,walmartworkers, fastfoodworkers & homecareworkers. #fightfor15 pic.twitter.com/DKLLyJJC7P
— Food Chain Workers (@foodchainworker) March 31, 2015
STOP POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OF COLOR!
Tell Oakland City Council to put pressure on OPD, the District Attorney, and Alameda Coroner!
We demand them to release the police and autopsy reports in the police killing of 27-year-old mother of four, Guadalupe (“Lupe”) Manzo Ochoa. Lupe was killed by San Leandro Police in East Oakland December 7th and now OPD is investigating the shooting and refuses to be transparent with the family!
WEAR HOT PINK (Lupe’s favorite color), bring noisemakers and signs that say @[null:#Justicia4Lupe]!
*We want to get a long line of people to sign up to speak and simply state “on behalf of Lupe Ochoa’s family, release the reports!”
*Please note that the formal meeting begins at 630pm though sign up may begin as early as 530. Some of us will be in attendance early to sign up for those who wish to speak.
We will have some chants. We want to disrupt City Council and remind them that police devastated Lupe’s family and community and we want answers!
Update: sign up to speak on item number 13. It’s for an independent review board for OPD. Utilize the time to talk about how OPD cannot be trusted to investigate themselves let alone San Leandro police and that the police and coroners reports in the killing of Lupe Ochoa needs to be released now! Sign up for a speakers card online through this link:
http://