Calendar
Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
Ryan Rising & Zaigham Kabir
Creating the World We Want to See
This Forum picks up where we left off in Ryan’s and Zaigham’s recent OccupyForums. Subjects up for discussion are building momentum through direct actions, thinking beyond left and right, creating coalitions across political spectrums.
We’ll also discuss building local food and energy independent systems for our communities through local organizing such as advocating and creating urban agriculture and community choice energy, while also connecting discussion to the ‘national security state’ and ‘war on terror’ as these apparatuses of power seek to stifle dissent and continue economies based on extracting resources, perpetual growth and destroying the Earth.
We will discuss the “Block the Boat” action that is happening on Saturday as that will be fresh in people’s minds and connects directly to all these issues as well.
Ryan Rising is a permaculture designer, community organizer, and direct action advocate living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ryan recently returned from the first grade of the Zapatista Little School in Chiapas, Mexico where he learned about the power of the connection to the landbase.
Zaigham Kabir recently addressed OccupyForum on the surveillance state and OccupyGoogle. “With our basic liberties, such as right to assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of Privacy and the right to a jury trial all under a concerted attack by the government, it should be of increasing concern that the companies we depend on for communicating and accessing information are also dependent on Defense establishment contracts and ties to appease their shareholders and continue their monopolies.”
Q&A and Announcements will follow.
The Postal Service has put the Berkeley Post Office up for sale!!
The Postal Service outsourced Post Office services to Staples, replacing union jobs with low-paying, low benefit work.
And we’re fighting against both!
Come help us plan our next steps.
On July 29th, at our invite, Ralph Nader spoke on the steps of the Berkeley Post Office against privatization and corporatism. Watch and listen to his talk here.
We’ve began the “Don’t Shop at Staples” campaign with some awesome… what else? … postcards to send to Staples management! Here’s the front of the postcard. The campaign has been adopted by Postal Unions, the San Francisco Labor Council and has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, and has gone national!
All four Postal Unions have joined together to support maintaining full service, public Post Offices in every community, with expansion to include postal banking, and to oppose subcontracting and privatization of services. The California Federation of Teachers passed a resolution in support of opposition to Staples. Just recently the American Federation of Teachers, AFCSME and UNITE HERE did too.
Check out our correspondence with the President of the American Postal Workers Union, Mark Dimondstein. The APWU has been leading the charge against Staples.
For most of July the sidewalk in front of Staples was ‘occupied’ 24/7 by an intrepid band of San Francisco occupiers with solidarity and support from BPOD members distributing literature and convincing people not to shop at Staples.
And we need to be prepared if the Post Office announces a sale! The Advisory Commission on Historical Preservation came out with its report, recommending that sales of Historic Post offices be halted until the USPS conforms with historical preservation law. Here is our response. Also the Office of Inspector General’s report on the sale of Historic Post Offices came out recently – anything could happen now since Congress’ “request” that no historic Post Offices be sold until it had come out has been honored and no further Congressional request or mandate has come down. Come help us plan our response.
We have joined with other activists in Berkeley to put a ballot initiative on the ballot to rezone the Berkeley Post Office and other areas in the Historic District to prevent privatization, and also to insure a better Downtown Berkeley. We succeeded in getting the necessary signatures; it will be voted on in November, but Tom Bates and the City Council have nefarious plans to undermine our coalition.
Encouraging articles are still coming out about using Post Offices as banking facilities for the unbanked. The National Conference of Mayors recently endorsed Postal Banking. Pew Research held a day-long seminar on Postal Banking.
We are planning our next event, ‘Jam the Sale.’ Spread the work and come help us out!
Rats, Riots, Revolution: Gentrification and Fightback
Gentrification and displacement are disrupting lives and communities all over the country, and the Bay Area is ground zero. With the San Francisco tech boom, and the redevelopment of neighborhoods resulting in the displacement of working class people and communities of color, living and working in Oakland and San Francisco is becoming more and more difficult. But gentrification is also nothing new, and the US has a rich history of fightback against housing discrimination and displacement.
Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor is a writer, public speaker, and activist in Chicago. She writes on black politics, housing inequality, and issues of race and class in the United States. Her articles have been published in Souls: A critical journal of black politics, Culture and Society, New Politics, The Black Commentator, Gaper’s Block, and Ms. Magazine, among other publications. She is on the editorial board of the International Socialist Review.
“Call going out far and wide to be at the port at 5am. If the ship leaves at 4am, it will be the best 5am victory party ever.”
Shuttles are up amd running as is BART! Come on in!! #BlockTheBoat!
— BlockTheBoatForGaza (@BlockTheBoat) August 19, 2014
We need more people. We’ve seen one red SUV cross picket. No idea if he’s unloading this ship. #BlockTheBoat
— Not Frantz Fanon (@violentfanon) August 19, 2014
The Zim cargo ship left Berth 57 this afternoon, sailed out the Golden Gate apparently on its way south, then did a U-Turn
and is now heading back into San Francisco Bay, probably to Berth 22 (map below), which people reported Zim had reserved for this evening.
Berth 22 now! #BlockTheBoat!!! #Oakland, 1599 Maritime St @BlockTheBoat
— Occupy Oakland (@OccupyOakland) August 20, 2014
Need to have crowd at "Ports America" gates well before 7 to block shift that would otherwise unload Israeli cargo ship #BlockTheBoat
— Occupy Oakland (@OccupyOakland) August 20, 2014
The boat made a u-turn. Heading back to the bay! https://t.co/edVV8KOHh7 @hyphy_republic @thehoopoe @OccupyOakland #BlockTheBoat
— mary mad (@marymad) August 20, 2014
RT @OccupyOakland: Where to go to block the sneak attack of the Israeli ship, returning to port #BlockTheBoat HURRY! pic.twitter.com/1J5GUdZpMJ
— Anarcho Anon (@AnarchoAnon) August 20, 2014
The cargo ship targeted by anti-Israel protesters now headed back to @PortofOakland, not LA. Activists mobilizing pic.twitter.com/wtXS3mHF4q
— Henry K. Lee (@henryklee) August 20, 2014
walking and driving directions & times from West Oakland BART to berth 22 (1500-1599 Maritime) #BlockTheBoat pic.twitter.com/nuBPBqtoyt
— shitty podcast (@uItradian) August 20, 2014
CALL OUT for continued blockade TONIGHT to keep 12am lunch break from re-entering the port. Arrive 10:30-11pm to #BlockTheBoat, #Oakland
— Occupy Oakland (@OccupyOakland) August 20, 2014
Zim ship reportedly has days of unloading. This ain't over, not by a longshore. Support needed Midnight & 6:30AM #BlockTheBoat
— OccupySF (@sf99er) August 20, 2014
Over the last few weeks, police have murdered five Black men & women across the country:
Mike Brown: Ferguson, MO
Ezell Ford: South Los Angeles
Eric Garner: New York
Jacorey Calhoun: Oakland
Unidentified woman in San Jose who had a power drill
And of course, there have been thousands and thousands more murdered Black, Brown & poor people throughout the years.
Oscar Grant
Alan Blueford
Alex Nieto
Andy Lopez
Kimani Gray
Kendrec McDade
Amadou Diallo
Sean Bell
Ramarley Graham
We will take to the streets and tell the police: IT ENDS TODAY
We will gather at 5:00 pm in FOUR locations:
– Oscar Grant OG Plaza
– Oakland Main Library (659 14th Street, Oakland Ca 94612)
– African American History Museum (125 14th Street, Oakland CA 94612)
– Jack London Square (near Waterfont Hotel)
5:00 – 5:15: banner making, public education, speakers
5:15 – 5:30: music & chants
5:30: MARCH to 7th & Broadway
6:00 – 6:30: music, speakers, chants
6:30: MARCH to Oscar Grant Plaza
6:30 – 7:00: Community Speak Out and Action Planning for a Sustained Campaign Against Police Terrorism
Simultaneous Actions in Los Angeles & Mississippi
PLEASE choose a different location for you and your comrades to begin the action! It is important that we show the power of the people to a larger share of our city than just OG plaza.
Again the action will begin in FOUR locations at 5:00 pm:
– Oscar Grant Plaza
– Oakland Main Library (659 14th Street, Oakland Ca 94612)
– African American History Museum (125 14th Street, Oakland CA 94612)
– Jack London Square (near Waterfont Hotel)
Endorsing Organizations: ONYX, MXGM, Healthy Hoodz, Young Oakland, Inner Council of Murdered Children, Alan Blueford Center for Justice, Hip Hop Congress, Workers World
Here is the reading for the next Politics of Debt meeting – OMNI basement.
We will continue on with Ellen brown’s Public Banking solution on the topic foreign policy and other countries’ use of Public Banks.
Hands up! Don't shoot! Oscar Grant's Uncle Bobby – is here- came back from #Ferguson he's sending solidarity video pic.twitter.com/ALCeRSwCDW
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
Stand off pigs won't let pass on sudewalk #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/Js3vRjffY8
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
We marching to OGP – whose streets? Put streets! #Ferguson more ppl pic.twitter.com/7DgBliHVWz
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
Woman, in tears, over megaphone: "These police kill our black children!"
#Oakland #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/WT5kPh5LqR
— Not Frantz Fanon (@violentfanon) August 21, 2014
"My son was murdered by police. He was 16. He was shot at 48 times…he was unarmed." #Oakland #Ferguson #FTP #ACAB pic.twitter.com/yDCChpxcuj
How do u sleep at night with blood on ur uniforms [hate to say but they don't give a fuck] #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/O0OeHJfbKE
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
The number of family members of police killings at this protest is horrifying. #endpoliceterror #Oakland #Ferguson
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) August 21, 2014
It's sad this many mothers in the bay could speak on losing their kid to the police today. #Oakland #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/CBfQZhN6WV
— Jimi Devine (@JimiDevine) August 21, 2014
He's awesome !! #Ferguson http://t.co/VY4ra45vpf
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
At the Oakland It Ends Now march. pic.twitter.com/LTPX0CP0MX
— H. Poteat (@NSQE) August 20, 2014
Hands up. Don't Shoot! Marching on Broadway turn right i onto 20th #Ferguson @KevChoice #Oakland join us! Fist Up! pic.twitter.com/6uwujMNjSt
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
Very few folks left when we passed BART, crowd strong and exceptionally peaceful. #Oakland #Ferguson #MikeBrown pic.twitter.com/Z3aRSB8kKE
— Jimi Devine (@JimiDevine) August 21, 2014
Please Don't Let Me Die! Kimani Gray #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/wptbE9E1eT
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
Hundreds flooding back into OGP. "Hey hey ho ho, killer cops have got to go"
— Dave Id (@DaveId) August 21, 2014
Justice for #MikeBrown march back in Oscar Grant Plaza. pic.twitter.com/VsYjW9NbFv
— Kate Conger (@kateconger) August 21, 2014
Finding Fearless! We r having workshop at OGP #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/8icIM58iem
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
Cops run from me, fuck with or just show name tag- used to piss me off now i like that they run from #FTP pic.twitter.com/ShcUXSNaUg
— Alyssa (@alyssa011968) August 21, 2014
"My son was murdered by police. He was 16. He was shot at 48 times…he was unarmed." #Oakland #Ferguson #FTP #ACAB pic.twitter.com/yDCChpxcuj
— Not Frantz Fanon (@violentfanon) August 21, 2014
"This is Occupy without the bullshit." Actually feels very reminiscent of early days of #oo #justiceformikebrown pic.twitter.com/uG9CeqCgD8
— Vivian Ho (@VivianHo) August 21, 2014
Copwatchcop RT @joenewsman: Oakland demonstrators are holding mirrors up to the faces of police officers. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/tqBCDoX5aQ
— Copwatch (@Copwatch) August 21, 2014
Massive marches in Oakland to support #Ferguson, people hold up mirrors to cops: http://t.co/KGIsEFEKqH pic.twitter.com/V79zrqFQec
— SFGate.com (@SFGate) August 21, 2014
And a night of #Ferguson solidarity marches ends with free tamales at Oscar Grant Plaza. Sustain the movement. Tomorrow's in SF. #Oakland
— Occupy Oakland (@OccupyOakland) August 21, 2014
Maybe 25 people at the plaza & 50 OPD. Man yells at them: "there are like 3 motherfuckers here, what are you doing?"
— (@thehoopoe) August 21, 2014
"You darn piggies!" Yells 8-year old Brock as the police leaves the plaza
— (@thehoopoe) August 21, 2014
From #Oakland to #Ferguson, it's RIGHT TO REBEL! #nomore pic.twitter.com/dAJk8vaFhP
— Nova K. Tiller (@novaaat) August 21, 2014
#DangerPoliceInArea by @DreadScottArt. #AmadouDiallo to #MichaelBrown pic.twitter.com/0fbcAcpkT6" #NewJimCrow #GenocidalRealities
— Ray Geming (@RayGeming) August 21, 2014
Ferguson Cop Who Killed Mike Brown Shot More Bullets Than The Entire British Police Force Did Last Year http://t.co/tHPUuU6C5F
— Heather (@VideoCafeCnL) August 21, 2014
Stand in solidarity with the people of ferguson. March starts at un plaza.
The next Taser-free Berkeley organizing meeting.
Also see
PUBLIC FORUM: SHOULD BERKELEY POLICE USE TASERS ON THE PEOPLE OF BERKELEY?
We are proud to host Dennis Banks, Native American leader and co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM), to speak and present the documentary “A Good Day To Die.”
The folks who serve you your hot dogs and nachos at the Oakland Coliseum deserve respect! Many of them are longtime Oakland residents who’ve worked at the ballpark for 10, 20 or 30 years and count on their jobs for a stable income and health care.
But this year, a new company, Ovations, took over the food service operation. Instead of sitting down to negotiate a fair contract, Ovations is stalling, asking for take-aways, and offering unfair proposals.
*Seven months into bargaining, Ovations hasn’t even given us a proposal on health care.
*Ovations’ proposal on wages is a 25-cent raise over 3 years. That’s 8.3 cents a year.
*Ovations is also proposing to subcontract as many stands as they want, let managers do union workers’ jobs, and institute drug testing.
JOIN COLISEUM WORKERS for a march across the Coliseum parking lot to reach out to fans as they tailgate before a big game! Let Ovations know that they can’t come in from out of town and disrespect Oakland workers who’ve been on the job for years!
For questions or rides, contact Jessica Medina (jmedina@unitehere.org, 510-219-6358).
In solidarity,
UNITE HERE Local 2850
PEACE AND FREEDOM PARTY YEARLY POTLUCK PICNIC .
Last week’s event was a big success, so we’re doing it again. Come hang out with the people Occupying outside of Staples, advocating the Staples boycott. Expect great music and great conversation, and postcards to US mail to Staples telling them why you are boycotting. Maybe food too!
The US Postal Service has contracted out Post Offices to Staples stores, replacing living wage Postal Union jobs with min wage non-union Staples employees.
Let’s keep the pressure on and make sure students back at UC Berkeley and buying supplies know why they shouldn’t be purchasing stuff at Staples.
Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
A film by Stephen Vittoria
Mumia Long Distance Revolutionary
A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal
Through prison interviews, archival footage, dramatic readings, as well as a potent chorus of voices, this riveting film explores Mumia’s life
before, during and after Death Row.
Mumia Abu-Jamal is an internationally celebrated writer and radio journalist who has devoted his life both inside and outside prison to resistance media.
He is the author of eight books and hundreds of columns, articles, and radio broadcasts; an organizer and inspiration for the prison lawyers movement where prisoners dedicate time to helping fellow prisoners; former member of the Black Panther Party, and supporter of Philadelphia’s MOVE organization of the 1970s which advocated green politics, expressed its opposition to technology and zoos, and supported animal rights. Mumia was framed for the death in 1981 of Philadelphia policeman, Daniel Faulkner, and has spent more than 30 years in prison, almost all of it in solitary confinement on Pennsylvania’s Death Row.
Mumia Long Distance Revolutionary is a powerful documentary that includes the story of the Philadelphia police crackdown of the MOVE organization in the late 70s. You can make your own connections between that event and more recent events in Ferguson, MO and elsewhere.
Frank Rizzo, Chief of Police, in Philadelphia at the time of the confrontations was quoted as saying, “The police department in Philadelphia could invade Cuba and win” and “What I’m saying is that we are now trained and equipped to fight wars.”
“He is Mumia Abu-Jamal on Death Row. No parole. Speaking from the depths of his soul, depths of his heart, depths of his mind of the sufferings of others, not even his own suffering, the sufferings of others.” –Cornel West
Discussion and Announcements will follow.
The Postal Service has put the Berkeley Post Office up for sale!!
The Postal Service outsourced Post Office services to Staples, replacing union jobs with low-paying, low benefit work.
And we’re fighting against both!
Come help us plan our next steps.
On July 29th, at our invite, Ralph Nader spoke on the steps of the Berkeley Post Office against privatization and corporatism. Watch and listen to his talk here.
We’ve began the “Don’t Shop at Staples” campaign with some awesome… what else? … postcards to send to Staples management! Here’s the front of the postcard. The campaign has been adopted by Postal Unions, the San Francisco Labor Council and has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, and has gone national!
All four Postal Unions have joined together to support maintaining full service, public Post Offices in every community, with expansion to include postal banking, and to oppose subcontracting and privatization of services. The California Federation of Teachers passed a resolution in support of opposition to Staples. Just recently the American Federation of Teachers, AFCSME and UNITE HERE did too.
Check out our correspondence with the President of the American Postal Workers Union, Mark Dimondstein. The APWU has been leading the charge against Staples.
For most of July the sidewalk in front of Staples was ‘occupied’ 24/7 by an intrepid band of San Francisco occupiers with solidarity and support from BPOD members distributing literature and convincing people not to shop at Staples. They’re back! Come hang out with them outside Staples at Durant & Shattuck.
And we need to be prepared if the Post Office announces a sale! The Advisory Commission on Historical Preservation came out with its report, recommending that sales of Historic Post offices be halted until the USPS conforms with historical preservation law. Here is our response. Also the Office of Inspector General’s report on the sale of Historic Post Offices came out recently – anything could happen now since Congress’ “request” that no historic Post Offices be sold until it had come out has been honored and no further Congressional request or mandate has come down. Come help us plan our response.
We have joined with other activists in Berkeley to put a ballot initiative on the ballot to rezone the Berkeley Post Office and other areas in the Historic District to prevent privatization, and also to insure a better Downtown Berkeley. We succeeded in getting the necessary signatures; it will be voted on in November, but Tom Bates and the City Council have nefarious plans to undermine our coalition.
Encouraging articles are still coming out about using Post Offices as banking facilities for the unbanked. The National Conference of Mayors recently endorsed Postal Banking. Pew Research held a day-long seminar on Postal Banking. The Postal unions and other groups have announced plans for a conference on postal banking in November.
We are planning our next event, ‘Jam the Sale.’ Spread the work and come help us out!
The Zoning Overlay Ordinance on Berkeley’s existing Historic Civic Center District, including our historic Post Office, has gained national attention. On August 27, 2014, the Planning Commission will vote on whether to forward the Ordinance to the City Council for consideration at the September 9, 2014 council meeting. The Zoning Overlay will save the Post Office, Old City Hall, and our historic Civic Center from commercial development.
The Mayor and Council have stated that they are ready to make the Zoning Overlay submitted by citizen initiative the law in Berkeley. The Commission must approve an Environmental statement and new use definitions before the Overlay can return to Council.
Show the Planning Commissioners That We Care.
Bring a Friend. Let’s Fill the Room!
Berkeley’s Historic Civic Center District is our Public Commons. Let’s protect it with appropriate zoning.
Planning Commission agenda for the 8/27 meeting.
pdf of entire Planning Commission 8/27 packet (103 pages)
Green Downtown & Public Commons Initiative
Designated as “Measure R”
Measure R on the November ballot will guarantee that our historic Civic Center – including the Main Post Office and Old City Hall – are reserved for public-serving uses, and that our Downtown is developed in concert with Berkeley’s values of equity, access and support for the environment.
Under Measure R, new developments
- meet high green building standards
- include affordable housing on site
- offer generous bike parking
- include parking for the disabled, car-sharing and electric vehicle charging
- guarantee jobs for Berkeley residents and fair wages for construction, maintenance, security and hotel workers.
- provide funding for public transportation, improvements to streets, sidewalks, parks and open spaces and for loans to small businesses
Measure R protects Our Civic Center as a public commons � in perpeetuity � preserving traditional uses that serve the common good succh as museums, libraries, government, non-profits, arts, live performance venues and farmer’s markets. No future Council can vote to allow exclusively private uses – ever.
In November vote “YES” on R for a Green, Equitable and Civic Downtown.
Don’t Buy School Supplies at Staples!
Meeting of the City of Oakland’s “Privacy and Data Retention Ad Hoc Advisory Committee” – open to the public.
When:
2nd & 4th Thursdays
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where:
Council Chambers
Oakland City Hall
14th & Broadway
Read the announcement from the City of Oakland City Administrator’s Weekly Report (April 25, 2014):
This committee was created by City Council action during the discussions earlier in the year about the Port Domain Awareness Center (DAC). The goal of the DAC is to improve readiness to prevent, respond to and recover from major emergencies in the Oakland region and ensure better multi-agency coordination across the larger San Francisco Bay Area. The goal of the Privacy and Data Retention Policy is to ensure there are safeguards to protect against potential misuse of the data or violations of individuals’ privacy rights and civil liberties. The meeting is open to the public. For questions about the Ad Hoc Committee, please contact Joe DeVries, Assistant to the City
We need to show up to these meetings and pressure the City to adopt a privacy policy that makes privacy a priority, not only “security” or administrative convenience.
