Weekly Newsletter - August 17, 2020

Monday, August 17 & Friday, August 21 • 12:00 – 1:00 pm
SURJ Action Hour
Feeling rage and deep sadness about racism and white supremacy, but not sure what to do? Join SURJ for an hour of action! We'll meet over Zoom on Mondays and Fridays at noon to provide concrete steps you can take—calling elected officials, signing petitions, etc.—to combat racism against Black and Indigenous people and communities of color. Register to reserve your spot! Register here for August 17. Register here for August 21.

Monday, August 17 • 7:00 – 8:30 pm
#YesOnProp17 Kickoff: Restore Voting Rights
Join the virtual campaign kickoff to learn more about the Proposition 17 campaign to restore voting rights for 50,000 Californians who have completed their prison sentence, and how you can contribute to this important work. Featuring special guests Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, author of ACA 6, the legislative effort that put this issue on the ballot, as well as Betty McKay and John Windham, two people who are directly impacted by this issue and will speak on the importance of passing Prop 17. Also featuring live music by DJ Spark. Register here.

Wednesday, August 19 • 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Webinar: Ending the War on Black Trans, GNC, and Intersex People
Join The Movement for Black Lives for a webinar on Ending the War on Black trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex people. This webinar is the first in a series of Black August conversations around the recently relaunched Vision for Black Lives 2020, updated to reflect current conditions and a deepened Black queer trans feminist and disability justice analysis. Let's get into how we will more consistently and authentically work to end racialized , transphobia, and patriarchal violence as part of our movement for Black liberation. Register here.

Friday, August 21 • 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Teaching for Black Lives During the Rebellion
Register to join Teaching for Black Lives co-editors Dyan Watson, Jesse Hagopian, and Wayne Au for an urgent discussion on teaching and organizing for racial and economic justice in our schools during the rebellion. This event is hosted by Rethinking Schools and sponsored by Teaching for Change. Cost is FREE, click here to register for the Zoom link and a 25% Rethinking Schools book and magazine discount code.

Saturday, August 22 • 2:45 – 5:00 pm
Intro to SURJ Virtual Meeting
Interested in learning about how SURJ Bay Area moves white people to act for justice, with passion and accountability, as part of a multi-racial majority? Hear about our current work and activities at this virtual introduction, including SURJ's pathways for engaging in the work such as Study & Action, committee work, upcoming workshops, and events. We'll answer your questions and share how you can get involved in the movement for racial justice. Register today!

Tuesday, August 25 • 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Interrupting White Supremacy at the Root - Part II
This workshop is intended for anyone who is loving, nurturing, caring for, and raising up white children. It is an invitation for participants to root deeply in mutual liberation by developing their capacities to have more meaningful conversations about race, racism, and white supremacy with the children and young people in their lives. In part two of the series, we will be diving into practicing conversations with our kids and teens around racism, oppression, and mutual liberation. Having participated in part one of this workshop is helpful but not required. Register here.


Actions You Can Take This Week!

Read the Latest SURJ Blog Post: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat…” But will Donald Trump Destroy the Postal Service?
Former USPS worker and SURJ activist Felicia Gustin writes of the United States Postal Service's past and present, including its historical and current importance as an employer of Black people, how it is being threatened today, and ways that you can help.

SHARE THE MESSAGE:

Put Up a Black Lives Matter Sign - SURJ has Black Lives Matter lawn and window signs and postcards available for easy pickup in Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, and Menlo Park. These are free but if you want to help cover costs, you can donate here. Grab some for friends and family too! Pickup locations are listed here.

SIGN A PETITION:

Free ‘Em All: Amnesty for Protesters – The Movement for Black Lives demands all charges be dropped against protestors and political prisoners; a full investigation into all allegations of police and federal agent violence; the calling off of Operation Legend and militarization of police; all law enforcement agencies including ICE and CBP must stop arresting protestors; and passage of the BREATHE Act to divest from and end militarized policing. Learn more and sign the petition here.

Divest from Police Foundations – Police foundations are private, corporate-sponsored groups that enable cops to terrorize Black people. They supplement police budgets outside of public oversight. They give cops weapons to “test” on Black and Brown communities. And they’re funded by some of the largest corporations in the world. Help take the Color of Change campaign to the next level and demand that these corporations divest from police foundations now.

Pressure UPS, Ford, and Humana to support Justice for Breonna – Three companies with large Louisville offices—UPS, Ford Motor Company, and Humana—employ more than 50,000 of the area's residents. Each one's executives have expressed some support for the Black Lives Matter movement, but have stopped short of demanding justice for Breonna. These companies have a lot of power over public life in Louisville. Sign this petition to demand that their executives take a stand and push for the firing, arrest, and charging of the LMPD officers who murdered Breonna Taylor.

SUPPORT LEGISLATION:

Help Pass the CA Racial Justice Act – It is time to fight back and address racial discrimination with the California Racial Justice Act, AB254. The Racial Justice Act asserts civil rights in the courtroom and prohibits the state from using discriminating means to seek or obtain a conviction or sentence. Click here to take action by writing your senator and urging them to vote yes on AB254.

Support the BREATHE Act on Social Media – In early July, the Electoral Project of the Movement for Black Lives introduced a visionary bill, the BREATHE Act, which will divest our taxpayer dollars from brutal, discriminatory policing and invest in a new vision of safety and justice: a vision that allows all people to thrive and be represented and free. Publicly support the BREATHE Act today by posting on your social media platforms. You can find examples and graphics in this toolkit.

JOIN OUR LEGISLATIVE ACTION LIST:

Join SURJ Bay Area's Legislative Action List to receive alerts to call your policymakers! You'll receive your policymaker's contact info and a script when we need to advocate for racial justice bills for things like police brutality, mass incarceration, and housing justice. All you will have to do is make a phone call—it'll just take 5 minutes!

DONATE:

Support SURJ - Do you work in a major corporation or know someone who does? Many big companies participate in the Benevity giving program. Employees can donate to SURJ Bay Area and the company will match the donation. Call in your friends and colleagues to show up for racial justice by donating to SURJ Bay Area through Benevity and DOUBLING the amount of the donation!

Support the San Francisco Bay View Newspaper – The SF Bay View is a historic Black-led and prisoner-led newspaper that covers worldwide racial inequality and political repression. This valuable resource, published daily online and monthly in print, is the only newspaper read widely both inside and outside prison. All donations will be used to keep the paper in print.

SURJ Bay Area Chapter - Join us! Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. Learn more at www.surjbayarea.org. SURJ Bay Area is one of 150 chapters and affiliates nationwide. Learn about SURJ National and our mission, vision, and values HERE.

Want to support our work? You can make a donation for SURJ's organizing and educational efforts with over half of what we raise going to Black and people of color-led partner organizations. Make a one-time donation or become a monthly sustainer HERE. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Follow SURJ Bay Area on Social Media: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Bay Area c/o PO Box 22748, Oakland CA 94609