weekly newsletter - august 24, 2020

Monday, August 24 & Friday, August 28 • 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. (Closed captioning will be available in the mail room of Action Hour calls.) Register to reserve your spot! Register here for August 24. Register here for August 28.

Monday, August 24 • 5:00 – 6:00 pm
SURJ National TV Premier: White Women on Defunding the Police
Join SURJ National this Monday night for the launch of “The Get Together” — a new online TV show where we talk about race and racism today and what it has to do with white people’s struggle to keep food on the table and pay their bills. Co-host Evelyn is a single mama from a small town in North Carolina and Chanelle is a former sex worker and the daughter of a poor teenage mom. Both of them came from families that know what it’s like not to have enough. Watch via Facebook.

Tuesday, August 25 • 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Volunteer for Yes on Prop 15, Schools & Communities First: Phonebank
Support Prop 15/Schools & Communities First - phonebank with SURJ Bay Area! Passing Prop 15 will reclaim resources from corporations who haven't been paying their fair share of property taxes and move $12 billion a year to schools and local community services, particularly in communities of color. There is a massive coalition of groups led by people of color championing Prop 15. SURJ is mobilizing our base to be a part of this critical campaign and we need you! Join a SURJ-hosted phonebank to talk with voters about how passing Prop 15 is a critical racial justice issue. No experience required, just sign up and we will train and support you at one of our fun and inspiring phonebank events! Can't come on the 25th? Join us September 2nd or September 8th instead!

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.

Wednesday, August 26 • 1:00 pm
ACCE Rally in Sacramento: Stop Evictions!
Experts warn that over 5 million Californians could face eviction if state lawmakers fail to take action next week! Do you want to help push for laws that will keep more people from being evicted? The courts are set to reopen for the processing of new evictions on September 2nd. The State Legislature ends its session August 31st. Who will stop mass evictions? Please join the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment(ACCE) for a socially distanced action in Sacramento to demand state leaders take action! Masks are required; face shields provided upon request. More information here.

Thursday, September 3 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Lies Our Country Told Us: Monuments, Mascots, & Racist Objects
Register for this SpeakOut webinar with celebrated historians, authors, and educators David Pilgrim (founder/curator of the Jim Crow Museum), and James Loewen (Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your High School History Textbook Got Wrong and other books). They’ll discuss their lifelong work uncovering the truth around monuments, mascots, artifacts, and objects. This crucial conversation will be moderated by scholar, historian, and filmmaker John Little (Dakota). Tickets sliding scale $5 - $25. Register to watch live or later.

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.

LISTEN TO A PODCAST:

The Word is Resistance: a SURJ Faith Podcast – For the next several months on the podcast, we’re thinking with you about freedom. We are asking: What does it mean to be free? What does it even take to be free? Is freedom individual or collective? What do we need to be free *from*? What do we need to be free *for*? Listen here and subscribe through your podcast platform.

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; a halt to all arrests of protesters by all law enforcement agencies including ICE and CBP; 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.

DONATE:

Support Prop 17: Voting Rights for People on Parole – Join our partner orgs in supporting prop 17 on the Nov. ballot and restore voting rights to an estimated 50,000 people on parole in CA. Volunteer to get the word out, and make a tax-deductible donation to the campaign.

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!

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