Weekly Newsletter - February 11, 2019

Monday, February 11 & Tuesday February 12 • 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Tenants' Rights Volunteer Training
Do you want to be a part of the fight for housing justice? Tenants Together, a statewide organization for renters' rights, is looking for new volunteers to support tenants across the state in rising up against real estate speculation, greed and injustice. Join their crew of volunteers as a hotline counselor, researcher, outreach, or organizing volunteer and get trained on tenants’ rights! Now more than ever, they need volunteers to support the fight against federal and state policies that put our elderly, LGBTQIA, Black and Brown, undocumented, disabled, and working class communities at risk of displacement. To volunteer, fill out this form.
Location: 474 Valencia St #156, San Francisco

Tuesday, February 12 • 5:30 pm
Demand the Dixie School District Change the Name
The Dixie School District in San Rafael was named after the confederacy by the Marin County Board of Supervisors during the Civil War, in 1863, when six million human beings were enslaved in this country. Since 1997, residents have been fighting to change the name for equity and inclusion. Come to this critical Dixie School Board meeting where they will be hearing public comments and voting on the name change. Add your name to the growing list of supporters here. More info on actions you can take here.
Location: Miller Creek Middle School gymnasium, 2256 Las Gallinas Ave. San Rafael

Thursday, February 14 • 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Love Letters for Liberation
Join GABRIELA Oakland on this Valentine's Day for 1 Billion Rising to rise against all forms of violence against women. This year we highlight the political and economic violence women face within the prison industrial complex. We will write letters, make art, dance, and connect as a form of resistance. 10% of drink sales will go directly to women in prison in the Philippines on trumped up political charges and local organizations supporting incarcerated women along with the letters and art that we create.
Location: 7th West Bar, 1255 7th St, Oakland

Sunday, February 17 • 1:30 – 5:30 pm
Morality, Christianity, and the History of Policing
In this interactive workshop, we will take a deep dive into both the actual history of policing and the narratives and ideologies that have shaped it. Content will include viewing and discussion of segments from two webinars through SURJ Faith, one offered by Andrea Ritchie, a Black lesbian immigrant and police misconduct attorney and organizer, and one offered by SoulForce, an LGBTQI organization that sabotages Christian Supremacy through radical analysis, spiritual healing and strategic direct action. By donation; no one turned away for lack of funds. More info.
Location: First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland

Sunday, February 17 • 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Black Women in the Movement w/ Cat Brooks and Mama Akua Njeri
The birthplace of freedom fighter Chairman Fred Hampton is being targeted for foreclosure. Join Community Ready Corps (Allies) to hear Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., Mama Akua Njerin and Cat Brooks as part of #BlackSolidarityWeek. Learn about the assassination of Chairman Fred Hampton Sr. and the work of the Chicago Black Panther Party today. $5-$80 sliding scale tickets will benefit the Save The Hampton House nonprofit. Childcare and interpretation for Spanish and ASL provided by reservation. Tickets here and more info here.
Location: First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland

Sunday, February 24 • 2:00 – 4:30 pm
Catalyst Project: Visionaries Panel & Discussion
From Hawaii to New York and beyond, Indigenous people are leading and winning fights to protect people, the planet and what is sacred. Come to this Catalyst Project event featuring visionaries who have been organizing at the forefront of these movements, from Ohlone territories in Oakland, to Standing Rock to Bayou Bridge. Panelists include Corrina Gould (Chochenyo-Ohlone) and Mark Tilsen (Oglala Lakota), among others. Sliding scale donation of $0 - $15 suggested. More info.
Location: Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland

Sunday February 24 • 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Workshop: Pursuing Racial Justice: Uprooting White Supremacy Culture
SURJ Contra Costa County invites you to free workshop led by longtime anti-racism educator and SURJ co-founder Paul Kivel. Paul is the author of Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice. Drawing on the frameworks of interpersonal, institutional, structural and cultural racism, Paul will present practical tools and advice on how people can work for racial justice, directly engaging participants through questions, exercises, and suggestions for action.
Location: Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Rd. Walnut Creek

Saturday, March 9 • 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
International Working Women's Day March & Festival
Members of GABRIELA Oakland and our allies invite you to join us for a Rally, March & Festival to commemorate the 111th International Working Women's Day anniversary in honor of the first women strikers in 1908. Join us as we RISE, RESIST, and UNITE to build our collective Resistance here and abroad! This will be a family friendly march and celebration that will be accessible for children, elders, and people with disabilities.
Location: Fruitvale Village, Oakland

Sunday, March 10 • 2:00 – 4:30 pm
From Family Separation to Solidarity: What We Need to Know (and Do)
This workshop will address the history of family separation in the U.S, the core reasons families migrant from Central America to the U.S. and the many ways white people can be effective and accountable in supporting organizing for migrant justice. The central focus is to provide an understanding of how white supremacy impacts immigration historically and today. This workshop was designed specifically for white people who want to understand how white supremacy impacts current immigration policies separating families and the ways to take effective and accountable action.  Sliding scale donation of $5 - $25 suggested. More info.
Location: Berkeley Public Library Main Branch, 2090 Kittredge St, Berkeley

Thursday, March 14 • 6:45 – 9:00 pm
Intro to SURJ Meeting
SURJ moves white people to act for justice, with passion and accountability, as part of a multi-racial majority. Want to get involved? Come learn about our current work and activities. You'll hear about SURJ's pathways for entering the work, including committee work, workshops, and events. Please RSVP - space is limited.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster St. Suite 1300, Oakland

Support the Upcoming Oakland Teachers Strike
Oakland teachers are preparing for a strike to fight for the schools their students deserve: for a new contract with smaller class sizes, more student support, and a living wage for teachers. In preparation for the strike, Bread for Ed is organizing meal donations and distribution to the 3,000 OEA members and 37,000 students, many of whom are low income students of color who rely on free or reduced lunches that won't be available during the strike. Sign up to support and volunteer here.
Show Up for Native Sovereignty and Against Settler Colonialism

The harassment that Omaha elder Nathan Phillips faced at the Indigenous People’s March in Washington DC on January 18 highlights the need for white people to do the work of addressing settler colonialism and working for native sovereignty. SURJ’s Indigenous Solidarity Working Group has been compiling resources to support this work. Here are some highlights on the most recent incident with the mostly young white men from Covington Catholic High School: more background and videos of the event, pieces that highlight Phillips’ voice are here and here. Donate to the Native Youth Alliance via PayPal at NativeYouthAlliance@gmail.com.

Support Immigrant Families Affected by Recent Fires
People who have suffered due to the most recent California fires still need our support, especially our most vulnerable neighbors - particularly immigrant community members, day laborers, and domestic workers. While others may be able to receive FEMA aid, undocumented status prevents many immigrants from getting the help they need when they're forced from their homes. Support immigrant families by making a donation to 805 UndocuFund Fire Relief.

Help Pass Key Legislation - Sign Up for Our Legislative Action List
One of the key ways that we support our People of Color-led partner organizations and the pieces of legislation they are working on is by getting SURJ members to flood their representatives with calls at key moments in the legislative cycle. Please sign up at this link to join our list to make phone calls during the most important weeks of the legislative year. By signing on to this list, you will get periodic action alerts asking you to make calls to your local legislators. We'll provide all the information--we just need your commitment and energy.

Upcoming SURJ National Webinars

Tuesday, February 26 • 5pm Understanding Anti-Semitism and its Intersections with White Supremacy and White Nationalism
This webinar with Sonia Alexander and Talia Cooper is aimed at strengthening our collective movements for liberation. Our goals are to enable people to recognize anti-semitism, learn how antisemitism intersects with white supremacy and white nationalism, and develop a shared commitment to ending anti-semitism alongside all oppressions. Register here.

Wednesday, March 13 • 5pm Understanding and Organizing to End Racial Capitalism
SURJ works to undermine white support for racism and broaden the base of white folks showing up for racial justice as part of a powerful multi-racial movement for transformative change. But what about this unjust economic system? How does racism help keep capitalism in place? What examples do we have of poor and working class white people and people of color joining together to challenge an unjust system? Join a conversation with leading activist scholar Robin DG Kelley on what racislized capitalism means for our work and how class impacts white people's role in the fight to end oppression. Register here.

Solidarity with the Unist'ot'en Camp in British Columbia
International solidarity continues to grow for the Unist'ot'en Camp, north of Vancouver, British Columbia, where Coastal Gas Link/TransCanada hopes to construct a 670-kilometer fracked gas pipeline pipeline - without the permission of the Wet'suwet'en peoples. The courts are siding with big oil, going against Canada’s commitment to honor the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People. The Camp and their allies are asking supporters of Indigenous rights and climate justice to contact the political leaders of Canada and the province of British Columbia right now here. Get updates here.

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.

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