Weekly Newsletter - February 3, 2020

Thank you for your support!  
During SURJ's end-of-year fundraising campaign, #12DaysToShowUp, we raised more than $53,000 from 431 donors! This means we're sending some $4000 to each of 13 local, Black, Indigenous, and people of color-led partner organizations. We are so grateful for all your contributions, big and small! Still want to donate? Click here.

FEATURED EVENT! Saturday February 8 • 7:00 – 9:30 pm
All Are Welcome: Migrant Solidarity from the Border to the Bay
As the Trump administration escalates its xenophobic war in the Middle East, it continues its brutal war on immigrants. Thousands of migrants await justice in shelters, border camps, and private detention facilities across the U.S and México. In spite of the inhumane immigration policies, people are still arriving at the border seeking asylum and 25,000 migrants are waiting in Mexico to begin their asylum process. Find out how you can support asylum-seekers! Join the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), the Interfaith Movement 4 Human Integrity (IM4HI), and SURJ Bay Area for an evening of sharing, solidarity and action. Tickets $10 - $25 - no one turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds benefit Al Otro Lado.
Location: South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. Berkeley

Tuesday, February 4 • 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Attend the Official Book Launch of We Keep Us Safe
Despite the United States’ long-standing tradition of aggressive policing and imprisonment, we still don’t feel safe. Now a new book from Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Zach Norris, offers an alternative vision. His book lays out a radical way to shift the conversation about public safety away from fear and punishment toward growth and support systems for our families and communities. Attend the official book launch of We Keep Us Safe: Building Secure, Just, and Inclusive Communities. The event features music, food, and special guests. Books will be available for sale and the author will be signing copies.
Location: Restore Oakland, 1419 34th Ave. Oakland

Wednesday, February 5 • 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Building a Movement to Stop the War
Join the Anti-War Working Group, a project of the Center for Political Education, for an emergency teach-in against U.S. war and militarism. Speakers from the Iraqi Transnational Collective, Catalyst Project, AROC, and BAYAN USA will discuss the global context for the current escalation with Iran and how U.S. intervention and militarism affects movements for social justice here at home. You also learn what you can do to take action against US war-making.
Location: Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison St. Oakland

Saturday, February 8 • 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Showing Up for Racial Justice Through the Power of Public Policy
Join SURJ Bay Area’s Policy Committee for a legislative strategy session and workshop that will demystify the legislative process, build our collective legislative capacity, and highlight the legislative priorities and strategies of SURJ’s people of color-led partners. This workshop is the first of a two-part series (the 2nd workshop is on Feb. 22) for anyone who is passionate, curious, or wants to learn more about the ways that policy combined with grassroots organizing can be used as a tool in the movement for racial justice and collective liberation. Also hear from Kristine Boyd, Community Organizer at Initiate Justice, on their 2020 legislative campaign. Tickets $0 - $10 to benefit Initiate Justice. (Also, join us for part 2 of this workshop on February 22!)
Location: YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley

Saturday, February 8 • 2:00 - 4:00 pm
SURJ Marin Workshop: Conversations from the Heart
Have you found yourself involved in challenging conversations with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers about race? Join SURJ Marin for a skills-building workshop on how to have effective conversations with friends, family members, and co-workers. when the subject of race arises. Whether you’d like to share your interest in racial justice, discuss what it means to ‘take a knee’ during the national anthem, or engage in conversation about our country’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, you'll come away with tools to respond and engage through deep listening, finding common ground, and speaking from the heart. Tickets $15 - no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Location: Community Congregational Church, 145 Rock Hill Road, Tiburon

Sunday, February 9 • 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Beating Back White Supremacy at the Ballot Box and Beyond
Are you struggling to figure out how to engage in the 2020 elections? Are you wanting to understand the importance of the 2020 election, rooted in longer-term racial justice movements? Are you looking to connect with local organizations and other people doing electoral work with a long-term vision? Do you want to feel inspired to go out and beat white supremacy at the ballot box and beyond? Join Catalyst and Bay Resistance for a day-long workshop on understanding race and the 2020 elections - what's at stake and what we can do about it. Tickets $0 - $50. Space is limited.
Location: Oakstop - upstairs, 1721 Broadway St, Oakland

Monday, February 10 • 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Intro to SURJ San Francisco
The San Francisco chapter of SURJ invites you to join them to learn more about how you can show up for racial justice in the city. Learn about SURJ’s organizing principles and philosophy and some of the paths you might take to go deeper into this work to move white people to act responsibly as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. Lots of work to do in San Francisco and you are needed!
Location: Alley Cat Books, 3036 24th St. San Francisco

February 13 • 5:00 – 6:30 pm
SURJ Webinar: No Fascist USA!
We are excited to announce another webinar in the SURJ "Connecting the Dots" series. Authors Hilary Moore (a SURJ Leadership Team Member) and James Tracy will discuss their new book, No Fascist USA! The John Brown Anti-Klan Committee and Lessons for Today's Movements. The authors will share the story of how a national grassroots network fought a resurgence of the KKK and other fascist groups during the Reagan years, laying the groundwork for today's anti-fascist and anti-racist movements. See the video trailer for the book. Click here to register. For more information, and to invite your friends, click here.

Wednesday, February 19 • 6:45 – 9:00 pm
Intro to SURJ Meeting
Want to get involved with SURJ Bay Area? Come learn about our current work and activities. SURJ moves white people to act for justice, with passion and accountability, as part of a multi-racial majority. You'll will hear about SURJ's pathways for entering the work, including Study and Action groups as well as committee work, upcoming workshops, and events. There will also be a speaker from the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), a SURJ partner and a grassroots organization that, through direct services, advocacy, and organizing, aims to equip Arab communities with tools to challenge state violence and fight for dignity and liberation here and in their homelands.
Location: Movement Strategy Center, 436 14th St. Suite 500, Oakland

Saturday, February 22 • 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Showing Up for Racial Justice Through the Power of Public Policy: Part 2
Join SURJ Bay Area’s Policy Committee for part two of our 2020 legislative workshop series! (Part 1 is here) Workshop participants can expect to learn about lobby visits and how they fit into SURJ’s larger framework, hear about new opportunities to engage in the legislative process with SURJ, practice speaking about policy to a legislative staffer, and hear from Ella Baker Center on their 2020 policy priorities. This is the second workshop of a two part series. Attendance at the first workshop is not necessary to attend but may be helpful. Tickets $0 - $10.
Location: YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley

Saturday, February 22 • 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Dialogue: Talking with Kids about Race and Racism
Come out for a conversation about talking with kids about reparations and accountability and what Indigenous, Black and other families of color need in the pursuit of justice. Keynote speakers Alison Collins, Gabriela López, and Mariposa will explore these issues, and then participants will continue in groups facilitated by Teachers 4 Social Justice. Presented by S.F. Public Library with community partners that include Abundant Beginnings and SURJ SF. Children’s programming and childcare facilitated by Abundant Beginnings and Bay Area Childcare Collective. Free childcare available with advance registration. Learn more here.
Location: Koret Auditorium, Main S.F. Public Library, 100 Larkin St. San Francisco

Sunday, February 23 • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Antidotes to White Fragility
What skills, tools, and approaches are useful in encouraging white people to sustain balanced engagement with anti-racism/racial justice education and work? How can we cultivate resilience (as opposed to white fragility) in ourselves, our communities, and our movements? This SURJ workshop will explore these questions and explore the role of the body, community, spirituality, intellectual knowledge, and other themes that you bring from your experience. Sliding Scale: $15-$85. No one turned away for lack of funds. This popular workshop fills quickly so pre-registration required.  Learn more and get tickets.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster St. Suite 1300, Oakland

Support Arab Youth: Save Ethnic Studies
California is about to make an incredibly consequential decision about what kind of state we are. Will it institute an ethnic studies curriculum that uplifts the stories of all communities of color or reject one that includes Arab Americans — bending to the desires of pro-Israel groups who simply don't agree? Under tremendous pressure, the fate of Arab Americans in our textbooks is currently being decided upon by our state electeds. But if we act now — making our demands for inclusion and justice clear — we can still save ethnic studies in our state and set a historic precedent for the country. Learn more and send a letter to your representative here.

End U.S. War and Militarism in Iran!
How we can prevent the Trump regime from launching full scale overt war against Iran? SURJ Affiliate Catalyst Project has provided a great frame to better understand what’s happening in this moment, and Organizing Upgrade is providing analysis and strategy framing. National SURJ is making the links between war and white supremacy, noting that police departments across the country are using this act of aggression to further justify violence, surveillance, and profiling towards Iranians, Iraqis, Palestinians, and people who appear to be Arab, Middle Eastern, and/or Muslim. We must be vigilant and prepare to act: Here are some helpful resources:
• Catalyst Project’s study guide: “No War-No Sanctions”
• Statement from Justice Before Peace, a Black and POC-led anti-militarist organization  
• MPower Change petition to Congress against war with Iran (please sign and share)
Support Moms 4 Housing and Build a Movement

After their heavily-militarized eviction and then winning the right to buy their home, Moms 4 Housing are raising funds to build a movement to reclaim vacant homes from predatory big banks and real estate speculators to house homeless mothers and children. No one should be homeless while investor-owned homes sit empty. There are four times as many empty homes in Oakland as there are people without homes. Some of these people are children. Make a donation to support the movement. To get updates, send a text to (510) 800-7810.

Read the Latest SURJ Blog, "Manufactured Dissent"
Read local journalist Davey D's take on Moms 4 Housing and the pushback we heard throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Many are wondering how and why so many people who are seemingly on or close to the societal, economic and political margins, came out riding hard for a multi-million corporation with a sordid, distasteful reputation? Why were so many people protecting a company that for the most part has not been friendly and altruistic to Black folks, especially those facing gentrification? The answer is simple… What we saw is a shining example of what is often dubbed "Manufactured Dissent." Read the full post here.

Show Your Solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Nation
Stand in solidarity with the people of the Wet’suwet’en nation in British Columbia, Canada, as they resist -- through Unist’ot’en Camp and Gitdumt’en Checkpoint -- the Coastal Gaslink (CGL) pipeline project, an unwelcome and illegal encroachment on Indigenous lands. CGL is pushing through a 670-kilometer fracked gas pipeline that would go from Dawson Creek, B.C. to a processing plant in the coastal town of Kitimat. Demand Canada and British Columbia stop trampling on Indigenous rights in favor of private oil and gas interests and the criminalization of land defenders. Find out more about this important Indigenous struggle here and learn what you can do - get the Wet’suwet’en Supporter Toolkit.

Boycott 24-Hour Fitness and Affirm the Value of Black Lives
This past Friday marked the one year anniversary of the police killing of Albert Ramon Dorsey at a Hollywood 24-Hour Fitness after a gym employee called the police on him. We’re lifting up Black Lives Matter Los Angeles’ #Boycott24 campaign which demands accountability, cultural competency trainings for employees, and developing alternatives to calling the police. The company responded with complete dismissal and disregard to two lives lost (Dennis Todd Rogers was also killed at a 24-Hour Fitness), to their grieving families, and to community concerns. BLMLA is asking people to cancel your membership at 24-Hour Fitness in the name of #AlbertRamonDorsey and call the gym’s corporate headquarters - 925-543-3100 - and tell them you support #BlackLivesMatter’s demands.

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