Weekly Newsletter - February 5, 2018

ACTION ALERT! Stop ICE Raids: Defend Immigrants! Will You Stand with Us?

Donald Trump's deportation force is threatening to conduct huge raids in Northern California. This is nothing less than political repression against sanctuary cities! A coalition of local groups is calling on folks to be prepared to resist ICE and defend our communities.If large-scale raids do happen, we'll hold an emergency action in San Francisco. Sign up at Bay Resistance to receive text alerts and visit this Facebook event page where details will be posted.
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Tuesday, February 6 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm
"The Long Shadow" with Filmmaker Q & A
In this powerful documentary (see the trailer). director Frances Causey investigates the roots of our current racial conflicts. A daughter of the South, Causey and her team passionately seek the hidden truth and untold stories that reveal how the sins of yesterday feed modern prejudice, which burns undiminished despite our seeming progress. By telling individual stories, Causey movingly personalizes the costs of continued inaction.
Location: The New Parkway, 474 24th St, Oakland

Thursday, February 8 • 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Gentrification: A Public Health Crisis
This panel discussion and community dialogue focuses on preserving the culture of Bayview Hunters Point from gentrification, and bringing health and wellness to San Francisco's largest community of African Americans. Bayview Hunters Point Clinic CEO JayVon Muhammad will be joined by local leaders in Black health and social equity.
Location: Bayview Opera House, 4705 3rd St, San Francisco

Saturday, February 10 • 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Racial Justice Story Time
SURJ Bay Area's Youth and Families Committee and Rice and Beans Cooperative will be leading this Racial Justice Story Time which will engage the whole family with books and activities to help start conversations about race and social justice issues. The free event is best suited for kids ages 2-8, but all are welcome. Snacks provided. Please RSVP - space is limited.
Location: Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College, Oakland

Sunday, February 11 • Two sessions: 10:15 am - 1:00 pm & 1:15 - 4:00 pm
SURJ Bystander Intervention Workshops 
We've all been there: someone in a public place says or does something to another person that makes us feel uncomfortable or even scared for that other person. Learn how to intervene in those situations, including tactics from de-escalation strategies to some basic self-defense. This workshop will provide a baseline for reducing harm and acting in effective solidarity with people being harassed or assaulted. Tickets sliding scale $10 - $20.
10:15 am session • 1:15 pm session
Location: Suigetsukan Dojo, 103 International Blvd., Oakland

Thursday, February 15 • 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Building a Movement: A Black Lives Matter Memoir
Author and Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors discusses her new book, When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir, with author asha bandele and Mother Jones reporter Jamilah King.
Location: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission St., San Francisco

Thursday, February 15 • 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Alex Nieto Memorial Fund Dinner
Come to this family event and community fundraiser for a night of delicious food, engaging performances, live auction, and raffles in support of the Alex Nieto Memorial. Organizers hope to break ground in March 2018 in commemoration of Alex's birthday. Be a part of a first memorial celebrating the life of a slain victim of police impunity!
Location: Mission Center, City College, 1125 Valencia St., San Francisco

Thursday, February 15 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Restore the Vote: Overturning Voter Suppression Workshop
This engaging SURJ workshop will provide the context for the Voting Restoration and Democracy Act of 2018, including essential understanding of voter suppression history in the United States and California. Learn concrete actions you can take to help restore voting rights to 162,000 incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated individuals in California. This effort is led by Initiate Justice. Free but please RSVP.
Location: Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont

Sunday, February 18 • 1:30 - 4:00 pm
Colonization and Resistance Panel and Discussion
Puerto Rico. Palestine. Oakland and Berkeley. Three visionary community leaders will speak about the ongoing colonization of these places, and the politics and strategies of Indigenous resistance. Panelists include Puerto Rican leader and former political prisoner Alicia Rodríguez, Ohlone leader Corrina Gould, and Arab Resource and Organizing Center Director Lara Kiswani. Sponsored by Catalyst Project. Sliding scale $0 - $15.
Location: Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland

Tuesday, February 20 • 6:00 - 8:00 pm
All of Us or None FUN-raiser: Sips & Shots for Social Justice
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children/All of Us or None (AUON) will update folks on 2018 campaigns to restore voting rights to everyone in California, to allow people with felony convictions to serve jury duty, and to extend Ban the Box to housing applications statewide. 15% of all drink sales go to AUON to expand organizing of current and formerly incarcerated people and families.
Location: SomaR Bar, 1727 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Wednesday, February 21 • 6:45 - 8:45 pm
Introduction to SURJ Meeting
Want to get involved with SURJ Bay Area? Come learn about our current work and activities! You'll also hear about SURJ's new pathways for entering the work, including Study and Action groups as well as committee work, upcoming workshops, and events. We'll answer your questions and share how you can get involved in the movement for racial justice.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster, Suite 1300, Oakland

Sunday, February 25 • 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Uprooting Racism Workshop with Author Paul Kivel
SURJ Marin is sponsoring this free workshop with SURJ co-founder and author Paul Kivel, who will be presenting material from his book Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Social Justice. The workshop will provide practical tools and advice on how white people can work as allies for racial justice, directly engaging the participants through questions, exercises and suggestions for action.
Location: YWCA, 4380 Redwood Highway, Suite A-1, San Rafael

Campaign to Restore Voting Rights to People in State Prisons and On Parole
Sign up for a shift with SURJ to gather signatures to get the Voting Restoration and Democracy Act (VRDA) on the California ballot in November 2018. The VRDA, spearheaded by Initiate Justice, would restore the right to vote to approximately 160,000 people in state prisons and on parole in California. Once you sign up for a shift, we'll email you a few days beforehand with the name and contact info for your team lead, as well as an exact meet-up location. We'll provide a brief on-the-spot training, but you can also read the 2-page talking points and instructions here. Feel free to bring friends.

Sign the Petition to End Berkeley's Participation in Urban Shield
The Berkeley City Council will vote on whether or not to pull out of Urban Shield in February or March. Help us increase the pressure on the Mayor and City Council to hold them accountable to pulling out and voting against police militarization, racism and xenophobia. Sign the petition and share widely with Berkeley residents!

Defend Community Leader Aunti Frances from Eviction!
Aunti Frances is a beloved Black disabled activist, elder, former Black Panther, and community leader in the North Oakland/South Berkeley community who is facing a no-fault eviction. The community is mobilizing to show the landlords, the Morphy family, that this isn't just a personal issue, but a larger community crisis that we won't allow to happen quietly. Defend Aunti Frances is also using her case to connect to and mobilize support to wider struggles against gentrification and evictions. Follow the campaign here and sign the petition here.

Support Silicon Valley Rising Campaign
SURJ Peninsula Chapter is supporting the Silicon Valley Rising campaign that’s calling on Google to be a good neighbor and make sure its San Jose mega-campus does not displace the diverse communities of San Jose. Silicon Valley Rising is a coalition of labor, faith leaders, community-based organizations and workers in the South Bay. Learn more about the campaign here and sign the letter to Google here.

Drop the Charges Against the #BlackPride4!
The trial begins this week for the #BlackPride4, four activists arrested while peacefully protesting during the Columbus OH Pride Parade last June. They were part of a group of Black trans and queer activists attempting to hold 7 minutes of silence to represent the seven shots that killed Philando Castile. While the #BlackPride4 were being maced and arrested, white folks in the crowd laughed and cheered on the police. SURJ Columbus is asking for support to demand all charges be dropped. Learn more about the campaign and donate 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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