Weekly Newsletter - January 15, 2018

Today! Monday, January 15 • 1:00 - 4:00 pm
4th Annual March to Reclaim King's Radical Legacy
Join SURJ and the coalition of groups under the leadership of the Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) for the culmination of #96Hours of direct action to reclaim King's radical legacy. For the 4th year in a row, folks are standing in solidarity and saying no to white supremacy, no to state-sponsored violence, no to development over people, no to misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, no to the targeting of immigrants and Muslims.
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If you'd like to march with the SURJ Contingent, meet at 12:30 pm at Walgreens at the corner of 14th and Broadway (1333 Broadway). If you're not able to arrive early, look for SURJ at the back of the march. We have banners and signs but feel free to bring your own. Invite your family and friends to join us! #96Hours #WeWillNotComply #ReclaimMLK
Location: Oscar Grant Plaza, 14th St. & Broadway, Oakland • More info

And before the march, there's this event for families, children, and youth:
Monday, January 15 • 9:00 - 12:15 am
Reclaim MLK Youth Teach-in
This Teach-In will be led by youth and youth workers for children of all ages and will be an opportunity for families to honor the histories of Black and Indigenous resistance and #NonCompliance against state-sponsored violence. Following the Teach-In, those who can and want to, will join the March to Reclaim King's Radical Legacy. Come to educate and empower our young activists and to be in community on this powerful day of action.
Location: Lincoln Square Park, 261 11th St, Oakland • More info/RSVP
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Monday Jan. 16th, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Transportation GentriFUKation of Oakland - Press Conference and Rally
Transit projects often go unnoticed as forms of gentrification, but they have a huge impact throughout Oakland. At this press conference, poor, unhoused, and working class youth and family residents of East Oakland will release the results of their research on the funding sources, cover-up, and plans of this new transportation gentrification hitting Deep East Oakland.
Location: Oscar Grant/Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th and Broadway, Oakland • More info

Tuesday, January 16 • 5:00 - 7:00 pm
SURJ Faith Training Call: We Have Always Done It This Way
This SURJ Faith webinar, featuring Jessica Vazquez Torres and Emily Drew from Crossroads Anti-Racism Training, seeks to identify how white supremacy culture is baked into faith/spiritual institutions. Participants will explore white supremacy culture and how its patterns show up in religious institutions, particularly Christian ones, and look at strategies religious institutions can adopt to disrupt the hold white supremacy culture has on them. Free but you must register. More Info/Register

Thursday, January 18 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm 
The End of Policing
The Center for Political Education and Critical Resistance present internationally-renowned expert on alternatives to policing, Alex Vitale, who will discuss his new book, The End of Policing, which shows how the expansion of police authority is inconsistent with community empowerment, social justice — even public safety. Drawing on groundbreaking research from across the world, Vitale demonstrates how law enforcement has come to exacerbate the very problems it is supposed to solve.
Location: Mission Center, City College of San Francisco, 1125 Valencia St, San Francisco • More info
There will also be a book discussion of The End of Policing with Alex Vitale on Friday, January 19 • 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Diesel Books, 5433 College Ave. Oakland • More info

Saturday, January 20 • 1:00 - 3:30 pm
March with the J20 Resisters in the S.F. Women’s March
On the 1 year anniversary of the inauguration day protests that led to the criminalization of 11 local activists, the J20 Resisters and supporters will form a Radical Contingent to march for justice. Gather at 1 pm and wear teal or turquoise. Let's march and demand that DA Gascon drop the charges against our community activists!
Location: Meet at S.F. City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl. San Francisco • More info

Thursday, January 25 • 6:00 - 8:00 pm
People on the Move: Conversations on Forced Migration
This community conversation on global forced migration features Lara Kiswani of Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Cathi Tactaquin of National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights, Elsadig Elshiekh of Haas Institute for a Fair & Inclusive Society. The event is moderated by Gerald Lenoir and Nunu Kidane of Priority Africa Network. Artwork by Melanie Cervantes of Dignidad Rebelde is featured.
Location: The Washington Inn, 495 10th St., Oakland • More info

Thursday, January 25 • 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Hear Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Patrice Cullors Speak
Los Angeles-based activist and civil rights leader, Patrisse Cullors, will speak on the occasion of her new book release, When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir, co-written with award-winning author and journalist asha bandele, who will also appear. The powerful and inspiring evening, to benefit KPFA, will be moderated by KPFA UpFront co-host and APTP co-founder Cat Brooks. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
Location: First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland • More info/Tickets

Sunday, January 28 • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
SURJ Difficult Dialogues Workshop
How do we approach the challenging conversations in our lives, whether it’s about confederate flags, Donald Trump, cultural appropriation, Palestine/Israel, or even just racism and racial justice in general? This workshop is an opportunity to dive in much deeper with structured time to practice a range of difficult conversations around highly-charged racial issues. We will be sharing some basic skill-building tools in how to approach conversations, and then explore scenarios relevant to the lives of participants. Tickets are sliding scale $15 - $25. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster St. Suite 1300, Oakland • More info

Thursday, February 1 • 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Restore the Vote: Overturning Voter Suppression Workshop
This workshop will provide the context for the Voting Restoration & 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: Warehouse, 955 7th St., Oakland • More info/RSVP

Tuesday, February 6 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm
"The Long Shadow" with Filmmaker Q & A
In this powerful documentary, 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 and the stakes of continued inaction. See the trailer here.
Location: The New Parkway, 474 24th St, Oakland • More info/Tickets

Sunday, February 11 • Two sessions: 10:15 am - 1:00 pm and 1:15 - 4:00 pm
SURJ Bystander Intervention Workshop 
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 are sliding scale $10 - $20. No one turned away for lack of funds. For ticket requests or questions, contact basebuilding@surjbayarea.org.
Location: Suigetsukan Dojo, 103 International Blvd., Oakland • Info on 10:15 session  Info on 1:15 session

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 • More info

​Join the 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 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!

Justice for Kayla Moore
Kayla Moore, a Black trans woman with a mental health diagnosis, was killed by Berkeley police in 2013. Four years later, her family and community are still working to hold the City of Berkeley and Berkeley police accountable with a civil suit. Pack the court (check Facebook for updates) to support the Moore family and demand an end to the criminalization of and violence against Black, trans, and disabled people. You can also sign up for Text Alerts - text justice4kayla to 33222 to receive up to 8 updates a month. More info

Black Lives Matter Signs Available at Marcus Books
SURJ's Black Lives Matter window signs are now available at Marcus Books, an historic Black-owned independent bookstore that, since 1960, has specialized in titles by and about Black people. Pick up your window sign and shop for books for children, teens, and adults. Net proceeds from sign sales go to Black Lives Matter Bay Area. Marcus Bookstore is located at 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland. More info

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 HERE or become a monthly sustainer HERE. Contributions are tax-deductible.