Weekly Newsletter - July 6, 2020

Monday, July 6 & Friday, July 10 • 12:00 – 1:00 pm
SURJ Action Hour
Want to do something about police brutality but not sure what to do? Join us at lunchtime on Monday and/or Friday to take immediate action and build community. We’ll meet over Zoom to provide concrete steps you can take — calling elected officials, signing petitions, etc. — to demand an end to police violence against Black people and other communities of color. Sessions fill quickly, so register here to reserve your spot!

Monday July 6 – Sunday, July 19
S.F. Mime Troupe Production, "Freedomland" On Demand
Using high-energy theater and music, the S.F. Mime Troupe brings to the internet its stage production of FREEDOMLAND, the story of the lengths a Black man will go to in order to keep his grandson safe and alive in a country that seems to prefer Black men in jail or dead. Pulling no punches while still managing to be comedic, FREEDOMLAND is a brutal, tragic, yet in the Mime Troupe tradition, sardonic look at the results of the War on Drugs, how fear is used as a weapon of racial oppression, and how police violence destroys Black lives in our police state. Suggested donation $10 but pay whatever you can afford. See trailer here.

Saturday, July 11 • 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Intervention & White Nationalism: a CRCAA Webinar
Emboldened by Trump's election and agitated by the COVID-19 crisis, white nationalists with genocidal aspirations against Black, Muslim, and immigrant people are recruiting, organizing, and advancing an extreme right-wing agenda. In this webinar, we’ll look at the U.S.' founding as a white nationalist project, examine how this movement has changed over the past century (particularly in the last 5 years), and study its messaging and tactics. Our goal is to increase white people’s collective capacity to intervene against white supremacist activity in our communities, and counter-organize our folks for racial justice and a peaceful future. Sponsored by Community Ready Corps Allies & Accomplices (CRCAA). Learn more and register here.

Tuesday, July 14 • 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Workshop - Interrupting White Supremacy at the Root
SURJ Bay Area offers this workshop for anyone who is loving, nurturing, caring for, and raising up white children. It is an invitation for participants to root more 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. By utilizing new frames, prompts, and self-reflection, this workshop will empower us to step into the everyday conversations needed to recognize and name racial injustice, develop positive racial identities, and use this knowledge to interrupt systemic inequities. Free but please register.  Click here for more information and tickets.

Wednesday, July 15 • 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Workshop - Difficult Conversations About Race and White Supremacy
How do we approach difficult conversations in our lives around racism and other systems of oppression, and specifically those arising in relation to the current uprising? What frameworks, tools, and interventions can support us to stay grounded and present as we connect with friends, family, and others about challenging topics? Using small and large group discussion, body-based awareness practices, and role play, we will practice together to build skills that can stay with us, especially as we support others in taking action. This online workshop will be facilitated by the White Noise Collective. Sliding scale: $15 - $85. More information & register here.

Wednesday, July 15 • 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Defund OPD Virtual Townhall for Community Input
The Oakland City Council and Administration have committed to a 50% decrease in the Oakland Police Department’s budget next year. To get there, we need a transition plan that is informed and lead by the community. Join Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) and the Defund the Police Coalition, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Causa Justa::Just Cause, and other groups to discuss what needs to be defunded from police, what alternative response models look like, and who should be on the transition team, among other questions. Let's dream together and make those dreams a reality for Oakland!

July 21 - September 3 • Weekly Meetings • 6:30 – 9:30 pm
SURJ Study & Action 6-Week Online Series
Are you looking for a learning community to challenge racism? Do you want to learn more so that you can become a resource for your community? Would you like to find out how to take action locally and be accountable? Join us online as we examine white supremacy and resistance movements to build skills to challenge racism and take action in our communities. Through weekly reading and facilitated groups, we study the histories and systems of that which we resist, we deepen our understanding of injustice, and learn to take strategic, effective action to dismantle white supremacy and support Black and people of color-led organizations fighting for for racial justice. Study & Action is free, but you must RSVP for your choice of 1 of 3 days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays). Space is limited.

Wednesday, July 29 • 6:45 – 9:00 pm
Intro to SURJ Virtual Meeting
Feeling anger and sadness about the continued killings of Black people by the police and vigilantes, and don't know what to do? Come learn about SURJ Bay Area at a virtual introductory meeting and find out how SURJ moves white people to act for justice, with passion and accountability, as part of a multi-racial majority. Hear about our current work and activities including SURJ's pathways for engaging in the work such as Study & Action, committee work, upcoming workshops, and events. We'll answer your questions and share how you can get involved in the movement for racial justice. Register today!

Actions You Can Take This Week!

SIGN A PETITION:

Tell the Washington Football Team and NFL: Native Americans are #NotYourMascot! Native Americans and allies have been fighting to have the DC team's dehumanizing name changed for years. Now, in the face of anti-racism protests and the removal of statues and other symbols of white supremacy, the pressure is on to remove the Washington football team's racist name and logo. Sign the petition here.

Justice for Breonna – Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman and award-winning EMT was in her home in Louisville, KY, on March 13th when Louisville Metro Police officers barged in without a warning, fired off more than 20 bullets, and ultimately took Breonna’s life. To date, only 1 of the 3 officers who killed Breonna has been fired. Sign this petition to demand that ALL the officers responsible are not only fired, but arrested and charged for her murder.

Demand Peralta Community College District terminate its contract with the Sheriff's Office – Students and faculty wrote this petition to demand that the Chancellor and Board of Trustees take action to terminate the contract with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department and invest in our Black and Brown students. Sign the petition here.
Amazon: Cut Ties with Police & ICE – Amazon's anti-Black practices span its entire corporate empire, with inequity and oppression at the core of their business model. Demand that they cut ties with ICE and police today, and review this toolkit for more information.

JOIN OUR LEGISLATIVE ACTION LIST:

Join SURJ Bay Area's Legislative Action List to receive alerts to call your policymakers! You'll receive your policymaker's contact info and a script when we need to advocate for racial justice bills for things like police brutality, mass incarceration, and housing justice. All you will have to do is make a phone call — it'll just take 5 minutes!

WATCH A WEBINAR:

SpeakOut is making a recent webinar available – "Defund the Police: What It Means and What Must Be Done" with Dr. Melina Abdullah, a leader of Black Lives Matter and Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State Los Angeles. In this powerful webinar, Dr. Abdullah offers pragmatic solutions on how we can transform our communities and end a policing institution born out of the system of chattel slavery and fueled by white supremacy. If you're new to abolition, also check out this study group guide from Abolition Journal.
Justice Teams Network launched a webinar series called "We Take Care of Us: Community Crisis Response," and each week they showcase an innovative model from across the state of how communities are stepping up to address crises themselves without relying on the police. Catch up here and sign up for their listserv to learn about upcoming webinars.

PUT UP A BLACK LIVES MATTER SIGN:

SURJ has Black Lives Matter lawn and window signs and postcards available for pickup. These are free but if you want to help cover costs, donate here. Grab some for friends and family, too! Pick them up at one of these locations:
• Marcus Books, 3900 Martin Luther King Way, Oakland, Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sundays 12:00 – 4:00 pm (window signs and postcards only)
• World Grounds, 3726 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, 7 days a week
• Spectator Books, 4163 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, Monday - Friday 12:00 - 5:00 pm (window signs only
• If you are in Berkeley area and want signs, please email fundraising@surjbayarea.org to make arrangements to pick-up.
• Zocalo Coffeehouse, 645 Bancroft Ave, San Leandro, 8:00 am -1:00 pm, 7 days a week (window signs and postcards only)

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