Weekly Newsletter - June 22, 2020

Monday, June 22 and Friday, June 26 • 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, June 22 • 4:00 – 6:30 pm
Educators for Black Sanctuary
Join Oakland teachers in solidarity with the Black Organizing Project’s 10 Days of Action in support of the George Floyd Resolution calling for police-free schools in OUSD. Planned and led by the Oakland Education Association, Oakland educators and supporters will gather for an in-person, socially-distanced rally with street art and speakers as well as  car caravan starting at 1000 Broadway, the location of the district office. Please wear a mask. Families are especially welcome! .
Location: 1000 Broadway, Oakland

Wednesday, June 24 • 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!

Thursday, June 25 • 3:30 – 5:00 pm
We Keep Us Safe: From Police & Prisons to Care & Community
Join this virtual event with Zach Norris, the Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, author of We Keep Us Safe: Building Secure, Just, and Inclusive Communities, and co-founder of Restore Oakland. This timely conversation will look at this historic moment, as our collective response to police violence and systemic racism is creating an opportunity to make a radical shift from a culture of fear and punishment to one of public health and true safety. Tickets $5 - $20 - no one turned away for lack of funds. Register here.

Friday, June 26 • 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Black Lives Matter - Justice in San Francisco
Show your solidarity at this socially-distanced protest and press conference hosted by Wealth and Disparities in the Black Community which will outline what Black San Franciscans need and deserve in justice reform at this critical time. Topics include: defund the police - fund critical needs in the Black community, Department of Justice-mandated reforms, and the impact of the that the SF Police Officers Association on the Black community.
Location: Steps of San Francisco City Hall, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Pl, San Francisco (Polk St. side)

Friday, June 26 • 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Affirming Our Ancestors: Solidarity Vigil and Speakout
Why do we mobilize for men and remain unmoved by women and trans murders? Come to this Psychologists for Social Responsibility National Day of Action that will lift up the names of murdered Black sisters and trans siblings. Other sponsors include APTP, Justice Teams Network, AF3IRM, and the Radical Monarchs, coming together to unite our struggles and build up an intersectional feminist/womanist movement for abolition, decolonization, and the end to state-sanctioned and interpersonal femicide and transicide. More info.
Location: Lake Merritt Amphitheater, 1 Lake Merritt Blvd. Oakland

Wednesday, July 1 • 11:30 am
Rally at the State Capitol to Demand the End of Police Violence
Some 600 people of color have been killed by police in California in the last 5 years. Join Legal Services for Prisoners with Children/All of Us or None for a mobilization to Sacramento where people impacted by police violence — family members, formerly incarcerated, community members — will encircle the Capitol building and hold up the names of those killed by police. We will also call on state legislators to defund the $31B police and prison industrial complex, hold police who kill accountable, and prevent police unions from donating to district attorneys and judges, among other demands. Learn more and sign up.
Location: California Capitol Building, 10th and L Streets, Sacramento

Tuesday, July 7 • 6:45 – 9:00 pm
Intro to SURJ Virtual Meeting
Here's another opportunity to channel your support for the Movement for Black Lives and get involved. Come to a SURJ Bay Area 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.

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