Weekly Newsletter - March 26, 2018

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Monday, March 26 (all day) & Tuesday, March 27 • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
We Can End Urban Shield! 
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will be voting on the Sheriff's request to fund Urban Shield 2018, the SWAT team training and weapons expo that brings together local, regional, and international police-military units. A broad coalition of groups is organizing to ensure they vote NO! We want real, community-based preparedness for emergencies. Police militarization is not the answer.
Monday 3/26, all day: call the Supervisors - more info and sample script here.
Tuesday, 3/27, 10 am: rally and press conference followed by Board of Supervisors meeting.
Location: Alameda County Admin Building, 1221 Oak St. 5th Floor, Oakland
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Friday, March 30 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Reinventing Puerto Rico
Get an update on the current struggle of Puerto Rican communities to reclaim self-sufficiency after the twin disasters of hurricanes and U.S.-driven financial speculation. Meet, direct from Puerto Rico, Daniel Orsini, an organizer who’ll talk about grassroots community relief initiatives that have sprouted all over the island. Suggested donation: $5 - 15. No one turned away for the lack of funds.
Location: North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Ave. Berkeley

Saturday, March 31 • 3:00 - 4:00 pm
SURJ Racial Justice Story Time
Come celebrate poetry with Oakland poet and educator, Nancy Johnson James, along with SURJ Bay Area's Youth and Families Committee. We will engage the whole family with poems, stories, activities, and art. This free event is best suited for kids ages 2-8, but all are welcome. Please RSVP.
Location: Rockridge Branch, Oakland Public Library, 5366 College Ave. Oakland

Monday, April 2 • 3:30 pm
Demand DA O'Malley Charge Mateu with the Murder of Sahleem Tindle
Sahleem Tindle was murdered by BART Police Officer Joseph Mateu on January 3, 2018. He is now back on the job, after only a two week leave. Join us to demand that DA Nancy O'Malley do her job and charge and prosecute Mateu for murder.
Location: Courthouse, 1225 Fallon St. Oakland

Tuesday, April 3 & Thursday, April 5 • 6:30 - 8:30 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. These are the final two dates the workshop is being offered. Free but please RSVP.
April 3 Location: Greenlining Institute, 360 14th St. Oakland - RSVP
April 5 Location: The Covenant, 2622 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley - RSVP
NOTE: The 4/5 workshop is co-sponsored by Berkeley City Council member Cheryl Davila.

Saturday, April 7 • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Joining Forces Against Policing and Jails in San Francisco
A Half Day Summit Against the Prison Industrial Complex
This Summit will bring together organizations and community activists working to stop the violence of the prison industrial complex. Interactive workshops, trainings, and panel discussions will focus on topics like jail construction, gang injunctions, justice for community members murdered by police, tasers, bail reform, increased policing on our streets, and more. The goal is to strengthen work to address the impacts of imprisonment, policing, surveillance, courts, and prosecution in San Francisco.
Location: Mission Center, City College of SF, 1125 Valencia St. San Francisco

Tuesday, April 10 • 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Victories from Inside Out: Dismantling the Prison Industrial Complex
Taina Vargas-Edmond and Dorsey Nunn in a Live Taping of the Podcast, Speak Out with Tim Wise
Taina Vargas-Edmond, Executive Director of Initiate Justice and Dorsey Nunn, Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children/All of Us or None will be in conversation with Tim Wise at this live taping of his national podcast. As leaders in the forefront of policy and advocacy work on behalf of incarcerated Californians, the formerly-incarcerated, and their families, Taina and Dorsey will look at recent victories and efforts currently underway. Advance tickets sliding scale $5 - $25. All proceeds go to LSPC/AUON and Initiate Justice.                                
Location: 1st Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison, Oakland

Tuesday, April 17 • 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Kayla’s Birthday Celebration at Provo Park
This year marks the five year anniversary of Kayla Moore’s death at the hands of Berkeley police, so the community is throwing Kayla a great big party to keep her memory alive! There will be food, music and art in celebration of her life. Note: There will be an art build for this event on Sun. April 15 • 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Location: Provo Park, 1901 Allston Way, Berkeley

Wednesday April 25, 2018 • 6:45 - 9:00 pm
Introduction to SURJ Meeting
Want to get involved with SURJ Bay Area? Come learn about our current work and activities including new pathways for entering the work, including Study and Action groups as well as committee work, upcoming workshops, and events. Featured Speaker: Sandra Johnson from All of Us or None, a organization fighting for the rights of formerly- and currently-incarcerated people and their families, and a project of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. Please RSVP.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster St. 13th Floor, Oakland

Monday, April 30 • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Quest For Democracy Day 2018
Every Spring, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children/All of Us or None organizes a large-scale statewide lobby day for formerly-incarcerated people, family members with incarcerated loved ones, and allied community activists. Quest for Democracy Day supports pending legislation that affects people impacted by incarceration and this year, SURJ is being asked to lobby alongside LSPC/AUON members coming from all over California. The day will include a training workshop on sponsored bills and effective legislative advocacy. Then Action Teams will visit each legislator’s office to advocate in person, followed by a rally on the Capitol steps that lifts up the voices and leadership of those most affected by the prison industrial complex. Join us! More details here where you can also RSVP.  You can make a DONATION here to support this massive statewide mobilization.
Location: State Capitol, N Street at 12th, Sacramento


Tuesday, May 1 • 3:00 - 6:00 pm

Oakland May Day: March for Immigrant and Worker Rights
This annual march for International Workers’ Day is sponsored by Oakland Sin Fronteras and endorsed by Anakbayan East Bay, Anti-Police Terror Project, California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, Critical Resistance, Mujeres Unidas Y Activas, VietUnity East Bay, Xicano Moratorium Coalition, and SURJ, among others. Join us to march for migrant and worker justice!
Location: Oscar Grant/Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th and Broadway, Oakland

Campaign to Restore Voting Rights to People in State Prisons and On Parole
SURJ is supporting the work of Initiate Justice and their Voting Restoration and Democracy Act (VRDA) campaign. The VRDA would restore the right to vote to approximately 160,000 people in state prisons and on parole in California. Sign up to help gather signatures, make a donation to support this critical work, and come to a workshop and training. Read the 2-page talking points and signature-gathering instructions here.

Support the Family of Stephon Clark, Killed by Sacramento Police
On Sunday, March 18, Stephon Clark, 22 years old, was holding only his cell phone when he was fired at 20 times and killed by Sacramento Police. He was in his own backyard, where he lived with his grandparents. Clark leaves behind two sons, age 3 and age 1. Since Monday evening, Black Lives Matter Sacramento and others have been protesting, demanding justice for Stephon and that the police be held accountable. The SURJ Sacramento chapter has shared this GoFundMe site to help support the Clark family. Sign this Color of Change petition to demand justice for Stephon Clark.

Stop ICE and Deportations! Defend Immigrants!
As ICE continues to terrorize immigrant communities through raids, it’s important to remain on alert. Here’s how:
• Add these rapid response hotline numbers to your phone: 510-241-4011 (Alameda County) and 415-200-1548 (San Francisco).
• Here are 5 ways to respond with power, not panic from the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance.
• Share Know Your Rights information like this from the ACLU.
• Sign up to receive Bay Resistance action alerts by texting RESIST to 41411.
• Find more resources at the SURJ website.

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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