WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - MAY 14, 2018

​
TODAY, Monday, May 14 • 11:30 am
Justice for Sahleem Rally & Petition Delivery at D.A. Nancy O'Malley's Office
Since Sahleem Tindle was murdered by BART Police Officer Joseph Mateu on January 3rd, nearly 30,000 people have signed the petition calling for justice for Sahleem. Join Mothers Fight Back, Anti-Police Terror Project, Love Not Blood, and Color of Change as they deliver the petition to the office of D.A. Nancy O'Malley, the only one with the power to bring charges against Mateu. RSVP now.                   
Location: Start at 1225 Fallon St. march to 2040 Webster St. Oakland
​

TODAY, Monday, May 14 • 2:00 pm
Poor People’s Campaign Non-Violent Direct Action in Sacramento
A National Call for Moral Revival is launching a massive movement to address the crisis of poverty, racism, militarism, and ecological devastation. Every week for six weeks, people from across the country will congregate at over 30 state capitals to raise awareness about the ways they are affected by these interlocking crisis and participate in civil disobedience to withdraw their consent from a status quo that doesn’t prioritize the basic rights and needs of humans.
Location: State Capitol, 1315 10th St. Sacramento

Tuesday, May 15 • 4:30 pm
Grill Your Government - BBQ at City Hall
The recent incident at Lake Merritt, when a white woman called police on African Americans grilling lakeside, exemplifies the growing tensions for how Black Oakland experiences a changing city. Join us in solidarity with Black Oakland to push elected officials to do something about the abuse of city resources. We don't want more meetings, forums or empty gestures - we want action so this doesn't happen again. RSVP here.
Location: Oscar Grant/Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th & Broadway, Oakland

Friday, May 18 • 5:00 pm & Saturday May 19 • 4:00 pm
Righteous Resistance Symposium
We face a current political and social climate that continues to belie Black humanity - where, without impunity, a young Black man can be followed into his grandmother’s backyard and shot in the back six times out of the 20 shots fired at him. The Poor People's Campaign invites you to wrestle with the principalities and powers that manifest themselves in racial
prejudice, systemic evil and violence, and religious apathy and complicity. The Symposium is free but please RSVP today.
Location: First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Oakland

Saturday, May 19 • 1:00 - 4:00 pm
SURJ SF Dialogues - Oppression: Individual, Interpersonal & Institutional
We can all learn from each other, whether you’re in the streets with SURJ often or learning about privilege for the first time. Dialogues is a space where we discuss different themes and continue the internal work of becoming white anti-racists in alliances, relationships, and interactions with people of color. This month, come and deepen your understanding of how individual, interpersonal, and institutional racism relate to/intersect with each other. Learn more here. Can't make it? Consider a gift to support Causa Justa : Just Cause.
Location: RSVP to surj.sf.dialogues@gmail.com to receive location

Tuesday, May 22 • 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Panel on Immigration with Yosimar Reyes & Cathi Tactaquin
As Trump continues to criminalize, demonize, and deport thousands of immigrants, how to we respond to the onslaught and support our communities? Come hear two important voices on the issues - Cathi Tactaquin, Executive Director of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Yosimar Reyes, a queer, undocumented artist-in-residence at Define American. This is a free event, but please register here.
Location: Lincoln, 1266 14th St. Oakland

6 consecutive Thursdays, May 24 - June 28 • 6:30 - 9:30 pm
SURJ Study & Action 6 Week 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 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 as space is limited.
Location: Sent upon enrollment

Sunday, May 27 • 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Abolition of Policing Workshop
This Critical Resistance workshop explores the role and history of policing in the U.S., the way it has impacted different communities, and how people have resisted and challenged its inherent violence. This workshop also goes over how we can reduce our reliance on policing by highlighting the various ways that building up community strength and practices lead to true safety that does not depend on law enforcement. Suggested donation of $5-20, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 100% of donations will go to Critical Resistance. Register and learn more here.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster St. Oakland

Wednesday, May 30, 2018 • 6:45 - 9:00 pm
Introduction to SURJ
Want to get involved with SURJ Bay Area? Come learn about our current work and activities. SURJ moves white people to act for justice, with passion and accountability, as part of a multi-racial majority. You will hear about SURJ's pathways for entering the work, including Study and Action groups as well as committees, upcoming workshops, and events. We'll answer your questions and share how you can be part of the movement for racial justice. Share and RSVP here.
Location: Sierra Club • 2101 Webster St., 13th floor, Oakland

Sunday, June 3 • 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice
SURJ Peninsula Chapter invites you to an interactive forum with author and long-time Bay Area organizer for racial, economic and gender justice, Paul Kivel. He’ll be offering a framework to understand racism within personal relationships, institutions, and culture. The event is free but please RSVP. Donations will be collected for the Real Community Coalition, a grassroots group organizing against gentrification and criminalization in East Palo Alto.
Location: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2124 Brewster Ave. Redwood City

RED ALERT: Join Center for Media Justice and tell Senate to Save Net Neutrality!
RED ALERT: The Senate will vote this week on overturning the FCC's decision and saving net neutrality, and we only need one more vote to guarantee victory! Equal opportunity and voice for communities of color isn’t possible without a truly open internet, so let’s mobilize to protect our digital civil rights and make sure the voices of people of color are heard in the Senate.  Tell the Senate to overturn the FCC and save net neutrality today!

Spring Internships Available at Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB)
Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) is a statewide coalition of 70 grassroots organizations, including SURJ, working to reduce the number of people in prisons and jails, shrinking the imprisonment system, and shifting public spending from corrections and policing to human services. CURB is seeking interns who'll gain experience in research, outreach, grassroots organizing, media campaigns, coalition and movement building, public education, policy advocacy and social justice work. Learn more here.

New Film about Initiate Justice Co-Founder: The Feminist on Cellblock YThe Feminist on Cellblock Y, a new documentary showcasing the anti-patriarchy work being led from inside by Initiate Justice co-founder Richie Reseda, has been released by CNN. Initiate Justice works to build the power of currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones. Check out the film and learn about the intersectional movement-building taking place from inside prison walls! Watch it here

Support the 2018 National Black Mama’s National Bail Out
National Black Mama’s Bail Out is a coordinated effort by more than a dozen organizations to reunite families on Mother's Day and bring attention to the true costs of money bail and mass incarceration. In dozens of cities across the country, the campaign will bail out as many mothers as possible who otherwise would spend Mother’s Day in a cell simply because they cannot afford bail. Make a donation to help bring mothers home!

Join the SURJ - Faith National Campaign
Invitation to Prophetic Imagination: Community Safety for All
SURJ - Faith is organizing a national campaign that asks faith/spiritual communities to examine their relationship to policing and police violence. This campaign is an act of accountability to people of color who are asking white people to join them in imagining and taking action toward a world without policing. It's also aligned with the Vision for Black Lives. Learn more about the campaign. There are also resources and information that people can share with their faith communities.

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
Visit our website to see this and past newsletters.