WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - MAY 21, 2018

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Tuesday, May 22 • 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Workshop 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
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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 readings 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

Saturday, May 26 • 2:30 - 4:30 pm
Visionary Politics Panel
What are the visions of the world we are fighting for, and what are the strategies that can get us there? At this Catalyst Project event, hear from organizers who’ve been developing movement strategy for years - Maria Poblet, former Executive Director of Causa Justa::Just Cause, Woods Ervin, of the Transgender, Gender-Variant and Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP) and Critical Resistance, and Native activist Morning Star Gali (Ajumawi band of Pit River). Suggested sliding scale donation of $0-$15, RSVP and learn more here.
Location: Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland

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

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. This event is free, 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

Sunday, June 3 • 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Two-Spirit StorytimeJoin Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits, Golden Gate Mothers’ Group, Our Family Coalition, Natural Resources and SURJ SF this Pride Month for the first Two-Spirit Storytime. Two-Spirit Elder L Frank (Tongva/Ajachmem/Rarámuri) will be opening for us and Ruth Villasenor (Chiricahua Apache/Mexican) will be sharing a 2S story with us. Drag Queen Landa Lakes (Chickasaw) will be reading 47,000 Beads and local authors Angel and Koja Adeyoha (Eastern band of Cherokee and Lakota) will be available to sign and talk about the book. This is a free event, learn more and RSVP here.
Location: Natural Resources, 1367 Valencia St. San Francisco

Saturday, June 9 • 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Immigrant Solidarity Rapid Response Training
Join SURJ, the Immigrant Liberation Movement, and Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership for a solidarity training for immigrant freedom and justice in the East Bay. Participants will train in monitoring ICE activity, accompanying impacted families and other ways to strengthen existing local immigrant defense. Tickets are sliding scale, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. RSVP for tickets & location here!
Location: Shared upon RSVP

Wednesday, June 20, 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: Movement Strategy Center • 436 14th St. Suite 500, Oakland

End Predatory Prison Phone Rates
On Mother's Day, 2.7 million children relied on a phone call to celebrate with their incarcerated parent. Yet for many of these families, a short call is all they were able to afford, because greedy companies like Global Tel Link and Securus continue to charge families excessively high rates for the right to talk to their loved ones. Last month, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois introduced the Inmate Calling Technical Corrections Act of 2018 (S.2520) which would address eliminating predatory prison phone rates. While the bill has broad bi-partisan support, we need to urge Sen. John Thune, chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to hold a hearing for, and support the bill. Voice your support today.

Poor People's Campaign: Week two of Nonviolent Moral Fusion Direct Action
In a time when the President calls immigrants "animals", it is time to confront the distorted moral narrative of this nation. When 6.1 million Americans have their votes suppressed, it is time to confront the distorted moral narrative of this nation. When California, between 2017-18, increased its spending on prisons by $359 million, disproportionately incarcerating people of color, it is time for a Revolution of Values! In the second of six sustained weeks of Nonviolent Moral Fusion Direct Action, Join the California Poor People's Campaign on Monday, May 21 at the Capitol to rise together against the violence of Systemic Racism and Voter Suppression. Learn more and RSVP here. Can't make it in person? Join the rally on Facebook Live.

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
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