Weekly Newsletter - October 21, 2019

Tuesday, October 22 • 11:15 am
Save Money, Save Lives: Audit Sheriff Ahern
Turn out for a brief rally outside of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, followed by a Alameda County Board of Supervisors open meeting. We need to urge them to conduct an independent performance and financial audit of the ACSO. With mounting human rights abuse, neglect, mistreatment, in-custody deaths, we need real transparency and accountability: months of hard work have paid off, and the Board of Supervisors is finally going to see and hear the full scope of the audit proposal. Find out more about #auditahern and get involved here.
Location: 1401 Lakeside Drive, Oakland

Tuesday, October 22 • 12:00 pm
Rally and Press Conference on the Steps of SF City Hall: SFPD/COPS
Come to the rally hosted by Wealth and Disparities in the Black Community - Justice 4 Mario Woods, and attend SF Board of Supervisors meeting. This is the first hearing in more than two years on SFPD/COPS. The 2016 Federal Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing (COPS) Report was a result of huge and historic community outcry after an epidemic of fatal shootings by San Francisco Police and resulted in 272 recommendations for reform for San Francisco Police Department (SFPD); today, two thirds of the recommendations remain undone. We demand that when we look at racial categories in number of arrests and use of force that there be equity across all racial categories per capita. That is the essence and purpose of this entire process, and the reason there is a report in the first place. Press Conference at 12pm, Hearing at 3pm. RSVP here.
Location: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco

Tuesday, October 29 • 5:00 pm PST
National SURJ Webinar: Building Anti-Racist Electoral Work
White voters remain one of the biggest barriers to winning transformative, structural change in this country. There’s been a lot of hand wringing, a lot of blame and a lot of calls to action. It’s time for us to answer those calls. SURJ is ready - join in this webinar with SURJ Director Erin Heaney and Working Families Party National Director Maurice Mitchel. They’ll discuss the importance of organizing poor and working class white folks and the strategic electoral interventions needed in this political moment.
Location: Online - register for the call here.

Sunday, November 3, 2019 • 12:45 – 3:00 pm
Spill The Disabili-Tea™: A Disability Justice Workshop
What is Disability Justice? People often express feeling intimidated and ill-equipped to unpack what we've been taught about disability, and how to support and advocate for disabled people in our everyday lives. This workshop is a fabulous opportunity for you to dive into the magic of disability justice with SURJ and Alex Locust at the helm. Alex will facilitate an interactive discussion of disability justice for those committed to elevating their support for disabled folks in their community. Come join us for an afternoon of real talk, experiential exercises, group work, and lots of laughs. Click here for tickets, sliding scale from $20 - $80.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster Street, 13th floor, Oakland

Sunday, November 3, 2019 • 1:00 – 3:00 pm
TGIJP Chat and Chew Fundraiser
The Transgender Gender-Variant Intersex Justice Project is hosting a Chat and Chew Fundraiser. This event is part of their 15 year anniversary campaign, which is celebrating and honoring a long legacy of Black Trans abolitionist organizing. RSVP here; if you can't attend, but would still like to support, you can donate here. http://www.tgijp.org/15-year-anniversary.html
Location: 1200 Saint Charles Street, Alameda

Sunday, November 3, 2019 • 1:30 – 4:30 pm
Challenging Conversations About Race and White Supremacy
How do we approach difficult conversations, whether it’s about racist violence on the border, cultural appropriation, or white supremacy and racial justice in general? What is it like to have these conversations with our family, friends and coworkers with a vision for the long haul? Members of the White Noise Collective will facilitate this SURJ workshop exploring the difficult conversations in our lives around race and power. Just in time for the holidays! Tickets are sliding scale $15 - $85.  No one turned away for lack of funds. Please register - space is limited.
Location: East Bay Community Space, 507 55th Street, Oakland

Tuesday, November 12 • 7:00 pm
Noura Erakat Book Talk and Celebration: Justice for Some
Palestinian-American activist, professor, and human rights lawyer Noura Erakat celebrates the release of her new book Justice for Some: Law & the Question of Palestine in conversation with Lara Kiswani of the Arab Resource & Organizing Center. This event is a benefit for the Middle East Children's Alliance; for info call 510-548-0542, or purchase tickets online here (sliding scale $15-$100.)
Location: Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center Street, Berkeley

Wednesday, November 13 • 6:45 – 9:00 pm
Intro to SURJ Meeting
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 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!
Location: Movement Strategy Center, 436 14th Street, Suite 500, Oakland

Survey: Feedback on Critical Areas of Independent Police Oversight
Help APTP by filling out their survey on police oversight. Anti Police-Terror Project invites organizations or individuals to give feedback on this list of APTP's Proposal for Effective Police Oversight. Results will be compiled and used to support organizing around several places we can implement these changes (Police Commission Measure, Police Officers Bill of Rights, State Law, City Charter, City Enabling Ordinance, etc.) Survey can be found here. More information on APTP's Proposal for Effective Police Oversight here.

Tell Berkeley to Say No to Facial Recognition Tech
We already know that facial recognition technology routinely fails to accurately identify people of color, and in the hands of police, will only accelerate the nation’s lethal track record of racial profiling and discrimination. The Berkeley City Council will be considering a measure banning the use of facial recognition technology by city government on October 15th, and it’s urgent that they, and the Mayor's office, hear from us about this insidious new form of surveillance. Sign on this Media Justice email to Berkeley officials to keep harmful facial recognition tech off our streets. Learn more and sign here.  

Support Abundant Beginnings!
SURJ Bay Area partner organization Abundant Beginnings needs our financial support to continue their programs and to eventually purchase land. Please donate and share their donation page far and wide. Abundant Beginnings is a community education and empowerment initiative that is re-imagining how communities can grow learners who think critically, live responsibly, and create meaningful change. They center the needs of those who are currently marginalized from meaningful educational experiences, with emphases on students of color, gender expansive and queer students, and differently-abled learners. Check out this adorable video and then donate HERE.

In SURJ Blogs – Racial Justice Books for White People
In recent months, some thirty members of SURJ Bay Area suggested and voted on books for white people about racial justice, indicating those they recommend, as well as those they want to read. See the non-fiction list here. You can see the list of fiction recommendations here. In addition to the SURJ lists, the blogs also include recommended reading lists from other organizations and individuals.

Support ACA 6 and Voting Rights for Formally Incarcerated Californians
Nearly 50,000 California voters are barred from voting every year because they are on parole. ACA 6 would restore voting rights to these individuals. If the bill passes the California Senate, it will be on the 2020 ballot. Democracy needs everyone, including people on parole who are reentering our communities. You can show your support for ACA 6 by signing this petition and sharing it with family and friends.

Demand the University of Alabama Re-Hire Dr. James Riley
The University of Alabama has seemingly pushed for the resignation of its Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President — a Black man who had been in the job just seven months — for past tweets that made honest, straightforward statements about racism in America. The University of Alabama needs to rehire Dr. Riley immediately and make clear it will stand up for the rights of Black students, faculty, and employees. Learn more and sign the Color of Change petition to reinstate Dr. Riley.

Fire LAPD Officers Lee and Robles for the Murder of Grechario Mack
Sign and share the petition to fire the Los Angeles police officers who murdered 30-year-old Grechario Mack, father of two daughters. On April 10, 2018, Mack was in the midst of a mental health challenge inside the the Crenshaw-Baldwin Hills Mall when LAPD Officers Ryan Lee and Martin Robles shot him and then stood over him – he was still alive – and fired two more rounds into his body, killing him. Black Lives Matter Los Angeles is calling on LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore to fire the two police. Learn more about the case and sign the petition here.

Support Central Maine SURJ's Know Your Rights Working Group
Police in Lewiston, Maine, are collaborating with ICE, putting immigrant communities in danger. In response, Central Maine SURJ has started a "Know Your Rights" working group focused on educating local communities with peer-to-peer "Know Your Rights" presentations, zines, posters and mutual aid projects. Your support now will go a long way toward strengthening their efforts and the work of their partner orgs.  Learn more about their plans and make a donation here.

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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