Weekly Newsletter - September 2, 2019

Monday, August 26 • 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Free Screening of the Film “Waking Dream” followed by Panel Discussion
Join Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity and First Presbyterian Church for an evening of film and dialogue. “Waking Dream” weaves together the stories of six undocumented young people as they sit in limbo between deportation and a path to citizenship. The post-screening panel will broaden immigration discourse beyond DACA and provides concrete ways to act. Panelists include the filmmaker Theo Rigby, directly-impacted community members, and community organizations. Event is free but please register here.
Location: The New Parkway, 474 24th St. Oakland

Wednesday, August 28  • 5:00 – 6:30 pm PDT
Webinar with Mab Segrest, Author of Memoir of a Race Traitor
Mab Segrest, a long-time racial justice organizer and SURJ activist, will be talking about the re-release of her movement classic book, Memoir of a Race Traitor: Fighting Racism in the American South. Against a backdrop of nine generations of her family's history, Mab Segrest explores her experience as a white lesbian organizing against a virulent Far Right movement in the South. More information here. Register for the call here.
Location: Online

Friday, August 30 • 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
Symposium: 400 years of Resistance to Slavery and Injustice
This day-long symposium will kick off a year of events at UC Berkeley to mark the 400 year anniversary of the beginning of slavery in North America. The events are being co-organized by the Haas Institute, the African American studies and history departments, the African American Student Development Center, and the Black Staff & Faculty Organization. The symposium will include remarks by Haas Institute Director and African American studies professor john a. powell, plus panels and performances featuring a range of speakers and artists. More info here.
Location: International House Auditorium, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Berkeley

Friday, August 30 • 7:30 – 9:00 pm
"What Happened to Dujuan?" Benefit Film Screening & Panel
The #AuditAhern Coalition and the Ella Baker Partnership Team at First Unitarian Church of Oakland invite you to a film screening, "What Happened to Dujuan Armstrong?" This powerful documentary follows Barbara Doss’ search to discover the details of her 23-year-old son’s 2018 death in Santa Rita Jail. After the film, there will be a panel with the filmmaker Lucas Guilkey and members of the Audit Ahern Coalition. Learn about what is happening in the local county jail and what you can do to change it. Donations will be accepted on a sliding scale, all are welcome. Proceeds benefit the Audit Ahern Coalition and the family of Dujuan Armstrong.
Location: First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. Oakland

Saturday, August 31 • 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Beyond White Fragility: Workshop with Chris Crass
Join SURJ Contra Costa for an interactive workshop with longtime social justice educator, author, and organizer, Chris Crass, one of the leading voices in the country calling for and supporting white people to work for racial justice. Whether you’ve been active for decades or a few days, this is an opportunity to develop a stronger culture of inspiration, resilience, and courage for racial justice. While one of the themes of the workshop is on white people working for racial justice, the overall theme of the workshop is on how we can build stronger racial justice values and action in our congregations and communities – the workshop is for all who want to do this work. Suggested donation: $20 at the door.
Location: Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek

Saturday, August 31 • 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
LSPC and All of Us or None Celebration of Community
Join Legal Services for Prisoners with Children and their grassroots organizing project, All of Us or None, at a block party for friends, neighbors, and comrades. Come enjoy delicious BBQ, games for kids, raffle prizes, live music, and quality time with friends and neighbors. You'll also learn about LSPC's critical work - organizing communities impacted by the criminal justice system and advocating on behalf of incarcerated people and their families.
Location: The Freedom & Movement Center, 4400 Market St. Oakland

Saturday, August 31 • 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Culmination: Month of Momentum 30 Days of Action to Close the Camps
After 30 days of daily protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building to close the camps , come out for this culminating protest featuring local speakers and artists including Emma's Revolution, Diana Gameros, Betsy Rose and Bonnie Lockhart, and the La Peña Chorus (with Lichi Fuentes). Food will also be served and funds will be raised for the Freedom for Immigrants Bail Fund.
Location: ICE, 630 Sansome St. San Francisco

Sunday, September 15 • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Antidotes to White Fragility
What skills, tools, and approaches are useful in encouraging white people to sustain balanced engagement with anti-racism/racial justice education and work? How can we cultivate resilience (as opposed to white fragility) in ourselves, our communities, and our movements? This SURJ workshop will explore these questions and explore the role of the body, community, spirituality, intellectual knowledge, and other themes that you bring from your experience. Sliding Scale: $15-$85. No one turned away for lack of funds. This popular workshop tends to fill quickly so pre-registration is required.  Learn more and get tickets.
Location: Sierra Club, 2101 Webster St. Suite 1300, Oakland

Monday, September 16 • 11 am – 8:00 pm
Free The Children, Close the Camps: A Day Of Action
Join this Day of Action to protest the caging of children and migrant families. Protest the crisis at the border and the detention of young children and adults in a inhumane conditions! Close the Camps! Free the Children! Amnesty Now! The day kicks off with an 11:00 am rally, a noon march to S.F. City Hall, a 3:00 pm protest at ICE, then back to 24th & Mission for a closing celebration and protest. Sponsors include A Day Without Immigrants SF and other Mission organizations.
Location: 24th Street BART Station, City Hall, ICE building, San Francisco

September 16 - October 31 • Weekly Meetings • Choice of Days
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 racial justice. Study & Action is free, but you must RSVP for your choice of 1 of 4 days. Space is limited.
Location: Provided upon registration

Saturday, October 5 • 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
SURJ Workshop - What White People Don't See: Applying the Lens of Privilege
You believe in making a difference, but when it comes to racial justice, are your actions aligned with your beliefs? The work begins with looking in the mirror. Without intentional learning and reflection, white people may uphold beliefs and systems that perpetuate injustice. Join SURJ for an intimate and interactive workshop in which we will unpack how whiteness has shaped our lives and discuss how white people who care can take action for racial justice. Sliding Scale $15-$65. No one turned away for lack of funds. Space is limited so pre-registration is required. Learn more and get tickets.
Location: Movement Strategy Center, 436 14th Street Suite 500, Oakland

AUON Organizer Ali Birts Needs Your Help!
All of Us or None Organizer Willard "Ali" Birts is facing serious legal trouble. After dismissing old charges on the grounds of "insufficient evidence," the San Mateo County District Attorney decided to refile. It looks like the case will be going to trial mid-September. Learn more and support Ali by signing the petition, which will be delivered to the District Attorney and to the judge presiding over the case, calling on them to drop all charges and allow Ali to continue to enrich our community unfettered from the criminal justice system.

Support SFSU Professor Rabab Abdulhadi
For nearly a decade, San Francisco State University has worked to undermine its own Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas (AMED) Studies program and its director, Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi. A long chain of harassment and punitive actions has focused on Dr. Abdulhadi’s research and advocacy for justice for and in Palestine. Based on the false premise that teaching and advocacy on Palestine and Palestinian human rights constitutes antisemitism, these actions reflect the concerted campaign of right-wing, pro-Israel groups to silence this kind of work on college and university campuses everywhere. Please read and sign the petition to support Dr. Abdulahdi and AMED. Learn more and donate to the legal fund here.

Contribute to Making SURJ Bay Area More Accessible
One of SURJ Bay Area's member agreements is that we commit to being proactive in making our spaces and actions as accessible as possible, which is why we have started a fundraiser to help meet our commitments to accessibility. This means renting accessible spaces and paying service providers, like ASL interpreters and language translators, the living wage they deserve while following the leadership of disabled people of color in our work. As with all of our fundraising, SURJ Bay Area passes at least half of the money we raise to the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led organizations we partner with, which helps ensure that we keep our common goal of racial justice in focus. Learn more and donate here.

Check Out these SURJ Bay Area Legislative Priorities for 2019
SURJ Bay Area's Policy Working Group is working in service to, and in collaboration with our people of color-led partner organizations that work on legislative advocacy. In this update, we look at some of the bills that have successfully crossed-over to their second house (California Assembly or Senate), hopefully on their way to the governor’s desk. Learn more about the organizations we partner with, and the bills we're actively supporting. You can be part of this effort by adding your name to our Legislative Action List.

Solidarity with Blackjewel Coal Miners in Kentucky
Since July 29, 2019, coal miners, their families, and their supporters in Harlan, Kentucky have been blockading a rail line carrying the coal of their former employer, Blackjewel Coal Company. Earlier that month, Blackjewel miners woke up to find out their employer, a company employing 1,000 miners across the Appalachian coal fields, had declared bankruptcy, their final paychecks weren’t worth the paper they were printed on, and that they no longer had any health insurance. As of Day 25 of the ongoing blockade, the miners have still not been compensated for their labor. SURJ is working nationally to support the miners. Fill out this form if you can donate money or supplies, or go support in person!  

Help Mauna Kea Protesters: Donate to the Aloha ‘Āina Support Fund

In Hawai‘i on July 10th, Governor Ige announced that the transport of earth moving machines for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea would begin on Monday, July 15. Your support is needed now; KAHEA is announcing a new fund, the Aloha ‘Āina Support Fund, which prioritizes frontline logistical support for non-violent direct actions taken to protect Mauna Kea from further industrial development.

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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Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Bay Area c/o PO Box 22748, Oakland CA 94609