Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Feb. 20th, 2014 Northbay Uprising Radio News

Tune in to the broadcast [link], Thursdays 4 to 5pm (PST), with news from across Northern California, produced by [NorthbayMDS.Blogspot.com]! Broadcast to the San Pablo bay area courtesy of Ozcat Radio 89.5FM KZCT Vallejo. Join the Community Journalist program, send news & info to [NorthbayMDS@gmail.com]. Know more with the Community Journalist's Notebook [link]!


Celebrate Black History by continuing the struggle against oppression, and for the defense of a dominated nation! 
From the "If We Knew Our History Series" of the Howard Zinn Education Project...
"Missing from Presidents’ Day: The People They Enslaved" by Clarence Lusane [zinnedproject.org/2014/02/hidden-black-history-of-white-house]



ACTION HEADLINES!

Special Report: Privatization of Water hits Vallejo, and Mt. Shasta!
* Vallejo City to Privatize the Lakes Water System [link]
* Mount Shasta freshwater spring attacked by private corporation [link]
Putting the source of life into the hands of an uncountable private bureaucracy is shameless.

Student Power!
* Sonoma State University President Ruben Armiñana is attacking working-class students by using higher fees [link]
* Congratulations to the Students at UC Berkeley for successfully concluding a 25-hour occupation at the UC Berkeley Blum Center at UC Berkeley, without a single act of Police violence or kidnapping! The Students are protesting UC Regent Richard Blum for his extremism and support for fascist governments worldwide, and for his fascist policies at the University, where he is bankrupting University resources, and using University money to fund private colleges which replace what the public University is losing, by Richard Blum's design. And he is not alone, as the UC Regents are all millionaire investors who see a profit in privatizing public education, a goal which increases the price of higher education while decreasing the quality of the education.

from the Committee to Defend those without homes! [link]:
* Vallejo City's potential anti-Homeless law creates controversy [link]
* Addressing Human Rights Abuse at Santa Cruz National Guard Armory Winter Shelter [link]
* Santa Cruz housing disabled houseless people into a toxic former military building [link]
* Pensacola city in Florida displaces those without homes into life threatening conditions [link]

from the Committee for the Investigation of Civil & Human Rights abuse:
* Santa Cruz attacks another respected street performer: The Great Morgani  [link]
* California Attorney General Office stonewalls Justice for Andy Lopez! [link]
* Wearing T-shirt that says "Justice for Andy Lopez" gets you harassed at Santa Rosa mall!
On President's Day, Simon's Santa Rosa Mall security harassed Andy Lopez' parents, Sujey and Rodrigo, for wearing 'Justice for Andy Lopez' t-shirts while eating in the Food Court. Security guards asked them to remove their shirts! You can write to the management and owners and let them know that you do not approve of this infringement of their free speech rights. Please write, email or call them:
* John Best, Area Mall Manager, Santa Rosa Plaza [1071 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa, CA 95401-6397] [jbest@simons.com] [707-575-6115]
* David Simon, President & CEO, Simon Property Group [Indianopolis, Indiana 46204] [trobinson@simon.com] [317-636-1600]
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UPDATE, Feb. 20th: Simon's Santa Rosa Plaza has apologized!
You and the Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez asked for an explanation and an apology from Simon's Santa Rosa Plaza for the harassment of the parents of Andy Lopez and others who were eating in the Food Court while wearing Andy Lopez t-shirts.
The Coalition received a response from the Senior Associate General Counsel of Simon's expressing their shock at hearing of the harassment. Thank you to everyone who contacted the Plaza!
"Like you, Santa Rosa Plaza was shocked to learn that individual officers employed by the Plaza's third-party Security subcontractor elected to approach members of the group and ask them to remove the "RIP Andy" or "Justice for Andy Lopez" t-shirts that they were wearing. Santa Rosa is well aware of the Pruneyard decision.....
"Santa Rosa Plaza makes every effort to comply with Pruneyard and has adopted a policy that permits expressive activity in the Center.....We were deeply disappointed that the actions of the security officers did not comply with our policies and procedures and regret that this incident occurred.
".....we would like to extend our condolences to your clients regarding the tragic loss of their son."
[signed] Mark A. Payne, Santa Rosa Plaza
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Andy Lopez "Day of Free Speech" Victory Celebration, Sunday, Feb. 23, 1:30 p.m., at the Courthouse Square, 3rd and Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
This last Monday Feb. 17, 2014, The Lopez Family, were harassed by 'Mall Security Guards' (you may know them as "Paul Blart Wannabes"), over members of The Family wearing Andy Lopez T-Shirts. They were told to turn their shirts inside out, in other words, 'strip in public'. Members who attended the earlier march in Downtown were notified, and upon arrival, noticed that S.R.P.D. had been called. The harassment and subsequent 'Shadowing' of various members of Andy's Youth, as we attempted to exit, has prompted us into Action! We protested to the ownership of the Plaza and they have apologized! Therefore, we will meet at Old Courthouse Square, and walk to the mall, and once inside the Mall, we will display our Andy Lopez T-Shirts in celebration!

Hands Off Our Homes! [link]:
* "Rancho Cordova Couple Turns Tables On Lender’s Foreclosure Attempt" [link]

from the Sovereign San Pablo Bay think-tank [link]:
* Fuel recovery from petroleum-based plastic bags [link]

from the San Pablo Bay Ecological Preservation Association [link]:
* Caltrans is out of step with the times, says independent study. Write a letter today to add your voice for redwoods and wetlands! [link]

from the Committee for the Study of Fascism:
* "San Francisco’s Displacement Crisis: Speculators, Banks, and Developers Seeking to Unlock Value in San Francisco's Rental Housing Are Pouring Money Into the City's Politics. Tenants Are Fighting Back" [link]

from the Committee to Free Them All! [link]:
* Free Lorenzo Johnson! [link]

from the Committee to Defend Workers' Rights! [link]:
* "SEIU 1021 & community launch "Lift Up Oakland" minimum wage campaign" [link]
* "SEIU 1021 launches Unite San Francisco campaign against inequality" [link]
* "Pensions Under the Gun" [link]
* "Why Have So Many Workers Lost Their Unemployment Insurance?" [link]
And where is all that money going?

Solano Peace, Freedom & Justice Coalition announces a new campaign:
* Spring Days of Action to End Drone Killing, Drone Surveillance, Global Militarization [link]
* Read the words of a Freed Anti-Drone Activist: "I Was Tortured, Beaten, Interrogated" [link]
* "Veterans for Peace" endorse the 'World Beyond War' Campaign: VFP National encourages its chapters to become involved with the campaign, World Beyond War [Worldbeyondwar.org].  The campaign is a global nonviolent movement to fully end the institution of war and establish a just and sustainable peace.  Let's show our solidarity by signing the Declaration of Peace. You can sign on as an individual [Worldbeyondwar.org/individual].

"Zapatista Week of National and International Solidarity" for the Liberated Communities of Chiapas [link]

Ukraine: Target for USA-backed fascist coup [link]

Venezuela, The Cold War and Market manipulation in the Media, a special report from the "Hands Off Venezuela" committee for the People of Venezuela [link].


ACTION CALENDER!

PACH Fundraiser: Black History Month Film Festival
Thursday, Feb. 20, 7:00 p.m.
A benefit for Police Accountability Clinic & Helpline
"MAAFA 21" - Black genocide in America
Discussion of PACH after the film
$5.00 donation
Arlene Francis Center, 99 6th St., Santa Rosa


Bay Area New Priorities Campaign General Meeting
Thursday, February 20, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
1904 Franklin St @ 19th St, Oakland
We will continue our discussion about the transition from a military economy to an economy that meets human needs.
We will plan for the Global Day Against Military Spending (Monday, April 14)
Please attend or arrange for someone else from your organization to attend.
RSVP:  [newprioritiescampaign@gmail.com]


Sonoma County Seed Swap
Thursday, Feb. 20, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
FREE - You don't have to bring seed to participate
Bring seed you saved, extra commercial seed, plants and resources to share. Label your seed variety including date and details on how they were saved. Seed experts will be available to answer questions.
Co-sponsored by Occidental Arts & Ecology Center and West County Community Seed Exchange.
Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave. (Hwy. 12), Sebastopol


“Grounds for Dissent” Tour: A Pop-Up GI Coffeehouse
Friday through Saturday, Feb. 21-22: San Francisco, CA
[GICoffeehouseTour.org]
Location: Veterans Community Media Center [1720 Market St., San Francisco CA]
Join the Facebook Event Page and share with others [facebook.com/events/290729591051814]
We invite you to join us in launching “Grounds for Dissent”  a Pop-Up GI Coffeehouse.
This Coffeehouse will be ours to build and enjoy for just the one weekend, but hopefully it will also be fertile grounds for us to grow deeper roots to invigorate and celebrate not just the Coffeehouse Movement but our common concerns, larger connections and commitments.
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FRIDAY, FEB 21, 6pm: GRAND OPENING!
FOOD, Beverage, Conviviality. With a Queer Anti-militarist Poster Exhibit: War is Trauma!
6 pm: West Coast GI Coffeehouse tour presents, Join Coffee Strong, Under the Hood, and Clearing Barrel to hear about their work supporting soldiers, military communities, and GI resistance in Washington, Texas, and Germany
7-10 pm: DISSENTERS BALL!! DANCING to the tunes of DJ Samuelroy, Performance by Kallisto, Poster Exhibition–Food, drinks, meet and mingle with members of the GI coffeehouse tour
The exhibition of poster art includes work from Tyrone Boucher, "Queers Demand" and the "War is Trauma" portfolio from Just Seeds, in addition to other work highlighting the recent history of local Queer Military Resistance!
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SATURDAY, FEB 22, 10am: Cafe Opens with a series of events throughout the day, starting with,
* 11am: Youth-led theater of the oppressed workshop. Join BAY PEACE (Better Alternatives for Youth) as they help us imagine a world without militarism. Bay PEACE will lead us through a theater workshop exploring the power of telling our own stories in counter-recruitment efforts.
* 1:30-3pm: Warrior Writers Workshop [WarriorWriters.org]: Warrior Writers is a project that brings veterans together to write and make art about our experiences in war and in the military. By recording our experience, we engage in the transformational process of art-making and we record our personal truths. Aaron Hughes, an Iraq veteran and Warrior Writers facilitator, will lead attendees through a series of group discussions, writing prompts and exercises that facilitates creative outlets and a supportive community.
* 4-5:30: Join us for an afternoon workshop with Critical Resistance on community organizing as a response to militarized policing. [CriticalResistance.org]!
* 6pm: Facilitated Panel Discussion with the Coffeehouse Tour Members: “Enrooting Spaces of Resistance”
* 7-10 pm: Performances and Open Mic
Come learn about the history of the GI coffeehouse and GI resistance movement! Join us for a presentation by GI coffeehouse leaders from Texas, Washington, and Germany as we discuss the importance of creating spaces of resistance in military communities. Following the presentation, we will invite guests to participate in small group discussions around strategies for maintaining and growing spaces of resistance within the military and across our movements. The discussion will be followed by an Open Mic featuring performances by Eddie Falcon (Forty Thieves), Keady Phelan & More!
* And Support for Veterans: Need help with your VA disability claim? Want some advice about filing for a Discharge Upgrade?Staff Attorney, Becca Vb, from the Swords to Plowshares Legal Department will be available throughout the day Saturday for veterans who want advice about filing claims for VA disability benefits and/or submitting applications for Discharge Upgrades. If you want advice about your specific claim, bringing in any paperwork you have relevant to your claim will allow you to get more thorough advice. Swords to Plowshares' Legal Department has been providing assistance to veterans with VA claims for decades, and is one of the national experts on Discharge Upgrades. Advice provided at the Coffeehouse will be a one-time consultation only.
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Coffee StrongThe Clearing Barrel [theclearingbarrel.blogspot.com], and Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center [underthehoodcafe.org] are GI coffeehouses located next to major military installations in Washington State, Germany and Texas. We provide service members, veterans and their families’ safe places for healing, to exchange unfiltered information, and to speak about our concerns and experiences.
We’re joining together for The GI Coffeehouse Tour starting on February 13th in San Diego, CA and ending in Everett, WA on March 2nd.  Help us support the rights of service members, veterans and military families while challenging war and militarism by supporting the GI Coffeehouse Tour.  Join us on a tour stop in California, Oregon or Washington, make a tax-deductible donation online today, or learn more about the work of the coffeehouses including our connection to Vietnam-era GI coffeehouses.

"VFP Supports GI Coffeehouse Tour on West Coast", 2014-02-07 message from "veterans for Peace" [http://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2014/02/07/vfp-supports-gi-coffeehouse-tour-west-coast]: Veterans For Peace is co-sponsoring a GI Coffeehouse Tour on the west coast, beginning in San Diego on Thursday, Feb. 13 and ending in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, March 1.
The tour will feature the work of Under The Hood GI Cafe in Killeen, Texas (Fort Hood), Coffee Strong in Lakewood, Washington (Joint Base Lewis-McChord), and The Clearing Barrel GI Bar and Coffeehouse in Kaiserslautern, Germany, center for U.S. military installations in Europe with the Ramstein Airbase and Landstuhl Medical Center.
The purpose of the tour is to remind people about the importance of ongoing GI outreach efforts and to raise much needed funds for the three GI cafes/outreach centers.
The tour will feature speakers from all three GI Coffehouses. Coffee Strong will be represented by its co-coordinator, Alex Bacon, a Coast Guard veteran, and other volunteers. Under The Hood will be represented by Iraq veteran Malachi Muncy, its manager, by Ryan Holleran, recently discharged from the Army at Ft. Hood, and by Lori Hurlebaus, former manager and president of the Board of Directors of Under The Hood. The Clearing Barrel will be represented by German peace activist Meike Capps-Schubert, flying in to California all the way from Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Many VFP chapters are hosting the tour and organizing local events. VFP Vice President Gerry Condon, who serves on the Board of Directors of Under The Hood, will also be traveling with the tour. National VFP has contributed $500 to help cover upfront tour expenses. VFP chapters and members are also encouraged to help out if they can.
For more information about the tour, the three GI Coffeehouses, and how you can help, go to the GI Coffeehouse Tour website.



January Gathering of West County Community Seed Exchange
Saturday, Feb. 22, 9:00 a.m. to noon
9 - 10:30 - Work in the Seed Garden
9 - 11 - Seed Library OPEN
11 - 12 - Class: Hands On- Cleaning our Seed Garden Seed-Help clean up our amazing harvest of corn, squash, beets, wheat and more!
You are invited to get FREE SEED from the 200+ varieties of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and grains in our Seed Library. All seeds were grown out in our Seed Garden or in other parts of Sonoma County. We hope you will grow some of this stock out to seed and return it to us next year. If you are already a seed saver, please consider donating some of your seeds to us.
St. Stephen's Church, 500 Robinson Rd, Sebastopol


Celebrate Black History Month and the Legacy of the Black Panther Party!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
7:00pm until 11:00pm
at the Bobby Bowen Community Progressive Center [1021 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801]
[https://www.facebook.com/events/1420290021546342/]
Join us for an evening of fun, music, poetry, food, education and memorable quest speakers...
Celebrating the legacy of the Black Panther Party, Huey Newton's Birthday, The Black Riders Liberation Party, Bobby Bowens legacy, and supporting Political Prisoner Jalil Muntaqim's Struggle for Freedom!
"All Power to the People"!
Sponsored by the Commemoration Committee for the Black Panther Party & Bay Area CA Solidarity for Jalil Muntaqim.



4th Month Anniversary of Andy's Killing - Potluck
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Remember Andy at a community potluck and march around the block.
Andy Lopez Memorial Park, Moorland Ave., Santa Rosa


Move To Amend Build Democracy, End Corporate Rule
2014 Sonoma County Ballot Initiative Campaign Volunteer Training
Saturday, Feb. 22, 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Please join Move to Amend Sonoma County by helping us gather signatures for our 2014 Sonoma County “Build Democracy, End Corporate Rule” ballot initiative. We need to gather 25,000 signatures by May 12 to qualify for the ballot.
The Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa


A Tribute to the Hidden Roots of Black Music
Saturday, Feb. 22, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
North Bay Black Chamber of Commerce celebrates Black History Month with a musical extravaganza, wine tasting, soul food, and dancing.
Members $25 and non-members $35 (Save $10 if tickets are ordered by Feb. 8th at www.nbbcc.org)
Finley Center, 2060 West College Ave., Santa Rosa


Public Education: Civil Rights Battleground From Segregation to Privatization

Saturday, February 22, 7:00pm
Door donation $3-5
Home-cooked Southern Dinner served 6:00pm for a $12 donation
New Valencia Hall: 747 Polk St., San Francisco (at Ellis, near Civic Center BART and on #19, #31 & #38 Muni bus lines) Wheelchair accessible, on-site childcare available
For more info: [415-864-1278], [BAradicalwomen@earthlink.net] or [baFSP@earthlink.net]
Recently, Obama addressed the lack of equal access to education for poor students and students of color. But the policy of privatizing community colleges, like City College of San Francisco, would re-segregate schools. What can be done to provide quality, affordable education for all, which Blacks have fought for since the days of slavery?
* Video: The Little Rock Nine—1961 Black high school students’ fight for integration
Speakers:
* Duciana Thomas, Women’s studies major & Mills College graduate, in Radical Women’s Comrades of Color Caucus.
* Allen-Deon Saunders, City College SF student seeking accessible education for all and organizing to save the college's Performing Arts Center
* Bob Price, Save City College SF Coalition co-founder and Chemistry professor who helps students of color majoring in Math & Science
Sponsored by Bay Area Radical Women and Freedom Socialist Party


Free Antione Thomas!
People's Community Medics co-founder Sharena is hosting an event to get support for her brother, Antione, who is serving 65 years in prison. The People's Community Medics can be reached at [510-239-7720] [PeoplesCommunityMedics@gmail.com] [www.PeoplesCommunityMedics.org]
Sunday February 23
4pm
at the Quilombo Social Center (in The Holdout) [2313 San Pablo Ave, Oakland]
[https://www.facebook.com/events/793505720662807].
MORE INFO: [www.freeantionethomas.wordpress.com]
Come show some love and support for Antione Thomas who was brutalized by pigs and is now serving 65 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit
Antione was stopped while driving with a friend and was subject to a cavity search. He filed a complaint against the pigs who did it and two years later he was convicted of a robbery he didn't commit. There is evidence to exonerate him and he needs our support to be able to fight this case.
There will be a screening and some folks sharing their stories
Come donate and show support and enjoy food, art, discussion and hear more about how you can support him and his family.
ANTIONE'S CASE: In 2007 a young black man named Antione and a friend were stopped by police and subject to a public  cavity search in which they were brutalized and humiliated. Antione later filed a  complaint against the officers. In 2009 he was then targeted by police and arrested for a robbery he did not commit. During the trial the judge did not allow witnesses that would have provided exculpatory testimony on his behalf. He was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to 65 years in prison. Your funds and support are needed to help Antione and his family as they try to appeal his case.


Is Orange The New Black?
A Conversation About California Women's Prisons 
Sunday, February 23, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland
Justice Now and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners proudly present a community event to discuss California women's prisons with Piper Kerman, activist and author of Orange Is The New Black.
Piper will be joined by an esteemed panel of activists and organizers in the fight against imprisonment in California, including:
* Misty Rojo (Justice Now and CCWP)
* Theresa Martinez (Justice Now)
* Janetta Johnson (Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project - TGIJP)
* Samantha Rogers (CCWP)
The event will be facilitated by Shanelle Matthews (ACLU of Northern California)
Tickets on sliding scale from $20-$100. No one turned away through lack of funds.
FREE childcare available, provided by the Bay Area Child Care Collective, please email pipereventCA2014 [at] gmail.com to confirm a space.
Any questions or offers of support, please email pipereventCA2014 [at] gmail.com or call CCWP on (415) 255-7036 ext. 4
Wheelchair Access at 411 28th Street.
[facebook.com/events/list#!/events/205481079654211]


JOIN THE PROTEST AT BEALE AFB
For over three years activists have been gathering monthly at Beale AFB, near Marysville, CA, to protest Drone Warfare. This month Col. (ret.) Ann Wright joins us to protest and will be speaking at several local events. [occupybealeafb.org] [facebook.com/events/1408009002784009]
Monday, February 24th
Protest/Vigil: 3-5 p.m. at Wheatland Gate,(Intersection of So. Beale Rd.and Ostrom Rd.)
5:30 p.m. Encampment at Main Gate (N. Beale Rd.)
Teach-in on Jeju Island, S. Korea: Resistance to Military Base
Bring Pot luck dish to share
Alternatives to camping available
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Tuesday, February 25th
Vigil/Protest: 6-9 a.m. at Wheatland Gate(S. Beale Rd. and Ostrom Rd.)
Hear from Col. (ret.)Ann Wright!
Noon: Yuba City College, Room 716, Math & Science Bldg.
2:30-3:45 p.m. Eating Well Cafe, 1908 North Beale Rd., Linda
6-8 p.m. Brick Coffee House, 316 D St., Marysville
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Wednesday, February 26th in GRASS VALLEY
7-9 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
246 S. Church Street, Grass Valley
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Thursday, February 27th in SACRAMENTO
7 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St., Sacramento
Ann Wright is a retired United States Army colonel and former U.S. State Department official who had spent 19 years in the military and 16 years in diplomatic service. She received the State Department Award for Heroism in 1997, after helping to evacuate several thousand people during the civil war in Sierra Leone.
Known for her outspoken opposition to the Iraq War, Col. Wright resigned her diplomatic position in 2003 in protest of Bush’s pending attack on Iraq, U.S. led sanctions and military action destroying the country and the lives and livelihood of millions.Wright was a passenger on the Challenger 1, which along with the Mavi Marmara, was part of the Gaza flotilla. She will be part of a global presence in Palestine's Gaza Strip for International Women’s Day 2014.
Col. Wright has been engaged in drone resistance in Pakistan, Afghanistan,Yemen, and Gaza. In 2013,she spoke on U.S. foreign policy issues in Turkey, Egypt, Ireland, Belgium, China, Japan and Korea.Ann Wright is just back from London where she gave an award to Chelsea Manning at Oxford and met with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy.
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Anti-Drone service of repentance at the main Beale AFB gate, March 5, 6:30am.


COL. (Ret.) ANN WRIGHT CALIFORNIA TOUR 2/22-3/2/14
Endless War, the Pivot to Asia, and Drone Warfare
* Saturday, February 22nd, SAN FRANCISCO (Talk Subject: Pivot to Asia), 1:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco [1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco 94109]
* Monday, February 24th BEALE AFB (Protest/Vigil):
- 3-5 p.m. at Wheatland Gate, (Intersection of So. Beale Rd.and Ostrom Rd.)
- Encampment 5:30 p.m. at Main Gate (N. Beale Rd.), with Teach-in on Jeju Island, titled "S. Korea: Resistance to Military Base". Bring Pot luck dish to share. Alternatives to camping available
* Tuesday, February 25th Beale (Vigil/Protest):
- 6-9 a.m. at Wheatland Gate (S. Beale Rd. and Ostrom Rd.) [www.occupybealeafb.org]
- Noon: Yuba City College, Room 716, Math & Science Bldg.
- 2:30-3:45 p.m. at the Eating Well Cafe, [1908 North Beale Rd., Linda]
- 6-8 p.m. Talk/Discussion, Brick Coffee House, 316 D St., Marysville
* Wednesday, February 26th in GRASS VALLEY, 7-9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains [246 S. Church Street, Grass Valley]
* Thursday, February 27th Talk in SACRAMENTO - Robotic Killing: U.S. and Israeli Drones attacks against civilians, 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St., Sacramento
* Saturday, March 1st Talk in SANTA ROSA (Pivot to Asia): 7 p.m. Santa Rosa Junior College, Newman Auditorium, Emeritus Hall
* Sunday, March 2nd Talk in BERKELEY (Pivot to Asia): 2:30 p.m. Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists [1924 Cedar at Bonita, Berkeley, CA]


Free Trade’s Newest Threat –
The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and What We Can Do to Stop It

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
At the Ygnacio Valley Library [2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598]
Contact [415-255-7296] [carleen@globalexchange.org]
[www.globalexchange.org/events/gx]
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is poised to become the largest Free Trade Agreement in U.S. history, with profound negative consequences for social, environmental and economic justice, as well as basic human rights throughout the world. We don’t know much about the TPP, but the few things we do know aren’t making us feel any better about the whole thing: giving corporations more power, trampling labor rights, and so much more.
Learn what it’s all about, who’s behind it and how we can work together for Fair Trade, justice and environmental sustainability.
Speaker: Carleen Pickard, Global Exchange


RACE MATTERS: Putting Race on the Table Speaker Series
Tuesday, February 25, 4:00 - 6:00 PM
At the TILDEN AUDITORIUM (LCI, Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction), located at 3752 Enos Avenue, Oakland, CA 94619 (enter the gate for free parking)
Backward Mapping to the Headline: "Oakland's African American student outstanding achievement in mathematics"! What would it take to build schools and communities that make the headline real?
Speaker: Ruth Cossey, Mills College.
Race Matters is a FREE speaker series for teachers, principals, students, parents, Board Members, and Community to engage in thoughtful dialogue about race and equity in service of improving teaching and learning.
Sponsored by Oakland Unified School District.
RSVP: [talibahawele.makeba@ousd.k12.ca.us] [510-907-0669]
Give Name, District, School, Grade, Community Status, e-mail, phone number


AMERICAN UPRISING: The Untold Story of America's Largest SLAVE REVOLT
Tuesday, February 25 at 7pm
Revolution Books [2425 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704]
Author, Daniel Rasmussen, discusses his New York Times bestseller, American Uprising, a riveting account of the largest act of armed resistance against slavery in the history of the United States-and one of the defining moments in the history of New Orleans and the nation.
"Breathtaking...  Rasmussen's scholarly detective work reveals a fascinating narrative of slavery and resistance."     - Henry Louis Gates, Jr.



Solidarity with KOREAN GENERAL STRIKE!
Hands Off Korean Workers!

WHERE: Korean Consulate, San Francisco [3500 Clay St., at Laurel St.]
WHEN: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 4:00 PM
For more information and to endorse: Call [415-282-1908] [www.transportworkers.org]
Hundreds of thousands of Korean workers are striking Feb. 25 to defend the basic right to organize unions and their right to strike. In December, members of the Korean Railway Workers Union organized a 22-day strike against KORAIL moves to privatize the state-owned company. The right-wing government of Park Geun-hye sent a battalion of some 5,000 police to surround headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and arrested 138 unionists. Rail workers were fired and their union fined millions of dollars with charges of “obstructing business”. The 5,000,000 member International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is supporting the actions of the Korean workers and the San Francisco Labor Council has endorsed and will mobilize for this united front demonstration.
We, and workers around the world, stand in solidarity with the Korean workers.
We demand:
1) Free all jailed Korean workers
2) No reprisals, rehire fired workers, drop the charges and the fines
3) Stop government repression against unions
4) Defend the right to strike and stop privatization
JOIN THE SOLIDARITY DEMONSTRATION!
Bring your union banners
Endorsed by: Transport Workers Solidarity Committee, San Francisco Labor Council, Inlandboatmen's Union- SF Bay Area,  United Public Workers for Action, Workers World, Socialist Organizer, ANSWER-SF Bay Area, Communist Workers Group, Inter-Union Organizing Committee at CDPH, Labor Video Project, International Bolshevik Tendency, Facts for Working People, International Socialist Organization, International Action Center.


Big Oil Trains: Derailing Community Safety
A forum about increased rail accidents, refinery dangers, and climate change.

Wednesday, Feb. 26th at 6:30 PM
Veterans War Memorial Building, 930 Ward Street, Martinez (@ the corner of Ward and Court Streets)
This is one in a series of panels that you must go to if your are concerned about the safety of our community.  Hear what it was like with the derailment and explosions in Quebec.
How will refinery expansions and transportation of crude oil by rail affect YOUR town?
A panel of experts and activists will inform residents of Benicia, Martinez, Rodeo, Crockett and Port Costa of Big Oil’s plans, both local and global.
Please join our panelists for presentations and Q & A:
* Marilaine Savard [facebook.com/MarilaineSavard]: spokesperson for a citizens’ group in the region of Lac-Mégantic, Québec.  Last year, a string of exploding petroleum rail cars destroyed the center of the town and claimed 47 lives.
* Antonia Juhasz [antoniajuhasz.net/article.php?id=864]: oil industry analyst, journalist, and author of “The Tyranny of Oil: The World’s Most Powerful Industry and What We Must do to Stop It” and “Black Tide: the Devastating Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill”.
* Diane Bailey [switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey], senior scientist at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council [nrdc.org]).
* Marilyn Bardet [youtube.com/watch?v=EgpCKeWaLhk]: watchdog activist for the Valero refinery and founding member of Benicia’s Good Neighbor Steering Committee [beniciatrees.org/about-us/good-neighbor-steering-committee].
* Nancy Rieser [youtube.com/watch?v=6J4HEpU8EQU]: spokesperson, Crockett-Rodeo-Hercules Working Group, challenging Phillips 66 on its Propane Expansion Project.
* Kalli Graham: spokesperson, Pittsburg Defense Council, fighting the proposed WesPac oil terminal.
Sponsored by:

In partnership with:
Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area, Communities for a Better Environment, Richmond Progressive Alliance, ForestEthics, Pittsburg Defense Council, Pittsburg Ethics Council, Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, and the Crockett-Rodeo-Hercules Working Group.
For those in other towns, we have related forums in Pittsburg and Richmond! See [link]


Hoodies Up! 2 years since the murder of Trayvon Martin - 
A Day of Outrage & Remembrance
Wednesday, February 26:  4pm at Fruitvale Bart Plaza in Oakland
We Say No More!
The killing of Trayvon Martin and 2.4 million in prison make clear that there is a whole generation of Black and Latino youth who have been marked and treated as a "generation of suspects" to be murdered and jailed. This is not an issue for Black people alone but for all who care about justice;  it is not a random tragedy.


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