Fri Mar 10 2017
Revolutionary Organizing Against Racism Conference
ROAR, aka the Revolutionary Organizing Against Racism Conference, is a free two-day event, organized by Northern California
Anti-Racist Action, that will be held on Ohlone Territory March 11 at OMNI Commons in Oakland and March 12th at California Institute for Integral Studies in San Francisco. Organizers write: During these times more and more attention is being paid to those of us who use direct action and hold liberatory and revolutionary politics. We can use this moment not only to inspire others through our actions, but to also inspire with our ideas.
Thu Feb 9 2017 (Updated 03/06/17)
Militant, Anti-Capitalist Feminists Call for International General Strike
Thu Feb 9 2017 (Updated 03/06/17)
International Women's Day General Strike on March 8: Walk Out, March and Demonstrate
On March 8, International Women's Day events are scheduled for Berkeley/Albany, Oakland, San Francisco, Cupertino, Santa Cruz and throughout Northern California. A diverse group of radical feminists issuing a call-out for an international women's strike write: In our view, it is not enough to oppose Trump and his aggressively misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic and racist policies. We also need to target the ongoing neoliberal attack on social provision and labor rights. Let us use the occasion to build a feminism for the 99%, a grassroots, anti-capitalist feminism – a feminism in solidarity with working women, their families and their allies throughout the world.
Fri Mar 3 2017 (Updated 03/04/17)
Anti-Homeless Group Tries to Drive Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs Out of Sight
Fri Mar 3 2017 (Updated 03/04/17)
Janet Fardette of Leveelies Pushes the Idea that “Street Feeding” Keeps People Homeless
Keith McHenry writes: The most common government response to the suffering of those being forced into homelessness is the passage of laws against being homeless. Laws against sleeping, sitting, asking for money, living outside, or what officials call “quality of life crimes” make this bad situation even worse, and make the lives of homeless men, women, and children even more miserable. Another aspect of this punitive response to homelessness is passage of laws prohibiting the public sharing of meals with the hungry. The hope is that hiding from public view the problem of homelessness will make it go away.
Thu Mar 2 2017 (Updated 03/04/17)
The Health of the Bay Area Is at Stake Say Whistleblowers
Thu Mar 2 2017 (Updated 03/04/17)
Bay Area Air Quality Mngmt District Employees Fired For Exposing Destruction of Records
Two Bay Area Air Quality Management District employees charge in a new lawsuit that they were bullied, retaliated against, and fired for exposing the illegal destruction of agency documents that are required to be maintained for a record of the violations of air pollution laws by corporations. They say they had tried to stop the destruction of the documents but that the agency's top managers continued to engage in destroying citations, compliance records, and settlement agreements for air pollution control violations by major companies like Chevron, Shell, Tosco, Pacific Steel Casting, and many other companies.
Thu Mar 2 2017 (Updated 03/06/17)
Anaheim Erupts After Off-Duty Cop Shoots at Students
Thu Mar 2 2017 (Updated 03/06/17)
Youth Rise Up in Protest for Young Man Assaulted by LAPD Officer
The city of Anaheim in Southern California erupted in youth protest on February 22 after Kevin Ferguson, an off-duty LAPD police officer detained a 13-year-old male, dragging him by the collar across a yard, and pulling him over hedges in front of the police officer’s home, before pulling out a gun and firing it into a crowd of students. Soon after the shooting happened, a crowd gathered outside of the officer’s home, taking to the streets while riot police were stationed around the home in order to protect the officer who was inside.
Thu Mar 2 2017 (Updated 03/03/17)
Chief Vogel Admits ICE Agent Embedded in Santa Cruz Police Department
Thu Mar 2 2017 (Updated 03/03/17)
Santa Cruz City Council Votes Unanimously to Change Sanctuary Resolution to Ordinance
Santa Cruz is a Sanctuary City. Following the DHS/ICE raids in Santa Cruz on February 13, SCPD Chief Kevin Vogel claimed the department cooperated with DHS only because they thought the raids were to target violent gang members, and that DHS lied about their intention to detain non-criminal undocumented individuals. During deliberations to strengthen the status of Santa Cruz as a Sanctuary City at the February 28 Santa Cruz City Council meeting, however, members of the public pressured Vogel to admit that an ICE/DHS agent has not only been working closely with, but even given office space by the Santa Cruz Police Department since 2009, and was involved in the recent raids in some capacity.
Fri Feb 24 2017 (Updated 02/27/17)
Call to Boycott and Divest from HP for Profiteering from Human Rights Abuses
Fri Feb 24 2017 (Updated 02/27/17)
Activists Protest HP Enterprise for Profiteering from Racism in Israel-Palestine and U.S.
A coalition of social justice activists demonstrated with signs, banners, and flyers outside the annual RSA cyber-security conference at Moscone Center in San Francisco on February 14 and 15, educating attendees and the public about how Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) enables and profits from Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories, and from racist immigration and incarceration policies in the United States. HPE is a platinum sponsor and participant in the annual RSA Conference. The protests followed last month’s Global Day of Action against HP, with over 150 demonstrations in over 60 countries around the world
Fri Feb 24 2017
Sanctuary for All March In Fresno
About 500 people participated in the Sanctuary for All march in downtown Fresno on February 18. In their call out for the march, organizers wrote: This is the first of many responses to our Mayor’s press conference. Our undocumented community is telling us that they DO NOT feel safe after the press conference. Our county Sheriff continues a close partnership with ICE. We are committed to a Fresno culture that emphasizes the dignity and safety of every Fresnan. We will show that Fresno is a sanctuary community, and communicate to our elected officials that we expect policies and structures that represent our values!
Thu Feb 23 2017 (Updated 02/24/17)
Berkeley Chased Milo Out of Town, Shining National Spotlight on "Alt-Right" Hero
Thu Feb 23 2017 (Updated 02/24/17)
Shortly After Shutdowns of College Speaking Events, Milo Shunned by His Own People
White nationalist Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak at UC Berkeley on the first day of Black history month in a building named after Martin Luther King, Jr. The event on February 1 was cancelled after a large protest erupted outside the Student Union where he was set to speak. Within weeks, a video surfaced in which Yiannopoulos spoke favorably of men having sex with boys and against the concept of consent. Now, Yiannopoulos is facing widespread backlash, leading to the cancellation of upcoming speaking gigs and the publication of his book. Yiannopoulos also resigned his position as an editor at Breitbart News.
Fri Feb 17 2017 (Updated 03/02/17)
SCPD Officer Erik Bailey Named as Killer of Sean Smith-Arlt
Fri Feb 17 2017 (Updated 03/02/17)
Santa Cruz DA Won't File Charges Against Police Officer Who Killed Man Holding Garden Rake
On February 16, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced his office will not file charges against Erik Bailey, the Santa Cruz Police Department officer who shot and killed 32-year-old Sean Smith-Arlt on October 16, 2016. SCPD Officers Erik Bailey and Adam Baker were the first officers to be dispatched to a house on Chase Street that evening after residents called to report a disturbance at the home. When police arrived they say they confronted Sean, who was advancing towards them with a gardening rake. Within 20 seconds they deemed him a threat and opened fire on him.
Thu Feb 16 2017 (Updated 02/17/17)
Raids on Santa Cruz County Immigrant Communities Cause Severe Damage
Thu Feb 16 2017 (Updated 02/17/17)
Nationwide Ramp-Up of Highly Militarized ICE Raids Includes California's Central Coast
What sounded like a garbage truck at first in the dark hours of the morning turned out to be a nightmare for many families in the Beach Flats, Lower Ocean, and Live Oak neighborhoods of Santa Cruz on Monday morning, February 13. Beach Flats residents report hearing helicopters overhead and flash grenades cast into several homes while an unidentified voice (no indication of jurisdiction) on a loudspeaker demanded that "[street address] come out with hands on head" blared. This caused confusion because [street address] is the address to the entire apartments complex.
Wed Feb 15 2017 (Updated 02/16/17)
Monarch Butterfly Population Drops by Nearly One-third
Wed Feb 15 2017 (Updated 02/16/17)
Number of Monarchs Overwintering in California Remains Low
The annual overwintering count of monarch butterflies released on February 9 confirms Monarch numbers fell by nearly one-third from last year’s count, indicating an ongoing risk of extinction for America’s most well-known butterfly. Scientists report that this year’s population is down by 27 percent from last year’s count, and down by more than 80 percent from the mid-1990s. A survey of monarch butterflies overwintering in California shows that the Western population has not rebounded. On the West Coast of California, key sites such as Pismo Beach and Natural Bridges saw lower populations this year than in the prior year.
Wed Feb 15 2017 (Updated 03/02/17)
Fordham University Doubles Down on Students for Justice in Palestine Ban
Wed Feb 15 2017 (Updated 03/02/17)
Civil Rights Groups Condemn New York City's Fordham University Ban on SJP
On January 26, Fordham University reaffirmed its ban on Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). In a letter to civil rights groups, Fordham stated its decision to ban SJP was made because the group had a “singular focus of which is the political agenda of one nation,” “is more akin to a lobbying organization,” and that SJPs on other campuses were “disruptive.” Palestine Legal and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) wrote Fordham, stating the university “misconstrues the facts, misunderstands the law, and ignores Fordham’s contractual obligations to respect students’ freedom of expression.”
Tue Feb 14 2017 (Updated 02/15/17)
Trump Administration Waives Water-Protection Rule for California Oilfields
Tue Feb 14 2017 (Updated 02/15/17)
Safe Drinking Water Exemptions Allow Oil Companies to Dump Waste Fluid Into Aquifers
The Trump administration this week granted requests from Gov. Jerry Brown's regulators to exempt three aquifers in California's Kern County from the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Approval of these "aquifer exemption" applications by the Environmental Protection Agency gives oil companies permission to dump contaminated waste fluid into these underground water supplies. California officials plan to submit dozens of additional exemption applications for other aquifers across the state, including underground water sources in Alameda, Monterey, Ventura, Kern and other counties.
Mon Feb 13 2017 (Updated 02/14/17)
Marchers in Palo Alto Demand Banks Defund DAPL
Mon Feb 13 2017 (Updated 02/14/17)
Eight Banks Funding the Dakota Access Pipeline Protested
Hundreds of demonstrators took their Rolling March and Rally through downtown Palo Alto on February 11. They hit up eight banks that are responsible for helping to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. Things got started in front of City Hall with a rally featuring indigenous speakers Dr. Maria Michael, Hartman Deetz, and Delphine Red Shirt amongst others. Marchers then made their way to Citibank, Morgan Stanley, Comerica, Bank of America, Union Bank, HSBC, Wells Fargo, and Chase banks. To the end demonstrators cried out "Mni Wiconi - Water is Life!"
Mon Feb 13 2017 (Updated 02/14/17)
Lake Oroville Surges Over Emergency Spillway for First Time in History
Mon Feb 13 2017 (Updated 02/14/17)
Dam Maintenance Neglected as Governor Brown Promotes Delta Tunnels
Water from Lake Oroville flowed over the emergency spillway at Oroville Dam for the first time in the reservoir's 48-year history after the water level exceeded 901 feet in elevation on February 11. The water slowly began to flow over the concrete weir of the auxiliary spillway, down a hillside and into the Feather River. After saying the situation was stable and public safety was not threatened, state officials reversed course and issued evacuation orders late in the afternoon of February 12. On February 13, state officials would give no timeline on when the 188,000 evacuees can return to their homes.
Thu Feb 9 2017 (Updated 02/24/17)
A Public Bank for Oakland
Thu Feb 9 2017 (Updated 02/24/17)
Public Bank of Oakland Aims to Serve the People, Use Bank’s Profits for Common Good
Emily Wheeler of the Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland writes:
A thriving local economy is something we all want to see—no controversy there. But we’ve been too quick to accept the prevailing notion that there is a trade-off between that and providing ourselves with adequate housing, health care, or education programs. It’s time to align our fiscal practices with our social ideals. It’s time for the Public Bank of Oakland. On February 9, the City of Oakland hosted a public forum on the potential of the Public Bank of Oakland.
Wed Feb 8 2017 (Updated 02/10/17)
Oakland Deploys an Army of Police and DPW to Destroy Homeless Sanctuary
Wed Feb 8 2017 (Updated 02/10/17)
Mayor and City Administrator Bulldoze Homes & Village of Services for Oakland’s Homeless Residents
At 8:30am on the morning of February 2, at least 80 Oakland Police raided the village. Structures were then bulldozed by the Department of Public Works (DPW). The inhumane action went against the wishes of hundreds of Oakland residents who contributed to building up the sanctuary for two weeks. Sixteen residents, half of them elderly, were displaced. An additional four guests who were seeking sanctuary for the night were also rudely awakened. Two of the evening guests who slept in The Promised Land open air living room, sought refuge because Caltrans had destroyed their encampments down the street.
Protesters and journalists have reached a tentative settlement with the City of Berkeley in a National Lawyers Guild federal civil rights lawsuit over police brutality at a December 6, 2014, racial justice protest. The plaintiffs alleged that they were clubbed and tear gassed for no reason and forcibly herded more than a mile down Telegraph Avenue, from the south campus area into Oakland. The settlement, which is expected to be approved at the February 14, 2017, Berkeley City Council meeting, includes policy changes intended to prevent a recurrence of the police misconduct, and $125,000 for seven plaintiffs.
Tue Feb 7 2017 (Updated 02/10/17)
Trump's Muslim Ban Protested Nationwide
Tue Feb 7 2017 (Updated 02/10/17)
Thousands Demonstrate at Airports as Courts Rebuff Trump's New Immigration Restrictions
On Friday, January 27, Donald Trump issued an executive order banning refugees and other visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The following day, thousands of people began to gather at airports across the United States to protest. At San Francisco International Airport, over four thousand protesters showed up in support of migrants and against the Muslim ban, virtually shutting down the airport. On Monday, courts across the nation began to weigh in, halting parts of the ban in differing regions. On February 3, a US District Court judge in Seattle ordered a nationwide stay on Trump's entire executive order.
Mon Jan 30 2017 (Updated 02/01/17)
End Domestic Violence, Boycott Driscoll's, and Ban Fracking
Mon Jan 30 2017 (Updated 02/01/17)
Hundreds Attend ChangeFest: A Climate Mobilization at State Capitol in Sacramento
A diverse array of Sacramento community groups participated in ChangeFest, a climate mobilization rally at the state capitol on January 21 as part of a week of anti-Trump street protests in Sacramento centered around the Presidential Inauguration. Speakers and musicians covered issues ranging from violence against women, to the Driscoll’s boycott in support of indigenous farmworkers in Mexico, to successful campaigns to ban fracking in San Benito and Monterey Counties, to the No DAPL struggle at Standing Rock. ChangeFest took place concurrently with the 20,000-strong Women's March in the Capitol.
Mon Jan 30 2017
Keystone XL, Dakota Access Pipelines Back on Table
President Trump signed executive orders on January 24 to push ahead with the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. Both projects sparked widespread opposition and protests, especially because of their risks to water, wildlife, climate and people. On January 27, attorneys representing the first ten water protectors arrested in actions against the Dakota Access Pipeline in early August 2016 renewed their motion for a change of venue, on grounds that the state did not adequately respond to their motion and is not taking basic steps to assess bias among jurors.
Sun Jan 29 2017
Anti-Abortionists Countered in San Francisco
On January 21, religious extremists once again held their annual anti-abortion Walk For Life march in San Francisco. They believe holding these events in liberal San Francisco packs a bigger punch because San Franciscans by and large believe that no laws or religion should govern decisions about their bodies, health, and welfare. Every year they are confronted by pro-choice protesters, even though this year there were dueling events in San Francisco. A larger anti-choice event was held in Washington D.C. on January 27.
03/10/17 Conference Aims to Build Anti-Racist Front Against Oppression and Capitalism in Bay Area frontpage | police | race | globaljustice | lgbtqi | womyn | sf | eastbay | immigrant03/03/17 Janet Fardette of Leveelies Pushes the Idea that “Street Feeding” Keeps People Homeless frontpage | healthhousing | globaljustice | santacruz03/02/17 Youth Rise Up in Protest for Young Man Assaulted by LAPD Officer frontpage | police | race | education | california03/02/17 Bay Area Air Quality Mngmt District Employees Fired For Exposing Destruction of Records frontpage | environment | labor | eastbay03/02/17 Santa Cruz City Council Votes Unanimously to Change Sanctuary Resolution to Ordinance frontpage | police | california | us | immigrant | santacruz02/24/17 Activists Protest HP Enterprise for Profiteering from Racism in Israel-Palestine and U.S. frontpage | antiwar | sf | us | international | palestine02/24/17 Protest After Fresno Mayor Lee Brand Says City Will Not Provide Sanctuary for Immigrants frontpage | police | race | centralvalley | government | immigrant02/23/17 Shortly After Shutdowns of College Speaking Events, Milo Shunned by His Own People frontpage | race | globaljustice | education | centralvalley | eastbay | us | immigrant02/17/17 Santa Cruz DA Won't File Charges Against Police Officer Who Killed Man Holding Garden Rake frontpage | police | healthhousing | santacruz02/16/17 Nationwide Ramp-Up of Highly Militarized ICE Raids Includes California's Central Coast frontpage | police | california | us | immigrant | santacruz02/15/17 Number of Monarchs Overwintering in California Remains Low frontpage | environment | california | us | international | americas | santacruz
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Protest Against Palantir ICE Government Surveillance
Saturday Mar 11th 8:00 AM
Downtown Streets Blocked in Santa Cruz During International Women's Day Strike
(1 comment)
Friday Mar 10th 6:44 PM
Court Support: Love and Support for Michael Brewster
Friday Mar 10th 9:33 AM
Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission Unanimously Endorses Civil Rights Ordinance
Friday Mar 10th 8:53 AM
Lyft Drivers Fed Up And Angry Against Settlement Deal In SF
Friday Mar 10th 8:09 AM
Anti-Homeless Architecture — Anti-Homeless Fence at the Post Office in Santa Cruz
(3 comments)
Thursday Mar 9th 7:52 PM
Court Support for DAMN Member Arrested at Houselessness Protest
Thursday Mar 9th 5:49 PM
Trump regime may cut HUD’s budget by $6 billion or more
Thursday Mar 9th 6:08 AM
NLG Sacramento Alert: CHP Recommending Charges for Antifa at Capitol Nazi Rally Last June
(2 comments)
Wednesday Mar 8th 10:50 PM
International Women's Day 2017 Santa Cruz 3-8-17
Wednesday Mar 8th 6:28 PM
Women Stand Up And Speak Out On 2017 Women's Day In SF-Defend Women And Worker Rights
Wednesday Mar 8th 5:08 PM
New California State Legislation Honors The Dignity Of Transgender Prisoners
Wednesday Mar 8th 11:04 AM
Judge Upholds Decision to End “No Otter Zone”
Tuesday Mar 7th 4:39 PM
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Puerto Rico Oversight Board Warns Island Can't Pay Vital Services
Wednesday Mar 8th 12:43 PM
Hey CIA, You Held On To Security Flaw Information—But Now It's Out.
Tuesday Mar 7th 1:54 PM
In condemned remarks, HUD Secretary Ben Carson calls slaves “immigrants”
Monday Mar 6th 9:07 PM
This Week in Palestine, March 3, 2017
Saturday Mar 4th 9:06 PM
Fordham Sanctions Student Trying to Start SJP
Friday Mar 3rd 6:13 PM
On First Day Trump Appointee Rolls Back Protections for Wildlife, Hunters From Toxic Lead
Friday Mar 3rd 5:32 PM
*INFORMANT ALERT* Andrew Clark Darst
Friday Mar 3rd 12:15 PM
Tulane: Uncovering the Racial Legacy
Friday Mar 3rd 8:30 AM
Puerto Rico Requests Continued Debt Lawsuit Protection
Friday Mar 3rd 8:22 AM
HUD Secretary Ben Carson leads subsidized renters & union employees into uncertain future
Friday Mar 3rd 1:57 AM
Far From Gone: A Timeline of NoDAPL and Other Pipeline Resistance and What YOU Can Do
Thursday Mar 2nd 7:49 AM
Landmark Report: Hundreds of Native Bee Species Sliding Toward Extinction
Wednesday Mar 1st 5:25 PM
Puerto Rico Governor Releases New Fiscal Plan
Wednesday Mar 1st 10:07 AM
Mardi Gras in New Orleans - The Black Indian Tradition and struggles with oppression.
Monday Feb 27th 3:07 PM
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JBLM Force Protection Division before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Saturday Mar 11th 10:18 AM
Defend The Spanish Wharfies-Solidarity Rally At Spanish Consulate in SF
Friday Mar 10th 9:04 PM
2017 Black Minds Matter ~ the question is to whom... and why...
Thursday Mar 9th 8:59 PM
The Shortwave Report 03/10/17 Listen Globally!
Thursday Mar 9th 5:12 PM
The "Security Conference" - A Fraudulent Labeling
Thursday Mar 9th 3:43 PM
The CIA May Be Able to Hack You... but JBLM is Monitoring Everything You Do
Wednesday Mar 8th 6:04 PM
Ramsay Posts Ringwall Protocol
Wednesday Mar 8th 12:19 PM
Unemployment and Inequality
Tuesday Mar 7th 7:20 AM
Fukushima Catastrophe at 6: Normalizing Radiation Exposure Demeans Women and Kids and Risk
Monday Mar 6th 6:33 AM
Benjamin Tucker: Individualist Libertarian Market Socialist (Updated 2017)
Saturday Mar 4th 10:57 AM
Humanity, Routines & Laws of Nature
Friday Mar 3rd 7:32 AM
Housing Secty Carson and Energy Secty Perry confirmed with Democratic votes
Friday Mar 3rd 6:08 AM
The Shortwave Report 03/03/17 Listen Globally!
Thursday Mar 2nd 4:18 PM
Open Newswire...
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