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2018 August

Monthly Archives: August 2018

Be prepared for natural disasters

by Marisol Beas, California Black Media California is often portrayed in the media as a utopian state with fantastic weather year-round, serene beaches and scenic...

Arrest the president! Sue the government! Our Nia, our purpose will never die!

Let me be the first to say it: Nia Wilson would be alive today if somebody else had been elected president in 2016! The man arrested for Nia’s murder was not alone. He had an accomplice. The president was not there in person Sunday night, July 22, at the MacArthur BART subway station when Nia Wilson was brutally stabbed to death and her sister viciously attacked, but his spirit was.

SFCTA seeks planning and technical services for the ConnectSF Streets and Freeways Study

  REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONNECTSF PLANNING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES (RFP 18/19-01) Notice is hereby given that the San Francisco County Transportation Authority is requesting proposals...

Sam Jordan’s Way celebrates the first major Black mayoral candidate in San Francisco

A grand sunny day dawned in San Francisco’s Hunters Point Bayvew District for the naming of “Sam Jordan Way,” formerly Galvez Avenue between Phelps and Third Street. Over 150 people gathered for the celebration on Aug. 18. It is fitting that his two sons, Allen and Sam Jr., and baby girl Ruth with other family members were on hand. They pointed out that their father was the first African American to make a serious run for mayor and now we have a Black woman, Mayor London Breed.

Oakland Rising is hiring Voter Outreach Workers, formerly incarcerated welcome – $17 an hour...

Oakland Rising Action - Voter Outreach Worker (temporary, part-time) Oakland Rising Action is a community-led political organization focused on supporting candidates and issues that drive a...

Reminiscing, and acting, this September!

With our planetary situation worsening – from massive flooding in India to Bangladesh, fire-nados raging out of control from Siberia to California and record high temperatures in Scandinavia and the Arctic, etc. – you and your organization are encouraged to join the worldwide RISE FOR CLIMATE JOBS & JUSTICE on Saturday, 8 September. In our region, the march will convene at the Embarcadero in San Francisco, at 10 a.m. This major people’s mobilization precedes the so-called “Global Climate Summit.”

Mario Woods Remembrance Day 2018: Commemorating and celebrating life

On July 22, 2018, on what would’ve been Mario Woods’ 29th birthday, Wealth and Disparities in the Black Community – Justice 4 Mario Woods hosted the Third Annual Mario Woods Remembrance Day. It is our biggest event of the year, as it is our statement to the community and to the world, and most especially to the City and County of San Francisco, that Mario will NEVER be forgotten, and we are so pleased and humbled by the outpouring of love on this past July 22. Our work to seek Justice for Mario and for all victims of police violence continues.

Your first day of prison is your last day of being human

Your first day of prison is your last day of being human. Your life is no longer yours. You are now state property. You BELONG to them now, and they hate you. They don’t recognize your humanity or dignity. You’re locked in crowded holding pens, forced to piss and shit without modesty. You’re stripped butt naked in front of everyone else and forced to show the guard your asshole. You’re shackled, hands and feet, to others like a human centipede of anguish and hopelessness. You no longer have a name but you’re given a number, a catalog number.

Reports back from the first week of the 2018 National Prison Strike

Prisoners are rising up in institutions across the country – and now internationally – in protest of the living and working conditions in the prisons. The first week of the strike has just come to an end and we have seen a substantial wave of success. The mainstream media attention on the strike has been monumentally greater than we have ever seen in the past. Along with this, the public narrative towards prisoners has changed dramatically. The public eye is focused on securing and protecting prisoners’ rights. We are also committed to highlighting the injustices that are inherent to our criminal justice system.

Hunters Point Shipyard: A few caring people are changing the world

Once upon a time … in a reality far, far away … Amy D.C. Brownell, PE, a licensed professional engineer with the Environmental Division of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH), accepted the mandate to protect human health and the environment as a permanent regulator seated on the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) of the Hunters Point Shipyard, a federal Superfund site. RABs are democratically elected bodies created by Congress to empower community stakeholders with the opportunity to direct the cleanup and reuse of former military installations.

Celebration of the Life of Richard Brown

Richard Edward Brown was a father, grandfather, friend and revolutionary. Richard resided in San Francisco beginning at a young age and joined the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. He served and protected his community and his people in it. There was a creed the Panthers lived by called the 10 Point Program. The very first point described Richard and his life: “Point One: We want Freedom. We want the power to determine the destiny of our Black Community.”

Uganda Krip-Hop Nation journalist Ronnie Ronnie beaten, tortured by police, recovering at home

On Friday, Aug. 10, Ronald Muwanga, commonly called Ronnie Ronnie, a member of Krip Hop Nation Worldwide and founder of the Krip Hop chapter in Uganda, was arrested, beaten and tortured with a colleague, Herbert Zziwa, he works with at NTV Uganda, a national television station. The duo was covering the scene where a driver for a Member of Parliament was shot dead by presidential security personnel.

Fall 2018 EcoApprentice Program: Do great community work in Bayview Hunters Point!

Fall 2018 EcoApprentice Program Are you between the ages of 14-24 years? Interested in doing great community work in Bayview? Want to learn how to work in...

Medicare and Medicaid, a major gift of the Civil Rights movement

I recently finished reading David Barton Smith’s book, “The Power to Heal, Civil Rights, Medicare, and the Struggle to Transform America’s Health Care System.” It is an excellent history of healthcare in the United States, particularly in the 1950s and ‘60s. For me, as a longtime Medicare for All advocate, the book also provided insight about our continuing struggle to achieve better healthcare in the U.S. at a lower cost for everyone.

Nelson Mandela Day: Building a new type of unity

The basis for the Prison Lives Matter Campaign and this demonstration is not only to shed light on the poor treatment and inhumane living conditions that prisoners are subjected to, although we know this is the initial motivating factor for most families and supporters who get involved with the prison movement and demonstrations such as this one. However, the objective is to tie this struggle into our overall class and national struggle against racist capitalist-imperialist domination and exploitation of the proletariat.

Large turnout for San Quentin action in support of National Prison Strike

A diverse crowd of around 500 mostly young activists turned out for a rally Aug. 25 at San Quentin Prison. Most came from Oakland, many in two chartered buses, but sizable contingents traveled from San José, Santa Cruz and San Francisco as well. Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, a key organizer of the rally, along with Prisoners Human Rights Coalition, CA, and many other Bay Area activist groups, including Party for Socialism and Liberation, helped publicize the action. The idea for the strike originated with Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, an incarcerated group of prisoner rights advocates.

Lives lost to the institution: No candlelight vigil for Jessica St. Louis

“Nobody should be put out alone into this cold night,” said Benita Turner, mother of Jessica St Louis, who died after being released from Santa Rita County Jail at 1:30 a.m. on July 28. “We want to make sure that we are gathered here to remember that a woman lost her life because this institution thought it was OK to release a young woman at 1:30 in the morning,” said community organizer Sister Krea Cristina Gomez to the large crowd that gathered for the vigil.

Markle’s royal arrival blows lid off Britain’s glaring heritage secret

Over two months have passed since Meghan Markle’s televised royal wedding. And yes, I did look forward to her marrying England’s Prince Harry, youngest son of Prince Charles and the late, internationally loved “people’s advocate” Princess Diana. Tears actually surprised me watching the May 19 event unfold – but not for the standard idolized glitz or glorified upper crust glamour. Britain’s notorious tabloids were mixed.

Community advocate Kelvin Brooks taken from us by asthma caused by the pollution he...

The contributions that Kelvin Brooks the activist, father, brother, uncle and, as the community refers to him, “OG Legend,” made towards the betterment of BVHP and the City and County of San Francisco are countless. The loss of Kelvin Brooks on Aug. 18 from an asthma attack is ironic as he spent hours in neighborhood meetings addressing the toxins in the air specifically in BVHP. The passing of this great leader will cause a deep void of sadness in the community.

UPDATED: Ramona Africa needs our help – now!

The MOVE Organization held a news conference earlier this week to provide an update on the health of its Minister of Communications Ramona Africa. She is the sole survivor of the May 13, 1985, MOVE Massacre. Ramona was unjustly charged and convicted of riot and conspiracy, and served seven years in prison. Ramona has been gravely ill for the past few months. Ramona’s despicable insurance company is throwing her out of the hospital in a few days. Please help so she can survive, heal and regain her strength at home. A Go Fund Me account has been established. Please help.