Community Calendar, 2003

Wednesday, July 30th, 7:00pm-9:30pm
Silicon Valley for Civil Rights, General Meeting

It's no secret that since September 11th, the federal government has engaged in a massive crackdown on civil liberties. Muslims, Arabs, and South-Asians have been rounded up for interrogations, detentions, and deportations. FBI agents have been authorized to spy on political and religious gatherings. And the Patriot Act threatens all of us with its provisions for expanded surveillance and invasions of privacy.

138 cities and counties nationwide have passed resolutions opposed to the Patriot Act and this crackdown on civil liberties. With the Bush Administration about to introduce "Patriot Act II", it is important for Congress to know that there is local opposition. That is why it is critical that Santa Clara County take a stand for civil liberties and pass a resolution against the Patriot Act. We've been meeting regularly, and our next meeting in on Wednesday, June 18th as described above.

Location: 2nd Floor Conference Room
South Bay Mobilization
480 North First St, Suite 205 in downtown San Jose

Tuesday, July 29th, 7:00pm
SBM Movie Night: "Gaza Strip"

A Film Series & Speakers
by South Bay Mobilization

Israel and Palestine:
Into the Heart of the Conflict

"GAZA STRIP" Directed by James Longley, 2002, 74 mins Arabic & French with English Subtitles

[ Click here for more information about this film... ]

Filmed during the first 4 months of 2001, “Gaza Strip” pushes the viewer headlong into the tumult of the Israeli-occupied Gaza, examining the lives and views of ordinary Palestinians. Gaza Strip is essentially an open-air prison for Palestinian refugees, guarded on all sides by the Israeli military. Barely 28 miles long and 4 miles wide, it contains more than 1,200,000 Palestinians -- over one third of them living in squalid refugee camps built in 1948 to hold the people forced out of their homes by the creation of modern-day Israel. The documentary often sees the world through the eyes of young people.

The central character is Mohammed Hejazi, a 13-year-old paperboy in Gaza City, one of the young “stone-throwers” who risk their lives throwing rocks at Israeli tanks across the barbed wire fences.

[ Download the flyer here... ]

Location: 2nd Floor Conference Room
South Bay Mobilization
480 North First St, Suite 205
Downtown San Jose

For more information, call: (408) 998-8504

Saturday, July 19th, 5:30-9:00pm
Fundraiser for Youth Trip to Cuba

Come meet Bay Area youth in an informal gathering at the Union Hall of the Communication Workers of America, Local 9423. The youth are heading for Cuba ("legally") on July 22nd to hook up with their peers to tour the island and participate in the annual July 26th celebrations.

At the invitation of Cuban youth organizations, these young people are making this journey to discover for themselves what the Cuban revolution is all about. They will share their insight with us when they return.

Great Food, soft drinks and Exceptionally fine music will be provided to raise much needed funds to defray costs of the trip-a sliding scale, with a $10 donation (beverages separate), is suggested; no one turned away for lack of funds.

M.C. Louie Rocha, President CWA Local 9423
Entertainment: Latin American Classical Guitar By Kenneth Andrade,
of Cuban Ancestry and Masters degree in Guitar Performance

Date: Saturday, July 19th
Time: 5:30-9:00pm
Place: 2015 Naglee Ave (just off Bascom Ave.)

Contact and Info call James (408) 246-9311 or (408) 832-4869
Labor donated

Directions: (408) 278-9423

Sponsored by Labor Council on Latin American Advancement AFL-CIO,
Santa Clara County Chapter

Thursday, July 17th, 7:00pm
"Stand Up For Freedom - Because Freedom Can't Defend Itself",
with Riva Enteen, National Lawyers Guild and
Samina Faheem from the American Muslim Alliance

What is the PATRIOT Act?
How does it affect you?
What can we do to protect our civil liberties?

Join us and take a stand for what makes our country truly great -- our fundamental freedoms!

Riva Enteen, National Lawyers Guild, Bay Area
Samina Faheem, American Muslim Alliance

Let us not sacrifice our freedoms for an illusory promise of security!


Riva Enteen from National Lawyers Guild, Bay Area Chapter & Samina Faheem from the American Muslim Alliance will talk about how to protect our civil liberties and immigrants rights under Ashcraoft's threats.

Riva Enteen, Program Director of the SF/Bay Area Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild has worked for the Guild for 13 years, and has been an activist for over 30 years. Soon after 9-11, she helped establish the Guild hotline for people contacted by the FBI or INS. Her work continues to focus on Post 9-11 repression, and speaks frequently to community groups about strategies of resistance. Her 13 year old daughter spoke with her at several anti-war rallies.

Samina Faheem, President of The American Muslim Voice, and Co-founder of Fear To Friendship, a group dedicated to subside the fear after 9/11 by forming life long friendships. She is also the coordinator of the Muslim Nationwide Hot line, to help people regarding INS Special Registration and to protect civil liberties for all. Her dream is to help America remain a nation where we all feel at home and welcome.

South Bay Mobilization (SBM) and Silicon Valley for Civil Rights (SV4CR) are a broad-based, grassroots coalition of individuals and organizations deeply concerned about the Bush administration's post-September 11 crackdown on civil liberties. Our goal is to raise public awareness about the Bush administration's civil liberties offensive through education and participation in the democratic process and most importantly, we aim to help Santa Clara County pass resolutions opposing the PATRIOT Act and any further efforts by the Bush administration to erode our civil liberties. Suggested donation $5-$15. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Suggested donation $5-$15.
No one turned away for lack of funds.

Location:
Unitarian Hall, 160 North 3rd Street,
Downtown San Jose

www.siliconvalleyforcivilrights.org
www.southbaymobilization.org
For more information, call (408) 998-8504
Educate, Involve & Mobilize for Peace & Justice

Thursday, July 17th, 1:00pm
Should Free Speech Cost $41,000?

Lockheed Launches Attack
on Freedom of Speech !

Press Conference: 1:00pm, July 17th, Thursday

Anti-war demonstrators over the past few months have focused their protests on corporations that are directly profitting from the War on Iraq. One such corporation is Lockheed Martin, a developer of landmines, depleted uranium, and nuclear weapons, with close ties to the Bush administration.

Fifty-two protesters were arrested on April 22, 2003 at the demonstrations at Lockheed Martin, for practicing their right to freedom of speech and demonstration.

Lockheed Martin, working with the Santa Clara County District Attorney, seeks an unprecedented legal penalty: Restitution to reimburse their company $41,000. They're charging a small group of protesters for the cost of additional security on April 22nd during a non-violent, peaceful protest and demonstration in Sunnyvale.

That would be like charging Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists for the hoses used to scatter their marchers!

Join us at this Press Conference and peaceful protest and take a stand for what makes our country truly great -- Our Fundamental Freedoms. Don't let Freedom of Speech be controlled by Corporations.

We need everyone to come out and support the rights of protesters to speak out without being charged and fined for their dissent.

Defense attorney Dan Mayfield stated, "Charging a group of arrestees for the costs a company predicted they would incur in anticipation of a protest is ridiculous. What if Lockheed had hired $15,000 worth of extra security and no protesters showed up? Who would receive the bill? There is no logical basis for Lockheed Martin to claim restitution from protesters for arbitrary security costs.”

Organizers from South Bay Mobilization and Direct Action to Stop the War, with allies from civil rights organizations and community members, are organizing a press conference in support of the Lockheed 52 and of free speech. The press conference will be held at the Sunnyvale Courthouse on Thursday July 17, at 1pm. The protester’s legal counsel will also be present for questions.

www.southbaymobilization.org
For more information, call 408-998-8504
Educate, Involve & Mobilize for Peace & Justice

Tuesday, July 15th, 7:00pm
SBM Movie Night: "Palestine Is Still the Issue", by John Pilger

Middle East Film Festival & Speaker Series:

"Palestine is Still the Issue" The award-winning, powerful new film by John Pilger. Directed by Anthony Stark, 2002, 53 min

[ Click here for more information about this film... ]

The original link that used to be listed here no longer works. It seems that John Pilger has changed his website domain name to: pilger.carlton.com (At the time of this event, the link was: http://www.johnpilger.com/palestine)

A must-see for those wishing to understand why Palestine has become the most burning issue for today's international human rights activists.

Suggested donation $5.
No one turned away for lack of funds.

Location:
SBM Office conference room
480 N First St. (at Empire),
Downtown San Jose

For more information, call: (408) 998-8504

Tuesday, July 8th, 7:00pm
"Myth and Reality in Israel/Palestine: What the Media Leave Out",
with Alison Weir, Directory of "If Americans Knew"

Middle East Film Festival & Speaker Series:

Alison Weir, Director of 'If Americans Knew', the media watchdog organization known for its recently released studies of the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News.

A freelance photojournalist who traveled throughout Gaza and the West Bank on her own independent investigation, Weir will discuss media coverage of this critical issue -- focusing in particular on the explosive new findings about the Chronicle and the Mercury News.

She will also describe and show photos of her trip, and will give a brief history of the region.
Weir speaks throughout the country, and her presentation is equally recommended for novices and experts on the Israel-Palestine issue.

Suggested donation $5-$15.
No one turned away for lack of funds.

Location:
Unitarian Hall, 160 North 3rd Street,
Downtown San Jose

For more information, call: (408) 998-8504

Monday, July 7th, 7:15pm
"Into the Buzzsaw: The Myth of a Free Press", a talk by Gary Webb, former reporter for the San Jose Mercury News and author of "Dark Alliance: The Story Behind the Crack Explosion". The film, "Fear and Favor in the Newsroom" was shown.

On Monday, July 7, at 7:15pm, "Fear and Favor in
the Newsroom" will be shown at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills.

Are you appalled by the lack of even-handed coverage provided by the U.S.
media? This one hour documentary, which is narrated by Studs Turkel, carefully culls through episodes in the lives of three investigative reporters and reveals what can happen to those who ask the right questions and then pen the answers.

"Tough, Gutsy and Vital" is how the Village Voice describes this super powerful footage which zeros in on the Washington Post and The New York Times.
See www.FearandFavor.org for more details.

Special appearance: Gary Webb, author of "DARK ALLIANCE", will be present to talk with the audience following the video. Winner of more than 30 journalism awards, Webb is best known locally for his investigative reporting for the San Jose Mercury News. In l996 he wrote a multi-edition detailed account about the CIA-- how it raised millions of dollars to fund the Nicaraguan Contras through crack cocaine sales via a Bay Area drug ring to Los Angeles gangs. Come learn what happens once the government starts to push buttons at a newspaper.

There is no admission fee. However, the event is a fundraiser for Lockheed-Martin Direct
Action, so please invite friends. Everyone who donates $25 or more, will receive a complementary copy of the FEAR AND FAVOR video.

Directions:
[ Map showing Foothill College ] [ Map showing Bldg 3500 (library) on campus ]
- Foothill College is located at 12345 El Monte Rd., in Los Altos Hills.
- Exit 280 at El Monte Road and go west. (Moody Road will angle off to the left)
- Follow the road around to the right to enter the parking lot area.
- The documentary will be shown in the large-screen room in Bldg. 3525 in the Center of Campus on the Library side (the Library is Bldg 3500).
- Please carpool and bring two $1 bills for parking.

For further information please see:
http://www.fearandfavor.org

Sunday, July 6th, 2:00pm
Palestinian Folkloric Dance

At Moreland West San Jose Community Center,
1850 Fellbrook Ave. San Jose
408-279-2722

By the youth of Dheisheh Refugee Camp, West Bank

$20 proceeds benefit rebuilding the Dheisheh Cultural Center

Tuesday, July 1st, 7:00pm
SBM Movie Night: "A Case for Reasonable Doubt"

A film on Mumia Abu-Jamal's fight for justice Followed by a talk by Gerald Smith, Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia

Mumia Abu-Jamal is an award-winning journalist. On death row since 1982, he was wrongfully sentenced for the shooting of a police officer. New ballistic and forensic evidence and a confession from one of the killers of Officer Faulkner points to his innocence! Mumia had no criminal record.

Location: 2nd Floor Conference Room
South Bay Mobilization
480 North First St, Suite 205
Downtown San Jose

For more information, call: (408) 998-8504

Tuesday, July 1st, 7:00pm
A Study Group of the Book: "Doing Democracy", by Bill Moyer
The Movement Action Plan Model for Organizing Social Movements

This is a study group for activists and citizens who want to understand how social change movements work and how we can become more effective. Because this is such an important topic for the times we are living in, we want as many folks as possible to join us. If we have more than 20 people, we will divide up into two groups to allow for better discussion (more than 40 and we'll form three groups).

Cost: Donation of $5-50 sliding scale (funds will be used support similar programs)
Time & Location: 7 - 9 pm in Hattie Porter Hall
First Unitarian Church, 160 North 3rd Street
(between St. James & St. John in downtown San Jose)
Register: call: (408) 292-3858 x29 or
email: socialjustice@sanjoseuu.org

Books available: Willow Glen Books, 1330 Lincoln Ave. (408) 298-8141

"If every activist could read this book, victory would be certain.
No book combines such strong scholarship, practical know-how, and
common sense to inform and empower activists for change. Doing Democracy
will be required reading for any course I teach on nonviolence and
social movements."
- Stephen Zunes, Chair of Peace & Justice Studies, University of San Francisco

Sponsored by the Peace Makers Action Group of the First Unitarian Church of San Jose

Patrick O'Connell
Social Justice Program Coordinator
First Unitarian Church of San Jose
phone: (408) 292-3858 x29

web: www.sanjoseuu.org/SocialJusticeCouncil
web forum: data.forumhoster.com/forum_patoc
email: socialjustice@sanjoseuu.org