martes, 8 de mayo de 2012

In Response to 5/4 Column by Chip Johnson, Entitled “Oakland labor march shows Occupy losing power”

In Response to 5/4 Column by Chip Johnson, Entitled “Oakland labor march shows Occupy losing power”

The name of the coalition that organized the march from Fruitvale is Dignity and Resistance.

The event may have included music and other entertainment, but it was Not a parade. It was a serious march of up to 7,000 strong, led by immigrants fighting for their rights and against repression and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE). Others participating included numerous worker and union delegations, such as fired Pacific Steel workers, postal workers, the Oakland Education Association, and Teamsters.

Immigrant rights activists, members of union locals, members of various groups, including Occupy Oakland, Occupy SF, ACUDIR, Oakland Sin Fronteras, and Decolonize Oakland, comprised the broad, bay area-wide coalition from the beginning, helping to plan, organize and build for the march. When the Dignity and Resistance March arrived at San Antonio Park, they were met by chants of “Si Se Puede” (yes we can) by Occupy and others who were waiting for them there.

The March for Dignity and Resistance did not diverge from our route to avoid any grouping, but remained on the route that had been planned. A small contingent of the march chose to skip the rally at the park, and marched on to Dragon Park in Chinatown, but the San Antonio rally included the majority of the marchers, together with much of the Occupy contingent. When the Dignity and Resistance March arrived downtown, still thousands strong, it was met with cheers by Occupy people who were already at Oscar Grant Plaza.

The police violence carried out throughout the day was reprehensible. The Oakland Police Department conducted targeted “snatch and grab” operations, going after people previously identified as leaders or activists in Occupy Oakland, not because of any so-called crime they had committed. Police attacks - including attacks on a thirteen year old child and a woman sitting alone on the steps of Oscar Grant Plaza - were unprovoked and excessive. Our coalition stands against ICE repression and police brutality against anyone in our communities.

The cynical view of Mr. Johnson toward the recent current of activism in the Bay Area is disappointing, with his focus on perceived divisions, rather than the strength of an eclectic, vibrant, regional march.

Coalition for Dignity and Resistance

viernes, 20 de abril de 2012

March for Dignity and Resistance! Marcha por la Dignidad y Resitencia

 

Regional March for Dignity and Resistance

May 1, 2012 

3PM

 



March begins at Fruitvale BART Plaza
Rally, Aztec Dancers, Speakers

March to San Antonio Park
Music, Speakers, Children's Activities

March to Oscar Grant Plaza
Ending Rally

The march will be peaceful and family-friendly*! 

*Bathrooms, children's activities, and kid's snacks at San Antonio Park

  For more info:  MayDayBayArea@gmail.com

miércoles, 18 de abril de 2012

We need help keeping the marchers safe!

VOLUNTEERS TRAINING FOR SAFETY COMMITTEE

WHEN: Saturday April 28th, 2012, 4 PM
WHERE: Clinica de la Raza, 3451 East 12th Street, 3rd. Floor, Room 3B, Oakland, CA - Half block from Fruitvale BART-

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3451+East+12th+Street,+Oakland,+CA&hl=en&ll=37.778313,-122.2226&spn=0.008463,0.013754&oq=3451+East+12th+Street,+Oakland&hnear=3451+E+12th+St,+Oakland,+Alameda,+California+94601&t=m&z=16

NOTE: Bart Parking Lot is FREE on weekends!

*****

ENTRENAMIENTO DE VOLUNTARIOS
PARA COMITE DE SEGURIDAD

CUANDO: Sábado 28 del 2012, 4 PM
DONDE: Clinica de la Raza, 3451 East 12th Street, 3er. Piso, Salón 3B, Oakland, CA - Media cuadra del  BART de la Fruitvale.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3451+East+12th+Street,+Oakland,+CA&hl=en&ll=37.778313,-122.2226&spn=0.008463,0.013754&oq=3451+East+12th+Street,+Oakland&hnear=3451+E+12th+St,+Oakland,+Alameda,+California+94601&t=m&z=16

NOTA: El estacionamiento del bart es GRATIS los fines de semana!

lunes, 16 de abril de 2012

Press Conference!


MEDIA ADVISORY: MAY DAY MARCH FOR DIGNITY AND RESISTANCE

Contacts
English: Rebecca Ruiz-Lichter (415-902-2794) 
Spanish: Claudia Arroyo (415-946-9910) Website: http://mayday2012.blogspot.com/

What: Bay Area Regional March for Dignity and Resistance
 

When: Tuesday May 1st (May Day), 3:00pm
 

Where: Fruitvale Plaza to San Antonio Park to Downtown Oakland 

PRESS CONFERENCE: Wednesday, April 25th, 11am, Fruitvale Plaza 


REGIONAL MARCH FOR DIGNITY AND RESISTANCE
On May 1, 2012, communities from across the Bay Area will unite in Oakland and join together in a regional march for Dignity and Resistance. We will meet at Fruitvale Plaza/BART at 3pm and march to San Antonio Park (Foothill Boulevard, between 16th and 18th) and then Downtown Oakland.
From San Jose to San Francisco to Santa Rosa to Sacramento to Stockton, we are inviting all workers – employed and unemployed, paid and unpaid – to join us in a family friendly, community inclusive march. The March for Dignity and Resistance is being organized by a coalition of activists from a wide variety of groups with different politics and organizing backgrounds. Together we will fight for the life we want to live and build the world we want to live in.

MAY 1st AND OAKLAND

Worldwide the poor, disenfranchised, and communities of color are rising in solidarity and resistance. May Day is International Workers Day, a day for workers across the globe to stand together in unity and celebrate this resistance. The 1886 strike in Chicago, IL (Haymarket massacre) originated International Workers Day, and planted the seed to fight for an eight-hour workday around the world. In the United States, May Day rallies have highlighted the importance of immigrant rights to worker struggles. On May 1, 2012 we will build on current struggles by holding a mass march through Oakland.

Oakland has been a key site of resistance, from the vibrancy of recent struggles to the legacy of the Black Panthers and 1946 General Strike. Oakland is also a microcosm of predatory capitalist oppression, from foreclosures and school shutdowns, to police brutality and deportations, to income inequality and debt. This May Day we are therefore calling on forces from around the Bay Area to converge on Oakland for a massive show of solidarity, to celebrate our Resistance and lay claim to our Dignity. 

###

Internet Outreach! Please Help!


You can help us promote this march from the comfort of you own home.


RSVP to the march and then invite all your BAY area friends!

Goal: 10,000 invites!

We need your help!

domingo, 15 de abril de 2012

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