May 2011

RIP Gil Scott-Heron
posted on MAY 31, 2011 by Meredith Fenton
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Gil Scott-Heron was a pioneer of music and poetry who passed away this weekend. His writings and recordings offered sharp critiques and powerful calls to action on social injustice. One of his most well-known pieces, "The Revolution will not be Televised" shared commentary on mass media and people power.

TAGS: Gil Scott-Heron
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A Gap that needs to be filled
posted on MAY 26, 2011 by Abel Habtegeorgis
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African American Male Achievement in our public schools is pretty dismal. At crisis levels if you ask me.  But since we are talking about male students of color, it is not recognized as a crisis by everyone. Everyone except the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).

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Crying out for Peace
posted on MAY 26, 2011 by lourdes duarte
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Earlier this year, a group of 5000 children marched through the streets of Colombia in the city of BarrancaBermeja. The children were protesting violence caused by drug lords killing innocent people. This street rally began with a seven year old boy who had had enough of street crime.

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One California: Many Peoples, One Future
posted on MAY 25, 2011 by Grecia Lima
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Immigrant Day in Sacramento has the feeling of family reunion combined with a big social justice rally.

TAGS: California Domestic Workers Coalition
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Cruel and Unusual
posted on MAY 23, 2011 by Sumayyah Waheed
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TAGS: 8th Amendment
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National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
posted on MAY 19, 2011 by Stephen Downey
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Today is the 7th annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is an opportunity for all of us to talk about HIV, because we are all at risk.

TAGS: National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
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Less Money, More Prisons?
posted on MAY 19, 2011 by Sumayyah Waheed
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On Monday, the Governor released his updated budget for California.  He made some changes, but one thing stayed the same: while services and health care got slashed, prisons got a boost. A $145 million boost. What kind of priorities are those?

TAGS: Books Not Bars
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Happy Birthday Malcom X
posted on MAY 19, 2011 by Owen Li
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Today would be the 86th birthday of Malcolm X aka El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, one of the greatest leaders and public intellectuals in American and world history. I’ve always been inspired and fascinated by Malcolm, especially his sharp intelligence and unwillingness to compromise basic principles of dignity and equality.

TAGS: El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz
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Water Writes in Oakland
posted on MAY 18, 2011 by Abel Habtegeorgis
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Not to far from the new digs of the Ella Baker Center is easily one of the biggest and dopest murals in Oakland.

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The Fate of the Gang Injunctions
posted on MAY 18, 2011 by Meredith Fenton
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Last night, I went to the Oakland City Council meeting. I was there for the discussion and vote on the use of gang injunctions as a violence prevention strategy in Oakland. Earlier that morning, I had met with staff for my councilperson, Libby Schaaf who represents District 4 where I live.

TAGS: gang injunction
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