By Doug Porter
I’m taking a day off from writing today so I can experience a “medical procedure.” It’s no biggie, just a matter of inconvenient scheduling.
None-the-less. I’ve assembled the weekly progressive calendar of events for Friday publication, as I do most every week. Take a look; you’ll be amazed at all the great things progressive activists in San Diego are doing!
Don’t just sit there; Do Something!
Bernie on the Big Screen
Saturday, January 23rd, 2-5pm
North Park Observatory Theater
2891 University Ave
Info & Updates
Join hundreds of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders supporters for a special live broadcast – it’s Bernie on the big screen!
Bernie will be broadcasting at 3:00pm. Come early to pregame at West Coast Tavern for drink specials and delicious foods to mix and mingle with other intelligent humans – just like you!
Point Loma Democratic Club
Endorsements for SD39, AD78 and D1
Sunday, January 24, 6:30pm
Point Loma Assembly
3035 Talbot Street
Updates & Info
It’s the start of this most important election year, and your chance to get directly involved with how our Democratic Party endorses candidates.
All club members in good standing can vote to endorse their preferred candidates. For the state races our club representatives will vote on behalf of the club at the state Pre-Endorsement Conference Region 20 on January 31. You can learn more about the California Democratic Party endorsement process here.
At our January meeting we have three races to consider, with three club members running as candidates. As well as the two state races for Point Loma & Ocean Beach SD39 and AD78 we will also vote on the City Council race for District 1 that covers Carmel Valley, Del Mar Heights, La Jolla, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Hills, Torrey Pines and University City.
– Toni Atkins is challenging incumbent Senator Marty Block for SD39
– Todd Gloria is running for the AD78 seat vacated by termed-out Toni Atkins
– Barbara Bry is running for San Diego City Council District 1
All of the candidates will be present to answer questions from members. This is your chance to help determine who best represents your values. Come along, get involved.
Coalition Launch for Building Our First
Humane Emergency Habitation Cluster
Homeless village in Olympia Washington
Tuesday, January 26, 6pm
Grassroots Oasis
Old Town
Email Info
We’re going to show Mayor Faulconer and the City Council how to get people sheltered from the storm, like decent people ought to do. Fast. Without giving millions to developers and administrators. This is something that’s happening all around the country.
We’re looking to build an organized group of wooden shelters with porta-potties, maybe mobile shower, security, maintenance, etc.
We need volunteers for legal, procurement, construction, logistics and media. We need donations of money, construction materials, bedding and more. And we are going to need people willing to put their bodies on the line to protect this sanctuary.
Be sure to read Jeeni Criscenzo’s article at San Diego Free Press.
January San Diego Chapter Meeting
Americans for Safe Access
Tuesday, January 26th, 6:30-8:30pm
Giovanni’s Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
Updates & Info
We are honored to have local civil rights attorney Bryan Pease speak to us about his plans to run for San Diego City Attorney! Bryan has won over one million dollars in lawsuits against local governments for civil rights, free speech and freedom of assembly violations. Now he is taking his advocacy to voters. Come listen to what Bryan has to say about how he will help cannabis patients if he wins!
Worker Justice Forum: on ballot initiative(s) for a Living Wage
Thursday, January 28th, 6:30pm
Peace Resource Center of San Diego, 3850 Westgate Pl.
Info & Updates
This educational forum is an opportunity to hear the issues and perspectives about a Living Wage from an expert panel, including workers directly telling their experiences. Discover why an economy of well-being and human dignity means improving worker wages and sick days. Learn about the June ballot initiative for $11.50 and possible November initiatives for $15, as well as various ways you can take action to support worker justice. Following the presentations will be a Q&A dialogue. This event hosted by the Peace Resource Center.
Special guests include:
Rabbi Laurie Coskey, Interfaith Center on Worker Justice (ICWJ)
Isela Ramos, Center on Policy Initiatives (CPI)
David Lagstein, SEIU Local 221
Progressive Democratic Club of San Diego
Presidential Endorsement Meeting
Thursday, January 28, 6:30-8:30pm
San Diego Marriott Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real
Info & Updates
Join us for our second meeting! This event will be fully catered with appetizers and drinks (buy your own alcoholic beverages) and we will have a photo booth as well to commemorate the event!
Members will sign the founding document of the San Diego Progressive Democrat Club- a 12 point document that expresses our values as progressives.
We will vote to endorse:
Presidential
District 7
Fight for 15
Clean Elections
We will also be holding a clothing drive to help San Diego’s homeless, so please bring some things to donate, if you can.
We ALL Count with CA Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins
Friday, January 29th, 4am-7am
Golden Hall, San Diego
Info & Updates
Join Speaker Toni G. Atkins, the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, We ALL Count, and Volunteer with Cheli to count the homeless living downtown. WeAllCount enables our region to better understand the scope, impact and potential solutions to homelessness; and empowers our community to qualify for funding that is essential to addressing the issue.
Protest Cattle Industry Convention NCBA Trade Show
Friday, January 29th 1-3pm
San Diego Convention Center
111 W. Harbor Dr.
Info & Updates
We will be standing up for the rights of the cattle at this convention where they learn and honor each other, never thinking about the slaughter of the innocent ones.
Beef is NOT what’s for dinner!
“The Cattle Industry Convention is the oldest and largest convention for the cattle business. The 2016 convention will be the 118th annual convention. The convention and trade show create a unique, fun environment for cattle industry members to come together to network, create policy for the industry and to have some fun! If you’re in the cattle business, then you need to be in San Diego.”
Homemade signs are welcome and cow costumes.
We will meet directly outside the convention center at the first set of stairs, before the first entrance door.
Film Screening: Broken Rainbow
Friday, January 29, 7-9pm
el metate, harvey milk & normal ave, hillcrest
Info & Updates:
A screening of the film Broken Rainbow, exploring the relocation of Navajo folks when federally owned land was privatized for mining exploration. Followed by a discussion of the continued resistance to displacement.
—-
Free vegan pozole for dinner, Hosted by San Diego Indymedia
Bands for Bernie
Photo by DonkeyHotey 
Saturday, January 30th, 5pm
WorldBeat Cultural Center
2100 Park Blvd
Info & Updates
Come rock out at a Bands for Bernie event at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park on January 30th! This event is put on by grassroots volunteers and ALL proceeds go to the official Bernie Sanders campaign. We all know Bernie is running a people-powered campaign, and he’s already received a record-breaking 2.5 million contributions. Let’s continue to fuel this Political Revolution while supporting some of San Diego’s best local artists!
Doors open at 4:30. Bands start at 5:00.
To get in, either donate $10 through berniesanders.com at any time on January 30th and show us your emailed receipt, or donate $10 to the campaign at the door. If you’re looking to get particularly chafed, donate $20, $30, or even $100!
This is an all-ages event with a 21+ beer garden outside (alcohol must stay in the beer garden).
Music Line-up:
- Broken Stems (brokenstems.com)
- Tony Tig (youtube.com/watch?v=dzgBkpY-6mE)
- Jason French (facebook.com/iAmJasonFrench)
- Moves Collective (themovescalifornia.com)
- Neveready (facebook.com/sdneveready)
San Diego Free Press Contributors Gathering
Sunday, January 31st, 1-4pm
Ryan Brothers Coffee
1894 Main St. (Barrio Logan)
Info & Updates
Mingle and meet with SD Free Press editors and contributors. Early birds can come for 1 hour tour of Chicano Park (1-2) led by editor Brent Beltran. RSVP for tour at contact@sandiegofreepress.org.
Then, starting at 2pm SDFP will run a tab for coffee, tea, H2O for those with a name tag at Ryan Bros. We’ll also be doing a book exchange (max 2 books per person). If you haven’t written for us, but think you might want to, come and chat.
Panel Discussion: Political Imprisonment,
The Prison Industrial Complex and Radical Resistance
Thursday, February 4th, 7pm
UCSD Price Center Theater
Info & Updates Free Tickets Available thru Eventbrite.com
The African American Studies Minor at UC San Diego is thrilled with the opportunity to host a panel featuring recently released Black political prisoner, Sekou Abdullah Odinga and Dr. Johanna Fernández, Professor in the Department of Black and Latino Studies at Baruch College in New York City. The panel will also feature special guests Aaron Harvey and Brandon Duncan, two men from Southeast San Diego who were jailed under California Penal Code 182.5, a racist statute that has been used to arrest a number of young Black men for crimes committed by supposed “gang members.” Since their exoneration, Harvey and Duncan have been leading a local grassroots campaign against Penal Code 182.5, gang injunctions, and the prison industrial complex.
Get your event listed: I try to list the next 10 days or so of mostly non-commercial events I think our readers might find of interest. I source my material from social media listings and press releases. In cases where there are competing but similar events or campaigns of the progressive persuasion, I do my best to list everything. (Hint, hint Hillary fans.) Unfortunately, my subscription to the psychic hotline has lapsed so if you don’t tell me or Facebook, etc., about your event it won’t get listed. See my email address below.
On This Day: 1826 – Native American field hands at San Juan Capistrano mission refused to work, engaging in what was probably the first farm worker strike in California. 1963 – The Drifters recorded “On Broadway.” 1973 – The Supreme Court struck down state laws that had been restricting abortions during the first six months of pregnancy. The case (Roe vs. Wade) legalized abortion.
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Doug Porter
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Excellent line up, Doug. Get involved, folks. Who knew so many progressive events were going on.