By Doug Porter
Now is as good a time as any to recognize that most humans living in the United States, whether they supported Republicans, Democrats or a third party in the last election aren’t very happy about what’s going on in the Nation’s Capitol these days.
It’s a mistake–I think–to let those who wrap themselves in the flag and let fear guide their moral compass claim the high ground of patriotism. We, the people, are better than that. Let the Fourth of July be an occasion where our better instincts and aspirations for peace and justice set the tone.
As I write this introduction to the Weekly Progressive Activist Calendar, it’s impossible not to notice events of the past day:
- The President is now calling for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, sans even the GOP replacement, a move designed to ramp up suffering for millions of Americans. (Up to 32 Million, by the way)
- The White House Voter (Suppression) Commission is demanding information from the States with the obvious goal in mind of enabling the very thing it is supposed to be investigating. California, Virginia and Kentucky are among the states already refusing to cooperate.
- Questions about possible collusion between the Trump campaign and agents of a hostile foreign power are coming into focus, thanks to an article in the Wall Street Journal. Rumors are swirling the DC that more damning information is on the way.
- The administration’s henchmen tried to blackmail MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski into favorable coverage. Our tax dollars paid for officials to do for this!
- Axios.com (aka USA Today for smart people) reports Trump administration officials made it clear to his ‘America First’ business advisers they’re hell-bent on imposing tariffs on steel from China in the near future. Trump was warned such a move would trigger a trade war, with collateral damage for US allies, including Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Sign available at Etsy.com
All of this brings me to the big event this weekend, namely the Impeachment March. San Diego’s version is one of many scheduled to be held in cities across the country.
I’m hoping people who chose to demonstrate on July 2nd will recognize that it’s no longer just about the boorish buffoon in the White House; our county itself is in danger.
Resistance is about persistence and there remains a lot of work to be done.
So what will you do? Check out this week’s Progressive Calendar listings below. Following those listings are upcoming events of national importance, along with opportunities for organizational involvement.
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. Club meetings will be listed IF there are speakers and they are open to the public.,
Events that are listed on Facebook as ‘private’ or sold out are not listed. In cases where there are competing but similar events or campaigns of the progressive persuasion, I do my best to list everything.
You can now subscribe to the weekly Progressive Calendar. It’s free and we don’t share email addresses with anybody. Scroll down to the end of this column for the link.
Housekeeping Notes: We’re moving. San Diego Free Press is migrating to a new home on the internet (our address will remain the same): all 10,000+ graphics, 7,000+posts, and 29,000+comments accumulated over the five years we’ve been doing this are boxed up and ready to go. As with any move, there are bound to be some glitches. We expect things to return to ‘normal’ by Monday. If we’re lucky, readers won’t notice anything different.
Over the Holiday Weekend: I expect to post a story + pictures about Sunday’s Impeachment March. The Starting Line column will return on Wednesday unless something really earthshaking occurs.
June 30
ERC – June Workshop -Wage Theft & Your Rights
Friday, June 30, 6pm
Employee Rights Center
4265 Fairmount Avenue (City Heights)
For More Information
IS YOUR BOSS STEALING YOUR WAGES? Come and learn about California’s and San Diego’s minimum wage, earned sick leave and other types of laws about your wages.
The presentation is FREE! Presenters: Rodrigo Guevara, Esq. and Rafael Hurtado, Esq. from Abogato LLP. Childcare and dinner will be provided To register CALL or TEXT (619) 867-0206
Grand Theft Election: Greg Palast Speaks!
Friday, June 30, 7pm
First Unitarian Universalist church of San Diego
4190 Front Street (Hillcrest)
For More Information (Tickets)
Come join your progressive San Diego community, to hear Greg Palast speak. There will also be a shortened screening of his new film, “THE BEST DEMOCRACY MONEY CAN BUY.”
He’s the author of the New York Times bestselling books, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and Billionaires Ballot Bandits, and Armed Madhouse. In September he released his movie about how Donald Drumpf and his cronies would steal the 2016 election: “THE BEST DEMOCRACY MONEY CAN BUY.” All proceeds for this event support the 89.1 KNSJ radio station and Activist San Diego.
Light Brigade Impeachment March SD
Friday, June 30, 7:45pm
Islands Restaurant (Clairemont Mesa)
7637 Balboa Avenue
For More Information
Come join us on Friday 6/30 to officially kick off the San Diego Impeachment March that will be Sunday July 2nd with an “Impeach Trump” light brigade!
We will be meeting at Islands Restaurant, then walking together to the overpass that is above the 805 on Balboa Ave. Please take the 805, and proceed to take exit 21. It will be the exit for Balboa Ave. Please find a map for your convenience in the discussion section below. There is lots of parking near the restaurant for your convenience.
July 1
Stand with Planned Parenthood First Saturday
Saturday, July 1, 8am
2017 First Avenue (Bankers Hill)
For More Information
Come join us for our monthly counter protest at Planned Parenthood. Clinic on 1st ave. Come any time from 8am-12pm, however we are better in numbers together.
Ship Tours of the MV Farley Mowat
Saturday, July 1- thru July 4, 9-5daily
1492 North Harbor Drive
(North of the San Diego Maritime Museum)
For More Information
Hosted by Sea Shepherd San Diego
Tours of the MV Farley Mowat will be free and open to the public. Sea Shepherd crew will share information about the organization’s work to defend ocean wildlife and habitats worldwide, along with their first-hand experiences as crewmembers on operation Milagro to try and save the endangered Vaquita. Sea Shepherd will also accept much-needed donations to fund the organization’s wildlife missions. Without your continued and generous support we could not do what we do.
Unity Rally
Saturday, July 1, 3pm
Glen Park
2149 Orinda Drive (Encinitas)
For More Information
We will meet at Glen Park for some inspriation and fellowship, then walk to the Hwy. 101 to rally and stand for Black Lives, immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ and demand the ACHA is unveiled to the public with a CBO score. Bring paper products or cleaning supplies to support Heart for Refugees outreach. We are patriots standing for the core values of the America’s people with kindness and compassion.
Meet-and-Greet with Treasurer John Chiang
Saturday, July 1, 11am
7061 Clairemont Mesa Boulelvard
RSVP REQUIRED
You’re invited to a local meet-and-greet with John Chiang, the California State Treasurer and a Democratic candidate for Governor in 2018. The event is sponsored by the Democratic Party and open to all Democrats and friends. Admission is free of charge; food will be available for purchase.
July 2
Impeachment March San Diego
Sunday July 2, 11am
County Building
1600 Pacific Highway
For More Information
Schedule:
11 AM- Rally at Waterfront Park
11:15 AM- Speeches at Waterfront Park
12:30 – March Downtown
1:30 PM- Arrive back at Waterfront Park
Speakers & Performers:
Mohamed Abdallah, Emcee and Organizer
Yasmeen Obeid, Emcee and Organizer
Buki Domingos, Performing “We Shall Overcome”
Lori Saldaña, Former Assemblywoman
Bree Davis, FTW + Liberation
Hugo Castro, Border Angels
Dr. Sharon Elise, Professor of Sociology, Author & Poet
Mark Lane
Francisco Duarte
Betsabe Ramirez
Mona Dibas, United Movement Founder
Karina Frost & The Banduvloons, Performing “This Land is Your Land”
James Elia, Vice President, Minority Humanitarian Foundation
Fayaz Nawabi, Delegate for California Democratic Party
Sarah Kadous, San Diego Young Muslim Democrats
The Brother Burns, Performing “We The People”
Impeachment March Escondido
Sunday, July 2, 11am
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
202 East Via Rancho Parkway
For More Information
Park in the general vicinity of Macaroni’s but please don’t park adjacent to the restaurant. They had security there patrolling the parking lot because they didn’t want their customer’s inconvenienced by us. So just be respectful and give them parking space
Chicanos Contra Trump.
In Solidarity w Impeachment March
Sunday, July 2, 11am
County Administration Building
1600 Pacific Highway
For More Information
Dear brothers and sisters, it’s time to send one more message to Donald Trump! No wall. No immigrant raids. No aggression to Mexico! We are standing up in solidarity with the Impeachment March on July 2nd!
Donald Trump has been in violation of the Constitution from the day he was sworn into the office of President. We cannot abide a Congress that turns a blind eye to the constitutional breaches of our Commander in Chief. We demand that Congress does its job and commences with impeachment proceedings immediately. Donald Trump’s extreme disregard for the Constitution is a profound subversion of the Office of the President. Neither do we feel our country is in safe nor able hands, and we will not quietly ride out a tenure that threatens our democracy and way of life. We demand that Congress stop enabling President Trump through an embarrassing and potentially catastrophic charade of normalcy. The future of American Democracy rests in their hands.
Light Brigade-NO MORE ORCA Prisons
Sunday, July 2, 7:15-8:30pm
Interstate 5, Exit 22
(Clairemont Drive/East Mission Bay Exit)
For More Information
Need 17 people to pull this off, before our big event on July 4th. Please come! Any extra peeps can relieve people holding signs.
July 3
Justice For Nabra: Uniting Against Violence
Monday, July 3, 6:30pm
Balboa Park Water Fountain
For More Information
Please join us in uniting together in love and solidarity during a vigil in honor of Nabra Hassanen. Nabra Hassenen, a 17 year old muslim teenager, was violently assaulted and murdered on June 18th 2017. While her case has been ruled not to be a hate crime, it has occured in a period of rampant and increasing attacks against muslims and other minority groups.
Groups and individuals motivated by right wing and islamophobic ideology have become emboldened by the rhetoric and policies Trump’s nationalist right wing administration. The 6/26 Supreme Court partial lift on the travel ban will only fuel this dangerous trend.
We recognize that the whole community must stand in solidarity against both street based and institutionalized racist violence in order to defeat it. We hope you join us in coming together to discuss actions we can take collectively to help build community and solidarity.
July 4
Protest Sea World – Freedom for all
Tuesday, July 4, 10am
Sea World San Diego
For More Information
A tank is a tank is tank is a tank. The show MUST NOT GO ON. Please join in for the July 4th holiday protest.
2017 Halal Food Festival
Tuesday, July 4, 3pm
Muslim Community Center of San Diego
14698 Via Fiesta (Near Fairbanks Ranch)
For More Information
Hosted by Muslim Community Center of San Diego – MCC and Muslim American Society – San Diego Chapter
San Diego’s First Halal Food Festival – July 4th at MCC. Come enjoy local food vendors cooking fresh cuisine for your enjoyment. Large Eid Bazaar and Kids Program also offered at the event.
Resist Trump Tuesday – Rally at Darrell Issa’s Office
Tuesday, July 4, 10am
1800 Thibodo Road (Vista)
For More Information
Can you think of a better way to celebrate our First Amendment Freedoms than by protesting outside the office of a politician who would seek to suppress them? Neither can I.
July 6
San Diego Progressive Alliance Organizing Meeting
Thursday, July 6, 6:30pm
The Brown Building
4133 Poplar Street (City Heights)
For More Information
We are a newly formed organization of San Diego voters and activists – Progressive Democrats, Green Party members, socialists and those unaffiliated with a Party – which aims to take local government back by electing champions for the people’s cause.
We plan to run and win with candidates who reject corporate funding of their campaigns so that they are beholden only to the people who elect them, and who are committed to putting the interests of the majority of our residents over the profits of the few.
We model ourselves after the Richmond Progressive Alliance in northern California, which took over city government from Chevron and whose successes include increasing the minimum wage, passing fair rent control, instituting increased oversight of police, and promoting green energy.
Human Rights Campaign: Persisting Women – Happy Hour
Thursday, July 6, 5:30pm
Gossip Grill
1220 University Avenue
For More Information
Orange man in a white house got you down? Been looking for a way to effect change? Come get to know the ladies of HRC San Diego and we can be the change together!
Learn about our array of upcoming events and how to get involved. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities NOW for Pride in July and our annual Gala in August!
Help us build a coalition of women here in San Diego so that we can fight this fight united. There is a place for everyone from every background and we can’t wait to meet you.
Women Who Wear Pants
Thursday, July 6, 7:30pm
Mission HillsUnited Church of Christ
4070 Jackdaw Street
For More Information
Come join us for an evening of celebrating women’s power through music! From Monteverdi to the Indigo Girls, we’ll look at some ways women have been given (or taken) power in musical performance. You’ll also hear about the excellent work of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and are the beneficiaries of this recital. We will be passing around envelopes for donations or you can donate online. If you are donating online, please put WWWP in the comment (in honor of) box.
July 8
San Diego Raza Youth Liberation Conference
Saturday, July 8, 10am
San Diego City College
16th & C Streets
For More Information
A free summer youth conference in San Diego to learn about Mexican history, politics, art, & music that never get taught during the regular school year. Join us for a day of great speakers, delicious food, and interesting people from other SD high schools. Go home with a bunch of cool stuff related to Mexican history.
SheFest 2017
Saturday, July 8, 11am
North Park Community Park
4044 Idaho Street
For More Information
SheFest is a woman-centered event that celebrates and supports the talents and contributions of women while fostering meaningful connections within the LGBT and larger San Diego community.
She Fest 2017 will focus on uniting our communities, creating authentic connections and using our diversity to create strength. If you would like to be a part of uniting people, go to www.sdpride.org/shefest for more information
July 11
Speakers Training for SB 562, The Healthy California Act
Tuesday, July 11, 6:30pm
2250 Catalina Avenue (Vista)
For More Information
This is an informational session and training for anyone committed to advocating for SB 562, The Healthy California Act. Being an advocate may involve talking to neighbors and co-workers, speaking at community organizations and town halls, writing letters to editors, calling representatives, or handing out leaflets at street fairs.
We are limited to 40 participants, so please don’t click “Going” unless you have a solid commitment to attending as this will only exclude someone who definitely wants to come. RSVP by clicking “going” on the event page. Also, we can’t order meals for people who click “interested” and don’t give a firm commitment to attending. Food and beverages will be provided by the California Nurse’s Association and the Healthy California campaign..
This event will be hosted by Jim Hesson, CADEM76 delegate and Kathy Rallings, a 10-year veteran advocate for universal health care, who works for the California Teachers Association, one of 150 professional organizations endorsing Healthy California.
Upcoming Big Events
Wednesday, July 12 – Battle for the Net
The FCC wants to destroy net neutrality and give big cable companies control over what we see and do online. If they get their way, they’ll allow widespread throttling, blocking, censorship, and extra fees. On July 12th, the Internet will come together to stop them.
Sign Up Here
July 14-16 – San Diego Pride
Tickets/Information
Other Stuff to Do
Join the ACLU’s People Power: People Power is, at its core, a grassroots member-mobilization project. Through People Power, the ACLU will engage volunteers across the country to take action when Trump or his administration attempt to enact unconstitutional policies or trample on people’s constitutional rights. By mobilizing in defense of our civil liberties, volunteers will build local communities that affirm our American values of respect, equality, and solidarity.
Sign Up For SwingLeft: Control of the House in 2018 will be decided by a handful of Swing Districts, places where the last election was decided by a thin margin. Find your closest Swing District and join its team to learn about actionable opportunities to support progressives—and defeat Republicans—in that district, no matter where you live. Check out SwingLeft here.
Sign Up for Indivisible. All the cool kids are doing it. (Really!)
San Diego Democratic Party Calendar Includes business meetings, chartered club meetings, voter registration events, election information, holidays, and other events of interest to Democrats.
SUBSCRIBE! IT’S FREE!
Looking for some action? The Weekly Progressive Calendar is published every Friday in this space, featuring Demonstrations, Rallies, Teach-ins, Meet Ups and other opportunities to get your activism on.
You can now get the Weekly Progressive Calendar delivered to your inbox every Friday. And it’s Free! Subscribe and get an email every time a new article in this series is posted!
I read the Daily Fishwrap(s) so you don’t have to… Send your hate mail and ideas to DougPorter@SanDiegoFreePress.Org Check us out on Facebook and Twitter.
Doug Porter
Latest posts by Doug Porter (see all)
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Here is a new event that we would love a huge turnout for on July 29th. More details to come.
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Thank you Mr. Porter.