With rallies in over 830 cities worldwide, a handful of survivors of the Valentines Day shootings in Parkland Florida will have inspired one of the single largest expressions of political protest in history. The March for Our Lives can’t end when the day’s events have concluded.
If there ever was a time when assuming everything will be okay in the long run was a bad idea, this is it. There’s an unhinged man-child of privilege in the White House who is seemingly hell-bent on undermining the ideals most people believe this country was founded on. All forms of bigotry, be they racist, misogynist, or religious intolerance, are now being normalized. History clearly shows the next step on this path will be the state using its power to abet or conduct violent acts against those considered the ‘other.’
Our economy is headed for yet another bubble bursting experience, one that will destroy the existing social compact. The presumption of endless expansion requires finding new gimmicks to create the illusion of economic promise. Whether the next ‘hiccup’ involves the explosion of student debt, another real estate crash, or stock kiting makes no difference. The only guarantee is an economic disaster will happen and most of us will pay the price as long as the Randian mythology of individualism being the only path to freedom dominates the political economy of this country.
And the bad news doesn’t stop there. Our planet has been sending us warning signals for over a decade.
Our children, and by that I mean the young people of this nation, have seized the time. They (and we) deserve a better future, and it isn’t going to happen without a massive effort. This means each and every one of us has to do something.
Activism takes many forms, and I urge you to find a role just slightly beyond what your comfort zone dictates. Nihilism, on the other hand, expresses a lack of concern for others and the world around us. Do us all a favor and don’t share this sentiment.
I’ve published this calendar every Friday for the past two years in the hope that it aid people in seeking out avenues for political action, be it electoral, consciousness-raising, protests, or artistic.
Two last things:
If you have not registered to vote, do so now. Everything you need to know, including how to register online is to be found on this page at the Women’s March San Diego site. Hopefully, someday they’ll do me the favor of listing this calendar in their Activist Resources.
A revolutionary way to learn about local politics: don’t miss the unique forum on the first Sunday in April, hosted by Flip the 49tth activists, listed below.
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.
Democratic Candidates: I will list all non-fundraising events open to the general public. A listing does not imply endorsement. 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.
March 23
ARTtivist Women: Creative Responses to Gender Violence
Friday, March 23, 6:30pm
Pillars of the Community San Diego
6431 Imperial Avenue
For More Information
This presentation will focus on the intersections between art, feminism, and activism. We will discuss the importance of art in social movements, the response of women of Color artists to gender inequality and gender violence more specifically, and why creative forms of expression are crucial to bringing visibility to the challenges women of Color face.
In this hands-on workshop participants will learn about women’s struggles through poetry and visual art created by women of Color. Participants will also have the opportunity to create and share their own artistic work using their words, voice, bodies, markers, pen, paper, etc. in a safe space.
Norell Martínez is a Chicana fronteriza from the San Diego/Tijuana border region. She is an Adjunct Professor at San Diego City College in the Chicana/o Studies and English Departments and a doctoral student in the Literature department at UC San Diego whose work focuses on Chicana, Indigenous and Afro-Latinas.
March 24
March for Our Lives
San Diego, Escondido, Encinitas, Temecula & 835 Other Locations
Saturday, March 24, 10am
Waterfront Park / County Administration Building
1600 Pacific Highway
For More Information
Hosted by SWANAA-San Diego, Women’s March San Diego, San Diego Action United
Link to the official program for downtown event.
The Escondido March for Our Lives will begin at City Hall, 201 North Broadway, starting at 10am.
The Temecula March for Our Lives will be led by Great Oak High School Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Start time is 10am at the Temecula Duck Pond, 28250 Ynez Road
The Encinitas March for Our Lives will be at 10am at Swami’s Playground
Thoughts and prayers are not enough to honor the victims of gun violence. What we need now is action.
On March 24, 2018, students will rally in Washington D.C and in local communities across the country to demand action from our leaders. Join us as we support our students in the “March For Our Lives,” as we fight for an America that is free from gun violence. March For Our Lives is created by, inspired by, and led by students across the country who will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar.
School safety is not a political issue. There cannot be two sides to doing everything in our power to ensure the lives and futures of children who are at risk of dying when they should be learning, playing, and growing. The mission and focus of March For Our Lives is to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues. No special interest group, no political agenda is more critical than timely passage of legislation to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant in our country.
Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Movement
Saturday, March 24, 4;30pm
The Women’s Museum
2730 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 16
For More Information (Tickets)
Join author Wendy Rouse as she discusses her new book, Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Movement. The book describes the emergence of a women’s self-defense movement paralleling the women’s suffrage movement in the early 1900s.
In this #MeToo movement of the early twentieth century, first-wave feminists sought to raise awareness about the sexual harassment and violence that women faced on the street, at work, and in the home. Advocates of self-defense insisted that all women should learn boxing or jiu-jitsu not only to protect themselves physically but to empower themselves psychologically for the political battles that lay ahead.
Women expressed a newfound sense of empowerment through their physical training in self-defense that helped them resist harassment, assault, sexism, and disfranchisement. Self-defense figuratively and literally challenged the power structure that prevented women from exercising their full rights as citizens and human beings.
Meet & Greet with Michelle for Supervisor
Saturday, March 24, 5pm
Private Residence – see Link Below for Info
For More Information (Tickets)
Hosted by Michelle Gomez for SD County Supervisor, District 5
Michelle Gomez is a Southern California native and longtime community advocate with a demonstrated track record of working to uplift our community. She currently serves on both the San Diego Commission on the Status of Women & Girls where she and her fellow Commissioners are leading the charge against human trafficking, childhood homelessness, and domestic violence. She also serves on the Oceanside Housing Commission making recommendations to the City Council on policies pertaining to programs for low and moderate-income housing and homelessness prevention.
Michelle’s vision for San Diego County includes Community Choice Energy which will cut carbon emissions while saving hard working rate payers money on their electric bills. Her comprehensive plan also includes the expansion of health and human services availablility, strengthening fire protections, and preserving open space while protecting private property rights.
North County residents (particularly those in the unincorporated areas) deserve a responsive Board of Supervisors who will honor our county’s General Plan to protect sensitive natural resources while ensuring sustainable growth near existing services and infrastructure.
Second Annual March for Clean Water
Saturday, March 24, Noon
Start: Portwood Pier Plaza – 10 Evergreen Ave (Imperial Beach)
End: Pizzeria Luigi – 717 Seacoast Drive (Imperial Beach)
For More Information
Hosted by Surfrider
Last year, we held a monumental march for the residents of the South Bay who were fed up and frustrated with the constant sewage spills that have plagued their beaches for way too long. Over 180 community members from Imperial Beach, Coronado, and the surrounding areas marched in unity to tell their elected officials “Enough is Enough!!!!”!
This year we plan to do it again! Marchers will gather at the IB Portwood Pier Plaza wearing blue and carrying clean water signs to march down the Pier and then down Seacoast Avenue, finishing up at the end of Palm Avenue to take some aerial shots between the jetties.
After the March, Surfrider will be hosting a volunteer appreciation party for the marchers (and beach cleaners from a Coastkeeper cleanup from earlier in the day).
National City Families for Fair Housing
Saturday, March 24, 9:30am
Kimball Park
East 12th Street (National City)
For More Information
Hosted by Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)
Join residents in National City as we collect signatures to qualify a Rent Control and Just Cause Protection Ordinance for November of 2018.
If approved by majority vote, this measure would approve an ordinance establishing a program of residential rent control. This ordinance would also create a Rent Board, composed of 5 members serving staggered four-year terms, who shall be appointed by the City Council.
The ordinance would include “just cause for eviction protections” which would prohibit a landlord from taking action to terminate any tenancy except under specified circumstances.
March 25
Sunday Phonebanking for Genevieve, Matt, and Dave!
Sunday, March 25, 4:30pm
4015 Park Boulevard
For More Information
Hosted by Get Out The Vote – San Diego
Our phone-banking operation is up and running. Come make calls out of our North Park office or sign up to make calls from the comfort of your home! We are the #BlueWave that will flip San Diego County on June 5th!
We’ve got less than 80 days to raise awareness and generate turn-out for the June 5th election. Get Out The Vote – San Diego is making calls to spread the word about these important races:
> Genevieve Jones-Wright for District Attorney
> Matt Strabone for County Clerk
> Dave Myers for Sheriff
Sailing for a Nuclear-Free World – A Party with a Purpose
Sunday, March 25, 3pm
Peace Resource Center
3850 Westgate Place
For More Information (RSVP)
Hosted by VFP Golden Rule Projec
Veterans For Peace and the Golden Rule Project invite you to a party to support the upcoming voyage to Hawaii and across the Pacific.
See the new documentary “Making Waves: The Rebirth of the Golden Rule.” Enjoy Refreshments, Wine & Beer Cash Bar, Games, and Prizes. Donations are requested, no one will be turned away.
Concert for Gun Violence Prevention
Sunday, March 25, 4pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
4190 Front Street (Hillcrest)
For More Information
Hosted by San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention
The UU Choirs of San Diego will perform Faure’s Requiem in D minor. A free-will offering will be taken with proceeds to benefit SD4GVP
March 27
Community Relations Board
Press Conference & Public Comment
Tuesday, March 27, 5pm
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
5148 Market Street
For More Information
Hosted by Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego
Come join us for a Press Conference and Public Comment at CRB Meeting: Community Speaks Out on the SDPD’s Continued Accepted Protocol – Use of the Chokehold – And, What is going on at the Community Review Board? Please come stand with Racial Justice Coalition
6:00 PM – Meeting of the Community Review Board (CRB) – Public Comment
SDASA Chapter Meeting – New Location!
Supervisor Candidates Forum
Tuesday, March 27, 6:30pm
Elijah’s Restuarant
7061 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
For More Information
Hosted by San Diego Americans for Safe Access
Scott Lewis, Editor in Chief of Voice of San Diego will be moderating SDASA’s first-ever candidate forum!
This means as guests of SDASA you will meet a panel of candidates running for County Board of Supervisor, D4. And, can hear first-hand their individual visions for the cannabis industry and patient access in San Diego County.
Elijah’s Restaurant will be our permanent location and we are thrilled with the great food and wine selection, the oasis of parking and the large, beautiful banquet room!
#Enough – The Uptown Democratic Club
Tuesday, March 27, 6:30pm
Joyce Beers Community Center
3901 Vermont Street
For More Information
In 2017 there were 15549 gun homicides in the USA. In 2017 there were 22000 gun suicides in the USA- 3964 were children and teenagers – 131 children under the age of 11 have lost their lives in 2018 due to gun violence. 557 teens (11-18) have lost their lives in the first 3 months of 2018.
Ron Marcus from San Diegans 4 Gun Violence Prevention/ San Diego Brady Campaign will be our guest speaker. His organization includes a coalition of many San Diego County organizations and individual citizens, who are stepping up to change our laws and prevent gun violence once and for all, through advocacy and education. Ron’s presentation will be eye-opening as well as educational. Learn how you can help to advocate gun violence prevention.
AD78 Women of the Year Celebration
Tuesday, March 27, 5pm
Women’s Museum of California
2730 Historic Decatur Road (Liberty Station)
For More Information
Hosted by Assemblymember Todd Gloria
We have a lot of phenomenal women in the 78th Assembly District. As we wrap up Women’s History Month, please join me for our inaugural Women of the Year Celebration as I recognize some of the amazing women who help make #AD78 be the best district in the State of California.
March 28
Film Screening: The Homeless Chorus Speaks
Wednesday, March 28, 6:45pm
Logan Heights Branch Library
567 South 28th Street
For More Information
In an uplifting and timely documentary airing on various PBS stations around the country this year, critically-acclaimed documentarian Susan Polis Schutz explores the tragic homeless emergency in America through the eyes of a performance choir in The Homeless Chorus Speaks (IronZeal Films, 2018).
The Voices of Our City Choir was founded by professional musicians Steph Johnson and Nina Leilani Deering for people experiencing homelessness and those who support the cause. Their mission is to bring the community together so that each member of society has the opportunity to have their voice heard and celebrated. The choir also creates a space for family, and in The Homeless Chorus Speaks, it’s shown that even suicides have been thwarted because of the friendships that have been formed through the choir.
Schutz interviews 14 members of the Voices of Our City Choir as they open up and tell their stories, leaving viewers with the sense that anyone could be one step away from becoming homeless. One woman shares her story about going blind, which forced her to quit her job and live off only $900 a month from disability—leaving her without options to afford housing. A young woman shares her story about her mother dying from a drug overdose at 23 and suffering from physical abuse by her father. This stripped her away of family safety or security. From people battling addictions to people who are in need of attentive medical care, the film shows that homeless people are just like anyone else.
Mary Ocher on Her North American Tour
Wednesday, March 28, 7:30pm
Grassroots Oasis
3130 Moore Street
For More Information (Tickets)
The Grassroots Oasis is excited to welcome Mary Ocher to our stage, for an atypical Wednesday evening concert.
Mary Ocher is back in North America with her new album “The West Against The People” and its companion release “Faust Studio Sessions”, following a European release tour of 20 countries.
Mary has been persistently creating passionate, uncompromising work, raw, thought-provoking, socially and creatively pushing against the current, dealing with subjects of authority, identity and conflict. Her work is as enchanting as it is polarizing, ranging from traditional folk to raw 60s garage, ambient with ethereal vocals and abstract synths, to experimental pop with African and South American rhythms, when accompanied by her drummers.
AAPI Democrats March Endorsement Meeting
Wednesday, March 28, 6pm
SEIU Local 221
4004 Kearny Mesa Road
For More Information
Hosted by AAPI Democratic Club San Diego
We will be holding our endorsement caucus and voting on endorsements in the following races:
CA Governor
U.S. House of Representatives – 49th Congressional District
San Diego City Council – District 4
San Diego City Council – District 6
San Diego City Council – District 8
Chula Vista City Council – District 1
March 31
Sierra Club ICO Fundraiser
Saturday, March 31, 3pm
Border X Brewing
2181 Logan Avenue (Barrio Logan)
For More Information
Visit our Beer Garden Saturday, March 17th and get to know the Sierra Club Leaders and Volunteers. This is a great time to ask questions, get involved and participate in their raffles with donations by Burger Lounge, REI, Fleet Science Center, Adventure 16 and more to be announced.
*Border X will be contributing a percentage of beer sales during their visit to support the Sierra Clubs efforts to expose kids to San Diego’s finest Beaches, Parks, Mountains and more.
San Diego ICO (SDICO) is an outreach program of the Sierra Club dedicated to providing opportunities for low-income urban youth to experience the outdoors. SDICO’s outings have included camping, backpacking, day hikes, snorkeling and kayak trips. For these trips, SDICO provides the transportation, equipment, and trained adult volunteer staff. SDICO trips combine fun in the outdoors with education about the natural environment and the need to respect and preserve those places. All SDICO activities are provided at no cost to the children or agencies.
Book Talk: “Gaza, An Inquest Into Its Martyrdom”
Saturday, March 31, 2pm
First Unitarian Universalist Church
Bard Hall, 4190 Front Street, 92103
Join The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Research Institute (ADC-RI) and The Social Justice Group welcome Dr. Norman Finkelstein as he discusses his new book “Gaza, An Inquest into its Martyrdom”.
April 1
Flip the 49tth Speed Dating Politics Forum
Sunday, April 1, 4pm-5:30
Del Mar Fairgrounds-Wylande Center
For More Information
This is a unique opportunity for the eight Republicans and five Democrats now running for the 49th Congressional seat currently held by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista. Attendees will be sorted into seating by the first letter of their last name and given Bose™ noise-canceling headphones. Candidates will be seated on a revolving stage. As the platform rotates, the candidates will each have two minutes to give their spiel over a dedicated digital channel while facing each group.
Your host for the event will be San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board member Matt Hall, who, having served through four changes of ownership at the paper, certainly knows about dealing with rotating platforms. A straw poll will be conducted at the end of the event, sponsored by Circuit City Super-Sound Stores. Light refreshments will be served.
April 2
SDPDC East April Meeting: Gun Violence Awareness
Monday, April 2, 6pm
211 East Main Street (El Cajon)
For More Information
Hosted by East Chapter San Diego Progressive Democratic Club
Join the East Chapter of the San Diego Progressive Democratic Club for our April Meeting as we discuss how to support candidates in East County!
A representative from Mom’s Demand Action will be providing a brief on gun violence in America. Immediately following, San Diego County Sheriff candidate Dave Myers, and university adjunct Scott Shaffer will be hosting a question and answer forum regarding gun violence and effective policy.
We will also be highlighting our East County Candidates.
Save the Date
National Day of Action on April 20 to Protect Students Against Gun Violence
March For Science – April 14- San Diego, 2018
Climate Mobilization Rally in Ocean Beach – April 28th
Call to Action if Trump Fires Mueller
5pm the Day It Happens & Thereafter
US District Court Southern District of California
330 West Broadway (Downtown)
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!)
Run For Something: Learn more about running for office
San Diego Democratic Party Calendar Includes business meetings, chartered club meetings, voter registration events, election information, holidays, and other events of interest to Democrats.
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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.
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Doug Porter
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Doug Porter – Your Free Press notice of Events in San Diego is extremely valuable contribution, that helps people connect. It feels good whenever people get to attend meaningful events with others who share common values. Or attend events with others with different values where we have different perspectives, but not hate.
Many thanks for your good work, and keep it up please !