September 15, 2019
Thu, 9/19 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Location given upon RSVP
Sliding scale $0-$36
Kavod's Community Safety Team will be leading a training in community safety and de-escalation techniques. This training is designed to learn and practice how to serve in a community safety role at public events that do not rely on the police. Be sure to register for the de-escalation training.
Tue, 9/24, 6-9:30pm
Pawtucket, RI
Sliding scale $5-$50
This brief workshop offers an introduction to the history of Nonviolent Direct Action and its implementation as well as examples of intersectionality within our community/movements, affinity groups and their formation, security culture, consensus decision making, strategy, various tactics, and a discussion on self-care and community care. Registration required for the NVDA training.
Thursday September 19th, 6-9 PM
145 Tremont St
Come phonebank with us in downtown Boston to help all Massachusetts residents, regardless of immigration status, access the basic right of a driver's license! Please bring a laptop/tablet/other Internet device, and sign up here so that we'll be able to contact you with more information.
Straight Pride Parade Synopsis
The counter demonstrations to Straight Pride drew over one thousand activists into the streets against white supremacy and fascism.
As usual, the police supported fascists and violently attacked counterprotesters, causing severe injuries and completing about 36 arrests. Read a statement about the protests and police response here.
As ever, we show up in solidarity with those arrested on 8/31 and ask our fellow white people to consider that this is a reality communities of color face every day. We amplify calls from SURJB partners in other groups:
THE WATERING HOLE, SEPTEMBER 26, 6-7:30PM
Hosted by Community Change Inc (CCI), this is a time to be in community with others who are fiercely committed to anti-racism work and the dismantling of white supremacy. This month our conversation will feature Project 1619. More details when you RSVP.
SURJ Boston is a project of Community Change Inc (CCI), a Boston-based organization shining a spotlight on the roots of racism in white culture with the intention of dealing with racism at its source.
October 4-5, 2019
Lesley University, Cambridge MA
This high energy and caring community space goes deep with concepts of white supremacy, power, privilege, leadership, oppression and the impact of structural inequities. WPS/NE offers learning opportunities for building community, interactive learning and action planning. It is a safe and brave space to seek truth, speak truth and take action. This year's keynotes include:
Knapsack is a multiracial group hosted by Community Change Inc that is committed to challenging the system of racism in the United States and the world. We engage in dialogue, build community, and support the efforts of racial justice leaders and organizations. We are dedicated to the struggle for shared liberation.
Moving From Talk to Action: Find classes and sign up on the WPCR website
New Beginnings Reentry Services is a Boston-based nonprofit that supports and empowers formerly incarcerated women and non-binary individuals as they navigate the challenges of reentering their communities. New Beginnings is starting a Women’s Voices Project/Movement that will focus on barriers women face once released. This fundraiser would allow New Beginnings to begin this program and further serve their community via counseling and support services. As they grow, they hope to establish a house for an 18 month residential program. Donate today to help us reach $1000 this month!
Our friend Jude Glaubman is collecting retired cell phones for women leaving incarceration. If you have phones in usable condition to donate, get in touch with Jude at jglaubman@thecouncil.us
Are you a quilter? We need quilter to support the national, state-by-state effort for women to receive clemency. The quilts will need to be completed by the end of September. Each quilt will feature the names of women seeking clemency in their state. If you’re interested, email Ashley (ashley.tartarilla@gmail.com).
Looking to feed the movement? Families for Justice As Healing is asking allies to provide meals to support their participatory defense meetings, where people fighting cases get together to plan their legal defenses and find community support. These meetings are based on the model of Mothers in Charge, a Black woman-led organization in PA.
SURJB is seeking meal captains to:
Interested? Fill out the form and if you have questions email Ray at rachelbish91@gmail.com.
Black and Pink’s mission is to abolish the criminal punishment system and to liberate LGBTQ+/HIV+ people through advocacy, support, and organizing.
These drop ins welcome any kind of abolitionist energy, whether reading and entering mail into the database, writing letters, playing cards, or chatting. Formerly incarcerated and court involved people especially encouraged to attend. Cis, straight and/or free world allies are welcome!
Saturday, 9/21, 7pm
Snowden Auditorium University Dr N, Boston, Massachusetts 02122
The monologue "Lolita" is a posthumous tribute to the revolutionary leader and former political prisoner Lolita Lebrón. Even though Lolita passed away only about three years ago, there are still many young people and adults who are unfamiliar with the revolutionary legacy this famous Puerto Rican and independence leader left us.
Saturday, September 21st from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM - JP First Baptist Church, 633 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
Tickets between $100 to $250 (includes admission to afterparty & annual CL/VU membership)
Saturday, September 21st from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM - Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St, Jamaica Plain
$25 Suggested Donation
Saturday, September 28th from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM - The Brewery (upper parking lot), 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain
Free and open to all!
We are continuing to raise funds for the Grahams, who have been organizing with City Life/Vida Urbana to fight an unjust eviction. Our goal is now to raise a total of $10,000 to cover their attorney fees (which were higher than originally expected) as well as a donation they plan to make to City Life/Vida Urbana to support other families who are fighting displacement in Boston. We still need to raise around $2,600 for the Grahams' fundraiser, and your support is greatly appreciated! Please donate here if you can. Thank you!
We continue to urge the Boston Police Department to end its involvement in CVE, including the Youth and Police Initiative Plus (YPIP) program that treats Somali Diaspora youth as potential "extremists." Raise Your Voice: Tweet or post a facebook message -- using #StopYPIP -- if you believe Boston should not treat our communities as national security threats based on religion, race, or where we're from.
Join our network of members fighting the injustice of our racist immigration system of detention and deportation through rides, donations, letters, advocacy, home hospitality, and much more.
Join BIJAN | Donate to BIJAN | Share BIJAN| Host someone thru BIJAN
Wednesday September 26th, 6-8 pm
Jobs With Justice, 375 Centre St, JP.
Participate in this phonebanking event to urge people to reach out to their legislators to support the PROMISE Act and the CHERISH Act. The PROMISE Act would ensure fair funding for K-12. The CHERISH Act deals with fair funding in higher education.
Please email Keri from SURJ Public Ed at kabonney@gmail.com with any questions!
SURJ Public Ed's partner BEJA (Boston Education Justice Alliance) is requesting that folks call these reps to support the Promise and the Cherish Act if they live in their district. We need to fund our public schools and colleges by passing these bills this spring – in time for local communities to include the funding in the next academic year’s budget and in time for public college students to avoid tuition and fee hikes this fall. Students can’t afford to wait. More information is here and a phone script for calling is here.
Chyna Tyler of South End/Lower Roxbury
Chynah.Tyler@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2450
Michael Moran of Allston/Brighton/parts of Brookline
Michael.Moran@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2014
Aaron Michlewitz of Back Bay, Downtown Crossing, parts of Chinatown
Aaron.M.Michlewitz@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2990
Liz Miranda of Dorchester, Uphams Corner, Fields Corner
liz.miranda@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2430
*supports the Promise Act (k-12) but not the Cherish Act (higher-ed)
Kevin Honan, parts of Brighton
Kevin.Honan@mahouse.gov (617) 722-2470
*supports the Promise Act (k-12) but not the Cherish Act (higher-ed)
Know anyone in Wellesley, Weston, or Wayland that is interested in equity in Public Education? Please have them contact Tonya Tedesco (tonyatedesco@gmail.com). In conjunction with BEJA & MEJA, we are doing suburban outreach to win support for the Promise Act.
Western Mass SURJ has been working on a cross-class reparations campaign in close partnership with a multiracial coalition of grassroots organizers. They are collecting reparations payments on behalf of and in coalition with Stickii Quest and ShaeShae Quest, who are Black queer and trans organizers living in Springfield. These payments will go towards the purchase of a house in Springfield in late 2019. Read more about this exciting campaign and DONATE.
BLM Boston regularly works to coordinate financial support for Black women and children fleeing abuse and/or experiencing housing insecurity. Become a monthly donor to BLMB to help them create a pool of resources for urgent needs! PAYPAL for one-time donations is m4blmboston@gmail.com.
Feeling overwhelmed?
Commit to doing just one thing this week.
We can do this.