July 23, 2013 GREENZINE SF Green Party Weekly News and Events https://twitter.com/sfgreenparty https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFGreenParty/ NEWS: 1. Greens Protest at Fundraiser for Congressperson Nancy Pelosi! It was a cold day Sunday July 21 standing in front of 62 Woodland Avenue where a benefit for Nancy Pelosi was held. But it warmed up seeing some 25 to 30 people with placards and banners asking Pelosi to support expanding social security and HR 676 (expanded and improved Medicare for All Act). Some attendees at the benefit offered to challenge Pelosi who refused to give a straight answer to support of hands off Social Security. This was the first ever action known action in San Francisco taken place where Pelosi was fundraising. The inspiration came from someone who said “follow the money’. Denise D’Anne suggested a “Silent Rally”. This was briefly discussed a recent CARA meeting and fostered some interesting ideas. One being that we should bring canned cat food to show what senior would be forced to eat if Social Security were dismantled. The idea progressed into a serious rally. Green Party member Barry Hermanson provided the script for the hand made signs. Denise, Sandra and Barry were all interviewed by KPFA...the only media to show up. It may or may not have significant value but the 62 Woodland house was where Eleanor Roosevelt spent time when she was in San Francisco. FDR’s major legislation was social security signed in 1935. In attendance at the protest were members of Gray Panthers, Single Payer Now, CARA, San Francisco Green Party, Senior and Disability Action and Older Women’s League (OWL). Barry Hermanson intends to run against Congressperson Nancy Pelosi in the 2014 election. 2. The SF Green Party is endorsing Summer Heat...a collaborative effort. No Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. No more life-threatening hazards. No refining of dirty crude. Refining high-sulfur, low-quality tar sands/fracked oil increases greenhouse gas emissions and toxic air pollutants. It also corrodes refinery machinery, which contributes to major industrial accidents. No more tax evasion. We need a just transition from dirty fossil fuels to union jobs in clean energy. Chevron needs to support Richmond’s long-term transition to a renewable energy-based economy that is good for people and the planet. Details for the August 3rd event below. 3. Former Green and beloved transgender activist Jazzie Collins passed away recently. A memorial is being planned for her on August 1 at Mission High School. See more details below in events. JULY-AUGUST EVENTS: 1. Wednesday, July 24 from 7 to 9 pm: SF Green Party General Membership meeting at El Cafetazo, located at 3087 16th Street near Valencia Street in San Francisco. Nearby transit includes the 16th & Mission BART station. Greens usually meet in the very back of the café. There will be discussion about the BART strike. 2. Friday, July 26 from 9 pm to 1 am: Benefit for the Bradley Manning Legal Defense fund at the Cafe Flore kitchen, located at 2298 Market Street in San Francisco. This will be a fun night of DJs, performers, raffle drawings and drink specials in support of Nobel Prize Nominee and Whistle-Blower PFC Bradley Manning. There is no cover charge, but a donation jar will be available for performer tips. Donations will also be accepted for the Bradley Manning Legal Defense Fund (tax deductible.) Cafe Flore’s kitchen is open until 10pm; the full service bar is open until 2 am. Nearby transit includes the MUNI F Line streetcar or MUNI underground. 3. Saturday, July 27 all day: Bradley Manning Saturday at various locations in San Francisco; a decentralized day of action all across the city! There will be banner drops, human billboards, street theater, flash mobs and more. Bradley Manning Saturday will be a day of overwhelming awareness and support for the heroic queer whistle-blower. Organizers are calling on groups to choose a visible location, time and creative action to submit for the day. We will then all converge at the end of the day at a location to be announced. For information on the Bradley Manning Flashmob, contact leez@riseup.net or 415-894-0042. For all other Bradley Manning San Francisco events, contact Michael Thurman at michael@couragetoresist.org or by phone 510-488-3559. Please submit your action, group, time and exact location to michael@couragetoresist.org and it will be added to the action list. http://www.bradleymanning.org/ 4. Saturday, July 27 at 7 pm: AROC Presents PRISONERS & RAMADAN: The Value of Dignity Over Hunger! AROC Iftar and Discussion with Adam Hudson on Hunger Strikes in Guantanamo. Adam Hudson is a freelance journalist who just returned from a 2-week trip to Guantanamo Bay. AROC members will also draw on the connections between current hunger strikes in Pelican Bay and Palestine. Iftar(Ramadan)/Potluck Dinner at 8:30pm. Bring a dish to share. 522 Valencia Street; info@araborganizing.org. 415-994-2496 5. Sunday, July 28: Sunday Streets in the Mission. Table with the Green Party and help register voters. For location and to volunteer, email cc@sfgreens.org. 6. Thursday, August 1 from 5 to 8 pm: Memorial for Jazzie Collins at Mission High School, located at 3750 18th Street in San Francisco. https://www.facebook.com/events/358929460877299/ 7. Saturday, August 3 at 10 am; Summer Heat Protest! Gather outside the Richmond BART station and march to the Chevron refinery. Hear Green Party Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin speak! http://joinsummerheat.org/bay/ **