Asians and civil rights

Wednesday, Jan. 30, Howard University law professor Frank H. Wu talks about his book, Yellow, in which he challenges ideas of the civil rights movement as being limited to blacks and whites, tackles stereotypes of Asian Americans, and looks at race relations in the new century. 7:30 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 282-9246.

Racism and media

Thursday, Jan. 31, Maylei Blackwell moderates "Racism in the Media after 9/11," a panel discussion bringing together delegates from the World Conference on Racism and local media makers to discuss racial profiling and anti-immigrant trends in the media, sponsored by Media Alliance and Mission Cultural Center. Panelists include independent filmmaker Ana Bertha Campos, Youmna Chalala of the Arab Women Solidarity Association, activist and journalist Elizabeth "Betitia" Martinez, and Joy Moore of KPFA-FM. 7 p.m., Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission, S.F. Free. (415) 546-6334, ext. 310.

Orientalism unmasked

Friday, Feb. 1, award-winning author, former CBS news consultant, and professor Jack Shaheen talks about media coverage of Arabs and Muslims after Sept. 11 and signs copies of his new book, Reel Bad Arabs. 7:30 p.m., Arab Cultural Center, 2 Plaza, S.F. Free. (415) 664-2200.

Pinochet and bin Laden

Friday, Feb. 1, Juan E. Garcés, former political advisor to Chilean president Salvador Allende and author of the brief that resulted in the indictment of former dictator Augusto Pinochet under international law, speaks about the Pinochet case and its implications for the current situation with Osama bin Laden. Reception 6:30 p.m., program 7-8 p.m., Golden Gate University, 536 Mission, S.F. Free. (415) 285-5067, ext. 12.

'Public Art and Free Speech'

Friday, Feb. 1, cultural workers from Inkworks Press, Art and Revolution, and the San Francisco Print Collective discuss tactics for challenging mainstream views and assess democratic power in an increasingly privatized public domain. 6-8 p.m., UC Berkeley, Free Speech Movement Café, next to Moffitt Library, Oxford and Addison, Berk. Free. (510) 642-1056.

Fight eviction

Saturday, Feb. 2, the Eviction Defense Collaborative holds a volunteer training for those interested in helping tenants fight eviction. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Eviction Defense Collaborative, 433 S. Van Ness, S.F. Free. (415) 431-8831.

Discrimination at Macy's

Saturday, Feb. 2, the Town Hall Coalition sponsors a solidarity picket of Macy's in protest of the chain's firing of Alia Atawneh, an Arab American clerk dismissed from her job in San Jose after a customer berated her because of her nationality. Noon, Macy's, Union Square, Geary and Powell, S.F. (415) 282-1908.

Local challenges to the WEF

Saturday, Feb. 2, the International Socialist Organization presents "Recession and Fightback in 2002: Local Challenges to the Priorities of the World Economic Forum," a panel discussion featuring airport workers, an Oakland teacher, and housing and welfare activists. The WEF is an organization backed by 1,000 of the world's leading corporations. 4 p.m., San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. Free. (415) 765-7670.

Protest the WEF!

Saturday, Feb. 2, protest the neoliberal policies of the World Economic Forum at a demonstration and march organized by No WEF S.F. in conjunction with an anticapitalist convergence in New York. Punk bands Sacrilicious, Shotwell, Running Ragged, and Feelings on a Grid play at an undisclosed location following the march. Gather 6 p.m., Powell and Market, S.F.; march 6:30 p.m. 1-866-206-9066, ext. 6643, or (415) 820-9658.

Peace in the Middle East?

Sunday, Feb. 3, Avraham Friedman of the Jerusalem Institute of Israeli Studies, who advised negotiators on plans for sharing Jerusalem presented at the Camp David summit, discusses possibilities for a common future for Arabs and Jews. 7 p.m., Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, 290 Dolores, S.F. Free. (415) 512-6203.

Civil liberties under attack