Jim Hightower on Sept. 11

Wednesday, Feb. 13, radio commentator and populist firebrand Jim Hightower speaks at a book party for the reader After 9/11: Solutions for a Saner World, sponsored by the Independent Media Institute and New College of California. 7 p.m., New College of California theater, 777 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 284-1420, ext. 301.

Free speech under fire

Thursday, Feb. 14, Palestinian American professor Sami Al-Arian, who was suspended from his job at the University of South Florida after appearing on Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor, speaks at "Democratic Rights, Labor, Palestinians, and the Media," a presentation by the Labor Video Project and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. 7 p.m., 522 Valencia, S.F. $5-$10 donation. (415) 282-1908.

From Palestine to Colombia

Thursday, Feb. 14, Women in Black holds a vigil in solidarity with women activists and trade union leaders in Colombia who have been receiving death threats because of their work for social change. 5 p.m., Colombian Consulate, 595 Market, S.F. (510) 548-6310.

No torture in Guantánamo!

Friday, Feb. 15, protest the inhumane treatment of prisoners of the war in Afghanistan being held at Guantánamo Bay with no access to legal counsel, at a demonstration called by Critical Resistance, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, INS Watch, and various other groups. Noon, Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office, 1 Post, S.F. (415) 285-1055.

'War Times' kickoff party

Saturday, Feb. 16, Steve Williams of People Organized to Win Employment Rights, San Francisco Bay View columnist Frances Beal, Colin Rajah of JustAct, and Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez of the Institute for MultiRacial Justice speak at the kickoff party for War Times, a new, biweekly antiwar newspaper. Childcare and Spanish translation will be provided. Noon-4 p.m., Mandela Village, 1357 Fifth St., Oakl. Free. (510) 869-5156.

Mobilize for Britt

Saturday, Feb. 16-Sunday, Feb. 17, help get Harry Britt elected to the state assembly by walking precincts, tabling, and helping out with other volunteer activities for the Britt for Assembly campaign. 10 a.m., Britt for Assembly campaign headquarters, 2150 Market, S.F. (415) 503-1343.

Palestine solidarity conference

Saturday, Feb. 16-Monday, Feb. 18, learn about institutionalized apartheid in Israel and the occupied territories, the Israel divestment campaign, the post-Sept. 11 Palestine solidarity movement, and more at a conference hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine and sponsored by the Al-Awda Palestine Right of Return Coalition, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Women in Black, Jews for a Free Palestine, Left Turn, and others. Sat/16, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun/17, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. (including plenary session, 6:30-9 p.m.); Mon/18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., International House auditorium, 2299 Piedmont, Berk. $45, students $20-$25, $5-$10 donation for plenary session. (510) 496-1269, ext. 1948, www.justiceinpalestine.org.

Latin America in struggle

Sunday, Feb. 17, the International Action Center, Committee for a New Colombia, Comité 98, San Francisco Zapatista Committee, and others present "Popular Resistance in Latin America," an evening of solidarity including speakers from popular struggles in Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador as well as cultural performances and refreshments. 5 p.m., San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. $5-$10 donation. (415) 821-6545.

Candidate forum

Tuesday, Feb. 19, meet local candidates for secretary of state, Congress, the state Board of Equalization, San Francisco assessor-recorder, Green County Council, and the Democratic County Central Committee at a forum. 6-8:30 p.m., Tenderloin Police Station Community Room, 301 Eddy, S.F. Free. (415) 820-1560.

Clean elections

Tuesday, Feb. 19, the Gray Panthers host speaker Wende Chan of the League of Women Voters, screen Bill Moyers's video The Road to Clean Elections, and facilitate discussions on Proposition O (public money for supervisorial campaigns), instant runoff voting, and other March ballot issues. 12:30-3 p.m., First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin, S.F. Free. (415) 552-8800.

Justice for airport workers!

Tuesday, Feb. 19, Service Employees International Union, Local 790, the Filipino Workers Association, the Labor Immigrant Organizing Network, the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, La Raza Centro Legal, and many others hold a day of action at Bay Area airports in solidarity with 1,200 mostly Filipino workers who face termination owing to a new law that requires all screeners to be U.S. citizens. Noon-2 p.m., San Francisco International Airport, Old International (Central) Terminal, Domestic Departure Area; Oakland International Airport, Terminals 1 and 2, Oakl.; San Jose International Airport, Terminals A and C, San Jose. For more information call (415) 575-1740, ext. 116 (San Francisco), (510) 465-9876, ext. 01 (Oakland), or (415) 820-1557 (San Jose).

Last day to register to vote

Tuesday, Feb. 19 is the last day for new voters or voters who have moved, have changed their name, or wish to change their party affiliation to mail in their voter registration card in order to vote in the March 5 primary election. The San Francisco Department of Elections is accepting in-person drop-offs 10 a.m. through midnight today. San Francisco Department of Elections, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 48, S.F., CA 94102-4634.

'21st Century McCarthyism'

Tuesday, Feb. 19, Critical Resistance cofounder and former Black Panther member célèbre Angela Davis speaks at "21st Century McCarthyism and the Rise of the Global Police State," a panel presented by the Student Peace Action Network and Peace Studies Student Association and featuring professors Diane Shaver Clemens and Jennifer Terry. 6-8 p.m., UC Berkeley, Wheeler Auditorium, Berk. Free. (510) 333-2525.

'Disappeared in the USA'

Wednesday, Feb. 20, protest the unjust detentions, interrogations, and beatings of immigrants after Sept. 11 at a vigil and rally on the national day of solidarity with Muslim, Arab, and South Asian immigrants, sponsored by Refuse and Resist!, INS Watch, October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, and others. Participants are encouraged to wear black and don a blue triangle with the words "Disappeared in the USA." Vigil 3:30 p.m., Mission and 24th Sts., S.F.; rally 4:30 p.m., Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate, S.F. (510) 704-5293.

Prison health crisis

Wednesday, Feb. 20, California Prison Focus holds a speak-out about the inordinate Hepatitis C infection and HIV-Hepatitis C co-infection rates in California prisons, discrimination against infected inmates, and the poor quality of medical care behind bars. 6:30-9 p.m., Quaker Meeting House, 65 Ninth St., S.F. Free. (510) 665-1935.