'Independence for who?'

Thursday, July 4, march and rally against U.S.-sponsored state terrorism with the United Front. Gather at 24th St. and Mission 11 a.m., march noon, rally 2 p.m., Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant, S.F. (510) 836-4321.

Teach-out

Thursday, July 4, the All People's Coalition to Stop U.S. Terror and Occupation presents an alternate view of independence, from the plight of indigenous peoples to the struggles of Colombia, with keynote speaker Omali Yeshitela, founder of the Uhuru Movement. Panels and workshops focus on organizing against President George W. Bush's response to Sept. 11. Noon-5 p.m., 2050 Bryant, S.F. Donation requested. (510) 569-9620.

Weekly vigil against war

Thursday, July 4, the American Friends Service Committee leads its weekly vigil protesting the bombing of Afghanistan and the use of terror to fight terror. Noon-1 p.m., San Francisco Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate, S.F. (415) 565-0201.

'Rolling Peace Party'

Thursday, July 4-Saturday, July 6, LaborFest2002 and Media Alliance put on a Fourth of July festival progressive-style, kicked off by Global Exchange founder Medea Benjamin. A celebration of the San Francisco Mime Troupe's 41st season starts it all, with music and exhibitions; day two features film screenings, an antiwar art show, a four-hour live broadcast of KPFA's La onda bajita variety show, and more. On Saturday come early for children's activities, organizing workshops, speakers including S.F. district attorney Terence Hallinan, music by the BushLaden Band and others, and a film and video program. KPFA's Flashpoints will broadcast live on Thursday and Friday at 5 p.m. Thurs/4, 4 p.m.; Fri/5, 4 p.m.; Sat/6, noon, SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan, S.F. Donation requested. (415) 572-6206

'Build-A-Thon'

Thursday, July 4-Sunday, July 7, volunteer for East Bay Habitat for Humanity's Independence Day Build-A-Thon. Raise a minimum of $100 in pledges a day while you raise the roofs of six new homes. (510) 251-6304.

Women in Black vigils

Friday, July 5, Berkeley Women in Black continues its weekly solidarity vigils that began in November 1988 to protest the Palestinian occupation. San Francisco Women in Black holds a vigil to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and U.S. aggression in Asia and Africa. Come clad in black and bearing signs and drums. Berkeley vigil noon-1 p.m., Bancroft and Telegraph, Berk. (510) 845-1143. San Francisco vigil 5-7 p.m., Montgomery and Market, S.F. (510) 434-1304.

The sounds of struggle

Saturday, July 6, celebrate struggle through music in an afternoon of labor videos and music from around the Middle East in honor of the 100th birthday of working-class poet Nazim Hikhmet. The event benefits the launch of the Middle East Radio Project's new program Voices from the Middle East. 2 p.m., Fellowship of Humanity, 390 27th St., Oakl. $5 donation. (415) 642-8066.

'U.S. out of the Philippines Now!'

Saturday, July 6-Sunday July 7, protest U.S. intervention in the Philippines with a conference, rally, and evening of performances by the likes of Kiwi and DJ Owl Boogie and Lady Wonders, sponsored by Filipinos for Global Justice, Not War, League of Filipino Students, People's Coalition Against War, and others. The "Link Arms, Raise Fists" conference includes speakers and workshops on the history of U.S. involvement, war's impact on women, globalization, organizing, and more. Philippines congresswoman Liza Maza will speak at the rally. Sat., conference 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., City College of San Francisco, Visual Arts Building, 50 Phelan, S.F. $20-$30; cultural night 8 p.m.-midnight, CCSF, Ocean Avenue Campus, Smith Hall, S.F. $10, free with conference registration; Sun/7, rally and demonstration noon, S.F. Free. For location and more information call (415) 820-1557.

'Stories under Occupation'

Sunday, July 7, the Al Kasaba Theatre Group presents Alive from Palestine: Stories under Occupation, the dramatic tales of a mother losing her child, a mad pet, a young man's dreams, and other struggles in Palestinian life. The performance is in Arabic with video-projected English subtitles. 7 p.m., Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon, S.F. $35, students $25. (415) 392-4402.

Live from the refugee camps

Monday, July 8, two recent travelers through the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Palestinian refugee camps tell their stories in a participatory dialogue put on by the International Solidarity Movement. 7-9 p.m., San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. $10 donation. (510) 364-5248.

Finance your campaign

Tuesday, July 9, learn how to finance your – or your boss's – political campaign under San Francisco's new public financing law in a first-ever workshop for supervisorial candidates and political activists. Andy Draheim of Common Cause and veteran campaign manager Jon Golinger lead the workshop. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Learning Annex, downtown S.F. (location given at time of registration). $44. (415) 788-5500.

The Rules Committee nominates ...

Tuesday, July 9, the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee holds a hearing on Mayor Willie Brown and Sup. Tom Ammiano's nominees for the Planning Commission and the Board of Appeals. 9:30 a.m., City Hall, Board of Supervisor's Committee Room, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F. (415) 554-5184.

'Garbage and Globalization' part three

Wednesday, July 10, antiwaste activists from the Philippines, India, and South Africa speak on the third-world garbage crisis and the economic processes that drive it. The third in a series, this event benefits the Zero Waste Fellowship, which trains environmental activists from the global south in sound waste management. 7 p.m., Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo, Berk. $5 donation. (510) 527-5555.

Natural Areas Program hearing

Thursday, July 11, the Neighborhood Services and Recreation Committee holds a public hearing on the Recreation and Park Department's Natural Areas Program. Be there to share your vision. 12:30 p.m., City Hall, Room 263, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F. (415) 554-5184.

Police state?