March 26, 2003

Wartime protest actions

Anytime, antiwar coalitions ask for your support at impromptu protests now that the war against Iraq has begun. Go to the War Watch section of the Bay Guardian's Web site (www.sfbg.com) for local and international news about the war, as well as links to antiwar organizations.

Activist memorial

Thursday, March 27, pay your respects to fallen peace activist Rachel Corrie, who died March 16 protecting a Palestinian refugee camp from Israeli bulldozers. Corrie, from Olympia, Wash., was in the Gaza Strip with the group International Solidarity Movement. 7:30 p.m., Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar, Berk. Free. (510) 524-6064.

Civil rights training

Thursday, March 27, learn the dos and don'ts of civil disobedience, including your videotaping rights and what to do if your rights are violated, at an event sponsored by CopWatch. 7 p.m., 2022 Blake, Berk. Free. (510) 548-0425.

Resist hate crimes

Thursday, March 27, join community leaders and residents of the Mission District in resistance to recent racist graffiti expressing hatred toward Arabs, queers, and immigrants. The event features guest speakers, poetry and song, and an all-night vigil. 7:30 p.m., San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. Free. (415) 431-1180, ext. 17.

Anarchist Café

Friday, March 28, the sixth annual Anarchist Café features guest speakers, spoken word performances, a vegan dinner, and an outdoor DJ area. The event benefits the Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair, the Prisoners Literature Project, and the Poor News Network. 6 p.m., 225 Potrero, S.F. $5-$15 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds. (415) 431-8355.

Desalinization hearing

Friday, March 28, the San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission holds a public hearing on the possibility of creating a desalinization plant. Get the information you need and make your voice heard at this important public meeting concerning city water and environmental issues. 2 p.m., City Hall, Room 250, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F. Free. (415) 554-5184.

Anarchist book fair

Saturday, March 29, one of the largest displays of political literature on the West Coast, the Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair returns to San Francisco for the eighth year. With more than 50 exhibitors and authors, including Max Elbaum, Rita D. "Bo" Brown, and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, the fair comes at the perfect time. 10 a.m., County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, near Ninth Ave. at Lincoln, S.F. Free. (415) 431-8355.

Cruise ship pollution

Saturday, March 29, join Bluewater Network activists at a rally and press conference as they launch a grassroots campaign to create awareness of the pollution dumped into the oceans by cruise ships and to put pressure on the industry to stop. 9:30-11 a.m., Pier 35, Embarcadero at Bay, S.F. Free. (415) 544-0790, ext. 14.

Poets on 9/11

Saturday, March 29, the anthology An Eye for an Eye Makes the Whole World Blind – Poets on 9/11 is presented by editors Allen Cohen and Clive Matson. Many of the 120 poets in the anthology, which includes such literary giants as Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Michael McClure, read their poems. 7:30 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 282-9246.

Tenants convention

Saturday, March 29, the Citywide Tenants Convention, sponsored by the San Francisco Tenants Union, aims to identify issues and concerns of San Francisco renters and suggest solutions to the lack of affordable rental housing. Proposals to be discussed include rent rollback to pre-dot-com levels, a rent freeze, vacancy rent control, licensing landlords, and applying 10 percent of rents to equity. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., State Building, 455 Golden Gate, Free. (415) 282-6622.

Corporate people?

Sunday, March 30, how do corporations, as legal persons, have more rights than individuals? Join David Cobb, general counsel for the Green Party of the United States; Marc Kasky, plaintiff in Nike vs. Kasky (currently pending in the U.S. Supreme Court); and other legal experts for an informational event on what is being done in San Francisco to lessen the power of corporations and their threat to democracy. 6-9 p.m., New College Cultural Center, 766 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 437-3425.

Jail training

Sunday, March 30, Direct Action to Stop the War teaches what to do in case you are jailed. The training includes role-play to teach methods for bargaining for fair treatment and covers court and jail-to-court-transition tactics. 1-5 p.m., Cannabis Action Network, 1605 Ashby, Berk. Free. (510) 325-9574.

Octavia Blvd. celebration

Sunday, March 30, celebrate the closure and demolition of the Central Freeway at a party sponsored by the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Transportation for Livable Cities, and others and including bands, refreshments, and a display of plans for Octavia Boulevard. 1-5 p.m., Market at Octavia, S.F. Donations accepted. (415) 431-8102.

Political prisoners in Peru

Sunday, March 30, Antonio Trossero presents a short video, followed by a discussion of Lori Berenson, a U.S. citizen who has been a political prisoner in Peru for more than seven years. Trossero discusses Berenson's situation and what can be done to free her and other political prisoners in Peru. 1 p.m., Fellowship of Humanity, 390 27th St., Oakl. Free. (510) 393-5685.

Love and revolution

Wednesday, April 2, Roy San Filippo, editor of the new AK Press release A New World in Our Hearts: Eight Years of Writings from the Love and Rage Revolutionary Anarchist Federation, reads from the publication and discusses the life and death of Love and Rage, a political organization and program for revolution. 7 p.m., AK Press Warehouse, 674A 23st St., Oakl. Free. (510) 208-1700.

'The U.S. and Germany?'

Wednesday, April 2, Wolfgang Ischinger, German ambassador to the United States, presents "The U.S. and Germany: A Damaged Relationship?," a discussion of the gridlock over the war in Iraq and what it means for the two countries, who, over the past several decades, have enjoyed a rewarding relationship. Check-in 11:15 a.m., program noon, Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market, Second floor, S.F. $12, free for members. (415) 597-6712, (415) 597-6719.