Affirmative action forum

Thursday, Feb. 19, Miranda Massie, the lead pro-affirmative action attorney in the U.S. Supreme Court's Grutter v. Bollinger case, discusses the significance of the affirmative action victory for the University of Michigan Law School and strategies for overturning California's anti-affirmative action Proposition 209. 7-9 p.m., UC Berkeley, 145 Dwinelle Hall, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk. Free. (510) 502-9072.

Affordable-housing viewing

Thursday, Feb. 19, attend the grand opening of the Northgate Apartments, the new 42-unit "urban village" for low-income to very-low-income residents that was supported by Oakland and the Telegraph-Northgate Neighborhood Coalition and built by the nonprofit Resources for Community Development. Mayor Jerry Brown, Councilmember Henry Chang, and residents participate in the creation of a mural. 3:30-5:30 p.m., Northgate Apartments, 2301 Northgate, Oakl. (510) 841-4410, ext. 10.

Free 'Free'

Thursday, Feb. 19, support political prisoner Jeff "Free" Luers, who is serving more than 22 years for incinerating three SUVs in the name of ecological defense in Eugene, Ore. A screening of Green with a Vengeance features footage of Luers in prison, interviews with University of Florida religion professor Bron Taylor, former Earth Liberation Front spokesperson Craig Rosebraugh, and anarchist author John Zerzan. Funds raised help pay legal fees. 8 p.m., Artists' Television Access, 922 Valencia, S.F. $5. (415) 824-3890.

Stay out late

Thursday, Feb. 19, a special hearing of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' City Services Committee convenes to receive public comment on legislation allowing entertainment events for the 18-and-over crowd to go past 2 a.m. 5 p.m., City Hall, Room 263, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, S.F. (415) 554-5184.

Forum on Central America

Friday, Feb. 20, the Committee for the Globalization of Human Rights holds a forum on the link between the war on terrorism and U.S. Central American policy. 6 p.m., New Valencia Hall, 1908 Mission, S.F. $5-$10 suggested donation. (415) 452-6716.

Party against Prop. J

Friday, Feb. 20, help raise funds for the No on Proposition J campaign at a benefit with music by DJ Laird and Farma, poetry by Tom Domar, guest speakers, and an all-ages room. 7 p.m., StudioZ.tv, 314 11th St., S.F. $8-$20 sliding scale. (415) 252-7666.

Register absentee

Friday, Feb. 20, join Sups. Matt Gonzalez and Jake McGoldrick for an absentee-voter registration party that features a discussion of local politics and live bands. 8-10 p.m., Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California, S.F. Free. (415) 386-2706.

Support grocery workers

Friday, Feb. 20, learn about what it's like on the front lines of the United Food and Commercial Workers strike and help raise money for grocery store employees who have lost wages, at this benefit and video screening of strike events. 7:30 p.m., Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakl. $5. (510) 655-5764.

Book-launch party

Saturday, Feb. 21, local writer and Bay Guardian contributor Michelle Tea reads at this launch party for Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing up Working Class, featuring contributions by Dorothy Allison, Diane Di Prima, Daisy Hernandez, and others. 7 p.m., AK Press, 674A 23rd St., Oakl. Free. (510) 208-1700.

Celebrate the living wage

Saturday, Feb. 21, on the night before the new $8.50 minimum wage takes effect, the Living Wage Coalition sponsors a party with the bands Marzipan, Toy House, and Beawolf. Special guest and legislative sponsor Sup. Matt Gonzalez makes an appearance. 7 p.m., 522 Valencia, S.F. $5. (415) 863-5543.

Freedom of choice

Saturday, Feb. 21, join a discussion, organized by Radical Women, about the role young women of color played in the abortion rights movement of the late 1960s and help build a revolutionary feminist contingent for the "Save Women's Lives: March for Freedom of Choice" rally to be held in Washington, D.C., in April. 1 p.m., New Valencia Hall, 1908 Mission, S.F. Free. (415) 864-1278.

Prison activist benefit

Saturday, Feb. 21, the Prison Activist Resource Center holds a benefit and 19th-anniversary party with performances by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, DJ Sake-1, Luis Monterossa, Baby Jaymes, and Raw Knowledge. 6-9 p.m., Baobab, 3388 19th St., S.F. $10-$15 suggested donation. (415) 643-3558.

Public safety meeting

Saturday, Feb. 21, Sup. Gerardo Sandoval holds a town hall meeting to address public safety issues in District 11, with members of the fire and police departments in attendance. 10 a.m.-noon, Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center, 650 Capitol, S.F. (415) 554-6975.

Revisiting internment

Saturday, Feb. 21, attend a screening of Rabbit in the Moon, Emiko Omori's film about the memories and histories of Japanese Americans interned during World War II. Mills College professors Margo Okazawa-Rey and Vivian Chin lead a discussion. 1 p.m., Mills College, Danforth Hall, 5000 MacArthur, Oakl. Free. (510) 430-2080.

Richmond town hall meeting

Saturday, Feb. 21, Sup. Jake McGoldrick holds a town hall meeting for District One residents to discuss city efforts to create a "pedestrian master plan." 10 a.m.-noon, Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Ave., S.F. (415) 554-7410.

No on Prop. J

Saturday, Feb. 21-Sunday, Feb. 22, campaign against the Workforce Housing Initiative (Proposition J) at this mobilization and waffle breakfast. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 1751 Mission, S.F. (415) 864-1316.

Left on the move

Sunday, Feb. 22, attend "First Conference for a New Progressive Left Movement in San Francisco," an all-points convergence of Bay Area leftist and progressive groups, including Frontlines newspaper, the San Francisco Green Party, the Immigrant Rights Movement, and many others. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (registration and breakfast 9 a.m.), Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. $10 (includes small breakfast and lunch), no one turned away for lack of funds. (415) 452-9992.

Bay Bridge bike lane

Monday, Feb. 23, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition meets to plan lobbying efforts to create a Bay Bridge bike lane during the east-span reconstruction. 6 p.m., San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, 1095 Market, S.F. josh@sfbike.org.

Corporations out of Iraq

Tuesday, Feb. 24, join a nonviolent and legal protest of Iraq reconstruction contracts with U.S. businesses and support the labor rights of Iraqis, with the American Friends Service Committee, American Muslim Voice, and other organizations. Noon, Bechtel Corp. headquarters, 50 Beale, S.F. (415) 575-5552.