Stop violence in District Five

Wednesday, Aug. 11, sponsored by the District 5 Candidates Collaborative, an organization dedicated to encouraging community participation during the race for district supervisor, this forum addresses youth violence and enables the community to make recommendations to the next supervisor. The Reverend Minister Carmen Johnson and youth commissioner Shanelle Williams host, and guests include District Attorney Kamala Harris, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Sups. Matt Gonzalez and Chris Daly, members of the San Francisco Youth Commission, and others. Entertainment follows the discussion. 6-10:30 p.m., African American Art and Cultural Complex, 762 Fulton, S.F. Free. (415) 931-6734.

Fred Hampton documentary

Thursday, Aug. 12, the ANSWER Film Series presents a screening of The Murder of Fred Hampton, a documentary about the charismatic Black Panther Party leader who was murdered by Chicago police officers in 1969. Dr. Henry Clark of the West County Toxics Coalition delivers an introduction. 7:30 p.m., Artists' Television Access, 992 Valencia, S.F. $5. (415) 824-3890.

Homicide panel

Thursday, Aug. 12, join District Attorney Kamala Harris, filmmaker Kevin Epps, Sup. Sophie Maxwell, and others for a discussion of San Francisco's climbing homicide rate. With more than 50 homicides already registered this year, city officials and community members gather to explore the causes of this upsurge in violence and possible methods for preventing its further escalation. 6:30 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, second floor, 595 Market, S.F. $6, free for members and students. (415) 597-6705.

Shut down Huntingdon Life Sciences

Thursday, Aug. 12-Sunday, Aug. 15, join animal rights activists in a series of events calling for the closure of the largest animal testing lab in the world, Huntingdon Life Sciences in East Millstone, N.J. At Thursday's teach-in, learn about the company and about undercover investigations exposing animal cruelty; on Friday attend a protest; and on Saturday and Sunday visit the homes of HLS supporters. Thurs/12, 7:30 p.m., Center for Political Education, 522 Valencia, S.F.; Fri/13, 11:30 a.m., Justin Herman Plaza, near Market and Embarcadero, S.F.; Sat/14, meet noon, and Sun/15, meet 9 a.m., Safeway, 2300 16th St., S.F. For information on other events, go to www.ardac.org or e-mail info@ardac.org.

Activist training

Friday, Aug. 13, this month's installment of "So How'd You Become an Activist?" features Maria Gilardin, founder of TUC Radio and cofounder of Take Back KPFA, and Pierre Labossiere, founding member of the Haiti Action Committee. 7 p.m., Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar, Berk. $5 donation, $3 for students. (415) 927-1645.

Artists against rape

Friday, Aug. 13, celebrate San Francisco Women Against Rape's 30th anniversary with an evening of spoken word and poetry at the eighth annual Artists Against Rape benefit. Local poets, artists, and antirape activists speak out against sexual violence and oppression and address the importance of strong community support for assault survivors. 7:30 p.m., Women's Building, 3543 18th St., S.F. $5-$50 sliding scale. (415) 861-2024, ext. 318.

Paul Krugman in conversation

Friday, Aug. 13, hear Paul Krugman, the celebrated New York Times columnist and Princeton University professor of economics and international affairs, in conversation with journalist and former Pacifica Radio national affairs correspondent Larry Bensky. 8 p.m., Martin Luther King Middle School, 1781 Rose, Berk. $15 advance, $20 door. (510) 848-6767, ext. 611.

Conference for a just society

Friday, Aug. 13-Sunday, Aug. 15, join the Society for the Study of Social Problems at its 54th annual meeting. Researchers present more than 300 papers addressing this year's theme, "The Culture of Social Problems: Power, People, and History," at the three-day conference. Fri/13, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sat/14, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun/15, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Cathedral Hill Hotel, 1101 Van Ness, S.F. Preregistration is closed. For more information on the schedule and in-person registration, go to www.sssp1.org.

Death row speaker

Sunday, Aug. 15, the Idriss Stelley Foundation and End the Death Penalty Movement host a conference call from death row inmate and five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Steven "Tookie" Williams. 5 p.m., Green House, 4919 Third St., S.F. Free. (415) 595-8251.

Susan King campaign kickoff

Sunday, Aug. 15, Terry Baum, Renee Saucedo, and other supporters join District Five supervisor candidate Susan King at her kickoff party, which gets the campaign rolling with food and entertainment. 5-7 p.m., Canvass Gallery, 1200 Ninth Ave., S.F. Free. (415) 823-5524.

Liz Carpenter lecture

Tuesday, Aug. 17, join the Bar Association of San Francisco for a speech by Liz Carpenter, former spokesperson for Lyndon B. Johnson. Carpenter shares experiences and insider details from her years covering the presidencies of Franklin D. Roosevelt through John F. Kennedy and occupying official roles in four presidential campaigns and administrations. Registration 11:30 a.m.-noon; lunch and address noon-1:30 p.m., World Trade Club, 1 Ferry Plaza, S.F. $65, $50 for BASF members, $35 for students ($500 for tables of 10). (415) 982-1600, www.sfbar.org/cgi/bar_calendar/calendar.cgi (to register).

9/11 commissioners speak

Tuesday, Aug. 17, former U.S. senator Slade Gorton and former Watergate chief counsel Richard Ben-Veniste, 2 of the 10 members of the 9/11 Commission, address the ramifications of the 9/11 Commission report and the commission's most startling conclusions. 5:15 p.m., Fairmont Hotel, Gold Room, 950 Mason, S.F. $30, $15 for Commonwealth Club of California members. (415) 597-6705.

KPFA benefit

Wednesday, Aug. 18, support KPFA, 94.1 FM, at this benefit featuring Arundhati Roy, author of The God of Small Things; Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!; and Boots Riley of the Coup. 7:30 p.m., Berkeley Community Theater, 1930 Allston Way, Berk. $21. (415) 392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com (tickets); (510) 848-6767, ext. 609 (information on preferred seating).

Mail items for Alerts to the Bay Guardian Building, 135 Mississippi St., S.F., CA 94107; fax to (415) 255-8762; or e-mail alerts@sfbg.com. Please include a contact telephone number. Items must be received at least one week prior to publication date. Call (415) 255-3100, ext. 573, for more information. For more events, see the Benefits listings in the Calendar section.