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April 22-

Please Join Us on Wednesday, April 29 Dear Fellow Californian:

We all pay the price for the poverty of new ideas in our state government. It's time to have an honest conversation about how to get our troubled state back on track. That's why I hope you will join me for a frank and unfiltered conversation about California’s future. Please join me on Wednesday, April 29 as we talk about how to solve California's most crucial challenges, and how we can all participate in the struggle to get California back on track.

What:	Fresno County Conversation about California’s Future with Gavin Newsom
Where:	Wawona Middle School 4524 N. Thorne Ave. Fresno, CA (map)
When:	Wednesday, April 29 – 6:00 PM

You can RSVP here or call (415) 516-1252.

I want to hear from you – and I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about how we have addressed some very tough challenges in my hometown, San Francisco.

As Mayor, I believe we are showing how to make bold change by focusing on proven policy solutions. We are the only city in America on its way to universal access to health care. We are improving our schools through a partnership for achievement that extends from guaranteed funding for universal pre-school to opening the door to a quality college education for our public school graduates. We have made San Francisco a national model for environmental stewardship. And we are focused on putting our residents back to work with an aggressive economic development strategy to attract new high-tech and clean-tech industries.
 
I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:00pm at Wawona Middle School. Click here to RSVP.

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April 10-

"First they came for the Communists but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out.  Then they came for the Socialist and the Trade Unionist but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out.  Then they came for the Jews but I was not Jewish so I did not speak out.  And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." Martin Niemoeller


When the Supreme Court of Califonia makes it's ruling on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, there will be a rally in Fresno that Saturday.  It may be very short notice if they rule at 5pm on Friday.  We may have the luxury of a Monday ruling and 5 days to get ready.  In any case we need to be ready, phone calls will go out  and instructions of where to meet will be given.  We hope all of you will be able to participate and lets help our fellow man in thier time of need, lets speak out about what is going on.

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March 18-
At the March club meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Democratic club the club voted to endorse meet in the middle, a marriage equity group.

Last year we hosted speaker David Codell who spoke about the legal and political issues surrounding Proposition 8.  This endorsement is consistant with club speakers and our mission of social justice for all.

Todays vote was just another reason to be proud of affiliation with the San Joaquin Valley Democratic club.

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March 11-

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Mar 1-

Got some free time on your hands March 21?

Come to Occidental college for a media summit if you do!

You can RSVP for the event by clicking here.

How happy are you with your local news?  How are the issues you care about being

covered?

If you are concerned that our democracy and your community are being underserved by

the state of today's media, then you should join us for this informative half-day summit.

Saturday, March 21, 2009  Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA

11:00am to 5:15pm, with reception to follow

Panel Discussion
• How do local media help or hurt our communities (set up problem)?
• How can we participate in media to affect local social change (solutions)?

Panelists
Brad Friedman, BradBlog.com
Linda Milazzo, Widely published journalist and teacher
Anthony Samad, Syndicated columnist- Black Commentator, LA Progressive
Mario Solis-Marich, The Mario Solis-Marich Show KTLK AM1150

Moderated by Tanya Acker, Political Analyst (CNN, MSNBC, FOX)


Sample Breakout Sessions:
- Citizen journalism/Internet: You Be the News or U B the News
- Using Social Networking to get your message out
- Not being heard? Start your own story
- Breaking the Digital Divide: Internet for Everyone
- Saving LA Public Access
- Indigenous Media Sign up to attend today so that you can:

• Gain and share knowledge/experience

• Network with local activists

• Learn how today's media environment affects what we know -- and what we don't

• Get tips on how to make your message heard

• Find out ways to bring about change.

Tickets are $15 in advance / $20 at the door / $10 for students (with valid ID) and youth (18 and under). 

Add $8 if you would like a boxed lunch.

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Feb 25-

What will it take to repeal Prop 8?

A grassroots army of activists empowered with the tools and skills necessary to effectively organize their own communities -- especially in communities like Fresno.



That's what propelled Barack Obama into the White House and that's what it will take to restore marriage equality to California.

That's why we are bringing our "Camp Courage" training program to Fresno on March 7-8. Inspired by "Camp Obama," Camp Courage uses community organizing methods that have developed leaders and nurtured progressive social movements for decades.

Our first Camp Courage in Los Angeles received phenomenal reviews from participants, with evaluations averaging 9.36 on a scale of 1 to 10. We chose Fresno as the next Camp Courage location because we believe Central Valley activists are at ground zero in California's marriage equality movement.

Fresno's intensive two-day training will teach participants about community organizing, empowerment, team building, leadership development, voter persuasion and more. With these tools, participants will be primed to organize their own communities, door-to-door, neighbor-to-neighbor across all 58 counties of California.

We want you to be at Camp Courage in Fresno on March 7-8. But first, we need you to fill out a short application. Space is limited, so please apply now before the event is full:http://www.couragecampaign.org/ApplyCampCourage

Who is planning and organizing Camp Courage in Fresno? Veteran organizers like Torie Osborn, Mike Bonin and Lisa Powell.Osborn currently advises Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and has previously served as the Executive Director of the Liberty Hill Foundation and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Bonin, a longtime campaign staffer and community activist, was a regional Field Organizer for the Obama campaign. Powell is an attorney, longtime trainer, community leader, and co-founder of United Lesbians of African Heritage.

Together, Torie, Mike and Lisa are recruiting the best trainers and building a training curriculum for Camp Courage Fresno that will help activists create the kind of people-powered movement that helped Barack Obama become president and that will restore marriage equality to California.

Spots are filling up fast for Fresno's Camp Courage on March 7-8. Please fill out our short application below ASAP so you can be there:http://www.couragecampaign.org/ApplyCampCourage

What will it take to build a people-powered army to repeal Prop 8? You. And your friends. If you know people who think grassroots community organizing is the key to restoring marriage equality to California, please forward this message to them right now.

Thank you for helping us serve the people and organizations building the marriage equality movement.

Rick Jacobs
Chair

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Feb 23-

Do you care about the police department and how they act?  Then join us at a meeting tomorrow and tell the city council what you think.

Community Forum on Independent Police Auditor

The Mayor’s Community Forum will be held at Fresno City Council Chamber, 2600 Fresno St., on
Tuesday, February 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.

At the forum, Mayor Ashley Swearengin will be seeking input that she will use to put together her formal proposal.

Parking will be free in the City Hall lots and meters.

Tuesday's forum will be noticed as a "public meeting" to comply with requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act.

Contact: Michael Lukens, Press Secretary, City of Fresno, 559-907-1144


Some of you may be familiar with this already, but Tuesday night will be an important public forum on the Independent Police Auditor issue.  The Mayor has been supporting an IPA since last year and will issue her own proposal after hearing feedback from the public forum and after she has had a chance to meet with all Council members, etc. (some of those meetings have already begun).

Please alert folks through your own email networks about the Tuesday night meeting and encourage them to attend.  Some of you may be interested in writing a letter-to-the-editor in the coming week.  Some of you may want to call your City Council Member or send them an email.

Fresno City Council members (To find out what Council DISTRICT  you live in if you live in the City of Fresno, go to http://www.fresno.gov/Government/CityCouncil/CouncilLocator.htm):
Lee.Brand@fresno.gov
Paul.Caprioglio@fresno.gov
Mike.Dages@fresno.gov
Andreas.Borgeas@fresno.gov
Cynthia.Sterling@fresno.gov

Blong.Xiong@fresno.gov

Phone # for all Council members:  621-8000

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Feb 16-

Californians voted to create a citizens redistricting commission, and California Common Cause is excited to see the process moving forward!

The California State Auditor is in charge of the selection/recruitment process for the citizen's redistricting commission and will be holding public hearings across the state.

Please help us ensure that the selection process is as broad and open as possible. The hearing will be held on Thursday, February 19th from 11:30am to 4pm at the State Agencies Building, 2550 Mariposa Mall, Room 1036, Fresno, CA 93721.

The agenda will be relatively open, and the State Auditor's staff will take recommendations from the public about the implementation of Proposition 11, the recently enacted ballot initiative that reformed the redistricting process. If you can make it, we hope you can talk about the importance of ensuring that the citizens redistricting commission reflects the vast diversity of California, and demand that the language of Prop 11 is interpreted to favor inclusion.

The purpose of these hearings is to finalize the recruitment and selection process, not the time to declare interest in serving on the Commission. If you are interested in applying for the commission, please let me know ASAP at CauseNet©commoncause.org

When: Thursday, February 19th from 11:30am to 4pm
Where: State Agencies Building, 2550 Mariposa Mall, Room 1036, Fresno, CA 93721

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Feb. 14-

Come join us and welcome the next

Chairman of the California Democratic Party


John Burton

he will be speaking at the next meeting of the

San Joaquin Valley Democratic club

Wednesday February 18, 6:30pm
Dennys 1110 E. Shaw Ave

We will also have speaking

Alicia Wang
She is running for the office of

Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party

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Jan 19-       

This is truly a historic day, this is the day that we celebrate the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is the day before we truly mark America as overcoming and judging people by the content of their character.  None of this would have been possible without the courage of people like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  
Below is the text of his speech "I Have A Dream", arguably his most famous speech.  

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   I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.

So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.

This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.

The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny.

They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.

So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

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Other speeches and papers by  Dr. King

We Shall Overcome (video)

Letter From Birmingham Jail

Beyond Vietnam

I've Been to the Mountaintop




                                                                          

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