Progressive events in Fresno and the Central Valley of Ca for Jan 2012. (lots of them)
January 2012 Events
Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and, Sundays at 6 p.m.
Occupy Fresno holds their General Assemblies (GA); formerly the GAs were held nightly. Occupy Fresno plans to hold bank protests on Fridays in different parts of the city and at different banks each week so the message gets to a diversity of people. If you have bank signs or would like to make some, bring them. Also if you or somebody you know is being foreclosed on, let Vanessa michaelicious@hotmail.com know so Occupy Fresno can help.
Sunday, January 8 • 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Building unity within the progressive community. This is a follow up to the Jim Hightower event (which took place on October 1, 2011) and will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 2672 E Alluvial Ave. (between Chestnut and Willow) in Clovis. If you want to help build a more effective, powerful, and unified movement for social, economic, and environmental justice, come to this meeting.
Monday, January 9 Ÿ All day
Sacramento Rally - Health Care for the 99% - at noon on the steps of the State Capitol. Bus from Fresno to Sacramento leaves Mervyn’s Parking Lot, Ashlan and Blackstone at 7:30am (reserve a seat through Judy Hess 559-907-0279 judyhess@gmail.com. Cost is $40 per person, but it’s a sliding scale – whatever people can give, NO ONE will be turned away for lack of funds. Lunch will be provided at the Sacramento rally.
Monday, January 9 • 7 p.m.
Volunteers for Change Fresno (V4CF) monthly meeting at the UC Center, 550 E. Shaw. Speaker will be advocate for Single Payer healthcare extraordinaire, Rose Roach. If you have not heard and seen her excellent presentation on WHY AND HOW SINGLE PAYER IN CA, this is one meeting you will not want to miss! This is the vital bookend presentation to the Health Care Justice tour many enjoyed last month. Rose is an activist for Single Payer, and hails from Stockton with an important, well presented, articulate and passionate message on this subject.
Tuesday, January 10 Ÿ 7 p.m.
Peace Fresno meeting, Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., 93728, (SE corner of McKinley and N. Van Ness Ave. – across from Fresno City College – parking in rear of building enter from McKinley).
Wednesday, January 11 Ÿ 3 - 3:30 p.m.
Richard Stone will have as his guest Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, Director, Islamic Cultural Center on the Center’s “Stir it Up” monthly radio show, on KFCF 88.1 FM. They will discuss Islam in the modern world. Call-ins are welcome at 559-266-8888. For information call 559-237-3223.
Wednesday, January 11 • 12 noon and 7 p.m. (potluck at 6:30 p.m.)
The Fresno Center for Nonviolence will present the film will be Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think. This film explores the opinions of Muslims around the globe as revealed in the world’s first major opinion poll, conducted by Gallop, the preeminent polling organization. This film highlights a shared relationship that is based on facts and not fears. 55 minutes long. It is free and open to the public. Wheelchair accessible. 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., 93728, (SE corner of McKinley and N. Van Ness Ave. – across from Fresno City College – parking in rear of building enter from McKinley).
Friday, January 13 - Monday, January 16
There will be a series of events in Fresno to honor the life of Martin Luther King. For more information, call 681-3140 or go to
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresno-Martin-Luther-King-Unity-Committee/143005182419076?v=info (Cut and paste into your browser.)
Monday, Jan 16th March, 9:30
Martin Luther King Day March. Gather for the commemorative march from St. John's Cathedral, 2814 Mariposa in downtown Fresno. March to City Hall, then to Veteran Memorial Hall. Please join Peace Fresno in marching with the banner and carrying No War signs.
Sunday, January 15 • 9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
"Wesley United Methodist Church will have a panel discussion titled "A Christian Perspective on Corporate Personhood" at Wesley's Fireside Room on in support of the nationwide “Occupy the Courts” action scheduled for January 20. This discussion is intended to highlight the 2nd anniversary of the "Citizens United" Supreme Court decision that granted "personhood" to corporations. Those attending the forum should expect to be informed and enlightened, both intellectually and spiritually. 1343 E Barstow Ave., Fresno CA 93710, at the SE corner of 4th St and Barstow. Wheelchair accessible. Plenty of free parking.
Tuesday, January 17 • 6:30 - 8 p.m.
AB1148 - CA Disclose Act Working Group meeting at Denny's, 1110 E. Shaw (just east of First St). Come help with local efforts to disclose who REALLY pays for political ads! Nothing is going to change until everything about money in politics changes. AB1148 is a vital first step! For more information, or to RSVP, please send email to Fresno-Info@caclean.org
Friday, January 20 Ÿ 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Move to Amend Occupies the Courts! Join the candlelight vigil at the Robert E. Coyle Federal Building, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA, 93721 (Tulare at O St.) marking the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC which allows corporations to contribute directly to political campaigns. Move to Amend is calling for an amendment to the constitution to deny “corporate personhood” rights. www.movetoamend.org
“We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.”
Actions are planned in 76 cities. Bring a candle and a sign if you can. Sign suggestions: Corporations are NOT people! Money is NOT Speech! Legalize democracy. End Corporate Rule. Move to Amend. No Corporate Personhood. Sponsoring organizations: Volunteers for Change Fresno, Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Committee, Progressive Democrats of America – Central Valley Sierra Progressive Chapter, Peace Fresno, Move to Amend – Oakhurst Chapter.
Tuesday, January 24 Ÿ 7 p.m.
Peace Fresno meeting, Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., 93728, (SE corner of McKinley and N. Van Ness Ave. – across from Fresno City College – parking in rear of building enter from McKinley).
Wednesday, January 25 Ÿ 6 p.m. meal, 7 p.m. meeting
Progressive Democrats of America meeting, Meeting Room at Denny’s Restaurant, 110 East Shaw Avenue, Fresno (just east of N. First).