Tag Archives: Benicia Black Lives Matter

Benicia Black Lives Matter, Benicia Public Library, Benicia V.I.B.E. Team, Juneteenth

Justice in Action: A Juneteenth Screening of John Burris—The Godfather of Police Litigation

This Juneteenth, Benicia Black Lives Matter, with co-sponsorship by the Benicia Public Library, the City’s V.I.B.E. Team, and Ethnic Notions Fine Art Gallery & Bookstore, will commemorate the holiday with a screening of John Burris: The Godfather of Police Litigation, a powerful documentary chronicling the 40-year career of civil rights attorney John Burris and his work confronting police misconduct. Produced by Doug Harris, the film highlights landmark cases including Rodney King, Oscar Grant, and the Oakland Riders scandal.

The program will begin with an introduction to situate the documentary within a broader historical context, examining policing practices from the late 19th century—particularly as slave patrols survelled, chased and detained runaway and newly freed slaves both prior to and after their enfranchisement as citizens—through to modern reforms such as the Racial Identity and Profiling Act (RIPA). The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Burris, offering attendees an opportunity for deeper engagement and dialogue.

Anti-racism, Black Lives Matter, Racial justice, SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice)

INVITATION: White people and not giving up– a SURJ mass call

From Progressive Democrats of Benicia, December 2, 2020

BenIndy Editor: Dear friends – As you are no doubt aware, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida are enacting blatantly racist and illegal laws. They are not only rewriting maps. They’re rewriting history. Or rather re-rewriting history. It’s a re-do of the blatant backsliding after the multi-racial reforms that followed our Civil War.  This is NOT just a Southern problem. The South is OUR South, and historic racism in the US is OUR legacy, OURS to reform once again. I received the following invitation to all who are like me, a black-lives-matter white person, engaged in the struggle and threatened with burnout. Consider tuning in on Wednesday, May 20. Sign up here (or below). – Roger Straw

The email: White people and not giving up– a SURJ mass call

By Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), May 12, 2025

It’s rough out there. The onslaught of political bad news, senseless violence, misogyny, and racism is enough to make even the most seasoned organizers want to throw up their hands. These are the exact times– when we’re tired and feeling hopeless– that we can get curious and be intentional about how we sustain ourselves in this work.

We’ll explore these topics and more next Wednesday, May 20 at 8 pm ET (5 pm PT) at a SURJ mass call, “White people’s work to not give up: a conversation on strategy and staying for the long haul.” We’ll be joined in this virtual event by Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, former Director of the Highlander Center in Tennessee and movement strategist, and Scot Nakagawa, the Director of the 22nd Century Initiative and leading political thinker, who have been movement leaders for decades and bring hard-won lessons about how we stay in it.

On the other side of guilt, shame or feeling like we need to make martyrs of ourselves is a joyful, steady commitment. We’re working to get there together.

See you Wednesday–
SURJ

Showing Up for Racial Justice
2870 Peachtree Rd NW
Suite 915-2117
Atlanta, GA 30305

Benicia Black Lives Matter, Poetry in Benicia

Benicia’s Black Poetry Celebration – Next week Wednesday!

BLACK POETRY CELEBRATION
WED. APRIL 29 2026, 6-8PM
In the Library’s Doña Benicia Room
Also on Zoom: bit.ly/blackpoetrycelebration
Click image for full size poster.

Benicia Black Lives Matter invites you to a dynamic Black poetry event celebrating the depth, resilience, and brilliance of Black voices across generations, highlighting powerful works from lesser-known poets spanning the Reconstruction era to today.

Blending history with living artistry, the evening also features original performances by a diverse lineup of presenters:

    • Myla J., a compelling youth artist and orator
    • Devin Tademy, a passionate student leader and poet
    • Valdez Hill, a multifaceted poet and musician and host of Voices at the Table
    • Simone Nia Rae, an evocative artist and musician
    • Jacalyn Eyvonne, Vallejo’s Poet Laureate for 2024–2025 and
    • Brandon Greene Esq., a civil rights attorney whose artistry bridges music, poetry, and justice.

Together, they create a rich intergenerational experience that honors legacy while amplifying fresh, contemporary voices.

BLACK POETRY CELEBRATION
WED. APRIL 29 2026, 6-8PM
In the Library’s Doña Benicia Room [Map] Also on Zoom: bit.ly/blackpoetrycelebration