Oakland Community-Labor meeting packs house, punch

Everett and Jones BBQ owner Dorothy King-Jernegan welcomed the crowd to her restaurant. She noted her long-time support for Oakland city workers, the community, and more recently, the Occupy Oakland movement, mentioning that she spent three nights at the encampment in the beginning and that her restaurant has donated hundreds of meals to Occupiers.

First AME Church Pastor Harold R. Mayberry, a member of the National Occupy the Dream movement, said the blessing for the dinner and later launched into his call for action.

“When did it become OK to stop dreaming? When did it become OK for those who have to rob those who don’t?” he asked. “Occupy is about people who are frustrated, in pain and angry.”

Mayberry announced that Occupy the Dream is asking people to make Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day) a “Love Our Community Day” and withdraw $30 or more from their bank to invest it in a minority bank or credit union. In March they will ask professional organizations and churches to move all their money into minority-owned banks or credit unions.

“When you move money, you move people,” he said.

SEIU 1021 President Roxanne Sanchez told the attendees that she is proud her union is on the side of working people.

“Oakland is ground zero for the fight for the 99%,” she said. “The only thing power understands is power.”

Cities Industry Chair Renita Terry commended Oakland city workers for their large turnout at the last two City Council meetings. She urged workers to continue the fight and connect with other city chapters in order to build strength.

Kim Rojas of Occupy Oakland voiced her frustration with the Oakland City Council and its cuts to critical city services.  She condemned the Oakland Police Department for its inhumane treatment of Occupy protestors.

Co-Founder of the Black Panther Party Elaine Brown urged the community and labor to work together to make social change, noting they have the power to shut down the city and citing Occupy Oakland as an example. Quoting Che Guevarra she said, “Words are beautiful, but actions are supreme.”

Marilyn Reynolds, an SEIU 1021 Head Start worker and member of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) outlined ways that the community could get involved to assist families with preserving their homes.

ILWU longshoreman and community activist Clarence Thomas said they must challenge those in power with methodical, strategic actions, and make demands from President Obama from the left.

“I always tell my young people that we didn’t get the right to vote by voting,” he said.

The dinner closed with Oakland City workers presenting a plan of action. Citing continuing job cuts and the city administrator’s long-term plans for reorganizing departments and privatizing city worker jobs, McElroy announced their next move. In two weeks they will start circulating a petition among Oakland city workers demanding a review of all the city’s outside contracts that cover their work and demanding that they be cut by 50%.