Sonoma State University (SSU) launches its inaugural Social Justice Week March 23-27 with a presentation by former Black Panther, Mama Charlotte Hill O'Neal, who is also an accomplished poet, musician and visual artist, and founding director of Tanzania's United African Alliance Community Center. O'Neal will deliver a keynote speech at the Green Music Center at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
SSU's Social Justice Week features 30 hours of panels, lectures, films and discussions including representatives from Sonoma County Peace and Justice Center, Veterans for Peace, Move to Amend, Metta Center, ACLU, Code Pink, 350 Sonoma County, Project Censored, North Coast Coalition for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace Sonoma County, If Americans Knew, Police Accountability Clinic, and Alternative to Violence.
Also speaking is Dr. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, professor of ethnic studies at CSU East Bay and author of "An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States." Dunbar-Ortiz challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policies against the indigenous peoples were designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them. Dr. Dunbar-Ortiz will speak at 5 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
Dr. Peter Dale Scott, political analyst professor emeritus at U.C. Berkeley will discuss his new book, "The American Deep State: Wall Street, Big Oil, and the Attack on US Democracy." Dr. Scott is author of numerous books on politics. He will speak at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 in Person Theatre.
All social justice week events are free and open to the public with donations accepted in support of campus social justice activities. Wheelchair access is available for all events. Daily parking at SSU is $5.
Sociology Social Justice and Activism Club president Shelby Wade and faculty advisor Peter Phillips organized the week with financial support from the School of Social Science and SSU Associated Students.
For more information, see http://www.projectcensored.org/social-justice-wek-at-sonoma-state-university/.
March 23:
11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Student Center Plaza: Sponsors Tabling Event, Student Center Plaza
5 p.m., Student Center Ballroom: Dr. Dunbar-Ortiz presents "Torture, War Crimes, and the Indigenous Peoples' Perspective on US History."
7 p.m., Aqus Cafe, Petaluma: Mickey Huff and Peter Phillips present "Political Economy: Nexus of Money, Power, and Politics."
March 24:
10 a.m.-noon, Student Center Dry Creek Valley Room: Building a Culture of Peace
Noon-2 p.m., Cooperage: Workshop on nonviolence
3-5 p.m., Cooperage: Nonviolence and diversity affinity group workshop
6 p.m., Green Music Center: Charlotte O'Neal a.k.a. 'Mama C' presents "Empowering Students in Social Justice."
March 25:
10 a.m.-11:45 a.m., Cooperage: Waging War: Vietnam and Beyond
Noon-1:30 p.m., Cooperage: Veterans For Peace poetry and story reading
1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m., Cooperage: PTSD/Moral Injury and the Costs of War
3:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m., Cooperage: Waging War: Vietnam and Beyond (round two)
3 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Commons: Presentation on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict
5:30 p.m., Cooperage: Veterans For Peace presents panel on post-9/11 wars
March 26:
1 p.m.-3 p.m., Student Center Ballroom D: Police Accountability and Know Your Rights: Ballroom D
3 p.m.-5 p.m., Student Center Ballroom A: Q&A with national director of Move to Amend: Ballroom A
6 p.m., Person Theatre: Peter Dale Scott presents "The American Deep State"
March 27:
Noon-9:30 p.m., International Hall 104: Social Justice Film Festival