Activist Alert 7-21-2016

• There will be a peaceful “Rally for Black Lives” 5 pm Thursday, July 21, in front of Lane County Correctional Facilities at 101 W. 5th Avenue in Eugene, Community Alliance of Lane County tells EW. The rally is followed by a march to Kesey Square. Springfield-Eugene Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and CALC are responding to a national call to action by the Movement for Black Lives, and they ask “the community to join them to end white silence and call for an end to police violence directed at black people in our country.” Wear black and bring signs. For more info email calcb2b@gmail.com.

• We hear from the folks at Community Alliance for Lane County (CALC) that their office has been vandalized. With its involvement in everything from supporting Black Lives Matter to aiding the local Asian businesses that were recently vandalized, CALC writes, “We shouldn’t be surprised that CALC’s involvement has drawn the attention of the haters.” Not surprised, but we are disappointed at the hate that bubbles up in our community. CALC says the group was targeted with “three disturbing incidents of hate graffiti” containing “some extremely racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic words and images.” To support CALC and help fight hate, you can donate online at calclane.org or mail to 458 Blair Boulevard.

• Let Us Eat Cake! A People’s Rally and Celebration in Solidarity with Bernie Sanders will celebrate “all the good things Bernie stands for and that we have accomplished this year with music, speakers, entertainment and cake,” organizer Ellen Furstner tells EW. She says, “The day before the start of the Democratic Convention we will join over 100 cities in the U.S. and around the world to demonstrate our unwavering support and appreciation for Bernie Sanders and to get ready for the next stage in the political revolution.” The Eugene rally will have a donation drive for Occupy Medical and a talk by OM director Sue Sierralupe. The rally is 11 am to 1 pm Sunday, July 24, at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, 8th and Oak. Please bring donations for Occupy such as socks and underwear, bathroom items, vitamins and ibuprofen, or money. Contact Furstner at 541-933-2246 for more info.

Womenspace’s Safehouse will be closed from July 25 to Aug. 8 for annual maintenance and cleaning. Womenspace could use donations from the community including: carpet cleaning, vent cleaning, painting, janitorial and general maintenance and repair. Womenspace’s mission is preventing “domestic violence in intimate partner relationships in Lane County and support survivors in claiming personal power.” The Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 541-485-6513 or 800-281-2800. For more information, contact Teresa Aslin, acting executive director, 541-485-8232.

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Lane County is hosting a panel on what you need to know for crisis intervention 6:30 to 8:30 pm Wednesday, July 27, at Lane County Behavioral Health Services, Rm. 198, 2411 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. To learn about what to do if your loved one is in crisis, come hear from the Eugene police, White Bird Clinic, PeaceHealth and Hourglass Community Crisis Center. Call NAMI at 541-343-7688.