Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "rally"

'Occupy' group stops at Bureau of Indian Affairs on march to Capitol

2011-10-18T00:21:36Z

'Occupy' protesters in Sacramento marched on Capital Mall Friday afternoon with a stop at the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 650 Capital Mall with some definite opinions of Columbus and the recent celebration of Columbus Day. After their brief stop and rally at John E. Moss Building, they continued east on Capital Mall where they rallied again on the north steps of the Capital Building

See video from demonstration>>

View some other 'Occupy' articles on SacPress>>

Students rally to confront harsh school discipline

2011-10-06T04:55:53Z

Students and advisers from five Sacramento area high schools joined in a virtual rally Wednesday – with kids from Los Angeles, Fresno and Oakland schools – as part of the National Week of Action to raise awareness about the overuse of extreme school discipline.

The rally connected more than 100 students, parents and community activists via live video feed to discuss recent trends in suspensions, expulsions and other harsh punishments in California schools.

According to data from the California Department of Education, there were 235,033 students enrolled in public schools in Sacramento county in the 2010-11 school year.

There were 47,678 suspensions and expulsions issued that same year – a 20.2 percent suspension/expulsion rate by enrollment, which is about a third higher than the state average of 11.7 percent.

Students from Grant High School, Sacramento High School and New Tech High School also attended the rally to share experiences of harsh discipline at their schools with other students and parents who have had similar experiences.

“It’s time to stop the criminalization of students and start looking at ways to help students,” said Lea Luellen, a senior at Inderkum High School in Natomas.

Luellen is the president of the Black Student Union at Inderkum, a student organization that encourages students to take leadership roles in their school and in their community.

“I was expelled for getting in a fight at school,” said Darrell Brown, a 19-year-old former Sacramento High School student.

Brown said he was defending his sister against another boy who was touching her inappropriately – but no one in the school administration took that into consideration before expelling him from school.

By the time he returned to classes after his expulsion, he was so far behind that his grades plummeted. Brown ended up dropping out of school.

The greatest impact of such harsh discipline policies has been on African American students, Darryl White, Black Parallel School Board Chairman, said Wednesday.

According to Carl Pinkston, secretary for the Black Parallel School Board, data for Sacramento City Unified School District schools shows that 38 percent of all suspensions in the district in the 2010-11 school year were African American students. The second highest percentage was Latino students at 35 percent. White students make up 11 percent of the total.

“This is a nationwide trend, and it is the same trend we are seeing here in Sacramento,” White said.

The school shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 made the nation look at school kids in a new way, White said.

The response to the Columbine tragedy was a new policy aimed at preventing any weapon from ever reaching a school campus.

At the time, schools were reluctant to change the way they did things, White said, so the government found a way to encourage schools to go to a zero tolerance policy: they sent money to support new zero tolerance policies in the schools.

A zero tolerance policy gives school administrators and teachers authority to set strict discipline policies for infractions related to weapons, drugs or disruptive school behavior that creates a danger to others.

White said that, although the zero tolerance policy program was well-intended, the implementation was inconsistent. Each school district handled the policy in a different way – some more strictly than others, White said.

Schools took the new zero tolerance policy to new levels and started suspending students for a variety of reasons, most of them unrelated to guns.

White, a former high school principal, said his administration experience is full of examples of overuse and even abuse of the policy.

“Some of the incidents that we hear about are amazing,” White said. “Some teachers would suspend a kid for drawing a picture of a gun in class, or for not turning in medicine to the office that they brought to school.”

White recalled one student who had been suspended for pointing a fish stick at a teacher and saying “bang.”

“Zero tolerance has gotten crazy,” White said. “It’s gotten stupid. Zero tolerance policies take all the gray area of what’s best for students, or giving any thought to what kind of student the kid is overall.”

According to The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, California schools average more than 720,000 suspensions and expulsions each year – an amount nearly double the rate in Texas, which has recently come under fire for it’s suspension rate statistics.

Recent data shows that extreme discipline policies are common even for nonviolent offenses like tardiness, which historically would have warranted little more than a trip to the principal’s office.

“Twenty years later,” White said, “we discovered that suspensions had doubled. More than that, we found that only 2 percent of those suspensions were related to weapons.”

White said there is a perception among teachers that African American students will be more difficult, so to ensure they don’t have to deal with behavior problems in the classroom, teachers are a little more heavy-handed with those students.

“I don’t think a lot people realize its an issue,” said Spenser Bradley, a senior at Inderkum High School. “People just think that this is the way school is.”

“I was walking down the hall one time and a teacher stopped me, saying she thought I smelled like weed,” said Jonathan Harvey, a senior at Inderkum. “She smelled my hands and took me to the principal’s office and I was expelled. It was ridiculous – who gets expelled for smelling bad?”

Once a student is expelled, it’s almost impossible to overturn the decision.

“The school has almost absolute authority,” White said. “There is generally nothing a parent can do short of going to court, and a lot of parents can’t afford to do that.”

Gabriel Brower, a senior at Grant High School, said stereotypes can be misleading. Characterizing individual students based on a broader stereotype is not only unfair but – more often than not – it’s going to be a mistake.

“People say that, because my uncles were in jail or my cousins were in gangs that I’ll end up that way too,” Brower said. “But I’m my own person. I can rise above my environment. If no one looks at me as an individual, they aren’t seeing the real me, they’re seeing what they expect me to be.”

Brower said that, after two years in high school making 3.5 to 4.0 grade point average, teachers finally started to realize his potential.

Brower gives credit for his success to “powerful programs” at his school that encourage kids to excel.

Pinkston recommends a “proactive” approach to school discipline, including a “restorative process” aimed at reintegrating kids into schools instead of leaving them outside of the walls of education.

“In Sacramento, this effort is about starting a conversation about the issue,” White said. “Hopefully we can start getting adults involved in the conversation.”

Pinkston said he hopes events like Wednesday’s rally will encourage a major movement to change government policies to help schools address the issue of zero tolerance.

White and Pinkston are compiling a full report on suspension and expulsion trends specific to Sacramento school districts, White said, and the report will be available later in the year.

Suspension and expulsion rates by school district and by individual school can be looked up at the California Dept of Education website here.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelisaCorker.

Taking back the night at 32nd annual march to end domestic violence

2011-10-05T05:18:13Z

This Saturday – when the sun goes down, and the streets darken – women, men, children, survivors, activists and fighters of domestic violence will come together in Midtown to take a stand, speak out and reclaim the safety of the night.

Each year 1.3 million women become victims of domestic violence, and one in every four women in the United States will experience domestic violence, according to statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said Diana Rosas, the press and media contact for Sacramento Women Take Back the Night.

The 32nd annual Women Take Back the Night March and Rally will be held from 6-9 p.m. The event will start with a resource fair at 5:30 p.m. at the Native American Health Center parking lot at 2020 J St., and the march will make a loop around Midtown. This year the theme is “Planting the Seeds of Change.”

“We’re planting the knowledge in someone who’s new to or doesn’t quite understand (domestic violence),” Rosas said. “We’re taking back the night – we’re planting seeds of change. Things are going to change going forward. It’s sort of the promise that we’re making to ourselves: educating people to save others from getting hurt.”

In honor of the theme, during the resource fair children will be able to plant flower seeds in miniature clay pots that they will be able to take home.

Hundreds of hand-folded paper flowers made by the group of 20 to 30 volunteers will be provided for marchers to hold during the event. Each flower will represent and memorialize a victim or survivor of domestic violence.

The thundering, rhythmic drumming of Sacramento Taiko Dan – a nonprofit group dedicated to promoting cultural awareness and diversity while preserving the art of Japanese style drumming – will lead the 16-block march around Midtown.

Volunteers will be walking alongside the expected crowd of over 500 marchers with flashlights to guide the way throughout the walk. The streets will not be closed for the event – marchers will be walking in an orderly fashion through sidewalks and crosswalks, Rosas said.

Prior to the march, a rally will be held beginning with the annual “Survivor Speak-Out” portion of the event organized by Women Escaping A Violent Environment, a source for crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and one of the founding organizations of the march in 1978. During this time, survivors of domestic violence will voice their personal stories and experiences with domestic violence.

“It’s a safe place for women, for men and for anyone that wants to bring an end to violence and gather to create a safe community,” said Julie Bornhoeft, director of development and community relations at WEAVE. “We need to work to create better communication to give survivors a place tell their stories and be supported.”

WEAVE is bringing three survivors to speak and share stories of their journeys through domestic violence and back. Members of the public will also be welcome to share their stories, Bornhoeft said.

“The survivors speaking out really makes it real for people who haven’t experienced domestic violence,” Rosas said. “When you hear some of these survivors speak, you learn what to look out for and how a simple argument or domestic dispute can turn into murder or death or kidnapping or children getting hurt. The more people that are educated, the more lives that can be spared.”

Other speakers and entertainment will include spoken word by Jovi Radtke and C. Foster – two poets actively supporting the eradication of violence against women – and representatives from sponsoring organizations working closely with Women Take Back the Night to fight for this cause: WEAVE, My Sister’s House, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and Slutwalk Sacramento, a new organization still being developed.

New sponsors at the resource fair this year will include V-Day Sacramento, which is a benefit project of Sacramento Women Take Back the Night that raised over $15,000 through its first annual productions of the “Vagina Monologues” in April. The funds raised went toward Women Take Back the Night, as well as WEAVE and My Sister’s House – two of of the primary organizations that work together toward supporting women and ending violence, Rosas said.

Organizers of Slutwalk Sacramento will also be tabling to foster support to bring a Slutwalk to the city to fight for the rights of victims of sexual assault.

“It’s all a part of the same cause: violence against women,” Rosas said. “It doesn’t matter what you say, how you dress or where you are. Nothing that you say or do or wear should imply that you deserve to be raped or called a slut or hurt just because of your appearance.

“Violence against women and children is still a very serious issue, and there is crime going on all around us everyday,” Rosas said. “It’s easy for people to not think about it or for people to forget, and this (event) just reminds us that this is going on and we need to do something about it.”

For more information, visit the Sacramento Women Take Back the Night website.

'Here We Stay' to rally outside council meeting

2011-03-15T05:19:21Z

With the Sacramento Kings on the verge of possibly ending their almost 30-year tenure in the Capitol, fans aren’t going down without a fight.

“The chances that the Kings are staying are really slim,” said Eddie Montes, part of the Here We Stay campaign to keep the Kings in Sacramento. “It’ll be better to go out swinging, throw a couple punches and maybe land something, and have a miracle.”

Here We Stay is organizing a small demonstration at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday before the scheduled City Council meeting.

Montes said he estimates anywhere from 15 to 35 people will show up.

“We honestly don’t know how many people will come,” he said. “We just want to make sure the council members know we’re here and we still want to fight.”

Blake Ellington, founder of the Here We Stay campaign, said he isn’t willing to sit idly as the mid-April decision by the NBA Board of Governors draws closer.

“They aren’t gone yet, so as far as right now, they’re still the Sacramento Kings, and this rally ... a lot of the fans wanted to do this, so we’re organizing it for them,” he said.

Fans, spurred on by Here We Stay, sold out the Feb. 28 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and Ellington said a similar plan is in the works for the second-to-last home game, when the Kings will play the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 11.

“We want them to have another game where they can show everyone they want the Kings to stay,” he said, adding that the final home game against the Los Angeles Lakers is one that will likely be harder to get tickets to.

For Tuesday’s protest, fans are meeting in front of Old City Hall at 915 I St.

“We hope people from the Feb. 28 game against the Clippers will come with the posters they had and get loud out front before the (City Council) meeting,” he said, adding that he plans to have about five people speak to the council regarding the team.

“We’re meeting in front of the Old City Hall on I Street so people can do some chants and have their posters out so the traffic can see them,” he said.

After that, they will go into the new City Hall, which is adjacent to Old City Hall.

Kings fan Rob Small will be at the rally.

“They’re basically out the door right now,” he said. “If everything goes according to plan with the move to Anaheim, it’s pretty much a done deal.”

Despite that, he said he will do anything he can to help the Kings stay.

“I expect a lot of Kings support over there,” he said, referring to City Hall. “This is an NBA city, and we deserve an NBA team.”

Small said he will be at the game against the Thunder on April 11, as well as the game Wednesday and what could be the Kings’ final game in Sacramento against the Lakers.

For more information, keep up with Here We Stay on Facebook and Twitter.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

The Fight for Higher Education

2011-03-15T02:04:49Z

Rainy weather wasn’t going to stop the thousands of students who marched to the Capitol to fight for higher education Monday morning.

California’s budget crisis has students from the UC, CSU, and Community Colleges concerned about their future.

Governor Brown’s proposed budget increases community college tuition by 38.5% and cuts $400 million from the California Community College (CCC) system.

This proposed budget is one of the reasons the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC), an organization run completely by elected student members, puts this annual ‘March in March’ event on.

“It’s a fundamental right that every Californian should have access to an affordable and quality higher education”, says SSCCC President Alex Pader. “Today we asked the state legislature to give the people of California the opportunity to vote on tax extensions and thus, the level of services that the state provides.”

Extending the current tax rate would cause cuts to the CCC system to be significantly less, but in order for the measure to be on the ballot, it must have two-thirds approval of the state legislature. State democrats are generally agreed on keeping this tax rate, but they need the votes of four republicans in the state senate in order to put it on the ballot.

This idea of extending the tax rate was evident on signs that the students held. “Let me vote for my future” and “Let the people vote” were among the many that were displayed.

Energy flowed from the students from across the state at the California Automobile Museum where they gathered to begin marching. “Students united! We’ll never be divided!” “They say cut back, we say fight back!” Students repeated these chants as loud as they could, hoping they could connect to state representatives they feel are out of touch with the reality of the proposed cuts.

Many of the students’ signs displayed the number 400,000, the number of students in the CCC system that would be lost if the cuts were to happen as proposed by Governor Brown.

Not all attitudes toward legislators were negative. Among the speakers to address the crowd were avid community college supporters Assembly Member Warren T. Furutani (D – South Los Angeles County) and Assembly Member Marty Block (D – San Diego). They spoke to the students assuring their support for investing in their educational future.

Not afraid to voice his opinion, Assembly Member Block shared how he felt about the events that transpired on the west steps of the Capitol this morning. “Today California’s higher education students literally shook the Capitol. Their voices, thousands strong, demanded that we ‘let the people vote’ in order to ‘stop the cuts’ to our public colleges and universities. It was a privilege to speak to so many passionate young people, and I hope that their efforts resonated with my republican colleagues, who are reluctant to send the ballot measure to the voters.”

Thousands of the almost 3 million California Community College students showed up in Sacramento today to show that they are a force that won’t be taken down without a fight. They stood in solidarity for the 400,000 that may be lost from the system, and they hope that lawmakers heard what they had to say.

Friday Stand Up to Youth Suicide - Sacramento Candlelight Vigil

2010-10-04T05:25:58Z

Sacramento, CA – Equality Action Now, in partnership with the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, Sacramento State Pride Center, Gender Health Center and other local organizations and mental health specialists have organized a candlelight vigil in the parking lot of McMartin Realty, 20th and K Street, Midtown Sacramento between 6:00pm and 7:00pm, Friday, October 8, 2010. The vigil will be held in conjunction with a nation-wide effort to, “Stand Up to Youth Suicide”.

Representatives of Equality Action Now and other LGBT organizations and mental health experts will be on hand to help with questions and concerns and to provide the community with resources to fight bullying in Sacramento area schools.

Donations will be accepted and sent to The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

The problem of LGBTQ bullying and harassment has reached epidemic proportions. Whether they are gay or not, anyone who is a victim of bullying or harassment is having a tough time.

Currently the media is focused on five teens that committed suicide in response to anti-LGBTQ bullying. As tragic as that number is, there have been reports that indicate that there were a lot more then five.

Nine male teenagers all committed suicide in the month of September, victims of bullying. It isn’t clear if all committed suicide directly from LGBTQ bullying, however all youth suicides are tragic and preventable:

Billy Lucas (15) September 9, 2010. Indiana
Cody J. Barker (17) September 13, 2010. Wisconsin
Seth Walsh (13) September 19, 2010. California
Tyler Clementi (18) September 22, 2010. New Jersey
Asher Brown (13) September 23, 2010. Texas
Harrison Chase Brown (15) September 25 2010. Colorado
Raymond Chase (19) September 29, 2010. Rhode Island
Felix Sacco (17) September 29, 2010. Massachusetts
Caleb Nolt (14) September 30, 2010. Indiana

In many cases while school officials denied knowing anything about the bullying, family members, friends, and other classmates reported knowing about the abuse, some going on for years.

The LGBT community and other supportive organizations and individuals know that bullying goes on all over the country in varying degrees – including right here in Sacramento. A group of concerned individuals have come together in partnership with Equality Action Now and formed, “It Gets Better Sacramento”. In the near future they will be organizing events such as a suicide prevention class, a class on how to support someone who may be bullied in or out of school, and a video mob shoot where individuals in the community can tell their stories and encourage the viewer that though times may be tough, “it does get better”.

The organizers do not want this to be a one-time event. This important work of educating parents, the community and school administrators and supporting our youth should be an ongoing process. It’s about saving lives.

Participants are encouraged to:

- Think about something you would like to write to these young people who took their lives. Note cards will be supplied and later scanned to the EqualityActionNow.org web site.
· Think about telling your story and letting others know that they are not alone and, “it gets better”. We will be videotaping your comments to go on Equality Action Now’s YouTube page as well as the “It Gets Better” YouTube page.
· If you need to express your thoughts after a short program, feel free to take advantage of an open mic session.
· Please supply your own candle for this event.
· Make a sign that expresses what you are feeling.
· Keep up to date with future events and classes.

For more information and resources go to the web site of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center (www.saccentr.org) or call (916) 442-0183. You can make donations directly to The Trevor Project through their web site (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/).

Capitol Events for this week

2010-09-13T02:49:19Z

Tuesday, Sept. 14
4-6 p.m. The Surviving Parents Coalition will be hosting a Child Safety and Awareness Rally on the West Steps of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to attend.

Capitol Events this week

2010-09-07T22:31:13Z

Wednesday, Sept. 8
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Training Toward Self-Reliance will be hosting “Celebration of International Literacy Day” at the new rose garden, where volunteers will distribute information from various educational groups and feature on-site book reading. About 40 people are expected to attend.

Thursday, Sept. 9
9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Arc of California will host a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome rally on the West Steps of the Capitol. Around 150 people are expected to attend.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The State Capitol Museum will host Admission Day Celebration on the North Steps of the Capitol where birthday cake and ice cream will be served to celebrate California’s 160th year of Statehood. About 25 people are expected to attend.

4-7 p.m. District Council 16 will continue its IUPAT nationwide bus tour with a rally for labor and legislative leaders on the West Steps of the Capitol. Around 300 people are expected to show.

Friday, Sept. 10
Noon - 2 p.m. Save Our Women International Outreach will be hosting a prayer gathering and circulating petitions on the West Steps of the Capitol. There will be about 50 people in attendance.

Offense comes alive late but River Cats fall to 51s

2010-09-02T01:46:38Z

For the first six innings of Tuesday night’s ballgame, the Sacramento River Cats managed just one hit.

As it turned out, all they needed to get their offense going was to face a different pitcher. A crowd of nearly 10,600 watched as Las Vegas 51s starting pitcher Scott Richmond had a strong outing, striking out seven River Cats batters. His only blemish was a base hit by Travis Buck in the third inning.

Hits were difficult to come by all night, and both teams left 10 runners on base. The River Cats did get on the scoreboard, but their four-game winning streak was halted by a 4-2 loss to the 51s in the second game of the four game series.

River Cats starter Bobby Cramer did well in his five and two thirds’ innings of work, giving up just four hits and recording six strikeouts. The 51s did collect six walks and two runs off Cramer.

Cramer got into trouble to start the second inning when he issued a walk to 51s right fielder Jason Lane. Left fielder Aaron Mathews followed up with a double, and they were both driven home on a single by third baseman Brad Emaus. Cramer limited the damage and ended the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a fly-out.

Corey Brown, who was called back up to Sacramento from Double-A Midland, sparked a seventh-inning rally that finally got the River Cats offense going.

The 51s brought in reliever Josh Roenicke, who was welcomed with a leadoff home run to deep right field from Brown.

Adrian Cardenas followed up with a ball hit toward the left-center field gap, but he was thrown out at second base as he tried to stretch his hit into a double.

Michael Taylor recorded the third straight hit of the seventh inning when he smacked a ball that rolled all the way to the fence in left field, allowing him to reach second base. Taylor advanced to third on a ground-out, and he would score on a wild pitch to the next batter, Anthony Recker. Recker then doubled to left-center field and represented the tying run, but he was stranded as Corey Wimberly grounded out to end the inning.

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the River Cats made one last attempt to win the game. Following a ground-out by Taylor and a fly-out by Tommy Everidge, who was re-signed to the River Cats earlier in the day, Recker doubled on a hard-hit ball down the right-field line that rolled all the way to the corner.

Recker moved to third on a base hit by Wimberly, who then stole second base. The next batter, Eric Sogard, drew a walk, and the River Cats were in business. However, the opportunity was blown when Buck grounded out to first to end the game.

Despite the loss, the River Cats’ magic number to win the division was reduced to four games as Fresno lost its game on Tuesday.

Capitol Events for this week

2010-08-25T02:25:03Z

Wednesday, Aug. 25
12-4 p.m. The California Legislative Black Caucus will have health fair with medical screenings on the North Steps. Around 100 people are expected to attend.

Thursday, Aug. 26
3-6 p.m. The California Nurses Association will have a march and rally on the West Steps of the Capitol in honor of the 90th anniversary of women’s suffrage and also in protest of gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman. Before the march and rally, there will be a photo shoot on the North Steps at 9 a.m.

10-11:30 a.m. The California Women’s State Appointment Project will have a press conference on the South Steps of the Capitol. Around 50 people are expected to attend.

This week at the Capitol

2010-08-16T01:48:40Z

Tuesday, Aug. 17
7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary will have a fundraising bake-sale on the North Steps of the Capitol. Early in the day, a member of the nonprofit will be passing out fliers for the bake sale on the South Steps.

5 - 7 p.m. SEIU will have a rally on the West Steps of the Capitol. About 600 people are expected to attend.

Capitol events this week!

2010-08-02T04:25:17Z

Monday, Aug. 2
6 - 7 p.m. God’s Next Level Ministry will lead a prayer for state leaders and the government on the West Steps of the Capitol. Around 30 people are expected to attend.

Tuesday, Aug. 3
Noon - 3 p.m. The California School Employees Association will have an education rally and picnic on and around the North Steps of the Capitol. Around 3,000 people are expected to attend.

11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. SEIU will have an informational rally in the DMV Plaza. Around 150 participants are expected.

This week at the Capitol!

2010-07-14T03:41:10Z

Wednesday, July 14
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The Iranian American Community will hold a rally in protest of the current Iranian regime on the North Steps.

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Parent Voices will hold a march and rally for child care on the North Steps of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to attend. For more information, visit here.

Thursday, July 15
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Office of State Treasurer Bill Lockyer will hold a staff appreciation luncheon on the lawn of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to attend.

This weekend at the Capitol

2010-07-03T06:52:40Z

Saturday, July 3
12 - 2 p.m. Madeline Lowery will hold a rally and prayers for California Department of Corrections prisoners on the South Steps. About 30 people are expected to participate.

This week at the Capitol!

2010-06-30T03:20:20Z

Wednesday, June 29
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Service Employees International Union Local 1000 will have a rally with the theme of, "We Are California" on the West Steps of the Capitol. Around 5,000 state workers and supporters are expected for the event.

12 - 1:15 p.m. The Service Employees International Union - United Service Workers West will have a press conference on the South Steps of the Capitol. Around 50 people are expected to attend.

Capitol events this week!

2010-06-21T03:51:20Z

Monday, June 21
11 a.m. - 7 p.m. The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association will be hosting the African New Year Jubilee on the West Steps of the Capitol. African New Year’s Day celebrates the year 6,250 based on the Great Pyramid Complex, an ancient African science of the Earth's rotation.

Tuesday, June 22
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Strategic Counsel will have an electric vehicle info booth and a rally on the North Steps of the Capitol.

What's happening at the Capitol June 16 - 18

2010-06-16T04:53:16Z

Wednesday, June 16
10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The California Deaf Newborn Identification & Advocacy Stakeholder Coalition will be having a rally on the South Steps of the Capitol. The rally is intended to voice opposition to AB2072, which will be heard by a committee the same day.

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The State Agency Green Employees will be hosting the Green Fair on the West Steps of the Capitol. If you have recyclables like old cell phones, plastic bags or printers, the fair will have proper places for them.

Thursday, June 17
11:30 a.m. The Cal-Nevada Methodist Church will have a rally for immigrant rights on the South Steps of the Capitol.

Friday, June 18
6 - 9 p.m. The Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center will be having their Dyke March Experience on the West Steps of the Capitol. There will be live music and speeches throughout.

Animal lovers speak out for the Sacramento County shelter

2010-06-15T02:04:36Z

With megaphone in hand, Jennifer Fearing of the Humane Society of the United States led a crowd of over 50 animal lovers in chanting “No more cuts, save our pets!”

Fearing facilitated the rally Monday for the Sacramento County animal shelter, who positioned themselves on the steps of the Sacramento County Administration building to raise awareness about the cuts the shelter faces. Participants dressed in red with the message of “stop the bleeding.”

Amy McMullan encouraged members of her group of pit bull owners, called Sacramento Responsible Pit Bull Lovers, to come to support the shelter. The group has about 400 members, with about 15 in attendance at the rally.

“Pit bulls aren’t just the bane of the shelter, they’re actually owned family pets,” McMullan said. “We’re really trying to keep the dogs out of the shelter system, since the shelter is so overrun. We feel like we can create more foster families around Sacramento.”

The group has worked in the past with the Bad Rap pit bull organization in San Francisco (http://www.badrap.org) and hopes to reach non-profit status in the future.

“We’re really just trying to help refurbish the image of the breed and work with all kinds of demographics to bond together and have better recognition of what a pit bull is,” McMullan said.

The group did a vaccine clinic in Oak Park on Sunday and handed out free spay and neuter vouchers.

“Bad Rap said we handed out more spay and neuter vouchers yesterday than they’ve almost ever seen at a vaccine clinic,” she said.

Carrie Fleig from the group was there with the pit bull she adopted from the shelter to show her support.

“We know that a majority of the dogs at the shelters are pit bulls,” Fleig said. “If the shelter goes down, it’ll affect pit bulls the most.”

“We are the only voice the animals have,” Fearing said. “We have to make them realize that we need more time to find solutions, that right now is not the time to cut this. Allow us another year to find more solutions.”

Fearing stressed the importance for the community, including the Sacramento SPCA and the HSUS to unite in discovering how the budget problems of the shelter can be solved.

As the Capital of the most animal-friendly state in the country, the county has one of the largest spay days in the country, according to Fearing.

“It makes no sense to me that this county would make these kinds of choices and relegate us to the bottom of the pile,” she said. “When it comes to animal care, we belong at the top.”

Right now, the shelter is one of the largest in California, housing about 15,000 animals a year.

Celeste Ingrid, volunteer coordinator for the Sacramento County shelter, gave a short talk to the concerned citizens about the problems that the shelter currently faces.

“We’ve gone through about two years of budget cuts,” she said. “We’ve lost 44 percent of our staff and we’re looking at losing about six people soon, which brings us down to two animal care attendants and six officers to care for more than 15,000 animals a year."

The cuts only make up an eighth of a percent to the overall budget.

“That .08 percent doesn’t mean a lot to the county, but those six positions mean a lot to the shelter,” Fearing said.

Ingrid hopes the board will restore some funding to the shelter but acknowledged that many other departments in the county are fighting for the same money.

“There are a lot of very viable departments that we need that are looking for the same dollars, so the board of directors has some very difficult decisions to make this week,” she said. “It’s a big juggling game with a pot of money. Unfortunately, the pot of money is very small.”

The shelter will host a community engagement meeting on Tuesday evening, Fearing said.

“We’re going to start the first meeting by dreaming of what animal care would look like in Sacramento if we didn’t have the rules that we have and if we had unlimited resources,” Fearing said. “We want to just free our minds from some of the limitations and try to imagine what we might do and then figure out a way, as we go forward over the next six months, how to map that to reality and end up some place a whole lot better.”

For more information on the Sacramento County shelter, please visit saccountyshelter.net or sacanimalshelter.org.

Nurses aren't striking, instead rallying for patient safety

2010-06-11T02:59:51Z

California nurses represented by the California Nurses Association are holding rallies today in response to a recent court injuntion against a proposed strike.

Nurses are upset over staffing ratios in the UC system and are saying they are not providing the quality of care to their patients that should be expected.

Carol Robinson, the chief nursing officer for the UC Davis Medical Center, said the nurses' claims are unsafe and "untrue." But nurses disagree, instead stating they are looking for safe staffing, continuity of care and patient safety.

Jody Ramos, a UC Davis Med Center nurse of three years, said she has foregone her lunch and breaks in order to provide quality patient care, and feels she doesn't want to burden her colleagues with her duties.

Shirley Toy, a registered nurse with UC Davis' ICU unit, states that there is indeed a temporary injunction against the strike, and the nurses will "obey that until a scheduled hearing in San Francisco on June 18."

Photos by Erin Haight

Religious Faithful, Law Enforcement and Citizen Activists Rally on Capitol Steps to Protest Potential Legalization of Marijuana

2010-01-12T18:21:50Z

They Send Strong Warning to Assembly Public Safety Committee:
“AB 390 is a Direct Threat to Public Health and Safety and We will Defeat It”

With President Obama leading the charge against legalization of marijuana in what he calls a “new era of responsibility,” a cultural change is taking place in California as more and more community activists join law enforcement officers, former drug addicts and faith-based leaders in support of the anti-marijuana cause.

Braving rain and wind, many of them appeared on the steps of the State Capitol today at a rally to protest AB 390, which was to be voted on by the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Ironically, the chair of this committee is the author of AB 390 to legalize the sale, production and use of marijuana in California.

“How hypocritical is it to have the head of the Assembly Public Safety Committee wanting to increase access to a harmful, highly carcinogenic drug that is clearly a danger to society and our youth,” said John Redman, executive director of the non-profit Californians for Drug Free Youth. “Plain and simple, pot is bad for the brain, especially young brains, and if our elected officials allow us to continue down this path of destruction, there will be no turning back.”

The rally spawned a cultural anti-drug revival of sorts as the religious faithful came by the dozens to listen to a youth gospel choir sing of a return to a life in our communities, free of the ravages of drugs that begins with smoking pot. Sacramento’s “Kids for a Better Society” served as a youthful reminder that it is in the early teen years that marijuana is first tried.

At a time California is considering the legalization of marijuana, the federal government’s annual survey of teen drug use indicates a worrisome trend showing that while marijuana usage is down: eighth, 10th and 12th graders are softening their views on its harmful affects. The Obama Administration’s drug czar sees this as a “warning sign.”

“When beliefs soften, drug use worsens,” said Gil Kerlikowske, who also stated emphatically in earlier remarks that he and the President are against legalization of marijuana and making weed accessible, where it can find its way into the hands of impressionable youth.

Proponents of legalizing marijuana contend that if pot is bought and sold out in the open, it can be regulated and taxed, and law enforcement could keep a better watch on kids to keep it out of their hands. As they made these claims, top law enforcement including members of the California Police Chiefs Association, California Peace Officers Association and the California Narcotics Officers Association joined in the rally to vehemently protest what they see as an ill-conceived piece of legislation that they say will only lead to more crime, violence and truancy in schools.

“As the government studies attest, marijuana usage is down among youth because it remains illegal,” added Redman. “There’s a reason why cigarettes, alcohol and prescription medications are more prevalent among young people because these substances are legal and therefore, perceived as being more socially acceptable. Legalizing marijuana and encouraging the manufacture and sale of dope will follow this same course and effectively lead to more widespread usage among teens.”

For Bishop Ron Allen who is the founder and president of the International Faith-Based Coalition, the battle against the proliferation of marijuana sales and use is not just a religious calling for a better society but a personal crusade as well. A former addict, he knows first hand how marijuana almost ruined his life and his hopes for the future.

“I grew up in Oak Park and when a bag of pot and a pipe were handed to me, I could not resist the temptation and I fell into a life of drugs and battling addiction,” said the Bishop. “By the Grace of God, I followed a better path. And now that I am clean and sober, I see it as my calling to ensure that our youth do not slip down the dark path of drug addiction as I once did. That is why I am on a crusade to muscle all the strength of our 3,600 member International Faith-Based Coalition to ensure bad public policy like this never sees the light of day.”

Contacts: Lori Aldrete, (916) 552-2650 or (916) 501-2654 (cell), laldrete@acsquantum.com or Corinne Chee, (916) 552-2650, cchee@acsquantum.com

One Year Ago – A Day of Smiles - A Day of Tears – A Day of Action

2009-10-08T06:59:47Z

A year ago on November 4, 2008, Proposition 8, a California ballot proposition passed in the November general election. The measure added a new section (7.5) to Article I of the California Constitution. The section reads: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The proposition overturned the California Supreme Court’s ruling saying that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, by restricting the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples. California’s State Constitution put the measure into immediate effect the day after the election.

On November 4, 2009, Equality Action Now, along with members of the Sacramento LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transsexual, Questioning, Intersex) Leadership Coalition will lead a rally and march at the California State Capitol Building to highlight the fact that the fight for civil rights for all citizens is not over. The rally will begin at 5:00 pm with sign making for participants, followed at 6:00 pm with a few speakers. At 6:30 pm Equality Action Now will lead a march around the capitol grounds.

Equality Action Now, a grassroots all-volunteer civil rights organization was born literally moments after the November 2008 elections. The award-winning group of activists lead by Tina Reynolds, co-founder and owner of Uptown Studios now serves as Sacramento’s premier civil rights organization. Even though the same-sex marriage issue is still an important focus of the organization, members have also spent their free time collecting food for the poor marched in step with other organizations such as the labor union and the Martin Luther King Jr Day parade Members also was instrumental in supporting SafeGround Sacramento, fighting for the homeless and helpless.

The Sacramento LGBTQI Leadership Coalition was formed just prior to the recent California Supreme Court decision to uphold Prop 8. Along with leaders of Equality Action Now, this group meets monthly to share information from other local grassroots and statewide organizations on preparations to overturn Prop 8.

The November 4th rally will serve as a reminder to the public at-large that the LGBTQI community, along with their many straight, political, and religious allies will not give up the fight for full equality until their rights are fully restored. While the decision of when to place this issue back on the ballot (2010 or 2012) is being decided, organizations such as Equality Action Now are continuing to mobilize, motivate, activate like-minded individuals and educate opponents who may have heard only one side of the issue.

The California State Capitol Building is located at 10th and L Street, Sacramento, CA. The rally will begin on the west steps at 5:00 pm and will conclude at 6:30 pm with a march around the capitol grounds. For more information visit Equality Action Now’s web site at: http://www.EqualityActionNow.org. or events@equalityactionnow.org or phone (916) 446-1082.

Proponents of Health Care Reform Gather for Change

2009-09-23T03:45:29Z

Activists for health care reform gathered in front of the Blue Cross building across from the Capitol Tuesday.

Amidst cries of "Blue Cross, you're no good; treat the people like you should," the 100 people in attendance marched in a wide oval on the sidewalk. After a half hour of alternating rallying cheers, Laurie Comstock was invited to speak to the crowd. She told her personal story of how the health care system impacted her.

"I lost my health care in August when it almost doubled from $260 to $450," Comstock said over the megaphone. "It became too much for me to afford, so I had to drop it."

After her speech, organizer Lino Pedres of SEIU read a new policy drafted for Blue Cross and other health care providers. He then announced that he and a few volunteers would enter the building to deliver the proposal. Roughly five minutes later the volunteers appeared again, telling the gathering that security would not let them into the main offices to speak with anybody.

The main stipulation of the policy is as follows: "Wellpoint/Blue Cross will not use any resources -- including funds, employees, and facilities to oppose any aspect of the health care reform proposals supported by President Obama and being considered by members of the United States Congress."

Pedres stayed and continued his attempt to get access, but was unsuccessful.

Once the rally ended and the people dispersed, Comstock explained her situation in more detail.

"I am a self-employed deposition court reporter," she said. "After they raised my monthly costs, they also made me pay $1600 out of pocket just for continued coverage. I had never had a medical bill that was that much, so I figured it was not worth the cost."

She also explained struggles in other states.

"I have a friend in Oregon who actually comes down here every three months now to deal with bigger, more expensive procedures, because they cost even more there" she said.

While Pedres is covered under SEIU's plan, he is fighting for those who are not so fortunate.

"It is very difficult to have to take children to the hospital with no health insurance," Pedres said. "We are protesting against the companies' prevention of everyone getting health care. I don't care how we figure it out, one way or another, but coverage should be provided for those who need it."

CSUS Budget Rally

2009-09-03T23:45:51Z

The California State University system faces a $1.27 billion dollar cut in its 2009-10 General Fund Budget from one year ago. While total enrollment is up 4,000 students across the CSU system, budget outlays are 55 percent less than they were in 2008-09.

To balance the CSU budget, the CA Board of Trustees has enacted a three prong approach. Teachers will be furloughed twice a month in order to save jobs, classes are being cancelled to save cash, and students will see a 32 percent increase in their student fees. This is the seventh time in eight years that student fees have gone up, and students are finding it very difficult to graduate because the classes they need have either been canceled or are completely full.

Ten years ago (1999-00), the California State University system had a General Fund Budget of $650 million more than it does today. From that same fiscal year, CSU enrollment is up over 80,000 students and student fees have increased 263 percent.

Video by Adam Christy

Rally for Budget Change at Capitol

2009-08-20T03:45:22Z

Members of The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Drug Policy Alliance, ACLU of Northern California and Families to Amend California's Three Strikes gathered on the south steps of the Capitol on Tuesday, August 17, to speak in opposition of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to the state prison budget.

Zachary Norris, director of the Books Not Bars campaign, hosted the rally and introduced the members of the coalition.

"We must address this elephant in the budget," Norris said before leading the crowd in chants of "books not bars" and "schools not jails." Norris and his fellow speakers urged legislators to rethink their policies on incarcerating petty criminals. California's 75 percent recidivism rate for convicts was a primary concern.

"Wake up, California," said Natasha Minsker, death penalty director of the ACLU of Northern California. "It's time to stop imprisoning people for petty crimes."

"If you don't go to prison in the first place, you don't have to worry about recidivism," said assembly member Jim Bell. "I'd like to send people to get their Ph.D.s in the UC system rather than in prison.”

The coalition stressed the importance of rehabilitation programs in the place of imprisonment for those found guilty of drug-related crimes.

“Drug treatment works, and we know it works," said Laura Thomas, a representative of the Drug Policy Alliance.” We could use the $1 billion for drug treatment instead of sending people to prison for petty drug crimes." She closed by saying, "Keeping people in the community works."

While Norris agreed with some of the governor's decisions, such as "converting some felonies to misdemeanors," he and the other groups were against all juvenile correctional facilities. "The average cost of one juvenile detainee is $234,000 per year,” Norris said. "We are wasting our money on recidivism."

"Waste is not a noun, it is a verb," said assemblywoman Nancy Skinner. "Something doesn't become waste until you waste it. We are wasting people."

More information about the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights can be found here.

SEIU Rally Brings Thousands to Capitol

2009-07-02T06:06:58Z

On Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., approximately 2,000 members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) gathered on the west steps of the Capitol in a powerful end to Tuesday's outcry rally over the state’s budget decisions, which would cut the salaries of state workers by 15 percent.

A giant screen was set up to project the image of the speakers. Tents were scattered providing first aid, food and information on how to contact the governor. Participants sat on the grass and milled around, but once Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker took the stage, most remained standing to listen intently to her words.

Walker addressed SEIU's grievances with the state legislature's handling of the budget. She spoke about the issues that have not been taken into consideration by the state, such as SEIU's proposed contract that would have saved $340 million, or their identification of the 34.7 million dollars allocated for private vendor contracts. She reminded the crowd that all departments have been cut by 10 percent, yet people continue to return to work and provide the same services. She also reminded the crowd, to loud cries of indignation, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's announcement of a third furlough day.

"The only thing I have to say is, 'Governor, you were elected to do a job, you have failed, you are not providing leadership to California and today Local 1000 is putting you on notice, and we're not going to take it anymore,'" Walker said.

Speeches finished, members of SEIU took to circling the west steps in a slow march, chanting various slogans of empowerment such as, "We've had enough, we won’t take it no more," "Union power" and the Bob Marley lyric, "Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights."

The sizable turnout featured SEIU members from all over California including Fresno, Redding, Rancho Cucamonga and Oakland.

Lesley Wong, a writer for Caltrans and Oakland resident, noted that the sheer number of bodies the event drew contributed to its success.

"I've been to past rallies, ridden the bus up from Oakland," Wong said. "This one, by far, has been the biggest one we've had that I've been to."

She also expressed that the governor's announcement of the implementation of a third furlough day was a deal-breaker for many state workers.

"It's the final 5 percent extra that pushed everyone over," Wong said. "It's an absolute breaking point. I've got people working with me who are making less money than they were 15 years ago."

In Walker's final address to the members of SEUI, she looked toward the future.

"The next time we come out, I hope to see 20,000 state workers," she said.

The response of the crowd could be heard a block away on L Street.

Balancing the budget topples hopes

2009-07-01T19:16:00Z

On Tuesday evening, hundreds of workers with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) congregated at the steps of the Capitol to voice their frustrations with how the state legislature is handling the budget.

Yvonne Walker, President of the SEIU, opened the rally with a fiery speech about how state workers “are on the tipping point,” with the continued proposals to cut state workers’ pay and adding a third furlough day.

Walker described the two-day furlough already in place for state workers as “the equivalent of one month’s pay.” She explained an additional day of unpaid leave would increase the financial burden on state workers, causing some to lose their homes.

Workers were well aware of this possibility as they walked circles around the Capitol lawn, some waving signs that read, “The future face of poverty.”

The impacts of pay-cuts have had severe effects on the lives of the workers.

“I have two children and I cannot afford a fifteen percent pay cut as a single mother,” said Kendra White, a tax technician. She added, “I already can’t pay my bills,” though the further proposed cuts have yet to be implemented.

Richard Wilcox Jr. is an employment program representative who processes employment insurance claims forms. He attended the protest in solidarity for his fellow workers.

“Some of them are at a point where they are actually filing for unemployment insurance claims forms,” seeking the exact help they provide as a part of their job, he said.

Some of the rally attendees held up signs that referenced the safety and well-being of their children. “I’m having to make choices about my kids being in daycare, and in a potentially dangerous situation” said Angela Ramirez, a DMV employee.

“I had to actually check with child services to see if it was okay to leave her home for a few hours out of the day until the lunch hour when I could come home,” Ramirez said.

She touched on current situations at her office that reflect the effects of the budget cuts on the community as a whole. “We’re backlogged, and customers are disappointed that the services are taking a lot longer.”

These services include filing paperwork dealing with DUI offenders. “Getting drunk drivers off the road is getting longer. The paperwork is taking longer,” she remarked.

“We’re doing a disservice to the community, not only the workers but the state of California,” Ramirez said.

Members of the SEIU have pin-pointed many ways to re-direct pressure off of state workers. “We’ve identified $34.7 billion in private outsourced contracts,” Walker said, hoping that the amount of money pouring into private contracts is reduced.

“One idea which I have,” said Wilcox, “is basically we start taxing oil companies for the oil that they drill out of ca public land.” The same is currently done in Alaska where they “actually make enough money where every year the Alaska state government sends its citizens checks.”

While he does not think the possibility of drilling an equivalent amount of oil in California is possible to generate that income, “it could at least offset the hurt.”

The SEIU planned to have a candle-light vigil and spend the night on the Capitol lawn, but some of the coordinators called it off because it looked like the legislature was not going to be in session that evening.

The protest at the Capitol Tuesday evening was a precursor to today’s rally. The SEIU expects over 2,000 workers to convene at the Capitol around noon to rally against the projected cuts.

Prop 8 decision: initial reaction

2009-05-27T00:21:51Z

There was a strange combination of emotions in Headhunters Video Lounge and Grill around 10 a.m. when the California Supreme Court decided to uphold Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. Perhaps it was the nature of the initial announcement, which was shouted by an on scene KOVR 13 reporter while hearing the breaking news through a cellphone.

Several people cried, but most didn't have time to react, because stations like KXTV 10, KOVR 13, and KTXL 40 were already on the scene videotaping and interviewing people about their initial reactions outside of Headhunters. After the crowd of nearly 100 calmed down a bit, Laurie McBride and Paul Curtis of the No on Prop 8 Fundraising Committee explained the decision, which was a 6-1 decision to reject challenges to Prop 8, and a unanimous decision to have existing marriages remain valid.

"I hope they repeal Prop 8, but the reality is we're prepared if they don't," said Tina Reynolds of Equality Action NOW in an interview minutes before the decision. Through a megaphone, she led the crowd in cheers before and after the decision at the grill and video lounge.

"We are filled with hope. This is not the end, this is just our new beginning. We are going to have true equality!" said Reynolds to a fervent crowd after the decision.

"I'm not at the point of my life where I'm ready to get married, but there are plenty of people I'm surrounded by who are," said Jade Baranski, 23, of Equality Action NOW. "And I feel like their love is being invalidated. This is our generation's Civil Rights Movement."

Later, an 11 a.m. press conference in front of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center featured speeches from Gretchen Bender, President of the Sacramento County Board of Education, Dave Jones of the State Assembly, and Doreena Wong of Asian Pacific Islander Equality, along with several religious leaders.

"This is the first day of a new movement to show our state and the whole country that freedom, family, and civil rights should never be the subject of a popularity vote," said Bender, who married her wife during the six month period before last November, and has a 4-month-old child.

"18,000 lesbian and gay couples living in our communities throughout the state of California [are] demonstrating each and every day that they can love just like love everyone else," said assembly-member Jones to a cheering crowd in front of the Gay and Lesbian Center of Sacramento. "[Because of] the incongruity of that with this decision, I am confident that we will prevail."

"50 percent of me is really happy because I get to stay married, [because] my partner and I got married last October after being together for 18 years," said Jason Lindo, who brought his framed marriage certificate. "Part of me is really pissed."

"I'm now in a completely unique and, I find, repulsive, legal category," Lindo added. "Having something the rest of California can't have, just because I happened to be available for a wedding within that six months."

Read the court's press release on the decision here.

Equality Action NOW has the following events scheduled for tonight:

Until 5 pm: Sign making at the Gay & Lesbian Center (Headhunters will also remain open) – 20th and L Streets

5:30 pm: Rally – 20th and L Streets

6:30 pm: March to the Capital – West Steps of Capitol on 10th and L

7:00 pm: Capitol Program begins

What's happening at the Capitol: May 6, 7 and 8

2009-05-06T08:27:55Z

Here are the events at the Capitol occuring May 6, 7 and 8:

Wednesday, May 6:

6 a.m.-5:30 p.m. California Department of General Services have arranged a free e-waste drop off, so anyone can drop off old electronics for free on the west side of the Capitol.

9 a.m.-4 p.m. California Child Care Resource Network will hold an affordable child-care rally entitled Stand for Children. Taking place on the north steps, the rally looks to draw 700 participants.

Thursday, May 7

8 a.m-4 p.m. California Animal Rescue League will be having a bake sale on the north entrance of the Capitol.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Ella Baker Center for Human Rights will be holding a press conference near the fish pond for their campaign Books Not Bars. 75 people are expected.

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. National Day of Prayer Task Force will be organizing a prayer and celebration on the south steps of the Capitol for an estimated 600 people. According to the group's website "The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman."

2-5 p.m. California Peace Officers Memorial will have a rehearsal for Friday's "Walk of Honor" for Peace Officers on the west steps of the Capitol.

6:30-8:30 p.m. Sacramento County Office of Education will be holding a recognition ceremony for high school graduates near 1500 11th Street. According to the website "the event is traditionally opened with a flag ceremony conducted by a local high school, youth, or veterans' organization. Each honoree is introduced and presented with his or her high school diploma." Approximately 160 people will be in attendance.

8:30-9 p.m. California Peace Officers Memorial will hold a candlelight vigil on the west steps of the Capitol, "with welcoming comments from the CPOMF President, remarks from departmental and past survivor representatives, a Roll Call of Heroes, as well as music and prayer," according to the organizer's website.

Friday, May 8

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. California Peace Officers Memorial will hold their enrollment ceremony on the west steps of the Capitol. According to their website, the "formal ceremony begins with the ‘Walk of Honor’ from the State Capitol to the Memorial Monument. [It continues with] presentations by state representatives, CPOMF’s President, and a departmental keynote speaker. [The] Ceremony concludes with a 21-gun salute, taps, and retiring of the colors."

5-7 p.m. Sacramento Walking Sticks will be holding a walk for approximately 150 people beginning from the Capitol's rose garden. According to their website, "the Sacramento Walking Sticks is California's largest [American Volkssport Association or] AVA affiliated walking club. We started in November 1984 and are a non-profit organization that is run 100% by volunteers."

What's happening at the Capitol: Monday, April 27

2009-04-26T06:12:30Z

Ever drive by the Capitol building and see a crowd gathering, only to pass by wondering what was that? Whether it's a large gathering, a rally, or a special event, stories in this storyline will focus on all happenings outside of California's historic State Capitol building, located at 10th and L Streets.

Future articles in this storyline will likely include interviews with organizers and participants, as well as photographs, flyers and additional information.

Monday April 27th:

California Young Democrats will be holding a press conference to help mobilize the youth vote. Taking place from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., the event will consist of approximately 60 people who will convene at the north steps of the Capitol.

Professional Beauty Federation of California will be holding a rally and giving free hair cuts to nearly 300 legislators from 3 - 7 p.m. on the south steps of the Capitol.

The California State Assembly is holding a memorial event from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on the west steps of the Capitol. 175 people are expected to show up.

*Note*: Events are compiled from the California Highway Patrol's Weekly Event Report, and are subject to change.

Students Speak Up

2009-03-17T01:54:01Z

Look out, Governor Schwarzenegger! Thousands of angry students are yelling at your front door.

Today at the Capitol, college students from all over California gathered to speak up about their frustrations in this year’s ‘March in March’.

At 10:00 am, a crowd of thousands from all over the state started marching from Raley Field towards the Capitol. The passion of the students could be felt in the air during the walk.

“What do we want? EDUCATION! When do we want it? NOW!” “You say cut that, we say fight back!”

These were just a couple of the many chants that could be heard throughout the crowd. Anybody with functioning ears within a ten-block radius could probably hear the screams.

As the swarm of people kept growing at the steps of the Capitol, it became very cramped and very loud. Thousands were eventually gathered, showing the true enthusiasm of the people in California’s higher education system. Many carried signs that said 'Stop Education Cuts', 'Schools not War', and 'Tax the Rich'. Some, though, were not as serious. I came across one that said 'Chuck Norris supports education' and one that had a person looking at a dog and saying 'cat' showing why we need education. The people had a serious agenda, but the mood remained light for most of the crowd.

The first speaker to the stage was SSCCC President Richael Young, who was very engaging to the crowd, especially the many from community colleges around the state.

Next up, was SSCCC Vice President Troy Carter, followed by quite a few other speakers from colleges around California. They were from different areas, but shared the same message: Keep colleges effective, open, and affordable.

One of the speakers who was full of charisma, who is also candidate for governor for the 2010 election, was Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, who criticized the state for trying to cut its most valuable asset: its students. There was an uproar of screams and applause during all of the speeches given at the Capitol.

Seeing the crowd from the steps of the Capitol stretching out to Tower Bridge gave a sense of awe. To see that there were that many people passionate about education gave me some hope. During this time where everything seems to be getting worse, hope was a very welcome feeling. You could see it on the faces of all of the people. People who traveled from all over the state just to be there for a few hours (some from as far away as San Diego) didn’t care about the long ride they had ahead of them. They knew what they were there for, and they were going to get it. The students of California colleges are the future of the state. Having affordable education for all is a basic American right and there should never be any governmental move that would stop people from getting it.

Hopefully, legislators will recognize this march and react accordingly. If they don’t, I have no doubt that even more students will come to the Capitol to show them who they’re hurting.

Candlelight vigil for gay marriage

2009-03-05T06:56:58Z

Hundreds of gays, lesbians and supporters lined the south steps of the State Capitol to recommit to the cause of fighting for equality Wednesday at around 5 p.m.

Organized by the nonprofit Equality Action NOW (which also helped organized the larger March 16 rally at the State Capitol), the people were there to tell the world that they want equality, and they want it now.

On the eve of the California Supreme Court hearing arguments on the validity of Prop. 8, the state amendment to ban same-sex marriages, the hundreds marched from the State Capitol to the steps of the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building.

The gathered held signs with slogans such as, “We are never going away,” "God does not discriminate, people do" and "What happened to equal rights for every citizen?

After hearing remarks from Pastor David Thompson of Westminster Presbyterian Church and an opening prayer by Reverend Lindi Ramsden of the Faith for Equality Coalition, the crowd held a candlelight vigil in a show of support for the freedom for all to marry.

"On the eve of justice, you've assembled here alongside crowds from 35 other cities in this state,” Thompson said, “and I'm here to say, I do support the freedom to marry be given to all people."

Event organizers then turned the attention of the crowd to recognize that Mariko Yamada, who represents California’s 8th District in the State Assembly, was in attendance. Then one organizer used her megaphone to lead the crowd in a call and response: "What do you want? Freedom! When do you want it? Now!"

"Tomorrow, [Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Shannon Minter and his team] are going to start the fight that has never been fought before," said longtime Sacramento resident and Equality Action NOW founder Tina Reynolds.

"Even though we're thinking it's about a 50/50 [chance]," she added, "I think that we're going to win because it's about being fair. If the California Supreme Court takes away our rights, they can easily take the rights away from every other minority."

Reynolds encouraged people to join the rally in San Francisco tomorrow where 100,000 people are expected to gather at the Supreme Court of California at 350 McAllister from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, the court will also hear views over whether the 18,000 gay marriages performed in 2008 before November should be legally recognized if the ballot measure is upheld. Though the court could decide as early as tomorrow, they must make a decision in the next 90 days.

Jade Baranski, a 23-year-old who also works for Equality Action NOW, said that her organization has "given me a direct outlet to mobilize others in our community."

"Once the court decides,” she added, “we're either planning for a celebration, or a reactionary rally."

Though there's no rally planned for tomorrow, if anything occurs, "there will be a viral rally happening tomorrow," said Baranski.