*this is a list of events and activities that young people in Petaluma either a.) organized themselves or b.) played some sort of supporting role in. We did not directly organize everything listed below (for example, the historic immigrants' rights mobilizations of 2006), but did play a variety of roles in supporting the actions and events mentioned here.
2005
March: Group of friends meets to watch political movies, discuss issues.
April/May: People's Revolutionary Organization forms. Drafts a 10-point platform modeled off of the Black Panther Party
June: First protest organized by P.R.O. against the Iraq War at the Army Recruitment Center. Critical Mass is organized
June-October: PRO works out structure and develops an extensive educational “Reader” for new members. Critical Mass continues to be organized and a Food Not Bombs chapter re-starts.
November: Big protest at Army Recruitment Center on Nov. 5 th
November/December: P.R.O. begins opening group up to public, dozens of people join. Meetings are usually held at Deaf Dog Coffee. P.R.O. begins doing anti-war outreach with about 10-15 solid members
2006
January/February: P.R.O. members participate in the founding of Committee for Immigrants' Rights of Sonoma County and help facilitate discussions at the first immigrants' rights forum (over 300 people attend) . P.R.O. also begins developing relationships with and works in solidarity with the local United Farm Workers Union. P.R.O. members attend a United Students Against Sweatshop National Conference in SF.
March: P.R.O. organizes the “Right to Resist” Benefit against Police Brutality at Phoenix Theater with workshops and bands. P.R.O. organizes a movie night about struggle in Venezuela at the Phoenix Theater. Food Not Bombs begins serving at Washington and Howard Streets to Day Laborers with a goal to help build community. Homeland Security visits Casa Grande to investigate PRO. P.R.O. organizes a protest and successfully shuts down the army recruitment center on March 20 th , the anniversary of Iraq War. The march continues across town where protestors lockdown in a main intersection. with 13 arrested in downtown Petaluma shutdown. P.R.O./Food Not Bombs work with the Cesar Chavez day march for immigrants rights Santa Rosa. 5,000 people (biggest march in SR history).
April: P.R.O. organizes another Anti-War March in Petaluma where two are arrested.
Nationwide mobilizations for immigrants' rights (2 million march in LA) begin to form as P.R.O. members attend a night-time march in Santa Rosa: approx. 7,000 people. P.R.O. members respond locally to issue by a surprise attack of a racist, anti-immigrant rally. Spontaneous/Massive student walkouts/marches in Petaluma .
May: On May 1 st over 10,000 march in Santa Rosa for a General Strike where Food Not Bombs serves. CopWatching is organized in Santa Rosa on Cinco de Mayo to prevent and record police abuse. Petaluma CopWatch forms.
June: P.R.O. actively supports United Farm Workers Strike in St. Helena against Gallo Wines. Four PRO members move into 4 th St. House.
July: P.R.O organizes “30 Days of Revolution!” Events, meetings and workshops are organized every day of the month on police brutality, Really Really Free Market, Critical Mass, CopWatch shifts, Food Not Bombs servings, anti-war march, womyn's night movie showing, same-sex kissing booth, young workers' rights workshops, Pirates of Propaganda event, and more.
August: Argus Courier, local Petaluma paper, accuses PRO of committing political vandalism. A delegation goes to Argus Courier offices asking them to print our statement in response to these accusations. Petaluma Police begin heavily monitoring our group by parking outside our house, following people to the store, and following family members. Fortunately, support from the community leads to an end to the witch-hunt. P.R.O. disbands amid fear and political disagreements.
2006-2007
The United Resistance forms with previous P.R.O. members and local youth. Collectively we wrote our “Principles of Unity.” The United Resistance begins holding womyn's and allies caucuses, strengthens Copwatch and conducts dozens of Know Your Rights trainings, organizes a protest against the Iraq War on March 20 th as part of a national movement, Copwatch is featured in Bohemian publication, Copwatch is featured in Le Monde/national French newspaper, Copwatch co-organizes first National Copwatch Conference in Berkeley, co-organized October 22 nd Protest Against Police Brutality, co-organized Mass Community Forum on Police Accountability (PACH originated from forum).
2008
April: Benefit for Petaluma Copwatch held at the Boogie Room—we continue to do Know Your Rights Trainings at their shows
May: IMPACT! forms with a focus on CopWatch, Food Not Bombs/Day Labor program and City of Refuge Campaign for immigrants' rights.
August: Quaker youth come to the Phoenix Theater for a Know Your Rights Training and volunteers with IMPACT! for 4 hours. One of the IMPACT! founders, Carl Patrick, attends the Republican National Convention protests in Minnesota.
September: IMPACT! organizes a “Building Resistance in Sonoma County” event at the Peace and Justice Center: report back from Republican National Convention and discussion on Principles of IMPACT! Womyn's caucuses are organized . IMPACT! members attend Critical Resistance Conference in Oakland.
October: IMPACT! organizes a movie night of “These Streets are Watching”—huge turn out! IMPACT! helps organize the October 22 nd Protest Against Police Brutality in Santa Rosa. IMPACT! pickets with other community members in front of Republican Party headquarters for No on Prop 8 Campaign. A Halloween Critical Mass is organized with several people ticketed by Petaluma Police.
November: IMPACT! organizes a “Funk the Hate” demonstration on Election Da. y
December: IMPACT! organizes the first “Activist Gathering” with seventeen different organizations represented. Nathan Vaughn is killed by Sonoma County Sheriffs. IMPACT! helps organize an emergency vigil on Dec. 26 th that is widely covered in the media. Following event there is a brief occupation of the Sonoma County Sheriff's office.
IMPACT! begins public meetings with activists and families of police murder victims and decides to initiate a campaign to Ban Tasers.
2009
January: IMPACT! helps organize protests against Israel war against Gaza. Oscar Grant is killed on New Year's Eve in Oakland. Petaluma CopWatch attends protest, which turns into riot on Jan. 7 th . Food Not Bombs gets harassed and threatened by the Petaluma Police for “violating food preparation/health codes.”
February: IMPACT! organizes a second “Activist Gathering” with twenty seven organizations represented. IMPACT! helps organize a march to Sheriff's office to Ban Tasers. o22 meets with Sheriff???
March: Third Activist Gathering
April: Spring Into Action! effort
-lots of canvassing. CopWatch survey project begins
-Movie night
-Copwatch patrols and outreach
Food Not Bombs servings
-Downtown Get Down
-Neighborhood Market
May:
May 1 st march- over 1,000 people in the rain!
-Activist Gathering- significantly damaged by presence of racist guy
June: House Party Benefit!
-Strategies for Social Change forum at PJC
-O22 movie night, benefit
-court solidarity for police brutality victims
-Direct Action training with David Solnit
July
Free Mind merger (o22, SR FNB, FMM)
Car Impound Forum
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