Week of October 7: Events in San Francisco & the Bay

This newsletter is a comprehensive round up of SWANA (South West Asian & North African) events within San Francisco and the Bay Area. The purpose of it is to make sure that as many people as possible are aware of SWANA events in the Bay Area to be able to participate in them. Please forward this newsletter to help create awareness of these events!

And please send any SWANA events or businesses you would like to see included within this weekly digest to hello@rahman-consulting.com.

Sincerely,

Nadia Rahman

Photo: Rapper Saint Levant performs at The Independent in San Francisco on October 1st. Watch some snippets from his performance here, here, here, and here.

***Please note that all events are in San Francisco unless otherwise noted below.*** 

Events: This Week

Tuesday, October 8 - 3:30-7PM - 15,000 Poppies: A Grief Ceremony (Oakland)

From the organizers: “Please wear white to honor the children martyred.”

Location: Lake Merritt Amphitheater

More info here.

Tuesday, October 8 - 5PM - Public Tashlich in Protest: Casting Off Zionism.

More information is here. 

From the organizers: “On the one year commemoration of the Gaza genocide and heightening West Bank pogroms, join us in a public tashlich to Cast off Zionism.

Please come wearing black. JVP/IJAN gear + keffiyahs welcome.

We will be exposing the sins of the JCRC and the Jewish federation, which include defending genocide, sabotaging ethnic studies programs in SFUSD and promoting rampant anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism locally. We demand our electeds know the JCRC does not speak for the Bay Area Jewish community.

We demand a permanent ceasefire and permanent arms embargo to Israel.

We hold our local Zionist organizations accountable for their unwavering support of an apartheid state which has now martyred over 100,000 civilians.

In this time of horror and mourning and rage, this Jewish New year, we renew our commitment to collective liberation, starting with the liberation of Palestine. May it be so.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Please sign and share to stop the American Jewish Committee, a Zionist org from "training" SFUSD teachers.”

Follow @jvpbayarea and @jewishantizionistnetwork on Instagram. 

Thursday, October 10 - 4:30PM - San Bruno Community Vigil: One Year of Genocide. (San Bruno) 

More information here.

From the organizers: “Bring artwork, flowers, toys, and photos of departed loved ones for a memorial altar.” 

Follow @sbforpalestine, @4dalycity, @change_ssf on Instagram.

Saturday, October 12 - 3-8PM - Love and Liberation: a community event in celebration of Arab Dignity and Self Determination.

Buy tickets here. 

From the organizers: “As we enter a year of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and mourn the lives of our Palestinian family, community and loved ones, the people across all of historic Palestine– from Gaza to the West Bank – continue to rise up in the face of unprecedented Israeli settler violence backed by the US. All the while, the people of the Bay and across the US have been doing everything in our power, inside the belly of the beast, to demand a ceasefire and an end to US aid for apartheid Israel. We will gather in support of the steadfastness, dignity and self-determination of the Palestinian people, and all people across the Arab world, in defiance of the inhumanity of settler colonialism and US imperialism. This event will be grounded in the love we have for our people and our community, for it is through this love that we continue to forge ahead.”

Follow @AROC_bayarea on Instagram.

Saturday, October 12 - 4-9PM - CAIR-SFBA 30th Anniversary Gala - SOLD OUT (Santa Clara)

Join CAIR-SFBA (Council for American Islamic Relations) for its 30th Anniversary Gala to uplift the voices of truth, gather for unity, and mobilize support for your local civil rights organization on the frontlines, working to protect and empower our communities.

Follow CAIR-SFBA on Instagram. 

Sunday, October 13 - Sumud Mural Launch. (Oakland)

More info here.

From the organizers: “SAVE THE DATE for the public launch of the Sumud: Resistance Until Liberation Mural on Sunday, October 13! ❤️‍🔥

The Sumud: Resistance Until Liberation Mural project is a collaboration between artists and activists in the U.S. and Palestine that explores and confronts the deep interconnections between the brutal systems of imprisonment in the U.S. and Palestine. The mural will serve as a demonstration of the Palestinian Liberation Movement’s vibrancy and a memorialization of this historical moment in our struggle globally and locally.

🗓️Sunday October 13

📍401 26th St, Oakland

Stay tuned for more details to come!”

Follow @sumudmuralproject and @artagainstimprisonment on Instagram.

October 2024 Events

Monday, October 14 - noon-8PM - Poets for Palestine Marathon Reading

This event is a poetry reading marathon to benefit the families and children of Palestine. Make a contribution here. 

Follow Poets for Palestine on Facebook. 

Monday, October 15 - 7:30PM - Palestine/Gaza Benefit Tour - Tanfis II: Music, Stories, Collective Liberation

Purchase tickets here.

From the organizers: “Join us for the Tanfis II Gaza Benefit Tour! This unique event features 17 talented artists from Palestinian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Iraqi backgrounds, bringing you the enchanting sounds and stories of Levantine culture. Enjoy a night of fun while supporting a noble cause, as all proceeds will go towards feeding the displaced in Gaza. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet Rebuilding Alliance’s team members. Let’s come together to make a difference. Don’t miss out on this transformative journey! 

Follow @rebuildingalliance on Instagram. 

October 18-20 - San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival

From the organizers: “3rd i's 22nd annual SF International South Asian Film Festival presents groundbreaking cinema from India, Pakistan, France, UK, Canada, and the USA. From witty comedies to nuanced dramas, from sci-fi to real life, 3rd i offers a celluloid celebration of inspiring stories from South Asia and its Diaspora.”

Learn more at the Thirdi website and follow the festival’s events page for ticket information. 

Saturday, October 19 - 11AM-11:30PM - 45th Annual Palestine Cultural Festival (Redwood City)

From the organizers: “Join us for a day filled with vibrant celebrations of Palestinian culture. Immerse yourself in the rich traditions, delicious cuisine, and captivating performances from talented artists.

Experience the true essence of Palestine through live music, dance, and storytelling. Indulge in mouthwatering Palestinian delicacies and explore a variety of authentic crafts and artifacts at our bustling marketplace.

Our festival is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the local Palestinian community and learn about their heritage. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a day of cultural exchange, laughter, and joy.”

Learn more about the event here and follow the Palestinian American Coalition on Instagram. 

Sunday, October 20 - South Asian Radical History Walking Tour - SOLD OUT (Berkeley)

From the organizers: “Discover a century of South Asian American activist history on the streets of Berkeley, California! (And soon, San Francisco.)

Community historians Barnali Ghosh and Anirvan Chatterjee bring South Asian American movements and histories to life on an engaging 2-mile walking tour.

You’ll visit original sites, hear the stories, and come away inspired by four generations of immigrant freedom fighters, feminists, and more. These are the secret histories we were never taught.”

Learn more about it at the tour’s website and follow @berkeleysouthasian on Instagram. 

October 24 - November 3 - The 28th Annual Arab Film Festival.

Buy passes here. 

From the organizers: “The flagship event of the Arab Film and Media Institute, the Arab Film Festival is the longest running independent festival of its kind in North America. Launched in 1996, the festival's mission is to present the best of contemporary films that illuminate the richness of Arab culture through authentic narratives and images, providing insight into the beauty and complexity of the Arab world.

The festival also offers special programming to local audiences, and unprecedented access to the diversity and range of authentic Arab experiences. The festival has gained an international reputation for excellence and offers its audiences access to media that reflects the lives of under-represented and provocative themes and groups on a cultural and societal level.”

Learn more here and follow @arabfilmmedia on Instagram. 

Thank you Joseph and Omar for the tip!

November 2024 Events

Saturday, November 2 - 12-2:30PM - SF Bay Area Tatreez Circle (Berkeley)

More info here.

From the organizers: “Join our monthly Tatreez Circles (1st and 3rd [when possible] Saturdays of every month) to stitch in community with Palestinians and non-Palestinian allies. Please note that circles are not classes. You are expected to bring your own supplies/projects.”

Check out the website and subscribe to the email list here. 

Thank you Amanne for the tip!

Friday, November 15 - 5-10PM - Bhangra & Beats Night Market.

RSVP here. 

From the organizers: “Join us on November 15th for a truly special evening, marking not only the final installment of the Bhangra & Beats night market 2024 season but also a historic milestone as the inaugural official City of San Francisco Diwali celebration. This event is extra special as it coincides with Non Stop Bhangra’s 20th anniversary, making it a night of celebration, culture, and community like no other.

Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most significant festivals in South Asian culture. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Celebrated with the lighting of lamps, fireworks, and sharing of sweets, Diwali is a time for family, friends, and communities to come together in joy and gratitude.”

Check out the Bhangra & Beats website and follow @bhangraandbeats on Instagram. 

Recurring Events 

Every Friday at 12PM/noon - AROC Palestine Solidarity Announcements Friday PSA Series. RSVP for free here. 

Weekly analysis of political conditions and updates on actions and solidarity work. Recordings are available on YouTube and Spotify. 

Follow @AROC_bayarea on Instagram.