Have you stepped back and taken a look at your coterie lately? The people who are in your inner circle; the people that you spend the most time with? Even the folks whom you network with on a regular basis? Do you take time out to let them know how incredible they are? I really appreciate my friends, my sisters, my family for keeping me going, and for reminding me of my greatness, even when I am convinced that it does not exist. Its so hard to see past the darkness and the distress, and the majority of the time, its hard to strip the negative self talk of its grand powers. However, when inspiration lies all around you, it becomes a little bit easier to grab hold to it.

My good friend, Geraldine, was recently interviewed by a local news station about life as a student parent at UC Berkeley, given the recent financial crisis, budget cuts and fee increases. She does a beautiful job telling her story, and that of so many others, who are combining academia with family life under these conditions. She is an example of the tenacious student parent spirit. I am so proud of every single accomplishment of the women in my life. That includes YOU too!

That's what students were met with, and felt, as they stood up for public education.

As the occupation of Wheeler Hall took place, the Chancellor not only called in the UCPD, but he also felt the need to call in city law enforcement, who arrived in riot gear, obviously ready to do battle. They agitated the hundreds of supporters outside the building, and began pushing them, poking them, and beating them with their batons, all while our Chancellor sent out emails throughout the day saying how the safety of the students was a priority. There are reports that a woman's hand was broken by a police baton, and there are others with bruises from the rubber bullets. The ecalation was a real surprise and shock. We had already had two days of peaceful protest and were rounding up the campaign against the fee hike with a third. We had seen the beatings and pepper spraying of UCLA students and were happy that it wasn't happening on our campus... and then suddenly, it was.

Thankfully, none of our moms or babies were hurt, as we had received word of the police presence and planned accordingly. But, we were still there!


On the front lines! Arms linked, and not taking no shit, because, we don't set foot on campus everyday just for ourselves, but for our children and families. They can't just request $2,500 more from us and expect us to hand it over willingly. I can happy that I will not be returning next semester for various reasons, however, saddened for what this means for those who will be returning or just entering (and those "just entering" will be few).

Take a look at the short videos below to have a first hand look at just how much of a priority the safety of UC Berkeley's students were on Friday.

We stood in solidarity this week, and were semi-defeated with the approval of the proposed 32% fee hike to tuition within the UC system. So, that means that $2,500 will be tacked onto the already $4,176 - $4, 874 (depending if you have opted to be covered under the University's health insurance plan) next semester, bringing tuition costs to $6,676 - $7,374 for Spring 2010. This is detrimental to students who are already struggling to pay for their education, and it is devastating for certain campus communities, such as students of color and student-parents. Although the Regents say that low-income students will be shielded from this hike, we are having a hard time trusting that. The fact that the University is laying workers and faculty off left and right, closing child care centers, imposing new regulations and eliminating vital resources, DOES NOT provide any ease. We all fear that this is the beginning of the "death of public education".


We have been reminded by fellow students that this decision to approve the fee hike was not solely the decision of the UC Regents, but more of a snowball effect of our dry state. California's budget crisis has not improved and people are still feeling the sting of frigged air from being left out in the cold for what is starting to feel like forever. Whatever the reasons, we simply CAN NOT afford to dish out more money, and we are being told that neither can the financial systems that have been in place to aid us. So, then what? What happens to the student who has invested so much, but can not afford to continue on the journey? What happens to high schoolers who may not be able to get fully funded? How will the University, particularly, UC Berkeley, maintain its status as one of the most prestigious schools in the country if it has to shut out thousands of hopeful applicants? There will surely be some interesting times ahead as things continue to unfold.


The movement to stand up, fight for what is right, and be heard, will press on today, as students have organized themselves for another day of protesting. There is still a great belief in the power of a mass and collectivity. The hope is that the University will see that the students they serve "ARE the University and they have the power to shut it down". No business as usual for many, even as the semester is ending and finals are being thought up, students still have justice on the brain. I can't predict an outcome, but I can show my support by participating in the movement as I have been while I am still officially on campus, and show my solidarity to my UC Berkeley community once I move on.

Join me over at Moms of Hue, where I talk about the beautiful contribution that my friend, and fellow student single mother, Koko Mulder, has made to student families at the University of California, Berkeley.

In lieu of the proposed 32% tuition hike for next year, both students and faculty from UC campuses statewide have come together in solidarity and claimed today, September 24th as a day of action. UC Berkeley has staged a walkout and rally to "fight the power" scheduled to take place at noon. Those who are not walking out will stay in and hold teach-ins, where they will lecture to students about the budget crisis, cuts and what it all means. The picket lines are already in full swing and the people are descending on the campus, getting ready to band together. The budget crisis and mass budget cuts to the state and UC system has left furloughs, pay cuts, and layoffs in its wake, not to mention less classes being offered as a direct effect of this. These nouveau institutional conditions are already a burden on students who are striving to complete their academic careers, but fee hikes add a whole new dimension. This would not only be detrimental to folks who are still on the grind, but also to students who hope to come into the UC system.

Within the CSU system, students have already been turned away in large numbers because of the campuses' inability to support them, and my campus, good old Cal, is planning to admit a large number of international students because their tuition costs are higher than students who have CA residency; thus the University can pull in more money from these students to fill in financial gaps left by the current crisis. Like I said, this situation is pretty urgent. Desparate times are calling for desparate measures, but there are costs.

A part of me wants to believe that the rising up of students and faculty today will make an impact, however, from experience, I know that no matter how big the number and how strong the support, the University is an institution and it will do whatever it has to in order to save itself. They already know this fee hike is a serious proposal. They already know that faculty are fighting to keep their jobs and fighting for a livable wage. They already know that students are losing out big time and are pissed off about it. They know all of this, yet, at the end of the day, they've said that there isn't anything else they can do except for what they are already doing, which is to continue to lay off and induce furloughs.

We'll see what impact the contributions of those across the 10 UC campuses will make on the powers that be.

-Johannes Mehserle had a bail hearing today, in which bail was granted. The judge set bail at $3 million, stating that Mehserle was not a flight risk or a danger to the community.

-Mehserle has hired a new attorney who is arguing that the crime committed was not murder, but manslaughter.

-A second officer, Tony Pirone, is currently under investigation. Pirone, who pinned Grant's head to the ground with his knee right before Mehserle fired his gun was also seen, on video, leaving a man unattended to go punch a restrained Grant in the face, knocking him to the ground.

-"Resisting arrest" charges dropped against a man who was beaten by Mehserle a few weeks before the killing of Oscar Grant.

-Oakland police department under investigation in cases involving the mishandling of warrants.

-Mehserle says that he "thought Grant had a gun". (at what point, since Grant's hands were behind his back?)

-News of the "bail, not jail" led to more angry protests today in Oakland and heavy police presence was enforced to try to avoid rioting.

-UC Berkeley's BAMN (Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration
& Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary) teamed up with other UC campuses, including Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz for a statewide march for demands in the case:

• Jail All the Killer Cops
• End BART's and District Attorney Orloff's cover-up—Open an independent public investigation of the murder
• Disarm the BART police, and keep the BART police out of Oakland
• Drop all the charges against protesters

Answering the President-Elect's call to service on MLK Day, I will be participating in making some donations of coats to my city's community center, which is hosting a Serve Expo.

Get involved by committing some hours out of your day to serving your community or make a donation of canned food, blankets, coats and anything else that you think can help someone in need, to local service organizations.

Go out and make your mark on the world!

Since the mini riot in Oakland, CA, there have been a number of other peaceful protests in Oakland and San Francisco, as well as members of the community and community leaders attending meetings with BART and the district attorney's office. There has been an overwhelming push for the arrest of Johannes Mehserle, the former BART police officer who killed Oscar Grant on New Years day, and now it has finally happened. Mehserle was arrested yesterday in Nevada on a warrant for murder that was issued by Alameda County. The Bay Area now awaits Mehserle's return. You can read more about his arrest --->here<---.

Although this is a victory toward justice, there is still the possibility that there will be no justice for Oscar Grant in this case. Authorities have worries about finding an impartial jury should this case go to trial. Will the jury be able to view the video evidence without police bias? They feel that the level of emotion surrounding the case and the personal experiences and views of people concerning the police will not allow for a fair trial. Will this trial be a repeat of the Rodney King trial, which also had video evidence? Will Mehserle walk? With little faith in the justice system, he could, but I see that being difficult to explain since he was clearly captured firing the fatal shot. In any case, I hope Mehserle now has his story straight because we are all waiting to hear it.

The fight continues as there will be another protest today in Oakland calling for justice. Protesters will stage a "die-in", where they will lay face down on the ground with their hands behind their backs. They have also built a coffin that will also be used symbolically during the protest. Aside from community leaders and ordinary citizens rallying around this issue, UC Berkeley's civil rights activist group BAMN (Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration
& Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary) has also gotten involved in the "movement".

BAMN organizer and UCB alum Ronald Cruz writes,

This is an important first victory for the movement fighting for justice
for Oscar Grant. We can and must make sure that Mehserle and all the cops
who assisted are convicted and that killings like this never happen again
in Oakland. We must continue to stand strong and fight for our demands:

* Jail all the killer cops
* End the BART cover-up—Open a public investigation of the murder
* Disarm the BART Police—BART Police Out of Oakland
* Drop all charges against protesters

MARCH TODAY from Oakland City Hall to the District Attorney's office
Demand justice for Oscar Grant!

"Parents and teachers are absolutely infuriated with the district, but officials say they have no choice but to sell off its school buildings in order to get the cash it so desperately needs... 13 West Contra Costa County schools are on the chopping block. The list includes Kennedy High School, two middle schools, and 11 elementary schools."

Nope, its not over yet. The fight for equality is still in effect. I wasn't aware of the Day Without a Gay campaign until this morning while in the daily grind of forcing socks onto twisted little feet that were not yet awake. Piggy-backing on the success of the Join the Impact campaign, that staged an international rally for queer rights on November 15th, the saga continues...

This campaign is asking the queer community and their allies to call in "gay" to work today and devote your 9-5 to your community or a non-profit organization instead. Complete random acts of kindness, while fighting for total human equality, where can one go wrong with that?

But I'm not Gay!

That's ok. You don't have to be. If you want every human to have their human and civil rights that makes you an ally and you can still get involved.

But, I can't miss work!

That's fine. Click here to see other ways that you can still get involved. They include helping to seek out and post volunteer opportunities in your area and spreading the word.

To find out more information, check out the Day Without a Gay website www.daywithoutagay.org

The nation-wide protest against California's Prop 8 is underway. In case you don't know, Prop 8 was a measure placed on the ballot to ban same-sex marriage, and unfortunately, the measure passed. Just as similar measures passed in Arizona, Florida and Arkansas (the one in Arkansas also banning same-sex couples the right to adopt children). I had originally chosen not to talk about the passing of Prop 8 because it angered and disappointed me in such a way that my thoughts about those who have been rallying to treat a portion of the population as second class citizens is a bit irrational. I didn't want to offend those who may have supported Prop 8 and other measures like it, however, at the end of the day, I have to take a page from the book of the Immoral Matriarch and remember that this here is my space to discuss whatever I feel like discussing and that those who do not agree or feel offended have the choice not to read it.

I am a PROUD supporter of gay marriage and an ally to the Queer community. I do not believe that anyone should be denied their civil rights. This is clearly a civil rights/human rights issue and people seem to see it as solely a religious one. I thought there was suppose to be a separation between church and state, but obviously not, since in order for one to even be eligible to lead this country one has to be a Christian and not a Muslim. Its just all really ridiculous to me. The ways in which history works in a circular motion; repeating itself. As the story goes, in this country, there was once a time when blacks could not marry other blacks and people of color could not marry whites. Now that these rights have been granted to these groups, the nation has a new minority to oppress under the law. That is why we have to stand up and fight for equality. Barack may have made history and a progressive step toward the possibility of positive race relations, but the truth is, we still have a hell of a long way to go before this will truly be one nation under all.

If you'd like to dig out your inner activist and take to the streets in support of the rights of our fellow brothers and sisters I encourage you to check out Join the Impact for more information AND to find out when and where the fight is taking place in your state/city. Remember, the banning of same-sex marriage isn't really about morality, keeping with traditions and preserving the word "marriage", its about exclusion and keeping a divide between "us" and "them". THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!! We must all do our parts if we really want to see change. We must recognize that as Eva of SASSY Women Online has pointed out, "civil rights is an EVERYONE'S issue."