National Gun Violence Awareness Day Walk
Golden Gate Bridge, SF Visitor Plaza
Saturday, June 4, 11:30 a.m. | Free
Recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York have put a horrendous spotlight on gun violence in America. In fact, there have been 213 mass shootings in the U.S. within the first 150 days of 2022.
Moms Demand Action is calling on the San Franciscans and Bay Area residents to raise their voices against gun violence by marching across the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday. The Wear Orange Walk for National Gun Violence Awareness Day will start at the Golden Gate Bridge Visitor Plaza on the San Francisco side of the bridge before moving onward to the Marin side of the iconic landmark. This walk is 1.7 miles and may take between 30 to 45 minutes one-way, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and something orange. Hunters wear orange to be visible in the woods and avoid accidental shootings and now, Erica Ford, a New York gun violence prevention activist, has reclaimed the color orange to symbolize gun violence prevention. A group photo will be taken before the walk commences.
Moms Demand Action, a branch of Everytown, is America’s largest grassroots volunteer network pushing hard to end gun violence by raising awareness of evidence-based solutions locally and campaigning for more rigid gun legislation at the national level. Moms Demand Action has a chapter in all 50 states and 700 local assemblies across the U.S.
Pink Triangle Lighting
Twin Peaks
Wednesday, June 1, 8 p.m. | Free
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 27: The Pink Triangle at Twin Peaks is illuminated in honor of the 50th anniversary of San Francisco Pride on June 27, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images)
You don’t have to be in San Francisco, or even in the Bay Area, to see the Pink Triangle. Now you can see it from space! The Pink Triangle is a long-standing San Francisco Pride symbol. Once a hateful symbol used during the Holocaust to shame and isolate gay and lesbian victims, the pink triangle is now a symbol of pride. For 26 years, in June, hundreds of volunteers have gathered in the days leading up to Pride month to put together a pink canvas triangle that measures 200 feet across on top of Twin Peaks. In 2020, founder Patrick Carney and non-profit Illuminate partnered up and lit up San Francisco’s Pink Triangle with 2,700 LED nodes. On June 1, similar to the Olympic flame lighting ceremony, there is a pink torch procession, which passes through Oakland to San Francisco and ends at the commemoration site where Mayor London Breed will push the button that lights up the Pink Triangle. (RT)
Should Uniformed Officers March at Pride? W/Pride ED & LGBT Officer Winters
Manny’s, 3092 16th Street
Wednesday, June 1 | $5 – $10
The genesis of Pride was a response to police hostility and violence toward the LGBTQ+ community at the Stonewall Inn summer of 1969. Fast forward 53 years and travel over two-thousand miles west – and this year’s Pride committee will not allow uniformed police officers to march in the parade. While SF Pride is meant to bring people together, the decision has been divisive with some key members of the city boycotting SF Pride because of the ban. There are always two sides to every story and Manny’s will be facilitating a decision that sheds light on both sides of the decision with Interim Executive Director of Pride, Suzanne Ford and LGBTQ Liaison Officer for the San Francisco Police Department, Kathryn Winters. (RT)
Angela Garbes and Jenny Odell: Essential Labor, Mothering as Social Change
The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero or Virtual
Wednesday, June 1, 5:30 p.m. | $5 – $45
Genevieve Moss, 3 l(right) looks at the camera as she plays in the garden with her mother Tink Moss outside her cooperative school in San Francisco, California, on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. (Photo by Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
“Having it all” feels challenging impossible for many working mothers. The pandemic magnified these challenges as millions of women dropped out of the workforce to care for children and family, leading many to rethink the meaning of balancing work with home life. In her new book Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change author Angela Garbes reframes motherhood even more. She reflects on her relationship to care work as a first-generation Filipino American, the state of caregiving in America and argues that caretaking should not be a privatized endeavor exploited to keep the world economy moving, but a shared and civic “social responsibility.” She will be joined by writer and multidisciplinary artist Jenny Odell to discuss how caretaking can be a tool for social change and creating a more just and equitable society. (CJC)
An Evening With the SF Vikings
United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Ave.
Friday, June 3, 5:30 – 9 p.m. | $45
The San Francisco Vikings have been dedicated to helping people improve their soccer skills since 1922. Whether a player is young, old, new to the game or a seasoned pro, the Vikings have provided tools like workout equipment, recreational space and coaching to assist players in achieving their athletic goals. With over 60 coaches, this nonprofit is hosting a centennial cocktail party and auction to commemorate 100 years of service. The money raised will go towards their scholarship fund, which helps underserved youth participate in the program. (MM)
First Friday With SF Bike Party
Ferry Building, One Ferry Building
Friday, June 3, 7:30 p.m. | Free
Join the San Francisco Bike Party and ride with pride this Friday by grabbing a flag of your choice and attaching it to your bike. It doesn’t matter what kind of flag you have or what style it is! There are a few rules you have to follow when riding with the SF Bike Party. Stay in the right lane, stop at red lights, and leave no trace. This group of volunteer bike advocates gathers every first Friday of the month at 8 p.m. for a critical mass ride through the streets of San Francisco. (MM)
Raise the Pride Flag in SF Japantown Peace Plaza
1610 Geary Blvd.
Saturday, June 4, 12 – 3 p.m. | Free
Josh Barnabei and Ilyès Loutfi dance under the Castro’s signature flag.
The Japantown Rainbow Coalition invites all San Francisco residents to the inaugural Pride flag-raising ceremony and an afternoon of celebration at the Japantown Peace Plaza. Bridging the gap between AAPI month and Pride month, the flag will be flown to celebrate Queer and Trans Asian Pacific Islander Week and Pride month. The event will showcase the intersection of identities within the AAPI community and remind us that there are LGBTQ+ folks in all pockets of the city—not only in the Castro or SoMa, but also Japantown. Amy Sueyoshi, associate dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State, will speak. Bay Area Japanese drumming group, Jiten Taiko, will perform. You can also shop at some Japantown businesses and check out the National Japanese American Historical Society to learn more about the history of Japantown. (RT)
Heels for Hope
Marine’s Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter St.
Saturday, June 4, 6 p.m. | $52 – $78
Join Maitri to the kick-off Pride Month! Maitri’s compassionate care for people living with HIV/AIDS and those who have undergone gender reassignment surgery is the focus of Heels for Hope, a variety show featuring queer performers. FC Sierra, Marcus J Paige and the Amelie Anna Quintet, Fou Fou Ha, Sister Roma and Helena Levin will be the hosts and emcees. Get out your cha cha heels, because you won’t want to miss this fantastic evening! (MM)
Zinething Workshop: A Queer Zine Workshop
Main Library, 100 Larkin St.
Sunday, June 5, 2 – 4 p.m. | Free
Since 2001 the San Francisco Zine Fest has promoted DIY publishing in the Bay Area by showcasing work from local creatives to a growing audience. This year’s fest will celebrate all things queer with panels and a workshop taught by SF Zine Fest Executive Director, Anand Vedawala. You can learn how to make a queer zine, a one-page zine, a saddle-stitched or accordion zine. Since the ’30s, socially outcast and marginalized communities have used zines to express themselves and communicate. These groups used zines to discuss a wide range of topics—from social justice to poetry. In the mid to late ’70s, zines became popular in the punk scene. (MM)
Tour de Trail
Crosstown Trail, Various Locations
June 4 & 5 | Various Times
San Franciscans enjoy the sun at McLaren Park on Feb. 7, 2022. | Camille Cohen
Bike, walk or run through San Francisco to celebrate three years of the Crosstown Trail—a series of interconnected urban walking, biking and running paths in the city—and National Trails Day. Walk the Crosstown Trail north to south on Saturday at 9 a.m. or walk, run or bike it south to north on Sunday morning. On Saturday at 10 a.m., the trail will lead through Candlestick Park, Visitacion Valley, McLaren Park and into the Portola Neighborhood. Sunday at 9:30 a.m., stroll through southwest San Francisco’s community gardens, parks and green spaces on the OMI trail (Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside). There are many more paths to explore. Visit Crosstown Trail’s website to see the full schedule. (CJC)
An In-Depth Conversation with District 17 Assemblymember Matt Haney & City Attorney David Chiu
Manny’s, 3092 16th St.
Monday, June 6, 6 – 7 p.m. | $5 – $12
In case you missed it, there’s been a lot of shuffling in local politics since last September when David Chiu moved from the state Assembly to become San Francisco’s City Attorney. In April, former District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney was elected to replace Chiu in the state Assembly. Now that things have settled, Chiu and Haney come together for a kicked back conversation about current events and Haney’s plans for his new position representing the east side of San Francisco in Sacramento. This is not to be missed if you’re really into state or local politics—or looking to learn more. And if that’s not enough politics for you, Manny’s is hosting a jazzy kickoff to election season the following night. (CJC)
Action Item: Work at the Polls
Want to get more involved in one of the cornerstones of our democracy (and make a little extra dough while doing it)? The San Francisco Department of Elections is still accepting applications for poll workers.
There’s not a strict deadline per se, but you are encouraged to get your app in no later than June 4 or 5 in order to get trained in time for next Tuesday’s June 7 election. Prospective poll workers must meet eligibility requirements and undergo a 90-minute online training before working the polls and can do so at their leisure at home or with a computer at City Hall. Poll workers will receive a $180 to $240 stipend upon completion of their Election Day service. You can apply here.
Even high schoolers can apply, earn 15 hours of community service credit and make some dough, too (between $180 to $200). But the requirements and form are a little different. Learn more here. (CJC)
The post This Week In Civics: Demand Gun Safety, Walk Across Town, Be SF Proud appeared first on The Paloalto Digest.
