Activism

No Turning Back: California Black Caucus and ACLU Commit to Advancing Equity and Justice

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end what he calls “Wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing,” that resulted from former President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 13985. He stated that the Biden Administration “forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and implemented them at various federal government departments and agencies.

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Amir Whittaker, policy counsel from ACLU Southern California, said the Trump Administration could disrupt the Department of Education, which houses the Office of Civil Rights. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the American Civil Liberties Union California Action (ACLU) joined hands to host a forum focused on equity and justice on Jan. 21.

Discussions at the event explored what the State and everyday Californians can do to protect families, communities, and individuals from the impacts of Trump administration policies.

Titled “Advancing Equity and Justice: A Policy Forum,” the meeting was held at the Legislative Office Building near the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Sen. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego), and ACLU Action Executive Director David Trujillo were the speakers.

“This is the beginning of a journey. I want people to understand that this is not a quick-flash-in-the-pan kind of issue,” Weber said. “There will be lots of issues. We will probably hear about a new issue every day, but we should be prepared to understand what we’ve done, where we are, and how we need to move forward.”

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end what he calls “Wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing” that resulted from former President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 13985. He stated that the Biden Administration “forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and implemented them at various federal government departments and agencies.

Just days after the executive orders were issued to clamp down on DEI initiatives, federal government entities began removing resources for underrepresented Americans from their web pages.

Trujillo said safeguarding communities’ freedoms is the “civil rights fight of our lifetimes” and he pledged that the ACLU and its California affiliates will continue to fight for civil rights and justice.

Presenters addressing public policy priorities included Eva Bitran, Director of Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Southern California; Nicole Ozer, Technology and Civil Liberties Director, ACLU of Northern California, Duke Cooney, Legislative Advocate, ACLU California Action; and Amir Whitaker, Senior Policy Counsel at the ACLU of Southern California.

Earlier in the day, ACLU leaders gathered at the State Capitol to urge state policymakers to lead the national fight against the Trump administration’s policies. In solidarity, Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) and CLBC member, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), attended the news conference.

ACLU’s Chief Political and Advocacy Officer Deirdre Schifeling, who attended the forum at the Legislative Building as well, said, anticipating the rollout of Trump’s agenda, ACLU affiliates have been preparing. She said the intention is to “defeat, delay and dilute” the President’s agenda at the state and local level.

Whitaker warned that the Department of Education (DOE) is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration.

“He’s threatening to eliminate the Department of Education, which houses the office of Civil Rights that investigates such things as bullying, which is most likely to impact Black students,” Whittaker said.

Weber-Pierson said, “We are entering very uncertain times.”

“It is extremely important that we don’t get so discouraged and disheartened that we give up,” she said. “We should use this as an opportunity to prepare: to learn as much as we can, to fight back as much as we can, to build up our communities and people as much as we can so that in the future it doesn’t matter who is in office.”

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Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.