Today’s reading of the US Declaration of Independence leaves little to celebrate. The forefathers of the USA called to dissolve the political bonds that connected their new colonies to the British empire. However, the masses of people living here, created equal in the eyes of God/Allah/the Great Spirit, were in no way treated equally or free by those who proclaimed this land to be the “United States.” The truth is this country had replaced the British empire with another even more genocidal one.

Although many “Americans” on July 4th, 2026, will wave flags and celebrate “bombs bursting in air” for the 250th anniversary of the USA’s Declaration of Independence, for many others, the relevance of the Declaration will be centered on a critique of tyrannical leaders and a government celebrating 250 years of genocidal policies and practices.

The Spirit of Mandela coalition, continuing the work of the 2021 International Tribunal that found the US government GUILTY OF GENOCIDE against Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples, (spiritofmandela.org), will commemorate 250+ years of consistent resistance. We will celebrate the building of new people’s movements, united fronts, international alliances, and local initiatives fiercely combatting modern genocide, imperialism, white supremacist oppression, and injustice.

The 19th Century Abolitionist, Frederick Douglass asked, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” (MassHumanities.org). In the legacy of Crazy Horse, Rev. Nat Turner, Gabriel Prosser, Denmark Vesey, Harriet Tubman, Lolita Lebron, and all the freedom fighters throughout history, we respond by taking this moment to redouble our efforts to build and connect mass and popular movements that are truly of the people, by the people, and for the people. The Spirit of Mandela’s work to build a Peoples’ Senate is a continuum, an integral part of this historic process of resisting the USA’s genocidal policies against Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples, and oppressive actions world-wide. We invite you to help us build the Peoples’ Senate.

In light of the courageous and continuous history of resistance and freedom struggles, the Spirit of Mandela coalition, in pursuit of building the Peoples’ Senate, is calling for a 4th of July 2026 National Mobilization Against Genocides.

On July 4, 2026, we will convene, along with many allies and friends, a grand national convergence in Atlanta, Georgia. We will have culture and conversation, dancing and debate, building unity across ideological lines and beyond geographic and other boundaries. Centered under the leadership of, but not exclusive to, our Black Panther/Black liberation legacy, we will convene to proclaim: No to Genocide Anywhere! Yes to People’s Movements and Liberation Everywhere!!!

In the Spirit of all of our many Mandelas, let us once again raise the rallying cry: “Amandla! Awethu!” In English, that has always meant “Power to the People!”

Learn more about the Spirit of Mandela coalition and the Peoples’ Senate at: https://spiritofmandela.org For more information about July 4th, 2026, contact us at: peoplessenate@spiritofmandela.org

July 4th support, participate, and/or endorse! tinyurl.com/july4-form

This month, with virtually no advance notice, Pacifica and its constituent radio stations begin an election process drastically different from the prior system of electing delegates to local station boards and directors to the Pacifica National Board.

Under Bylaws adopted without the required membership approval, the new election system is designed to allow a single simple majority, potentially all from one station, to dominate the national board; and for similar single majorities at each station to dominate the dis-empowered local station boards (reduced to a merely advisory role without oversight of local management, budget, or programming).

The process begins with the opening of nominations on June 1, and the date of record for listener membership and therefore eligibility to run or vote is June 30, by which date nominations are also due. For some reason, paid and unpaid staff members must have qualified via hours they worked by May 31. (There has never previously been a difference in the date of record for membership between listeners and staff.)

Simultaneous elections will be held for both national and local board members. Unlike the previous system, where there was a form of proportional representation for minorities, the new system emulates the “first-past-the-post” system of single seats, which can all be won by the same majority to the exclusion of other elements in the membership.

(The language that follows is from the Bylaws, which can be found here: https://pacifica.org/documents/new_bylaws_250406/crosier_250406_bylaws.pdf)

For the National Board:

The Board shall have four (4) National Officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer, elected by the membership nationally. The Board shall have two (2) Staff Representative Directors. The Board shall have one Station Representative Director for each of the five stations, for a total of five (5) Station Representative Directors. The Board shall have two (2) Affiliate Directors nominated by the Association of Affiliates as set forth in Section 6 of this Article. The Board shall have two (2) At-Large Directors as set forth in Section 7 of this Article. In addition, the Executive Director shall be a non-voting member of the Board.

For the Local Station Boards at each station:

Each LSB shall consist of the five LSB Officers (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Membership/Fundraising Coordinator), and two Staff Representatives, and Six, (6) Other LSB Members who shall be elected by the LSB officers and the two Staff Representatives.

Note that the local treasurer position, which used to serve on the national Finance Committee, has been abolished, because the LSB no longer has any oversight over the local budget. In addition, in both cases, since each “officer” position is for a single winner, the same majority can elect ALL the general-election seats, and the majority of those elected can then decide whom to add to the board(s) to supplement their majority. Just as society is moving towards ranked choice voting and multi-member districts to increase democratic representation, Pacifica has abandoned them.

This system, like the corporate-dominated public electoral system it emulates, is designed to stifle or eliminate radical voices and minimize or eliminate minority representation. It was put in place through a legal maneuver without member input or approval. But unless legal challenges that have been raised are successful, it is the system now in place and is being used by the National Election Supervisor to run the elections that are now underway.

If you are concerned about threats to democracy in the larger society or in Pacifica, if you are thirsty for anti-war voices, anti-authoritarian, anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist analysis and cultural expression, if you support grassroots community voices and local community-based, solutions-oriented cultural and political programming, it is vital that you become a member of your local Pacifica station NOW and join forces with other like-minded people and groups locally and nationally to identify, nominate and campaign for candidates for each of the “officer” positions on the national and local boards.

Nationally contact pacificafightback@gmail.com and see https://pacificafightback.org or sign up for pacificafightback@lists.riseup.net. Locally in southern California, contact Radio4All.kpfk@gmail.com. Let us know if you are interested in running, can help get out the vote, or can donate to help  finance the campaign, which will continue to be costly until we can get money out of Pacifica politics.–

     Michael Novick is the former unpaid interim General Manager of KPFK, from 9/2022-11/2024. Previously he served as chair and treasurer of the KPFK LSB as an elected listener delegate, as a director on the Pacifica National Board, and in the first election held at KPFK, as a member of the interim Program Council, which he chaired.

We need volunteer distributors for CHANGE LINKS Print Edition TO VENUES & EVENTS. PLEASE EMAIL US AT <changelinks2@gmail.com>

Please subscribe as well. Subscriptions to the print edition are $12/25/50 a year, low income, regular or sustainer (sliding scale), payable to “AFGJ,” our fiscal sponsor, with “Change Links” in the memo.

All events announced are encouraged to donate $5 (per event), payable to AFGJ,

mail to: Change Links, PO Box 34236, LA 90034.

It helps keep this publication solvent. Thanks in advance.

Project Esther from the Heritage Foundation is attacking the Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), our fiscal sponsor, as part of an effort to criminalize and crush Palestine solidarity. Consider making a donation to AFGJ itself. The attempt to deplatform AFGJ has resulted in their inability to process credit cards.

Checks or bank transfers are the way to go. Contact AFGJ@afgj.org

Please contact the event by phone, email or website for updates.

Other Calendars:

The Big List of Protests (national): https://theblop.org/

https://experism.com/los-angeles

https://timeout.com/los-angeles/movies/all-of-las-outdoor-movies-in-one-calendar

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/

https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/events

https://caamuseum.org/programs

https://hammer.ucla.edu/programs-events

https://thelaccc.org/calendar-page/ Group cycling events in L.A.

Also, please check recurring events below the regular monthly Calendar. Check out late changes and additions on the website:  https://change-links.org/

I.C.E. Watch:

Report ICE or other federal enforcement activity, raids, etc.

Union del Barrio/Community Self Defense Coalition: 213-444-6562, call or text 24 hours

Others: NDLON (Day Laborers): 626-799-3566; CHIRLA: 888-624-4752 (m-f/9-5)

IMM-DEF: 213-833-8283 (M-F, 9A-4P)

Calendar of Resistance for Palestine! Events and actions around the world:

C-L Note: The Canadian and US governments have targeted and attempted to criminalize Samidoun, labeling it a terrorist organization. This is a gross violation of freedom of speech & human rights.

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network urges all Palestinian, Arab and international supporters of Palestine to escalate their organizing and struggle to stand with the heroic Palestinian resistance and confront colonial Zionist violence and imperialist complicity.

Please note: this list is for action-oriented/ outdoor/protest actions specifically. However, direct actions like those by Palestine Action (palestineaction.org) are some of the most important events taking place — but they are typically not announced in advance! ANSWER Coalition is also maintaining a list of US based protests (answercoalition.org/join_a_protest_near_you_free_palestine). Check out our events listings for webinars,discussions and meetings we’re involved in (http://samidoun.net/category/events)!.

TO ADD YOUR EVENT TO THE PALESTINE RESISTANCE CALENDAR: Send info by email to samidoun@samidoun.net or tag us on social media! We know that these events are mainly international and that the Arab people are marching everywhere for Palestine — we will be honored to add Arab events. PLEASE NOTE: Times and details may change. Wherever we have it, we have linked to the original organizers’ accounts, posters and pages. Please follow these for the latest info – and don’t hesitate to send updates! https://samidoun.net/

Jun 1 – Mon

UCLA Free Health Clinic, 1-3:30p, Mary Macleod Bethune Regional Branch Library (first Monday monthly) free. https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/ucla-free-health-clinic-2 3900 S. Western Ave

LA 90062; 323-290-3113. The UCLA Mobile Health Clinic will provide free on-site community health care and screenings. No insurance or identification required.For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.

Jun 2 – Tue

Primary Election Day in California – top two candidates in the non-partisan voting for each state and local office and Congressional delegate will appear on the November general election ballot; all others will be eliminated. This was designed by the two capitalist parties, the Dems and GOP, to keep so-called “third parties” off the general election ballot in November, and to favor so-called ‘moderate’ or ‘centrist’ candidates from the major parties.

Jun 3 – Wed

Screening: The Sea Around Us, 7:30p, Hammer Museum. An immersive cinematic experience born from the shocking revelation that over 500,000 barrels of toxic chemicals—including the pesticide DDT+, acid sludge, and radioactive waste—were dumped into the ocean off Santa Catalina Island between 1947 and 1972, with disastrous implications for marine and human ecologies. Méndez’s vision weaves together underwater footage, Indigenous knowledge systems and song, and poetic storytelling into a call to action for care and accountability to our source of life. The screening is followed by a conversation with Rebeca Méndez, artist and prof in the UCLA Dept of Design Media Arts, UCLA English Prof Elizabeth DeLoughrey, and investigative journalist Rosanna Xia. https://hammer.ucla.edu/programs-events/2026/sea-around-us

Jun 4 – Thu

Screening: I’d Rather Be Dead Than Silent, 6:30-9:30p, 5757 W. Adams Blvd., LA; sponsored by Isma/Shema. A documentary following renowned Muslim scholar Khaled Abou El Fadl as he confronts extremism, authoritarianism, and rising Islamophobia in post-9/11 America. Isma/Shema is a dialogue and education initiative co-founded by Marium Mohiuddin and Zack Ritter that creates space for honest, nuanced conversations around antisemitism, Islamophobia, identity, media, polarization, and the complex realities shaping our world today. Tix:  https://events.humanitix.com/https-www-facebook-com-idratherbedeadthansilent

Dolores Huerta 96th Birthday Fundraiser, honoring Kent Wong (posthumously), Anthony Thigpen and others. Event is sold out. There is a waiting list at https://doloreshuerta.org/events/dolores96thcelebrationlosangeles/. Doors 6p, Program Starts 7p, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N. Main St, LA 90012.

Jun 5 – Fri

OutLoud Music Festival at WeHo Pride, West Hollywood Park. Also Sat-Sun, Jun 6-7. https://www.wehopride.com/

Jun 6 –  Sat

WeHo Pride Street Fair, along Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, plus OutLoud Music Fest, WeHoPark. Also Sun Jun 7.  https://www.wehopride.com/

Women’s Freedom Festival & Dyke March, Celebration Stage, West Hollywood Park. Motorcycle-led march (AKA Dykes on Bikes) along SM Blvd commences after festival.  https://www.wehopride.com/

Partners in Commons: Pride in Bloom, 12n-5p, Natural History Museums, Expo Park. Pride in Bloom is back and brighter than ever, transforming the Museum into a vibrant, all-ages destination filled with glamour, curiosity, and heart. Co-created with Drag Arts Lab, this celebration welcomes all, from the youngest explorers to lifelong learners, to experience a special drag musical that blends drag art with natural science. https://nhm.org/calendar/pride-bloom

Wheatpasting training session 1-4p, Legacy Library/Black Lantern Books, 6533 West Blvd., Inglewood 90302. RSVP and tix, itsinscope.com

San Gabriel Valley Pride Parade & Festival, 350 S. McPherrin Ave, Monterey Park. The Alhambra Teachers Association, the Boys and Girls Club of the West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside, and the City of Monterey Park and are proud to present the 6th Annual San Gabriel Valley Pride Parade and Festival at Barnes Park. montereypark.ca.gov

La Cañada Flintridge: Pride in the Park, sgvlgbtq.org

Screenings: UCLA Film & TV Archive: Inside Amir / Divine Comedy, 7:30p,Hammer Museum. Part of the 2026 UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema. Learn more at https://cinema.ucla.edu. Inside Amir (2025) After his girlfriend emigrates to Italy with the expectation that he will soon follow, bike messenger Amir (Amirhossein Hosseini) is still neither fully committed to leaving nor fully clear on what the future holds if he stays in Iran. Writer-director Amir Azizi’s warm and loving portrait of a generation that has learned to embrace simple freedoms and pleasures where they can find them in a world where even that can feel like an act of resistance. Divine Comedy (2025) Iranian writer-director Bahram Ark (Skin, Animal) plays Bahram, an Iranian writer-director who has achieved fame on the international festival circuit but has yet to have one of his films screened in Iran. Bahram’s situation is all too familiar to co-writer-director Ali Asgari (Terrestrial Verses) and his regular collaborators here, who use romantic comedy tropes to illuminate the absurdities—and dangers—faced by filmmakers in Iran.

Jun 7 – Sun

WeHo Pride Street Fair and Out Loud Music Festival,  https://www.wehopride.com/

Chess Club, all levels welcome, 12n-4p, Legacy Library/Black Lantern Books, 6533 West Blvd., Inglewood 90302. https://blacklanternbooks.com/ blacklanternbookstore@gmail.com

Jun 8 – Mon

Tutelas Testamentarias y Alternativas de California, 9a-12, LA Law Library, 301 W. 1st St., LA 90012. Solamente en español.¿Necesita ayudar a un adulto discapacitado que tiene dificultades para gestionar sus actividades de la vida diaria y su cuidado personal? Hay muchas maneras de intentar ayudar. Comprender las herramientas y opciones legales disponibles es el primer paso para encontrar la mejor manera de ayudar. Gratis.

Jun 9 – Tue

Free Community Services – Servicios Comunitarios Gratuitos, 1-3p, Van Nuys Branch Library, 6250 Sylmar Ave, Van Nuys 91401; 818-756-8453. Second Tuesday monthly. Free Community Services, providing free food, clothing, support services to low-income individuals, families, the homeless and to the unemployed/under-employed in the area of San Fernando Valley. Information on COVID-19 vaccinations and nearby vaccination clinics. Bilingual English/Spanish. https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/vision-y-compromiso-free-community-services-servicios-comunitarios-gratuitos

Jun 10 – Wed

Jun 11 – Thu

Pride Mixer, Resource Fair & Concert, Baldwin Park. https://sgvlgbtq.org

Jun 12 – Fri

Zoom film showing of “The Occupation of the American Mind”; book talk with Emmaia Gelman on The Anti-Defamation League and the Racial State, exposing how propaganda, media power, and political influence are mobilized to silence dissent and manufacture support for apartheid, occupation, and war. 5p online, donation requested. Register:  https://idabwellsmediadefense.org/voices/ $15 suggested — no one turned away. More info: action@IdaBWellsMediaDefense.org,  https://idabwellsmediadefense.org/emails/break-the-propaganda-machine/

Screening: Black Rabbit, White Rabbit, 7:30p, Hammer Museum. Part of the UCLA Film & Television Archive screening series 2026 UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema. Learn more at cinema.ucla.edu.

Where the Winds Die (2021), Farhang Short Film Festival 3rd prize winner. A Kurdish city in western Iran, Sardasht was the target of a chemical weapons attack in 1987. Director Pejman Alipour captures the moment the city’s peaceful calm was shattered in this powerful, watercolor-style animated short. Black Rabbit, White Rabbit (2025)  Tajikistan’s submission to the Oscars for Best International Feature Film, Black Rabbit, White Rabbit finds writer-director Shahram Mokri working at the top of his cinematic game. On a film set for the remake of a classic Iranian film, the crew’s armorer worries that a prop gun may not be what it seems and a mysterious young woman arrives to demand an audition. In Mokri’s inimitable style, long camera takes and elliptical editing blur time and space, visions and reality, history and fiction. https://hammer.ucla.edu/programs-events/2026/black-rabbit-white-rabbit

Jun 13 – Sat

City of West Hollywood and the LA County Public Library West Hollywood present Pickle in the Drag Story Hour.  Produced by Drag Arts Lab and Pickle the Drag Queen, who is the City of West Hollywood’s first Drag Laureate. West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. More info at: www.weho.org/arts or go.weho.org/dragstoryhour; contact the City of West Hollywood Arts Division at arts@weho.org. Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

Pasadena Pride, 6-9, Pasadena City Hall. An evening of joy, pride, and community as we uplift and celebrate Pasadena’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. https://cityofpasadena.net

Bridging the Centuries Classical Concert by Vineyard Touring Opera & Symphony Orchestra, Forest Lawn Museum – Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection, Glendale, 7-9p. A free symphonic concert featuring the music of LA composers alongside beloved classic orchestral works in an evening that connects past and present through a vibrant mix of contemporary works and timeless classics, set in Forest Lawn’s stunning Hall of the Crucifixion-Resurrection. Conducted by Alan Medak, the program features “Call for Scores” winners Roger Ballenger, Brian C. Herald, and Christin Habelwitz, alongside Young Composer Winner Logan Westerviller. Their works bring fresh voices and dynamic storytelling to the orchestral stage, complemented by music from Charles Fernandez, Maria Newman, and L.C. Harnsberger. The program also includes beloved classics such as Tu m’uccidi, o crudele by Don Carlo Gesualdo and the final movement of the Lemminkäinen Suite by Jean Sibelius, featuring Maria Newman as soloist. Hosted by SoCal radio personality Jennifer Miller-Hammel, this unique concert celebrates the evolution of classical music—from early masterpieces to world premieres. www.vtopera.org

LA Pride @ Street Food Cinema: The Birdcage, Doors open 6p, Movie starts 8:30p, Autry Museum in Griffith Park. LA Pride is partnering with Street Food Cinema to present a special screening of the madcap classic, The Birdcage, to celebrate Pride and the film’s 30th anniversary.

Jun 14 – Sun

56th Annual LA Pride Parade, 11a step-off; Hollywood Boulevard between & including Highland and Cahuenga, LA 90028. Whether you march or watch, you’ll be joining over 100,000 spectators and participants for an epic day of Pride and community! For details about the live ABC7 and Hulu broadcast, the parade route, street closures parking, and more, see https://lapride.org/event/la-pride-parade-2026/

LA Pride Village, 12:30-8:30p,Adjacent to Parade Route, Hollywood Boulevard Between VINE & GOWER. The Pride party continues next to the Parade route with Pride Village, free street festival featuring a live music stage, a full-service bar, scores of special sponsor activations and giveaways, over 100 vendors and exhibitors, and dozens of food trucks.

Bloomsday Psychedelia, free, 6p, Beyond Baroque. Live readings, film, dance, psychedelic art party;James Joyce multiverse Finnegan’s Wake and Bloomsday (Ulysses) with special guests including Zappa Glee Club singing Frank Zappa songs. Info from Gerry Fialka pfsuzy@aol.com

Jun 15 – Mon

Black on Block Juneteenth Celebration, 1-7p, LA Center Studios, 500 S. Bixel St., DTLA 90017. 150+ Black-owned businesses, live performances, food and community activities. admin@blackxtheblock.com https://www.blackxtheblock.com/event-details-registration/juneteenth-festival

Labor in the Fight Against Fascism, 4-6p, online study. This three-part study is intended to give labor leaders, organizers, and activists a space to assess labor’s response to the current threat; learn from and discuss the relevant history of labor in left-right dynamics in the US and globally; and strategize about how to overcome existing obstacles to labor and the trade union movement becoming an antifascist force. Register for the three consecutive Monday sessions: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/centerforpoliticaleducation/2226530

Jun 16 – Tue

Demand LA City Divestment from War and Genocide! Protest rally at City Hall, 9a, 201 N. Main St. Free Palestine, Hands Off Iran and Lebanon. The two retirement funds for city workers have invested millions in Israel, including military contractors and US weapons makers. For info, or to endorse or volunteer, 323-306-6240; info@harriettubmancenterla.com

Music & Performance  Readings: Bloomsday 2026, 7:30p, Hammer Museum. Now in its 17th year at the Hammer, Bloomsday is a worldwide annual celebration of James Joyce and his landmark book Ulysses. This lively celebration features a cast of veteran actors delivering dramatic readings from the novel interspersed with songs. Directed by Elizabeth Dennehy with actors Sile Bermingham, Sonya Macari, Johnny O’Callaghan, John Rafter Lee, and Kevin Ryan. With musical direction by Victoria Kirsch.

Jun 17 – Wed

Social Movement Technologies training session on using A-I to create websites, online, multilingual; sliding scale, $00-390 depending on region, organizational support and ability to pay. https://community.socialmovementtechnologies.org/courses/using-ai-for-website-development/ 9a Pacific. Learn how to design, build, and launch a campaign microsite — with a working petition or opt-in form connected to your tools — in under an hour, using AI-powered website builders. No coding required. Language Access:

Session in English with live captions in 39 languages. (Reply if interested in supporting interpretation or dubbing to expand access.) Crea una página web para tu campaña en menos de una hora: económica y sin necesidad de programación ¿Los costos, las demoras o las complicaciones a la hora de crear páginas web para campañas han frenado tu trabajo de organización? ¿Tu campaña de coalición funciona como puede, pero te gustaría que tuviera su propia página de acción? ¿O son un grupo de activistas sin una página web y con recursos mínimos? Sesión en inglés con subtítulos en directo en 39 idiomas. (Responde si estás interesado en colaborar con la interpretación o doblaje para ampliar el acceso).

Jun 18 – Thu

Open Mic Night, 7-8p, Underdog Bookstore, 312 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. Celebrate the creative talents of our local community, every third Friday!

Juneteenth After Dark: Rodeo Rising: Celebrating Black Women Athletes honors Black women in Western horse sports through panel conversations, performances, and access to the museum’s galleries in Griffith Park. Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, LA 90027  https://theautry.com

Jun 19 – Fri    Juneteenth anniversary of Emancipation in TX

Juneteenth Freedom Ride and Community Festival, AfricaTown/Leimert Park. 9- 14- or 19-mile bike ride and community drum circle, jazz and DJ sets, vendors. Vernon at Crenshaw, LA 90008.

Juneteenth Scavenger Hunt at CA African-American Museum, Expo Park, 2-3p. Explore CAAM with a specially designed clue board in hand. Participants follow prompts through the galleries that spark close looking, conversation, and unexpected connections. Each scavenger hunt is inspired by current exhibitions and timely themes. The first teams to complete a winning pattern will receive a small CAAM-branded prize. https://caamuseum.org/programs/talks-and-workshops/caam-scavenger-hunt-juneteenth-2026

Dead Prez at Freedom Now 2026 Benefit Concert for LA CAN, 7p, Regent Theater, 448 S. Main Street, LA 90013. Tix: https://bit.ly/4txo4Lp

Jun 20 –  Sat

Zine Workshop, 2-3p, CA African American Museum, Exposition Park. A zine-making workshop celebrating the freedom of Juneteenth! The workshop is led by Able ARTS Work—a nonprofit offering opportunities in the creative arts for people of all abilities. Free RSVP is encouraged, but not required. Walk-ins welcome. Bringing a large group? Email the CAAM team at iDesk@caamuseum.org. https://caamuseum.org/programs/talks-and-workshops/zine-workshop-juneteenth-2026

Monrovia Pride Book Festival, 12n-6p, 312 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. Underdog Bookstore presents the first Monrovia Pride Book Festival! A celebration of queer storytelling with authors, vendors, community building, and free activities for all to enjoy! This is an all-ages, family friendly event! https://underdogbookstore.org

Jun 21 – Sun    Fathers’ Day; Summer Solstice (longest day of the year)

From Park to Playa Story Walk for babies, toddlers and kids, Arroyo Seco Regional Library invites you to check out our newest StoryWalk in partnership with the Audubon Center at Debs Park! Take a self-directed accessible nature walk and follow the pages of the book “From Park to Playa” to enjoy a scenic trek across a familiar city.
This event is off-site at the Audubon Center (4700 Griffin Ave.) Parking is limited. If the lot is full, please park on Griffin Ave. Visitors are encouraged to carpool or ride share. Dogs are not permitted at the Center. For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event. https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/park-playa-storywalk-audubon-center-debs-park

Jun 22 – Mon

Labor in the Fight Against Fascism, 4-6p, online study. See Jun 15  for details.

Jun 23 – Tue

The AIDS Monument Guided Tour, West Hollywood Park, 8p, at the beautiful AIDS Monument in West Hollywood Park. https://tickettailor.com/events

Jun 24 – Wed

LA City Human Relations Commission meeting, 12n. Monthly on the 4th Wednesday. John Lewis Conference Center: 201 N. Los Angeles St. Suite 3, LA 90012. Meeting agendas are generally finalized one week in advance. Members of the public are invited to listen in via CouncilPhone by calling  (669) 254-5252. Members of the public may also provide written comments for the next meeting.HRCinfo@lacity.org https://civilandhumanrights.lacity.org/commissions/human-relations-commission

Jun 25 – Thu

The Zócalo Book Prize: America, Can We Take Down the Walls Between Us? Co-presented with The Jar, and generously sponsored by Tim Disney; Moderated by Mike Madrid, Political Strategist and Co-Founder, The Lincoln Project. 7–9:30p, ASU California Center, 1111 S Broadway, LA 90015 and streaming live on YouTube. Our houses are bigger and more fortress-like than ever before. We drive cars and trucks designed like mobile suits of armor. We consume media that reflects our point of view back to us, closing off dissenting voices. Johns Hopkins Univ anthropologist Anand Pandian, winner of the 2026 Zócalo Book Prize for Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life, and How to Take Them Down, shares what he learned talking to people across the country about what divides us and how we come together.  Zócalo is proud to award the 2026 Zócalo Poetry Prize to Deborah Ager, who will read her winning poem, “Letter from Indialantic,” live at our event. The Jar, an organization that inspires you to connect to people like you and not like you, is co-presenting the 2026 Book Prize program. After the moderated conversation, we’ll jump into a reception that asks the audience to bring the evening’s ideas to life through The Jar’s Salon experience, where the walls between us come down in real time. Stick around for book sales and author signings with Octavia’s Bookshelf. Details on security and accessibility at the website. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/the-zocalo-book-prize-america-can-we-take-down-the-walls-between-us/

Jun 26 – Fri

Central Library Soccer Celebration, Senegal v. Iraq World Cup viewing, 12n-2p, Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 5th & Flower, DTLA. Join us in the comfortable, air-conditioned Taper Auditorium as we screen the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup! June 11-July 19, experience the world’s largest soccer tournament with matches featuring countries from around the globe. Taper Auditorium will be transformed into an immersive, stadium-like atmosphere with professional audio and a large high-definition screen for maximum visibility and an unforgettable viewing experience. We are committed to providing a safe, family-friendly environment for all fans. https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/central-library-soccer-celebration-senegal-vs-iraq-group-i

Also these other games: June 11, 12n, Mexico vs South Africa, Group A; June 15, 12 n, Belgium vs Egypt, Group G; 3p Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, Group H; June 22, 5p, Norway vs Senegal, Group I; June 24, 12n, Switzerland vs Canada, Group B. July matches TBD.

Jun 27 –  Sat

Understanding and Fighting Fascism: A DSA-LA Day School, 10a-4p, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Wilshire & Berendo, LA.. We are hosting all 6 of the Fight Fascism Night School events we held over the last year, along with a plenary panel featuring DSA-LA members involved in our Fight Fascism and Right Wing Extremism Campaign. This is an opportunity to revisit any events you loved, catch ones you missed, and reflect on our work with other socialists! Catered lunch and child care will be provided. Look out for the event companion reader to be released in the next few weeks, make sure you RSVP so you’re the first to receive it!

Organizing is the New Cool Summit (virtual), 7a-3p. Also Jun 28 – Sun. A few generations of Freedom Fighters, Organizers, Movement Lawyers, Scholars, and Cultural Workers will share plans of action and liberation. Sponsored by FTP movement, Black Power Media, National Conference of Black Lawyers and the National Lawyers Guild.  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/organizing-is-the-new-cool-summit-virtual-tickets-1986979570383

Venice Jazz Salon, 3:30p, free, Venice Library. Gerry Fialka and Brad Kay dive deep into the untold stories of Venice’s jazz roots. See https://laughtears.com for details.

San Fernando Valley Pride, Van Nuys Civic Center, 14410 Sylvan St, Van Nuys 91401. Celebrate love and diversity. https://sfvpride.org

La Chona Fest, 2p, Pershing Square, 5th & Hill, DTLA, with Los Tucanes, Los Rieleros, Los Tiranos, Los Cadetes  y más. Tix from $33-59. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-chona-fest-los-tucanes-los-rieleros-los-tiranos-los-cadetes-y-mas-tickets-1981792727396

Jun 28 – Sun  Anniversary of Stonewall Rebellion

Organizing is the New Cool Summit (virtual), 7a-3p. (See Jun 27 – Sat for details)

CicLAvia: 9a-4p, Leimert Park to Exposition Park along Crenshaw Blvd. & MLK Jr. Blvd. Streets closed to cars so that cyclists, skaters and walkers have the streets to themselves. Sponsored by Metro. CicLAvia—Leimert Park meets Expo Park includes three (3) hubs filled with plenty of activities and programs. Hubs are walking zones (mandatory dismounts) and meeting points along the route and include the Leimert Park Hub located on Crenshaw Blvd., north of Vernon; the King Estates Hub on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, west of Western Ave; and the Expo Park Hub located on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd west of Figueroa St. Hubs offer family-friendly activities, restrooms, free water refilling stations, free basic bike repair, bike parking, places to sit and meet up with friends and family, and first aid. Free pedicab rides are available at each hub’s information booth. https://www.ciclavia.org/events

Jun 29 – Mon

Labor in the Fight Against Fascism, 4-6p, online study. See Jun 15  for details.

Jun 30 – Tue

Deadline for membership in KPFK to be eligible to run or vote in the Pacifica elections for the disempowered local station boards or the Pacifica National Board. Also the deadline to register as a candidate in the elections. See https://kpfk.org to donate $25; Bylaws governing the election here: https://pacifica.org/documents/new_bylaws_250406/crosier_250406_bylaws.pdf

Robot Building and other Animatronics, 4:15-5:15p, Sylmar Branch Library, 14561 Polk Street

Sylmar 91342; 818-367-6102 . Bot builder Paul Thompson will showcase his entertainment robot creations and animatronics based on popular film and TV characters. During the event, you will learn about the robots’ purpose, design, features, and how they perform. The presentation will include demonstrations of a variety of robots and animatronics, and the opportunity to interact with the robots, ask questions, and learn about their operation. You’ll be able to peek inside and discover how they work. https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/robot-building-other-animatronics-paul-thompson

Upcoming & Ongoing Activities

July 4 Mobilization Against Genocides, Atlanta GA. To endorse: https://tinyurl.com/July4-form

Learn more about the Spirit of Mandela coalition and the Peoples’ Senate at: spiritofmandela.org  For more information about July 4th, 2026, contact us at: peoplessenate@spiritofmandela.org or j4mag26@gmail.com

New Book Releases from LAPL’s Angel City Press: L is for Librarian: The ABCs of Los Angeles Central Library by Susan Lendroth and Alexander Vidal and Los Angeles Central Library Pops by Christina Rice, Mirelle Ortega, Matthew Reinhart, and Becca Lofchie.

July 11 – Sat: Central 100 Festival: A full day of festivities at Central Library marking the LA Public Library central facility’’s 100th anniversary.

July 18 – Sat: 19th Annual Lit Show with Suzy Williams and Brad Kay, 7p, Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice 90291, celebrate song and literature.

July 19 – Sun – CicLAvia: Meet the Hollywoods, West Hollywood through Hollywood to East Hollywood (Silverlake). Along Santa Monica, Highland and Hollywood Blvd. to Vermont Ave. https://www.ciclavia.org/events

July 26 – Sun: 3rd Annual Trans Pride 5K Celebration 8a-1p, 4730 Crystal Springs Dr., LA 90027. Includes the following events: 5K Run (in-person), 10K Run (in-person), 5K Run (virtual), and non-runner and/or donation. https://runsignup.com

Every Sunday (except 2nd Sun of month) Brad Kay jazz merriment, 12n–4:30p, Unurban Cafe, 3301 Pico Blvd (with Suzy Williams, Mews Small, Ginger Smith, and more. FREE Jazz Cabaret Folk Popular Music Live!!!  https://sundaysongbirds.com/ Gerry Fialka pfsuzy@aol.com 310-306-7330

3rd Sunday, SoCal350 monthly meeting, 3-5p, Physical meeting canceled, virtual “meeting” scheduled. bit.ly/SoCal350Updates;  facebook.com/SoCal350 Climate Action.

Mondays: Support Honduran Refugees, 6-8p, Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA), 2845 W 7th St,, LA. call for details: (213)-385-7800. In the San Fernando Valley: 213-385-7800 ext. 122

Mondays: James Joyce Reading Group. Laughtears Zoomin’ Salon1:30p, 40 minutes. Gerry Fialka, pfsuzy@aol.com, 310-306-7330, http://laughtears.com

Tuesdays, 12n-1p, Prayer Vigil for those Disappeared by ICE, by godmothers of the disappeared (CLUE, SEIU, CHIRLA). LA Fedl. Bldg, 300 N. Los Angeles St, 90012 – march to the Metro Detention Center on Alameda.

First Tuesday, 7-9p, Recovering from Religion LA Support Group Hosted by Atheists United. RSVP at: https://www.meetup.com/rfr-los-angeles-ca/ This group meets the 1st Tues ach month virtually via Zoom. RSVP to view the Zoom link to the meeting at: https://www.meetup.com/california-chapter/events/calendar/   The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion support group is to provide ongoing and personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. As such, the support meetings are safe and anonymous places to express these doubts, fears, and experiences without biased feedback or proselytizing. Attendees are encouraged to share, when they are comfortable doing so. We are here to help each other through this journey. There is no cost to attend this support group but, if you feel so inclined, donations can be made at www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate

First Tuesday: Marshall McLuhan-Finnegans Wake Reading Club online, Gerry Fialka, pfsuzy@aol.com, 310-306-7330, See http://laughtears.com for event details.

Third Tuesdays: Protect, Resist and Build with AFSC.  5– 6:30pm PDT. Location: Virtual event Join from anywhere at: https://www.mobilize.us/afsc/event/746944/   Monthly webinar series that brings together AFSC constituents to learn about how to protect, resist, and build just peace, just migration, and just economies.  About this event: Monthly webinar series that brings together AFSC constituents to learn about how to protect, resist, and build just peace, just migration, and just economies. If you are registering from outside the US please use the zip code 19102.  Learn more about the American Friends Service Committee and find more ways to support at: https://afsc.org/get–involved

Tuesdays: Join Black Lives Matter, Stop LAPD Spying and allies 9a at LA Police Commission meeting via zoom and in person at LA Police Administration Building across from City Hall to speak out against racist police murders with impunity. In response to increased public scrutiny, they changed their rules and only allow public comments of 1 minute each on two specific items and general public comment as the first agenda item, so call in promptly to get on the stack. lapd.zoom.us/s/289225944

Tuesday eves, Stop LAPD Spying Coalition meetings have been changed to teleconferences. LA CAN, 838  E. 6th St. LA, CA 90021. https://stoplapdspying.org – see website for meeting topics. facebook.com/stoplapdspying

1st Tuesday 2-4p. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits Free Admission, La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., LA.

Tuesdays: 6-8p. Tenant Rights and Eviction Advice. Conducted in Spanish, translated into English. calorganize-org.zoom.us/j/88324434157 -or- Call: +16699006833,,88324434157# Also Thursdays, 5-7p. Conducted in English, translated into Spanish. calorganize-org.zoom.us/j/84489 313723 -or- Call: +16699006833,,84489313723# Also, statewide, outside LA: acceaction.org/dyh Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE).

Tuesdays: 8:30-10p, Second Draft LA, open mic cold read of writing and acting (virtual, may not be at Art Share-LA, 801 E 4th Pl, LA 90013). artsharela.org (213) 687-4278. zoom.us/j/9103444651 Pwd: artshare

Wednesdays: 4-6p, Fund Services Not Police, #EndPoliceAssociations BLM-LA and allies. Vigil/Protest has moved to the Hall of Injustice, Spring & Temple Sts. in DTLA.

Every Thursday night Hosted by Atheists United, we meetup in the Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan Theater and play games, host workshops, watch movies, plan adventures, and explore the universe one question at a time. Any youth ages 13-18 are welcome to attend. Our group creates a safe space for curious teens to explore ethics, science, nature, and social justice in community.Each meeting combines a fun activity with a challenging discussion topic: All activities and discussion topics are picked by youth participants / Guest experts are sometimes invited to lead workshops/activities. RSVP by text before attending to confirm we’re meeting. Meetings are always free and include snacks and drinks. Free car and bike parking on site. Where curiosity is celebrated: At Atheists United, we understand better than anyone the importance of creating a safe, secular space for people to explore their ideas, identities, and values. Youth should be celebrated, not shamed, for asking honest questions. https://www.atheistsunited.org/events/ssr7grh9c8uzfyh7o64xcutyzg4mkg-d2ayr-zrep3-37pkx-wzlp3-yr2j7-a82jr-fe3ch-clk73-kp5gt-y2y59

Thursdays: 3-5p, Venice/Santa Monica Take Back Our Streets Weekly Protest, No I.C.E.Corner of Lincoln & Rose; bring signs and noise-makers. https://www.mobilize.us/indivisiblewestsidela/event/893106/

1st Thursday, 6-8p, Justice Not Jails, has switched to a virtual meeting. zoom.us/j/529548178 You can also call in by dialing: 301 715 8592 US Meeting ID: 529 548 17. RSVP to Larry Foy at: Lfoy@im4humanintegrity.org.

Thursdays: 5:30-7p, Operation Ally Weekly Social Justice Conference Call, fb.com/justadvocacy  advocacyproject.org (888) 407-4101 Join the Operation Ally weekly zoom conference call to gain insight into the issues of systemic oppression, organize into collaborative efforts and strategize the dismantling of these systems. Be a part of a community that supports you as we mobilize for change. facebook.com/events/200763851083819/

Every other Thursday, 6:30-8p, Looking At Masculinity And Patriarchy (LAMP) LAMP is an affinity space offered by AWARE-LA of white, male-presenting folks (however anyone is invited) where we discuss how your male-presenting gender role and socialization impacts the ways you are showing up (or not showing up) in the fight for an abolitionist future. Via zoom:  For more information and to register, email: lampteam@tutanota.com.

Every Friday, 9a: Action Hour for Palestine.  https://afsc.org/events/action-hour-palestine

First Fridays: A City Lights Reading Series. 5p. Admission is free. City Lights and Beyond Baroque co-present. Check the website for event details. https://citylights.com/events/first-fridays-a-city-lights- reading-series-2/  Beyond Baroque is a leading independent Literary Arts Center dedicated to expanding the public’s knowledge of poetry, literature and art through cultural events and community interaction. Through the years, Beyond Baroque has played muse to the Venice Beats, the burgeoning Punk movement and visiting scholars. Beyond Baroque, 681 N. Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291, Ph: 310-822-3006, Fax: 310-821-0256, info@beyondbaroque.org Made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation

Fridays: Interfaith Communities United for Justice & Peace forum, 7:30-9:30a, virtual meeting on zoom. For details and to prevent zoom-bombing, contact communications@icujp.org for an invitation and instructions.

Fridays 5p, Vigil for Palestine, San Pedro CA. Join CODEPINK at the corner of 13th and Gaffey St., in front of Vons.

Saturdays: Crenshaw Farmers Market, 10a-3p, 3650 Martin Luther King Blvd. offers fresh produce and artisan goods. Ties into the mall’s health initiative promoting wellness in the Crenshaw community. This farmers’ market has re-opened!  Contact Sustainable Economic Enterprises: www.seela.org for other farmer’s markets that are also continuing with physical distancing (in Echo Park, Hollywood, Atwater Village and on Central Avenue in South LA).

Saturdays: Public Speaker meeting Series 10a, Hosted by the Chicago Chapter of the International Marxist-Humanist Organization; join via Zoom.  Email for details: Sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of The International Marxist-Humanist Organization Email: arise@imhojournal.org

Saturdays: LA Ecovillage Tours: Usually twice monthly, 10:30a-1p. Our regular in-person tours are 75% outside within LAEV. Reservations required: 213-738-1254 or crsp@igc.org. Tour only:  $15 to $25 (self-selected sliding scale ok; cash or checks made out to “CRSP” accepted at the door. Time dollars 2.5 hours accepted. Local currency?). Vaccinated people only please. Masks encouraged during indoor tour stops. More info and LAEV events: laecovillage.org/home/tours/ and laecovillage.org/category/events/.

Saturday dialogues, AWARE-LA White anti-racist gathering. Saturday Dialogue is a gathering for white anti-racists who want to discuss issues of identity, community, privilege and racism in our lives with the intention to strengthen our practice as anti-racists in alliances, relationships, and interactions with people of color. Regular, recurring dialogues throughout the year focus on the intersections of multiple identities, including Race and Class, Sexuality and Race, and Gender and Race. We strongly encourage you to attend a Saturday Dialogue Orientation before attending a Saturday Dialogue. You must register for each space each time you want to attend. First Saturday Dialogue – 10:30a – 12:45p, Third Sunday Dialogue – 3-5p, Register online via https://www.awarela.org/saturday-dialogue

In May 2026, in the case In re Kowalczyk, the CA Supreme Court issued one of the most liberatory decisions in US history, unanimously holding that jailing a person pretrial simply because they can’t pay money bail is unconstitutional. This holding in In re Gerald Kowalczyk is based on longstanding and fundamental principles found in both the federal and state Constitutions.

The court also held that the vast majority of people accused of crimes must be released prior to trial under the California Constitution and reaffirmed rigorous procedural protections that the government must follow if it seeks to detain a presumed innocent person.

Specifically, consistent with article I, section 12 of the California Constitution, courts cannot detain anyone charged with a misdemeanor or anyone charged with a nonviolent or nonsexual felony. This holding will ensure pretrial release and prevent family separation across all lower-level, “nonviolent” felony cases in California.

For others in more serious cases, the Court held that it is unconstitutional to impose the “significant” harms of pretrial detention – “the risk of losing one’s job, home, or custody of a child, the possible connection to reoffending, and costs to the taxpayers of incarcerating defendants” unless the government follows strict procedures outlined below.

The California Constitution carefully describes the circumstances where pretrial detention is appropriate – felony offenses involving threats, violence, or sexual assault, where a judge finds there is: 1) strong evidence of likely guilt after a full-blown adversarial hearing; and 2) that release would pose a danger.  Posing such a danger sufficient for detention must also mean, the Court made clear in Humphrey, that there are no other less restrictive alternatives that could reasonably mitigate that danger and assure the accused’s return to court.

But, until now, California courts have often locked people up pretrial, even when only charged with misdemeanors or nonviolent offenses, if they could not pay a financial condition of pretrial “release.”

For example, Mr. Kowalczyk, who was unhoused, used a credit card he found on the floor to buy a cheeseburger at Five Guys. He was charged with felony identity theft, then jailed on $75,000 money bail. When he challenged his detention under Humphrey, the court responded by detaining him without bail. That was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court held.

Courts must decide whether to detain people based on whether they are dangerous and whether their detention complies with the state constitution, not whether they can make a payment. While judges are free to use money bail if they find it necessary to encourage a person to appear in court, it must be affordable, not a means to detain.

These strict procedures, affirmed in Kowalczyk, thus closed a loophole in California law that for many years enabled prosecutors and courts to accomplish detention by using unaffordable money bail without complying with the longstanding procedures required for a transparent order of pretrial detention.

Civil Rights Corps developed and pioneered the legal theories in this case and has litigated hundreds of similar cases in California for nearly a decade. CRC also represented Mr. Kowalczyk in the Court of Appeal and then again as a lead amicus in the California Supreme Court.