Dear Pod Facilitators and Pods,

This is our first pod newsletter! By building relationships with neighbors and taking coordinated action, we've been able to mobilize our communities in powerful ways. This newsletter will provide context for the campaigns we are driving forward, please share this information with your pods.

We now have over 50 pods and we are hosting monthly resistance meetings in San Francisco and Oakland. In August we launched our very first Bay Resistance Silicon Valley meeting in San Jose; stay tuned for the next South Bay meeting. If your pod has not started yet it is because we need pod facilitators in your area. If you want to step up to help get the pod started in your area & learn more about the role, sign up here. Password required to access this form is: bay resistance action pods

POLITICAL UPDATES

Resisting Gerrymandering and the Trump Regime's Agenda

The Trump regime's desperation to hold onto power is evident in the recent passage of a rigged Congressional map in Texas, a blatant attempt to cheat their way to victory. Texas Republicans have officially approved Trump's power grab, despite fierce opposition from state Democrats, who fought valiantly to block the map under threat of arrest and prosecution, learn more about Nicole Collier who was held against her will in the Texas Capital here. California is fighting back with a special election to counter Trump's gerrymandering, a tough political call but one that prioritizes resisting the MAGA regime. By temporarily redrawing its districts to add five left-leaning seats, California is defending its democratic principles and promoting fair representation for all its citizens. The proposed changes will be put to a vote as Proposition 50 in a special election on November 4th, 2025. We must support this effort to protect our voting power and ensure that our voices are heard. Stay tuned for more information and how to get involved in this special election.

The Threat of National Guard Deployment

The Trump administration has sent the National Guard to Washington D.C. even extending control over Union Station earlier this week. In response, the people of D.C. are mobilizing through the Free D.C. movement. We must stand in solidarity with Free D.C. and prepare to defend our communities in the case that the National Guard is deployed here in the Bay Area. Trump's targeting of major metropolitan cities led by Black mayors, including Oakland, is a disturbing trend that demands our attention and action. Check out this reel about what Oakland is really like. We encourage you to organize with your neighbors, adopt a corner through the NDLON model (see training below in standing up for immigrant rights section), and attend the next Bay Resistance meeting to learn how to stay ready so we don’t have to get ready.

We have been meeting and learning from our comrades in LA and DC about what to expect and how to best prepare for mass ICE enforcement. There is a huge and urgent need for more people to plug into neighborhood defense strategies. The National Day Labor Program has put out a call for people to adopt a day labor corner and do regular observation shifts on corners where day laborers wait for work. The first step to getting involved is to watch their online training to learn more here. Local organizers are coordinating these efforts in the Fruitvale area and Mission district; come to the Bay Resistance meetings to get plugged in.

San Francisco Resistance meeting, September 3rd, 6-8PM
East Bay Resistance meeting, September 8th, 6-8PM

There is an urgent need for more volunteers for the Alameda County ICE rapid response verifiers in Alameda County, RSVP here for the next training on September 7th.

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

Standing up for Immigrant Rights

The ICE Out of Dublin campaign is growing more urgent as we see deportations and mass ICE abductions escalating around the country. We know that geographies with detention facilities experience higher numbers of ICE detentions. In Dublin at the site of the closed and inhumane federal prison, construction activity has been observed, raising concerns that the bureaus of prisons may be making moves to transition the facility towards an ICE detention facility soon.

The People Over Billionaires, Palantir Campaign

Last Friday on August 22, hundreds of community members rallied across the Bay Area and nationwide against billionaire Peter Thiel, co-founder of Palantir. The actions took place in San Francisco and Palo Alto, with protesters marching to Founders Fund, Valor Equity Partners, and the Palantir offices. Speakers at the rallies highlighted Palantir's role in undermining democracy, profiting from the exploitation of our data, and enabling ICE to track immigrants.

“As a Black person, I've seen this playbook before. The regime comes for groups one at a time. Today, Palantir is helping ICE track immigrants. Tomorrow it could be tracking anyone who speaks out, anyone who organizes, anyone who opposes Trump’s agenda. Trump is trying to impose martial law by bringing troops into our cities. Companies like Palantir are giving the Administration the surveillance tools to make that possible. This isn't just about immigration. This is about whether we're going to live in a free society or a police state. We can't let Peter Thiel and his billionaire cronies profit from the government watching us. We're here because we believe technology should free our time and expand our opportunities - not to sell us out.” said Greg Slaughter, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Member

Be on the lookout via email and social media for upcoming actions.

NEW CAMPAIGNS

Oakland People’ Arms Embargo

Bay Resistance has endorsed the Oakland People’ Arms Embargo put forth by Arab Resource and Organizing Center Action (AROC Action), The Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), and the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) to call for an end to all shipments of military cargo from ports of Oakland to Israel and to demand an Oakland Arms Embargo on Israel.

Breaking research has uncovered Oakland's hidden and central role in transporting military cargo to the Israeli military. Shipments have been sent from Oakland to Israel multiple times per week, almost every single week this year. The fact that shipments of F-35 fighter jet components are flowing through the Oakland airport to the Israeli military has been concealed from the people of Oakland, our workers, our city officials, our families, and our educators. Together, we are launching a broad based coalition to demand an end to Oakland’s participation in genocide.

While Oakland was one of the first cities to call for a ceasefire in 2023, its airport has been exploited as a central channel for shipments to the Israeli military. The supply chain for genocide depends on Oakland AND The people of Palestine depend on Oakland to end Israeli war-making and genocide. Be on the lookout for updates in September on how to get involved.

Doorknocking in Bakersfield

We all know that if we are going to take our country back from right-wing extremists, we can't keep running the same playbook. Seed the Vote is writing a new playbook for 2026 with a deep canvassing program in Bakersfield, CA from Oct 3 - Oct 12, partnering with the Dolores Huerta Action Fund and the Working Families Party. Deep canvassing involves listening non-judgmentally and exchanging personal stories, a method proven to change people's minds on contentious topics. STV will offer training and financial support for hotels & travel. Spanish speakers are especially needed. Sign up here

Tesla Takedown expands to take on T-mobile!

T-Mobile launched its “T-Satellite” service in July 2025 through a partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink. That means if you’re a T-Mobile customer your cell phone plan is being used to funnel profits to the extremist billionaire who spends most of his time undermining democracy and spreading hate online. So, a coalition of labor unions, advocacy groups and the Tesla Takedown campaign, have launched a campaign, urging T-Mobile to cancel or not renew its contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink.

You can view the letter to the T-Mobile CEO. You can get involved in the campaign by signing the petition here.

SAVE THE DATE October 5th

We are planning a Mass Meeting & Non-Cooperation Training on Sunday, October 5th. Bring your whole Pod! Time, RSVP here

In Solidarity,

Bay Resistance

Pod Newsletter: September 2, 2025