SRVDC Meeting June 22, 2023 Dr. Brian Levin Speaking on Hate Crimes & Extremism

Dr. Brian Levin
Cal State San Bernandino

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2023
7:00 PM Dr. Brian Levin Speaking on Hate Crimes & Extremism
Professor, California State University, San Bernandino
Director, Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism
8:00 PM Public Banking with Margie Lewis & George Y. Quaye
6:30 PM Social Time & Local Candidates
CLICK HERE to Register
If you have questions, email Brodie president@srvdems.org

The San Ramon Valley Democratic Club welcomes Dr. Brian Levin, Professor who will speak on Hate, Extremism and Antisemitism in America. He is a professor at Cal State San Bernandino, and the Director of its Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. His research analyzing data on hateful acts has been an essential step to understanding the behavior and those who perpetrate it.

Since his arrival at CSUSB in August 1999, Levin’s work as an educator has focused on teaching and advising students on criminal law and procedure, national security and hate crime. But he serves other audiences as well, assisting legislators, law enforcement, community groups and academia by authoring and conducting accredited trainings as well as through policy and legislative analysis.

Levin and his team have participated in the drafting and endorsement of numerous legislative bills. His team also uses data to factually disprove widespread misinformation used to influence public policy. A prominent expert on hate and extremism worldwide, Levin has authored influential Supreme Court briefs.

Professor Levin’s background is diverse. In the 1980s, he was an award-winning New York City police officer working in Harlem and Washington Heights in Manhattan. He has also been a corporate litigator, legal director for the Center for the Study of Ethnic and Racial Violence and associate director of legal affairs for Southern Poverty Law Center’s Klanwatch/Militia Task Force in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dr. Levin received his bachelor’s degree with multiple honors in history from the University of Pennsylvania and his juris doctorate from Stanford Law School, where he was awarded the Block Civil Liberties Award. He is a member of the State Bar of California and Supreme Court of the United States.

Teresa Drenick

We will next have several speakers to give us more depth about being the object of hate in their targeted group. Teresa Drenick is the Interim Director of Anti-Defamation League’s Central Pacific Region where she is dedicated to combatting antisemitism, hate and extremism. Teresa joined ADL in 2021 after a 30-year career as a prosecutor in Alameda County. She attended Georgetown University and then received a JD, Doctor of Law from University of California, College of Law, San Francisco (formerly Hastings University).

Sameena Usman

Sameena Usman will tell us about hate against Muslims. Sameena is an Advocacy Consultant for Support Life Foundation and Secure Justice. Until most recently, she worked as the Senior Government Relations Coordinator for the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for over 17 1/2 years where she advocated for legislation impacting civil rights, privacy protections, and an equitable society. In her over 800 meetings with Bay Area elected officials and over 200 interviews by media outlets, she highlighted issues facing the Muslim community, including hate incidents, discrimination, and civil rights violations.

Margie Lewis

Our next topic is the concept of the Public Bank. Margie Lewis and George Y. Quaye are organizing a Public Bank in Alameda County. Interestingly, the city of Richmond has also expressed interest. Margie Lewis is a Founding Member of California Banking Alliance and a Board Member of the Friends of the Public Bank East Bay. She is an Oakland resident, a community activist and has been trained as a psychiatric social worker. She worked at Calpine Corporation, generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources.

George Y. Quaye

George Y. Quayae is a Board Member of the Friends of the Public Bank East Bay. He is the owner of Shoutbomb, LLC, a software company providing communication services for public libraries. A resident of San Leandro, he is a graduate of Arizona State University with majors in both Math and Chemistry.

Please join us at 6:30 pm for a vote to endorse a Letter requesting the ending of ACO Reach which will increase the privatization of Medicare.

Please RSVP president@srvdems.org