Book: “Ten Myths About Israel”

Ten Myths About Israel

Ilan Pappé

The myths and reality behind the state of Israel and Israeli-Palestinian conflict—from “the most eloquent writer on Palestinian history” ( New Statesman )

In this groundbreaking book, published on the fiftieth anniversary of the Occupation, the outspoken and radical Israeli historian Ilan Pappe examines the most contested ideas concerning the origins and identity of the contemporary state of Israel.

The “ten myths” that Pappe explores—repeated endlessly in the media, enforced by the military, accepted without question by the world’s governments—reinforce the regional status quo. He explores the claim that Palestine was an empty land at the time of the Balfour Declaration, as well as the formation of Zionism and its role in the early decades of nation building. He asks whether the Palestinians voluntarily left their homeland in 1948, and whether June 1967 was a war of “no choice.” Turning to the myths surrounding the failures of the Camp David Accords and the official reasons for the attacks on Gaza, Pappe explains why the two-state solution is no longer viable.Show more


About the author

Ilan Pappé

Ilan Pappé is a professor with the College of Social Sciences and International Studies at the University of Exeter in the UK, director of the university’s European Centre for Palestine Studies, co-director of the Exeter Centre for Ethno-Political Studies, and political activist. He was formerly a senior lecturer in political science at the University of Haifa (1984–2007) and chair of the Emil Touma Institute for Palestinian and Israeli Studies in Haifa (2000–2008).

Pappé is one of Israel’s “New Historians” who, since the release of pertinent British and Israeli government documents in the early 1980s, have been rewriting the history of Israel’s creation in 1948, and the corresponding expulsion or flight of 700,000 Palestinians in the same year. He has written that the expulsions were not decided on an ad hoc basis, as other historians have argued, but constituted the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, in accordance with Plan Dalet, drawn up in 1947 by Israel’s future leaders. He blames the creation of Israel for the lack of peace in the Middle East, arguing that Zionism is more dangerous than Islamic militancy, and has called for an international boycott of Israeli academics.

His work has been both supported and criticized by other historians. Before he left Israel in 2008, he had been condemned in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament; a minister of education had called for him to be sacked; his photograph had appeared in a newspaper at the centre of a target; and he had received several death threats.

ICE detaining 65,000

  • Google AI Overview

The figure of 65,000 or a similar number in ICE custody is a point of reference for increased immigration enforcement, not a static number

. Recent data shows that the number of people in ICE custody reached a record high of about 66,000 in late 2025, a significant increase from earlier in the year. A large percentage of those detained (approximately 73.6%) have no criminal convictions. 

  • Recent custody numbers: In late 2025, the number of individuals in ICE custody reached approximately 66,000, setting a new record due to expanded detention facilities and increased enforcement.
  • Detention and criminal history: A significant portion of those in detention, about 73.6% in November 2025, have no criminal conviction.
  • Reasons for detention: Individuals can be detained while awaiting deportation proceedings or after being arrested for immigration violations.
  • Detention expansion: The increase in the detainee population is linked to an aggressive escalation in immigration enforcement and the expansion of detention facilities under the current administration. 

Articles ~ Petitions ~ Events – Friday, 11/28 – Sunday, 11/30

By Adrienne Fong

Am not posting on a regular basis

 RESOURCES:

 STAY UPDATED WITH BAY RESISTANCE and get plugged to actions you can support, text “Resist” to 888-850-0928

GI HOTLINE (877) 477-4497

  – Share this number to people who know active duty service members

There are events listed on Indybay that might be of interest to you(many listings in the South, North & East Bays and beyond the bay area)

Please post your actions on Indybay: https://www.indybay.org/calendar/?page_id=12

See list of Calendar of Events on Palestine from AROChttps://www.araborganizing.org/events/ 

   If your post is about Palestine you can also list your action on the AROC calendar

Bay Area Progressive Action Calendar

  ATW Bay Area / NorCal — Action Together West

ARTICLES

A. As I said two months ago- Afghanistan is back on the target list. We’re the good guys y’all. Just like the pilgrims…November 27, 2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRkE5KLDf7i/

B. Trump officials halt protected status for Haitians in US – Nov. 26, 2025

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/trump-temporary-protected-status-haiti

C. THERE IS NO DISTANCE BETWEEN THE POLICE STATE AND THE WAR STATENovember 26, 2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRiRtstgaHt/

   From Greg Stoker

D. Hegseth to Order 500 Additional Guardsmen to D.C. Following Shooting of Two Soldiers

https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4343985/hegseth-to-order-500-additional-guardsmen-to-dc-following-shooting-of-two-soldi/

E. Boycott Campaign Targets Companies Tied to ICE Ahead of Black Friday – November 26, 2025

Boycott Campaign Targets Companies Tied to ICE Ahead of Black Friday | Truthout

  See Petition # 1

F. A Single Warehouse in Jersey City Moved Over A Thousand Tons of Military Cargo to Israel Every Week – November 24, 2025

A Single Warehouse in Jersey City Moved Over A Thousand Tons of Military Cargo to Israel Every Week

G. San Francisco immigration judges speak out after being fired – November 24, 2025

H. Friday night massacre: 5 judges fired from S.F. immigration court today –Novvember 21, 2025

Friday night massacre: 5 immigration judges fired in S.F. today

I. The UN Embraces Colonialism: Unpacking the Security Council’s mandate for the U.S. colonial administration of Gaza  – November 19, 2025

The UN Embraces Colonialism: Unpacking the Security Council’s mandate for the U.S. colonial administration of Gaza – Mondoweiss

J. THE BLOOD OF THE CHILDREN OF GAZA IS ON OUR HANDS” – November 19, 2025

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRNrg2gkZHS/

  Microsoft employee resigning at Micorsoft conference in Sf

K. NOAA (No Azure for Apartheid) In Protest Action at Microsoft SF Ignite Event – November 19, 2025

NOAA (No Azure for Apartheid) In Protest Action at Microsoft SF Ignite Event : Indybay   

L. Supes toss homeless advocate off the oversight commission she helped create – November 18, 2025

Supes toss homeless advocate off the oversight commission she helped create – 48 hills

M. How Many People Has the U.S. Killed in Boat Strikes? Novembner 17, 2025

5 PETITIONS

1. Tell Amazon, Home Depot, and Target: We Ain’t Buying It!

  SIGN: [[PAGE_TITLE]] | Courage California

This action is taking direct aim at Target, for caving to this administration’s biased attacks on DEI; Home Depot, for allowing and colluding with ICE to kidnap our neighbors on their properties; and Amazon, for funding this administration to secure their own corporate tax cuts.

2. Investigate ICE prisons and end Trump’s violent ICE raids

   SIGN:  Investigate ICE prisons and end Trump’s violent ICE raids | Demand Progress

3. Tell Chevron CEO Mike Wirth You’re Boycotting Chevron

  SIGN: Tell Chevron CEO Mike Wirth You’re Boycotting Chevron

4. Stop Construction of Execution Champers

  SIGN: Worth Rises — Stop Corporations from Profiting Off of the Death Penalty

5. Block Trump’s Crusade Against Free Speech and Nonprofits

  SIGN: Block Trump’s crusade against free speech and nonprofits | Demand Progress  

EVENTS / ACTIONS

Friday, November 28 – Sunday, November 30

Friday, November 28

1. Friday, 10:00am – Shellmound 2 Shellmound Prayer Walk

Meet at:

West Berkeley Shellmound
1900 4th St.
Berkeley

Prayer walk to:

Emeryville Shellmound

Corner of Shellmound St. & Ohlone Way

We will begin walking at 10:00AM from WBS
Shuttles will bring folks back from Bay Street
Take a moment to read though our protocols

Join us to this year’s Prayer Walk journey from the oldest village site and Shellmound the West Berkeley Shellmound to the largest Shellmound in so called Emeryville.

Please bring an open heart and mind, your struggles and stories of resistance to uplift each other and most importantly uplift the Ancestors of these Lands, The Lisjan. @lisjan_nation

We are looking forward to walking, sweating, singing and praying together during these times of chaos, awakening and most importantly collective liberation!!

For more information: https://linktr.ee/savetheshellmounds

Info: Shellmound 2 Shellmound Prayer Walk : Indybay

2. Friday, 12Noon – 4:00pm, F#CK BLACK FRIDAY Queer Market + Stop Cop City Bay Area Fundraiser

Community Center
Makerspace & Permaculture Site
1121 64th St,
Oakland

Our community is under imminent threat, but we have the tools for revolution NOW!

Did you know that as we speak the bay area is funding a $48 million massive police training ground without resident input?  No? Because they are trying to do it without us noticing, Stop Cop City Bay Area is fighting back

Quartz is hosting an F×CK BLACK FRIDAY market to shop small local queer + trans businesses on 11/28. This market is in collaboration with @stopcopcitybayarea and percentage from every sale made is going to fundraise to send out mailers to educate the public about this ongoing project.

We can reclaim the building they are working on to meet real community needs(more info linked in bio). But if we dont do anything we will have greatly increased police presence at our doorstep. No more!

Info: F#CK BLACK FRIDAY Queer Market + Stop Cop City Bay Area Fundraiser : Indybay 

3. Friday, 4:00pm – 5:00pm, Rally at ILWU International – On Black Friday for Blockade of Military Aid to Israel 

ILWU International offices
1188 Franklin St
San Francisco 

Longshore unions and other workers in Italy have called for a general strike against genocide in Gaza to take place on November 28th.

Italian and Spanish workers have set the bar for what true union solidarity with Palestine means carrying out historical strikes that have been able to slow the transfer of weapons to Israel from the ports and awakened an international consciousness among the working class about our power as working people. Italian unions have urged US longshore workers to join them on the 28th and stop all cargo to stop the genocide. Unions in the US have an obligation to stop this genocide. The US government is supporting Israel politically, economically and with weapons to carry out this the genocide in Palestine.

Yet the AFL-CIO and International Longshoremen’s Association, and the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union’s leadership have kept silent. We call on the ILWU leadership to stand with Palestine. 

The fascist Trump government is not only supporting genocide but is directly attacking all workers. These attacks: shutting down our federal government, denying workers and families basic public services and food, direct attacks at our workplaces by masked gestapo-type forces and the military take-over of our cities have provoked a clear response. AFA CWA president Sara Nelson and Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson called for a general strike to stop this fascism.

This fight is connected to Palestine. Both the Democrat and Republican Parties have funded ICE and law enforcement across the country for decades and approved that US officers train with Israel and use Israeli weapons that have been “battle-tested” on Palestinians in crowd control and repression. Israeli surveillance software is being used by the US to track immigrants and activists in the US, just like it has been used to kill over 270 journalists in Gaza in 2 years. 

Indybay: Rally at ILWU International – On Black Friday for Blockade of Military Aid to Israel : Indybay

Saturday, November 29

4. Saturday, 12Noon, Join International Day of Action for Palestine & Labor Actions Globally (Rally)

Oscar Grant Plaza (in front of City Hall
Oakland 

It is sponsored by Disarm Genocide, UPTE Members For Palestine, WorkWeek,

Emergency Response: Stop the Genocide in Gaza Global Day Of Action On November 29
https://palestinecampaign.org/emergency-response-2023/

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed many tens, if not hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and caused incalculable devastation. Palestinians in Gaza are facing imminent famine. Yet the British government continues to arm Israel.

Info: Join International Day of Action for Palestine & Labor Actions Globally : Indybay 

5. Saturday, 12Noon, SF: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Harry Bridges Plaza
1 The Embarcadero
San Francisco

On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People this Saturday, we will march in the streets of San Francisco to reject Zionism and the rampant militarism imposed on our homelands, from here on Turtle Island to Palestine. For the last few weeks, Palestinian families in Gaza are being pummeled by heavy rains as their tents flood—with Israel and the U.S. continuing to drop bombs and withhold the supplies and food needed for Gaza to withstand the harsh winter ahead.

Without a people’s arms embargo, the bombs won’t stop, and the conditions being imposed on the Palestinian people won’t end. If the military cargo keeps flowing out of Oakland and other U.S. cities, Israel will carry on with its genocidal, expansionist project in Palestine.

That’s why we take to the streets to make our demands heard by Oakland City Officials: KILLER CARGO OUT OF OAKLAND AIRPORT! 

Info: SF: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People : Indybay 

Sunday, November 30 

6. Sunday, 9:00am, Lavender Phoenix: “Care Not Cops”

In person:

Unitarian Universalists of San Francisco
1187 Franklin Street
SF 

ZOOM:
https://zoom.us/j/99898814943?pwd=PU4hH8TU7IGIwNrkOaS6Z1fEhFsBuW.1

Meeting ID: 998 9881 4943 Passcode: 687624

9:00am – Light breakfast / socializing – nominal fee

9:30am – 10:50 program

San Francisco MUST fund true healing & care. But instead of investing in that, San Francisco’s City Government plans to take millions of dollars from life-saving services, all while increasing its policing budget.

Where do these millions come from? They take this from the resources San Francisco residents need most: from children & family services, food security, healthcare organizations, homelessness & prevention services – from the $160 million in City services the People’s Budget Coalition is trying to protect.

We KNOW we will never arrest our way to safety, to housing, or to healthcare. San Francisco deserves real solutions. As the City faces a historic budget deficit, we can’t afford another year of the SFPD’s bloated budget. We demand that the San Francisco City government redirect funds from San Francisco policing to protect $160 million in key services.

Lavender Phoenix builds queer and transgender Asian and Pacific Islander power to amplify our
voices and increase the visibility of our communities. Based in SF Chinatown, and through
organizing in the Bay Area, we inspire and train grassroots leaders, transform our values from
scarcity to abundance, and partner with organizations to sustain a vibrant movement ecosystem.

Info: Lavender Phoenix: “Care Not Cops” : Indybay

Death toll from huge Hong Kong fire rises to 83 with hundreds still missing

Firefighters battled one of Hong Kong’s deadliest blazes for a second day on Thursday, struggling to contain a fire that swept through high-rise towers and killed at least 83 people. Three construction workers were arrested as rescues continued and smoke billowed from the Wang Fuk Court complex.

Issued on: 27/11/2025 – France24.com

By: FRANCE 24

Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire in a Tai Po housing complex on November 27, 2025
Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire in a Tai Po housing complex on November 27, 2025 in Hong Kong. © Peter Parks, AFP

Firefighters battled one of Hong Kong‘s deadliest modern blazes for a second day Thursday, fighting to control the fire that blackened several high-rise towers and killed at least 83 people. Three men from a construction company were arrested, and rescues were continuing.

Thick smoke still poured out of the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po district, a northern suburb near the border with the mainland, Thursday morning. The fire that started mid afternoon Wednesday had spread across seven of the complex’s eight buildings, and four of the towers were under control by morning, the city’s fire services said.

One firefighter was among the 83 people confirmed dead, officials said. Many people were injured, suffering from burn and inhalation injuries.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong © France24

Three men, the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

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“We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” said Eileen Chung, a senior superintendent of police. 

Authorities suspected some materials on the exterior walls of the high-rise buildings did not meet fire resistance standards, allowing the unusually fast spread of the fire.

Police also said they found Styrofoam – which is highly flammable – attached to the windows on each floor near the elevator lobby of the one unaffected tower. It was believed to have been installed by the construction company but the purpose was not clear. Secretary for Security Chris Tang said they would investigate the materials further. 

The fire started on the external scaffolding of a 32-story tower, then spread on the bamboo scaffolding and construction netting to the inside of the building and then to the other buildings, likely aided by windy conditions. 

Firefighters aimed water at the intense flames from high on ladder trucks, but conditions for fighting the fire and rescuing people remained challenging.

“Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings (is) falling down,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Service operations. “The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.” 

Read moreDozens killed as fire engulfs Hong Kong high-rise residential blocks

The housing complex consisted of eight buildings with almost 2,000 apartments for about 4,800 residents, including many elderly people. It was built in the 1980s and had been undergoing a major renovation.

About 900 people were evacuated to temporary shelters overnight, and Hong Kong leader John Lee said 279 people were missing as of midnight. Rescues were continuing, but an updated figure wasn’t available as of midmorning Thursday.

Lawrence Lee, a resident of the towers, was waiting for news about his wife, who was still trapped in their apartment.

“When the fire started, I told her on the phone to escape. But once she left the flat, the corridor and stairs were all filled with smoke and it was all dark, so she had no choice but to go back to the flat,” he said, as he waited in one of the shelters.

Lee, the Chief Executive, said the government will prioritize the disaster and halt promotion for the Dec. 7 elections for the Legislative Council, the city’s legislature. He didn’t say if the elections could be delayed but said decisions would come “a few days later”.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the firefighter who died and extended sympathies to the families of the victims, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He also urged efforts to minimize casualties and losses.

The fire was the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades. In November 1996, 41 people died in a commercial building in Kowloon in a fire that lasted for around 20 hours.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

‘This Is the Scandal’: DHS Data Show ICE Mostly Targeting People With No Criminal Convictions

Chicago Celebrates Halloween Amid Increased ICE Activity

People detained earlier in the day are taken to a parking lot in Chicago, Illinois, before being transferred to an US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on October 31, 2025. 

(Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis/Getty Images)

“I’ve spoken to dozens of people held inside ICE detention centers in Arizona and this tracks,” said Democratic Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari.

Jessica Corbett

Nov 26, 2025 (CommonDreams.org)

The libertarian Cato Institute this week further undermined the Trump administration’s claims that it is targeting “the worst of the worst” with its violent immigration operations in communities across the United States by publishing data about the criminal histories—or lack thereof—of immigrants who have been arrested and booked into detention.

David J. Bier, the institute’s director of immigration studies, previously reported in June that 65% of people taken by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had no convictions, and 93% had no violent convictions.

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‘Worst of the Worst’? DOJ Figures Show 97.4% of 614 Detained Immigrants in Chicago Had No Criminal Record

Monday evening, Bier shared a new nonpublic dataset leaked to Cato. Of the 44,882 people booked into ICE custody from when the fiscal year began on October 1 through November 15, 73% had no criminal convictions. For that share, around two-thirds also had no pending charges.

The data also show that most of those recently booked into ICE detention with criminal convictions had faced immigration, traffic, or vice charges. Just 5% had a violent conviction, and 3% had a property conviction.

“Other data sources support the conclusions from the number of ICE book-ins,” Bier wrote, citing information on agency arrests from January to late July—or the first six months of President Donald Trump’s second term—that the Deportation Data Project acquired via a public records request.

The data show that as of January 1, just before former President Joe Biden left office, 149 immigrants without charges or convictions were arrested by ICE. That number surged by 1,500% under Trump: It peaked at 4,072 in June and ultimately was 2,386 by the end of July—when 67% of all arrestees had no criminal convictions, and 39% had neither convictions nor charges.

Bier also pointed to publicly available data about current detainees on ICE’s website, emphasizing that the number of people in detention with no convictions or pending charges “increased a staggering 2,370% since January from fewer than 1,000 to over 21,000.”

In addition to publishing an article on Cato’s site, Bier detailed the findings on the social media platform X, where various critics of the administration’s immigration crackdown weighed in. Among them was Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), who said: “These are the facts. I’ve spoken to dozens of people held inside ICE detention centers in Arizona and this tracks.”

US Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) declared: “This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.”

The US Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, also jumped in, as did DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. Responding to Murphy, McLaughlin said in part: “This is so dumb it hurts my soul. This is a made-up pie chart with no legitimate data behind it—just propaganda to undermine the brave work of DHS law enforcement and fool Americans.”

Bier and others then took aim at McLaughlin, with the Cato director offering the raw data and challenging her to “just admit you don’t care whether the people you’re arresting are threats to others or not.”

https://x.com/David_J_Bier/status/1993707804650271188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1993707804650271188%7Ctwgr%5E97b86afe01076f55aaf8f0abaae383f2737bcd7e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fimmigrants-criminal-history

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said that “DHS’s spokeswoman lies AGAIN,” calling out her post as “either a knowing lie or an egregious mistake.”

“The data David J. Bier published was distributed to multiple congressional staffers and is just a more detailed breakdown of data, which is publicly available on ICE’s own website,” he stressed.

Journalist Jose Olivares noted that this is “not the first time Tricia McLaughlin has said that ICE’s own data is ‘propaganda.’ Months ago, she slammed me and my colleague at the Guardian on PBS… even though we used ICE’s own data for our reporting.”

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.

Jessica Corbett

Jessica Corbett is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.

Full Bio >

SF Grocery Stores Where You Can Still Buy Food (and Booze) on Thanksgiving Day

26 November 2025/SF Restaurants, Food & Drink/Joe Kukura (SFist.com)

Last-minute, unanticipated needs are sure to strike any Thanksgiving Day celebration, so we’ve listed all of the major SF grocery chains’ Thanksgiving Day hours, for when you absolutely need that forgotten food item or an alcohol restock.

Many of us will brave the grocery store today, the day before Thanksgiving, though many had the foresight to have already gotten that trip out of the way. But whichever of those categories you fall into, you will inevitably have still forgotten an item or five that you’ll wish you had remembered to buy. And there is always the possibility of running out of beer, wine, or spirits.

That’s why we’re listing all of the big SF grocery chains’ Thanksgiving Day hours below. We cannot possibly include every corner store in San Francisco, so keep an eye out for those in your neighborhood. But we can confirm that all of these Bi-Rites, BevMos, Safeways, and various other grocers with full beer, wine, and liquor aisles are open on Thanksgiving Day. (Note: The hours listed are only for November 27, 2025.)

Trader Joe’s and Costco will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. But these chain grocers and beverage proprietors will be open for your 11th hour Thanksgiving day runs:

  • ANDRONICO’S MARKET – 6 am to 6 pm
  • BI-RITE MARKET – 8 am to 1 pm
  • BEVMO! – 9 am to 5 pm
  • LUCKY – 6 am to 6 pm
  • MOLLIE STONE’S – 7am to 5pm
  • SAFEWAY – 6 am to 6 pm
  • WHOLE FOODS – 7 am to 1 pm

Related: Where To Buy Beer, Wine, and Liquor on Thanksgiving Day in SF [SFist]

Image: Display of Thanksgiving turkeys in a supermarket, Lafayette, California, November 13, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Court orders ICE to immediately provide mattresses, blankets, medical care in S.F. holding cells  

The court order finds “likelihood” that conditions at at 630 Sansome are “unconstitutionally punitive”

A woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a sleeveless white top, gold hoop earrings, and a necklace, smiles at the camera indoors.by Sage Ríos MaceNovember 25, 2025 (MissionLocal. com)

A person holds a bilingual protest sign reading "Protect Our Neighbors" and "Keep Families Together" outside a building labeled United States Appraisers at 630 Sansome Street.
A person holds a protest sign that says “Protect Our Neighbors” and “Keep Families Together” outside of the ICE headquarters at 630 Sansome Street. Photo by Sage Rios Mace.

On Tuesday evening, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction requiring the Department of Justice to improve the conditions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding cells in San Francisco. 

That order came in response to a lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and other groups who, earlier this month, argued in front of a federal judge that conditions inside the holding cells at 630 Sansome St. are so poor they violate immigrants’ constitutional rights

The 51-page order written by Judge Casey Pitts found an “established likelihood” that the “challenged conditions at 630 Sansome are unconstitutionally punitive in nature.” Under the preliminary injunction, the ICE facility must be brought up to acceptable standards — meaning that detainees must have mattresses, blankets, hygiene materials, prompt medical attention, and other basic necessities, effective immediately. 

Mission Local logo, with blue and orange lines on the shape of the Mission District

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Marissa Hatton, a senior staff attorney at Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, said the decision is “a powerful affirmation of their humanity and a critical check on the rule of law.”

Hatton’s co-council Nisha Kashyap, also a senior staff attorney, added: “We will be monitoring closely to make sure that ICE is complying to ensure that is is following its constitutional obligations.”

The court did, however, maintain that ICE can legally keep immigrants in holding cells for up to three days at a time — an abrupt increase from the 12 hour rule that was the norm until June of this year. The court did so with the reasoning that the preliminary injunction will bring the conditions up to its constitutional obligations, Kashyap said.

Back to the Picture SR

The ruling also certifies the lawsuit as a class action, which means that anyone detained there could theoretically join forces and sue the Department of Justice for damages. Attorneys involved in the case say they expect a final injunction before the end of the year. The next hearing, scheduled for Dec. 9, will determine whether the suit against ICE’s nationwide practice of courthouse arrests can move forward.

Since late May, Mission Local has tracked 129 arrests of asylum-seekers and immigrants at the San Francisco immigration court houses.

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Sage Ríos Mace

sage@missionlocal.com

I’m covering immigration for Mission Local and got my start in journalism with El Tecolote. Most recently, I completed a long-term investigation for El Centro de Periodismo Investigativo in San Juan, PR and I am excited to see where journalism takes me next. Off the clock, I can be found rollerblading through Golden Gate Park or reading under the trees with my cat, Mano.More by Sage Ríos Mace

Where San Franciscans can find a free Thanksgiving dinner

A guide to free Thanksgiving meals around the city. 

by Nicholas David November 25, 2025 (MissionLocal.com)

Seniors in Chinatown
On Thanksgiving, 100 or so Chinatown seniors attended a free lunch offered by Self-Help for the Elderly. Photo by Yujie Zhou. Taken Nov. 24, 2022

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It’s been a precarious fall season for those who rely on social programs to put food on the table. 

During the government shutdown, millions of Americans lost access to SNAP benefits (formerly called food stamps). Many states tapped into emergency funds to keep the programs intact. In the case of San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie devised a public-private partnership that kept CalFresh, the state’s implementation of SNAP, afloat.

Still, it hasn’t been easy. And it’s Thanksgiving! So, let’s eat. Here’s a guide to free dinners around the city. 

GLIDE

Glide Memorial Church will host its annual Thanksgiving meal at 330 Ellis St., beginning at 11 a.m. Among the biggest Thanksgiving meal providers in The City, Glide plans to serve almost 2,500 meals of ham, turkey, and sides.

St. Anthony’s

Another of San Francisco’s biggest annual Thanksgiving meal providers, the St. Anthony Foundation will serve over 2,400 meals this year out of its Dining Room at 121 Golden Gate Ave. This year marks the foundation’s 75th anniversary. Doors will open at 7 a.m. for limited coffee and pastries, and meal service begins at 10 a.m.

Tenderloin Tessie

Tenderloin Tessie will begin serving meals at 1:00 PM out of the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 1187 Franklin St. Now in its 51st year of providing on Thanksgiving Day, the organizers recently told Mission Local that they’re planning to serve over 1,000 meals.

Martin de Porres

The Martin de Porres House of Hospitality will host its annual service at 225 Potrero Ave. from 12 to 2 p.m. The free restaurant has been in operation for over 50 years, and serves, on average, around 220 meals a day, according to its front desk. Aside from placing vegan turkey, mash, and pie on the menu, they’re planning for Thursday like it’s any other day.

“The guests will sit down and we’re going to serve them at their tables,” the representative said. “There’s no sign-up necessary … you basically just have to know about it and then walk in.”

The Martin de Porres House requests donations of homemade baked pies to be dropped off before Thanksgiving.

City Team & The City Eats

CityTeam, a Christian nonprofit based mostly on the West Coast, will host a Thanksgiving Eve brunch on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Brunch begins at 11 a.m., and will be held at CityTeam’s San Francisco outpost at 164 6th St. For Thanksgiving day, they’ve partnered with nonprofit The City Eats to distribute over 1,500 meals at the same location.

City Impact

Also a Christian nonprofit in the Tenderloin, City Impact will provide meals out of their hub at 136 Taylor St., also packing some for distribution on the street. Last year, they served around 1,300 meals, according to their Instagram page.

Calvary Presbyterian Church

Calvary Presbyterian Church will serve about 100 meals of turkey and a full plate of sides at 2515 Fillmore St. Lunch begins at noon. Those who register online will be served first, followed by walk-ins. 

“We ask a $7 donation,” said Reverend Victor Floyd, who has hosted the meal for the last 12 years. “And we’re short three turkeys, 
if people want to donate.” They request fully cooked turkeys brought to the church on Thanksgiving morning.

No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but non-registrants may be directed to Tenderloin Tessie if Calvary cannot accommodate them.

“And they have drag queen entertainment, which I thoroughly enjoy,” said the Reverend.

Self-Help for the Elderly

Self-Help for the Elderly will be serving Thanksgiving lunches at five different locations.

You must pick up a ticket in person only and folks are limited to one ticket per person. First come, first serve. For more information, please call 415-677-7600

When November ends

Those interested in volunteering or donating can find more information at the websites listed above. They may also contribute to the SF-Marin Food Bank, or the 14th annual SF Turkey Drive

Those interested in helping with mobile Thanksgiving meals can volunteer for meal distribution services like the Salvation ArmyProject Open Hand, and Little Brothers.

Of course, food insecurity afflicts people and families year-round. Many organizations, like GLIDE and St. Anthony’s, are no longer accepting volunteers for Thanksgiving Day. In a recent press release, the St. Anthony Foundation said that volunteers are “urgently needed” in the months after Christmas, “when support traditionally drops.”

One Bayview restaurant, for its part, is bringing free turkey into December. Smoke Soul Kitchen is hosting a Turkey and Toy Giveaway on Dec. 13. Donations of toys and frozen turkeys will be accepted at 4618 3rd St. through Dec. 12. The restaurant’s initiative can be read in full on Instagram, but it ends with a call to action:

“If we don’t look out for each other, who will?”

Aftyn needs your help to get out the vote

The special election in Tennessee is next Tuesday, and Republicans are scared. MAGA super PACs are spending more than $3 million dollars in a district that voted for Trump by 22 points last year. They’re spending big because they know the tides are shifting. Americans are sick of Trump’s corruption, the handouts for billionaires, the attacks on our rights, and the out-of-control cost of living. And they’re not just upset — they’re bringing that frustration to the ballot box.

We saw massive swings earlier this month in state and local elections in Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, Mississippi, and California. Voters are rejecting Trump’s agenda up and down the ballot, and demanding new leaders who will fight for them. That’s exactly what Aftyn Behn is offering voters in TN-07, and we’re going all in to help her flip the district from red to blue.

Aftyn is a smart, clear-eyed, young leader who has worked tirelessly to make Tennessee a more affordable place where working families can thrive. She’s utilizing her experience as an organizer to run an incredible grassroots campaign that’s energizing voters across TN-07. But with a week to go until Election Day, and Republicans spending millions against her, Aftyn needs all of us to step up and help get out the vote:

  1. Sign up for one of our upcoming phonebanks. Our phonebanks are open to volunteers across the country, so no matter where you live, you can help get out the vote! If you’re ready to jump in, join our phonebank TONIGHT at 6:00pm ET, or call voters with us at our final phonebank on Monday, December 1 at 6:00pm ET.
  2. If you live in TN-07, sign up to knock doors using our Neighbor2Neighbor canvassing tool. This is our single most effective GOTV tactic – and it’s as easy as it is effective. After signing up, we’ll give you a list of ten like-minded neighbors who need a reminder to vote, a script, and a flyer to leave at the door. You don’t need to download a complicated app or attend a lengthy training – just sign up and knock doors on your own time. (Don’t live in TN-07, but know someone who does? Feel free to share this sign up link!)
  3. Can’t volunteer, but still want to help flip TN-07? Click here to split a donation between Aftyn’s campaign and Indivisible. Your contribution will support Aftyn’s incredible grassroots campaign, and also help fund all of our GOTV work, including our phonebanks, texting program, billboards, and relational organizing.