Baltimore Activist Alert

Baltimore Activist Alert July 17, 2008 – April 4, 2009

"I speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours.

The initiative to stop it must be ours." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Friends, this list and other email documents which I send out are done under the auspices of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center . Go to www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com. If you appreciate this information and would like to make a donation, send contributions to BNC, 325 East 25th Street , Baltimore , MD 21218 . Max Obuszewski can be reached at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski [at] verizon.net.

The Baltimore IndyMedia Center publicizes peace-related events. Go to http://www.radicalendar.org/group/_baltimore.

1] Books, buttons and stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists

4] Eyes Wide Open exhibit available

5] IWW meeting – July 17

6] Iraq Moratorium – July 19

7] Humanity as a Weapon of War – July 18

8] Protest WYPR management – July 18 - ?

9] WIB Inner Harbor peace vigil – July 18

10] WIB Roland Park vigil – July 18

11] White House vigil – July 18

12] Silent vigil at Homewood Friends – July 18

13] Peace Action Congress/SPAN Convergence – July 18-21

14] NOW annual conference – July 18-20

15] Vigil at Walter Reed – July 18

16] Ballroom dancing – July 18

17] Days of local action - July 19-21

18] Peace vigil in Chester , PA – July 19

19] Peace vigil at Capitol – July 19

20] Israeli-Palestinian conflict – July 19

21] Olney vigil to end the war – July 19

22] African Service – July 20

23] Bridge peace vigil – July 20

24] THE WARRIOR – July 20-27

25] Peace Walk in D.C. – July 20

26] Peace vigil – July 20

27] Red Emma’s needs volunteers – July 20

28] Death penalty demonstration – July 21

29] Pledge of Resistance meeting – July 21

30] Protest Christians United for Israel – July 21

31] War Is Not the Answer vigil – July 22

32] Pray for Peace – July 22

33] Marc Steiner on WEAA – July 23

34] Native American exhibit – July 23 - 26

35] Peace vigil in Philadelphia – July 23

36] Peace vigil in W. Mount Airy , PA – July 23

37] Peace vigil in Chestnut Hill , PA – July 23

38] Israel/Palestine roundtable – July 24

39] Native American culture – July 24

40] Death penalty meeting – July 24

41] Takoma Park peace vigil – July 25

42] Westminster WIB vigil – July 26

43] Pentagon vigil – July 28

44] First Thursday protest of the war – Aug. 7

45] MUPJ conference – April 4, 2009

46] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale

47] Donations needed to finish Winter Soldier film

48] Little Friends for Peace Summer Camps

49] Become a member of the Washington Peace Center

50] Click on The Hunger Site

51] Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available. “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers in stock. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

2] – To obtain information how your federal legislators voted on particular bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/. Congressional toll-free numbers are 888-818-6641, 888-355-3588 or 800-426-8073.

3] – THE ORGANIZING LIST will be the primary decision-making mechanism of the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR]. It will be augmented by conference calls and possibly in-person meetings as needed. It will consist of 1 or 2 representatives from each local, regional, or national organization (not coalitions) that wishes to actively work to carry out the NCNR campaign of facilitating and organizing nonviolent resistance to the war in Iraq .

To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to donmuller@msn.com. Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.

THE NOTICES LIST will include only notices of NCNR actions and related information and is open to any interested person to subscribe. It will be moderated to maintain focus & will include periodic notices about getting involved in NCNR national organizing. To join the NOTICES List, send an email message to ncnrnotices-subscribe@lists.riseup.net . You will get a confirmation message once subscribed. If you have problems, please write to the list manager at ncnrnotices-admin@lists.riseup.net.

4] – The Baltimore American Friends Service Committee office has assembled an exhibit Maryland Eyes Wide Open which details the Human Cost of the Iraq War and reflects the costs of war to the state of Maryland. The exhibit consists of at least 40 pairs of combat boots, representing the US military deaths from Maryland; civilian shoes, tagged with names and ages of a very small fraction of the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis who have died; a representative pair of combat boots and 7 red poppies, representing the estimated number of wounded US military personnel (approximately 7 times the number of dead); and signs and literature detailing the human and financial costs of the war on the cities and counties of Maryland.

AFSC will help with logistics and contribute to your planning for auxiliary events or activities presented in conjunction with the exhibit. For information on obtaining and displaying the exhibit, call 410-323-4200, extensions 20 or 21 or e-mail at tsteele@afsc.org or ggillespie@afsc.org. Go to www.afsc.org/midatlantic/baltimore-programs.htm.

5] – The Baltimore branch of the Industrial Workers of the World [IWW] meets the third Thursday of the month. Attend the next meeting on July 17 at 7 PM at Red Emma’s, 800 St. Paul St . Call 410-967-2202.

6] – Every 3rd Friday, observe the Iraq Moratorium - http://www.iraqmoratorium.org/. On July 19, wear a black ribbon or armband! Hand out ribbons or armbands to others. Wear an anti-war pin. Call your representative and your senators and tell their staff that you expect them to do everything possible to end the war and bring the troops home! The Capitol Hill switchboard number is 202-224-3121. Write your representative and your senators, as a handwritten letter has even more impact than a phone call. Hit your elected officials where it hurts, with a voided campaign contribution check. Write a letter to your local newspaper. Don't buy gas. Drive 10 MPH under the posted speed limit. Don't shop at all. Put a sign on your lawn or in your window or on your car. Write "Stop the War" or other slogans on the sidewalk in chalk. Buy toy soldiers, put tags on them that say "Bring Me Home" and leave them in stores, parks, libraries, laundromats, anywhere people will find them. Email friends and family and urge them to sign the Iraq Moratorium statement and to take one of these steps, too.

7] – On Fri., July 18 from 9 to 10:30 AM, join the Center for American Progress, 1333 H St., NW, 10th Floor, WDC 20005, for a special presentation: Humanity as a Weapon of War by Dr. Reuben Brigety, director, Sustainable Security Program, with panelists Elisabeth Kvitashvili, deputy assistant administrator, US Agency for International Development and Dr. James Schear, director of research, Institute for National Security Studies. "Humanity as a Weapon of War" is a new report from the Center for American Progress that looks at the U.S. military's emerging trend of using humanitarian assistance to achieve strategic objectives. There will be a light breakfast at 8:30 AM. RSVP Marlene Cooper Vasilic at events@amprog.org or call 202-682-1611. Go to americanprogress.org.

8] – Protest the illegal termination of The Marc Steiner Show from noon to 1 PM Monday through Saturday in front of WYPR, 2216 N. Charles St. You may consider calling the station to complain at 410-235-1395. Contact Max at 410-366-1637 to join Take Back YPR.

9] – Women In Black sponsor a peace stand/vigil on Fri., July 18 from noon-1 PM at the Inner Harbor , corner Pratt and Light. Everyone welcome, wear black if you can. See http://www.peacepath911.com/ or write wibbaltimore@hotmail.com or call 410-467-9114.

10] – There is also a noon vigil on Fri., July 18 at Roland Park Place at 830 W. 40th St . Call 410-467-9114.

11] – A peace vigil takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM on Pennsylvania Ave., by the press gate to the White House. It is organized by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Call 202-882-9649.

12] – There is a silent vigil on Fri., July 18 from 5 to 6 PM outside of Homewood Friends Meeting, 3107 N. Charles St. , in opposition to war with Iraq . Placards say: "War Is Not the Answer." The silent vigil is sponsored by AFSC, Homewood Friends Meeting and Stony Run.

13] – Peace Action’s 50th Anniversary National Congress starts Fri., July 18 with dinner from 6 to 7 PM. From 7 to 9 PM, there will be a welcome and then a speech by Max Kampelman. It continues on Sat., July 19 from 8 AM to 10 PM. The schedule for Sun., July 20 begins at 8 AM and concludes at 3:15 PM. However, from 4 to 7 PM, there will be a lobby day workshop. Peace Action lobbying will commence on Mon., July 21. REGISTER ONLINE at www.peace-action.org/online_registration.htm. Contact Sarah Tarighi at starighi@peace-action.org or 301-565-4050, ext 338.

The SPAN Convergence for students will take place at the same time as the Peace Action National Congress. Both events take place at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. Register online at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/161/t/289/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1228. There is a limited number of travel scholarships available. Contact SPAN at span@peace-action.org or 301-565-4050 ext. 322. Go to http://www.studentpeaceaction.org.

14] – National Organization for Women annual conference takes place from Fri., July 18 through Sun., July 20 at the Hyatt Bethesda in Bethesda, MD. This year's conference will convene hundreds of activists, NOW leaders, members and supporters who will participate in a packed program. Speakers and honorees at this year's conference will include arctic explorer Barbara Hillary, veteran broadcaster Carol Jenkins, equal pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter, U.N. Special Rapporteur Dr. Yakin Ert�rk, Oprah "Chutzpah" award-winner Irshad Manji, NYT bestselling author Nancy Redd, syndicated columnist Marie Cocco, rock the Vote Past President Jehmu Greene former NOW President Patricia Ireland, indigenous women’s' rights advocate Monica Alem n and more! Email conference@now.org.

15] – SHED LIGHT ON US WAR CASUALTIES: FROM THE FRONT LINE TO THE BACK DOOR of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (North Gate), every Friday night, from 7 to 9 PM in the middle of the 7100 block of Georgia Ave., NW. Call 202-441-3265. Go to http://www.codepinkalert.org/Local_CODEPINKs_Washington_DC.shtml.

16] – There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month, in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at 8 PM. Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St . Drive on campus by taking the third left turn. The next dance will be July 18. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

17] – This coming weekend -- July 19-21 -- people around the country will be participating in the Days of Local Action initiated by the UFPJ Iran Working Group. On Mon., July 21, join the nationwide call-in day to make sure your member of Congress knows there is strong opposition to military action against Iran in his or her district. Pressure on Congress is critical right now as it considers H.Con.Res. 362. It is sad that 102 House Democrats and 117 Republicans have cosponsored a resolution against Iran that demands President Bush "initiate an international effort" to impose a land, sea, and air blockade on Iran to prevent it from importing gasoline and to inspect all cargo entering or leaving Iran.

Ask your mayor to sign on to a resolution urging the Bush administration to pursue diplomatic engagement with Iran . At least 36 mayors have already signed on. Visit the Cities for Peace website. Write letters to the editor and call talk shows, especially during the July 19- 21 Days of Action. Organize a visible presence in a busy location in your town. Go to www.unitedforpeace.org or call 212-868-5545.

18] – Each Saturday, 11 AM – 1 PM, Chester County Peace Movement holds a peace vigil in West Chester in front of the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts. This vigil has been the target of counter-demonstrators and harassment from the " Chester County Victory Movement" but has grown and persisted. Go to www.ccpeace.org.

19] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., July 19. Look for the blue banner with the message, "Seek Peace and Pursue It. --Psalms 34:14." The vigil lasts one hour and is silent except when one responds to the occasional questions. Go to http://www.quaker.org/langleyhill/seekpeace.htm or email seekpeacevigil@yahoo.com.

20] – There is a panel discussion Can A Confederation Help Solve The Israeli- Palestinian Conflict? from 1:30 to 4:30 PM on Sat., July 19 at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library, 901 G St. , WDC 20001 . There is no charge, but donations will be requested. RSVP at 818-317-7110. Go to www.aboutipc.org.

21] – Friends House, 17715 Meeting House Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860, hosts a peace vigil every Saturday, 3:15 to 4:15 PM, on the corner of Rt. 108 and Georgia Ave. in Olney, MD. The next vigil is July 19. Call 301-774-9792.

22] – On Sun., July 20, the KALAFONG AME CHURCH invites you to a Prayer for Africa at 11 AM at the HISPANIC SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST DAY CHUCH, 5100 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore 21229 . Contact Rev. Dr. Duane Rawlings at realministr@aol.com. Go to www.orgsites.com\md\kalafong-ame-mission-church/index.html.

23] – Maryland Bridges for Peace welcomes you to stand for peace Sundays from noon (or thereabouts) to 1 PM on the Spa Creek Bridge in Annapolis . Contact Lucy at 410-263-7271 or mdbridgesforpeace@toadmail.com. Signs are not allowed to be on a stick or pole. If there is interest, people will be standing on the Stoney Creek Bridge on Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena [410-437-5379 or magicalgodmom@aol.com]. Go to http://BridgePeace.blogspot.com/.

24] – THE WARRIOR opens at 2:15 PM on Sun., July 20 during the Capital Fringe Festival. Theater of the First Amendment presents THE WARRIOR by Jack Gilhooley and directed by Kevin Murray from July 20 through July 27 in WDC at FLASHPOINT'S MEAD THEATRE, 916 G St., NW . Other performances are Wed., July 23 @ 9 PM, Fri., July 25 at 8:30 PM, Sat., July 26 at 5:45 PM and Sun., July 27 at 7 PM. All tickets are $15 – go to www.capfringe.org. Visit http://www.theaterofthefirstamendment.org/warrior/. Call 866-811-4111.

25] – Join the weekly Peace Walk on the Mall at 4 PM on Sun., July 13 starting at the WWII Memorial ( 17th St .). Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice will commence a weekly Peace Walk on the Mall. The walk will be from the World War II Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial and back via Constitution and Independence Aves. Contact Ken at kiask@comcast.net.

26] – On Sun., July 20, from 5 to 6 PM, there will be an ecumenical peace vigil in Lafayette Park ! You are invited to join the latest in a series of peace vigils designed to give members of Washington area churches--Episcopalians, Methodists, UCC'ers, Presbyterians, Baptists, Mennonites, Quakers, Lutherans, Unitarians, Catholics and all others--a chance to pray together for an end to the tragic war in Iraq . The vigil is a locally organized witness affiliated with Christian Peace Witness for Iraq (CPWI). The vigil will take place on the third Sunday of the month, at 5 PM, until the war comes to an end.

27] – Red Emma’s needs volunteers. Stop in to the weekly Sunday meeting at 7 PM at 800 St. Paul St. or email info@redemmas.org. The next meeting is July 20. Call 410-230-0450.

28] – There is usually a vigil to abolish the death penalty every Monday from 5 to 6 PM, outside the prison complex and across the street from Maryland’s death row, at the corner of Madison Ave. and Fallsway in Baltimore . The next vigil is scheduled for Mon., July 21. Call 410-233-0488.

29] – The Washington Peace Center is joining up with Jewish Voices for Peace, Washington Interfaith Alliance on Middle East Peace and others for a protest on Mon., Jul. 21 at the corner of 9th St. and Mass. Ave., NW from 5 – 8 PM. Protest Christians United for Israel . Literature will be handed on the horrible consequences of attacking Iran , and how warfare is unchristian. Go to the Christians United for Israel 's Web page: http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events_washington_summit

30] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore meets on Mon., July 21 at 7:30 PM at the AFSC, 4806 York Road . Discuss the latest surveillance report. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

31] – There is a vigil to say "War Is Not the Answer" each Tuesday since September 11, 2001 at 4806 York Road . Join this ongoing vigil. The next vigil is July 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

32] – Fr. Charles Cloughen Jr. [mailto:frcharles@verizon.net] invites you to pray for peace on Tues., July 22 at 7:30 PM at Roland Park Place, 830 W. 40^th St. The Interfaith Prayer Partners gather every month on the 22^nd.

33] – The Marc Steiner Show is back on Wed., July 23 at 9 AM on WEAA 88.9 FM, The Voice of the Community. During the summer, the hour-long show will continue each Wednesday. And in Fall 2008, the show will begin broadcasting daily Monday through Friday. The call-in number is 410-319-8888, and comments can also be sent by email steinershow@gmail.com.

You can listen to interviews by Steiner through his Center for Emerging Media podcasts. To hear the interviews, email Jessica@centerforemergingmedia.com.

34] – From Wed., July 23 through Sat., July 26, there will be a Native American Progra exhibition in the Amalie Rothschild Gallery, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore 21224. There will be a 6 PM reception on Thurs., July 24. Francisco Loza returns with Huichol artist Macario Carillo, both traveling from their homes in Mexico to exhibit Arte en Estambre. Call 410-276-1651.

35] – Each Wednesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the House of Grace Catholic Worker holds a weekly vigil for peace in Iraq outside the Phila. Federal Building , 6th & Market Sts. The next vigil is July 23. Call 215-426-0364.

36] – Each Wednesday in clear weather, there is a peace vigil from 5 to 6 PM outside the Unitarian Society of Germantown, 6511 Lincoln Drive (between Wayne & Hortter) in West Mount Airy, PA. The next vigil is July 23. Call 215-843-4256 or email nwgreens@yahoo.com.

37] – Each Wednesday, there is a peace vigil from 7 to 8 PM outside the Borders Book Store, Germantown Ave. at Bethlehem Pike in Chestnut Hill , PA. The next vigil is July 23. Call 215-843-4256 or email nwgreens@yahoo.com.

38] – On Thurs., July 24, the WEEKLY ROUNDTABLE SEEKING A JUST PEACE IN PALESTINE/ISRAEL takes place from 12:30 - 1:30 PM at Potter's House, 1658 Columbia Road NW, WDC. Join a civil discourse which explores the history, issues, myths, realities, and truth of the conflict between Israel and Palestine . Contact Alice Azzouzi at 202-232-5483.

39] – Huichol Shaman from Mexico and Eastern Shore chief share their culture and wisdom alongside Native American drummers, dancers and musicians on Thurs., July 24 at the Baltimore American Indian Center. Songs on the Wind: from Mexico to Maryland begins with a 6 PM art reception, and continues with a 7 PM dinner and a 8 PM performance at the Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore 21224. Call 410-276-1651 or go to www.creativealliance.org. Tickets for the performance are $13 and $11 for members, students and seniors. Dinner is a separate purchase.

40] – The next meeting of the Baltimore Coalition Against the Death Penalty will be Thurs., July 24 at 7 PM at St. John’s, 27^th & St. Paul. This will be a workshop to prepare for the upcoming hearings called by the commission to study the state’s death penalty. Call 410-488-6767 or 443-838-3221.

41] – Join the Takoma Park peace vigil, which takes place the last Friday of the month from 5 to 6 PM at Takoma Junction (Rte. 410 and Carroll Ave. ). The next vigil to end occupation in Iraq , Palestine and the White House will be July 25. Call 301-589-5410 or go to www.Tpkids4peace.org.

42] – Westminster WIB holds a vigil the last Saturday of the month. On July 25 meet at 2 PM in front of the library on Main St. Please wear black, everyone welcome at all stands, signs provided. Contact wibwestminster@mizmail.com

43] – Vigil at the Pentagon, last Monday of the month, 7 to 8 AM at the entrance to the Pentagon Metro Station. The next vigil will be July 28. Dorothy Day Catholic Worker can be reached at 202-882-9649.

44] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore hosts an End the War! End the Occupation! rally on Thurs., Aug. 7 starting at 5 PM in Mount Vernon at Centre & Charles Sts. The Pledge gathers in Mount Vernon on the first Thursday of the month to protest the war. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

45] – The 24th annual Maryland Peace and Justice conference has been set for April 4, 2009 at the Church of the Resurrection in Burtonsville, MD, easily accessible off of Rt. 29. Please put the date on your calendar and try not to schedule any other major events on that day. Thanks so much for your cooperation, and the organizers hope to see you there! Call Paulette at 410-747-3811.

46] – WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER signs from Friends Committee on National Legislation are again for sale at $5. To purchase a sign, call Max at 410-366-1637.

47] – Displaced Films produced SIR, N0 SIR which told the story of the GI resistance movement against the war in Vietnam . Now that company is working with Northern Light Productions to produce the only documentary film that will be made about the historic Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan/Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations held outside of Washington , DC , March 13-16. To make a donation to this film, click here: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=24841.

48] – MJ and Jerry Parks will be holding area summer peace camps again this year. The Parks have trained thousands of children and adults since 1981 when they founded Little Friends for Peace to teach non-violence skills to children. So if you know of any children who might benefit from a camp, or if you are an adult interested in sharing your peace story with a group of campers this year, contact MJ and Jerry. Climb aboard the Peace Train at http://www.lffp.org/. They can be reached at 4405 29th St., Mt. Rainier MD 20712. Call 240-838-4549 or email mjpeace@gmail.com.

49] – Become an active member of the Washington Peace Center , which is now located at 1233 12th St. NW . All members are granted voting rights and are invited to join one or more of our many working groups. Members are asked to pay suggested annual dues of 25 dollars, or volunteer. Email wpc@igc.org - subject "membership.” The mailing address is The Washington Peace Center, P.O. Box 50032 , WDC 20019-0032 . Call 202-234-2000. Subscribe at www.washingtonpeacecenter.org. Send donations to The Washington Peace Center.

50] – The Hunger Site was initiated by Mercy Corps and Second Harvest, and is funded entirely by advertisers. You can go there every day and click the big yellow "Give Food for Free" button near the top of the page; you do not have to look at the ads. Each click generates funding for about 1.1 cups of food. So consider clicking.

51] – Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil takes place every day in Lafayette Park, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 24 hours a day, since June 3, 1981. Go to http://prop1.org; call 202-682-4282.

Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 East 25^th St. Baltimore , MD 21218 Ph: 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski [at] Verizon.net.

"One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the US around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better" - Daniel Berrigan