Baltimore Activist Alert - Part 1

Baltimore Activist Alert Aug. 28, 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] Sound system and generator for sale at AFSC

6] Volunteer with StopSlotsMaryland

7] Looking for a venue to host Hiroshima exhibit in October

8] Matt Hold can archive your files

9] Donate—Norma Rae has cancer

10] Documentary THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR – Aug. 28

11] HeathCare Now meeting – Aug. 28

12] Play TRUMBO – through Sept. 28

13] Katrina Rally – Aug. 29

14] Protest WYPR management – Aug. 29 - ?

15] WIB Inner Harbor peace vigil – Aug. 29

16] WIB Roland Park vigil – Aug. 29

17] White House vigil – Aug. 29

18] Silent vigil at Homewood Friends – Aug. 29

19] Takoma Park peace vigil – Aug. 29

20] Honk Against the War – Aug. 29

21] UFPJ launch event -- Aug. 29

22] Vigil at Walter Reed – Aug. 29

23] Film MANDABI – Aug. 29

24] Ballroom dancing – Aug. 29

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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] – AFSC-Baltimore is selling its large sound system and a generator for the best offer. If interested, call Lynnette at 410-323-4200.

6] – StopSlotsMaryland has two booths at the state fair - and needs even more volunteers to staff the booths. Contact Aaron Meisner at AWMeisner@gmail.com or 410-963-7718 if you can volunteer some hours.

7] – The Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation is looking for a group to sponsor a visit by its chairperson, Steve Leeper, and a Hibakusha (a-bomb survivor) in late October and early November. There still exist over 20,000 nuclear weapons worldwide, so this visit with its A-bomb exhibit would be an opportunity to educate the broader community. Contact Max at 410-366-1637.

The Peace Memorial Museum is working with Leeper on the A-bomb exhibition project in the USA . It is hoping that an exhibition, which would consist of a poster exhibition, could be set up in the Baltimore area between Oct. 27 and Oct. 30. Please let Max know if you can get involved in this project.

8] – Matt Hood is a UMBC student in need of an internship to complete his public history certificate requirements. If your group needs someone to do history-based work- establishing archives, writing group histories, creating exhibits, etc, he will do it for free. Call Matt at 410-530-0141 or email him at matthew.j.hood@gmail.com.

9] – Crystal Lee Sutton was a champion of workers’ rights and the union movement that led to victory in Roanoke Rapids, and an eventual contract with J.P. Stevens after a 10-year boycott, and inspired the Hollywood blockbuster and Oscar winning film of 1979, NORMA RAE. Sutton, now living in Burlington, NC, has Meniginoma, a usually benign cancer that, unfortunately for her, is life threatening. After initially being denied coverage by her insurance company for life saving treatment, Sutton is now on drug and chemo therapies and has undergone two surgeries. Her husband of 30 years, Lewis Sutton, Jr is working two jobs to afford her medical care. You can make a contribution to Crystal ’s medical fund at Crystal Lee Sutton Foundation, Truliant Federal Credit, P.O. Box 26000 , Winston-Salem , NC 27114 .

10] – THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR will be shown at UUCA, 4444 Arlington Blvd. in Arlington, VA at 7 PM on Thurs., Aug. 28. In this feature-length documentary, filmmaker Terry Benedict relates the true story of Desmond Doss, a World War II soldier who refused to take up arms against others and yet found himself wearing the Congressional Medal of Honor. A discussion afterwards will include a conscientious objector from the Iraq War, Nate Wildermuth!

11] – Healthcare-Now of Maryland (formerly UHCAN of Md.), working for single-payer universal healthcare, meets Thurs., Aug 28 at 7:15 PM at the Diocesan Center of Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, 4 E. University Pkwy. Members, friends, newcomers all welcome. Call 410-235-3504

12] – The REP Stage is offering TRUMBO: RED, WHITE & BLACKLISTED about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who stood up to the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. Christopher Trumbo, Dalton’s son, is the play’s author, Steven Carpenter directs and Helen Hayes Award winner Nigel Reed stars.

The play will run until Sun., Sept. 28 in the Studio Theatre on the Howard Community College campus, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia . Shows are 7:30 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 PM on Fridays, 2:30 & 8 PM on Saturdays and 2:30 PM on Sundays. Tickets are $15 to $25. Call 410-772-4900 or go to www.repstage.org.

13] – There will be a Katrina Rally at FEMA Headquarters, 5th & C Sts. SW on Fri., Aug. 29 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Stand with survivors on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Email awillis@onedconline.org.

14] – 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.

15] – Women In Black sponsor a peace stand/vigil on Fri., Aug. 29 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.

16] – There is also a noon vigil on Fri., Aug. 29 at Roland Park Place at 830 W. 40th St . Call 410-467-9114.

17] – 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.

18] – There is a silent vigil on Fri., Aug. 29 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.

19] – 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 Aug. 29. Call 301-589-5410 or go to www.Tpkids4peace.org.

20] – Join the Brandywine Peace Community on Fri., Aug. 29, always the final Friday of the month, in a peace vigil that will include a call for No War on Iran! Honk against the war from 5 to 6 PM at Broad and Arch Sts. in Philadelphia . Call 610-544-1818.

21] – You are invited to the launch event of the Washington, DC Chapter of UFPJ on Fri., Aug. 29 from 6 to 8 PM at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St., NW, WDC. The speakers will include Phyllis Bennis, Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies, Andy Shallal, founder Iraqi Voices for Peace, Omar Masri, National Membership & Outreach Coordinator, U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, and Judith Orr, editor, Socialist Review. Contact Virginia Rodino at 202-465-0918 or virginia.rodino@gmail.com.

22] – 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.

23] – Maryland Friends of the People's Weekly World is MANDABI on Fri., Aug. 29 at 7:30 PM sharp at 810 Winston Ave. in Govans. Come at 7 PM to socialize and enjoy refreshments and stay for a short discussion afterwards.

In the film, a man's life is thrown into utter chaos by the simple act of going to the bank in Ousmane Sembene's amusing tale. Down-and-out Ibramim (Makhouredia Gueye) receives some much-needed financial aid from his nephew, but hits one bureaucratic roadblock after another as he tries to convert the money order to cash. Ibrahim wrangles with ridiculous rules, corrupt officials and crazy relatives, unaware that his nephew is purposely causing his problems.

A hat will be passed to raise funds for the 2008 People's Weekly World fund drive. RSVP at 410 433-3269.

24] – 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 Aug. 29. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

To be continued

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center , 325 E. 25th St. , Baltimore , MD 21218 . Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs