Baltimore Activist Alert June 15 – June 21, 2012


"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.

Tune into the Maryland Progressive Blog at http://mdprogblog.org.

1] Books, buttons and stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists

4] Buy coffee through HoCoFoLA

5] Baltimore 500 -- through June 30

6] White House vigil – June 15

7] WIB Inner Harbor vigil – June 15

8] WIB Roland Park vigil – June 15

9] Justice for Palestine/Israel vigil – June 15

10] Silent peace vigil – June 15

11] SPCA benefit – June 15

12] Sounds of Hope – June 15

13] Cuban Five – June 15

15] Ballroom dancing – June 15

16] Virginia’s death penalty -- June 16

17] Solar Flare – June 16

18] Foreclosure Conference – June 16

19] K9 – 9K benefit – June 16

20] Olney peace vigil – June 16

21] Support Marriage Equality – June 16 & 17

22] West Chester, PA demo – June 16

23] Statehood Summit – June 16

23] Silent vigil at Capitol – June 16

23] WIB Inner Harbor vigil – June 16

24] WIB Roland Park vigil – June 16

25] Justice for Palestine/Israel vigil – June 16

26] Party Under the Stars – June 16

27] Final Exit – June 17

24] WIB Roland Park vigil – June 16

28] Justice for Palestine/Israel vigil – June 16

29] Party Under the Stars – June 16

30] Final Exit – June 17

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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available. “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers are in stock. Donate your books to Max. Call him 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. The White House Comment Email is accessible at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.



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] – You can help safeguard human rights and fragile ecosystems through your purchase of HOCOFOLA Café Quetzal. Bags of ground coffee or whole beans can be ordered by mailing in an order form. Also note organic cocoa and sugar are for sale. For more details and to download the order form, go to http://friendsoflatinamerica.typepad.com/hocofola/2010/02/hocofola-cafe-quetzal-order-form-2010.html. The coffee comes in one-pound bags.



Fill out the form and mail it with a check made out to HOCOFOLA on or before the second week of the month. Be sure you indicate ground or beans for each type of coffee ordered. Send it to Adela Hirsch, 5358 Eliots Oak Rd., Columbia, MD 21044. Be sure you indicate ground (G) or bean (B) for each type of coffee ordered. The coffee will arrive some time the following week and you will be notified where to pick it up. Contact Adela at 410-997-5662 or via e-mail at adela4peace@verizon.net.



5] – Baltimore 500: A Race to Save Lives is an effort organized by the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, 301 Stockholm St., Baltimore Humane Society, 1601 Nicodemus Road, and Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Road. During the month of June, the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Humane Society, and Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) will waive their adoption fees for cats and kittens. Their goal is to find homes for 500 cats and kittens throughout the month. Call 410-833-8848 or go to http://www.baltimorehumane.org.

6] – A peace vigil takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at Lafayette Park facing the White House. Join the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker and friends. Contact Art Laffin: artlaffin@hotmail.com.

7] – Every Friday from noon to 1 PM, Women in Black, Baltimore, host a vigil at Pratt and Light Sts. in the Inner Harbor. Peace signs will be available. See http://www.peacepath911.com/ or write wibbaltimore@hotmail.com or call 410-467-9114.

8] – There is also a noon vigil on June 15 at Roland Park Place at 830 W. 40th St. Call 410-467-9114.

9] – A vigil for Justice in Palestine/Israel (now in its 8th year) takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at 19th & JFK Blvd., Philadelphia (across from Israeli Consulate. It is sponsored by Bubbies & Zaydes (Grandparents) for Peace in the Middle East. Email cswartz@pil.net. Go to http://phillyjewishpeace.org/.

10] – There is a silent vigil on Fri., June 15 from 5 to 6 PM outside of Homewood Friends Meeting, 3107 N. Charles St., in opposition to war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. Placards say: "War Is Not the Answer." The silent vigil is sponsored by AFSC, Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings.

11] – There is a Wine and Wag Happy Hour hosted by the Maryland SPCA to benefit the homeless pets in its adoption center. The event will include drinks, appetizers, and tours of the adoption center, as well as activities for dogs, including paw painting and bobbing for hot dogs. Attendees may bring one dog per person; dogs must be kept on a leash except when within the play runs. The event takes place on Fri., June 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Road. Call 410-235-8826 or go to http://www.mdspca.org. The price is $10 in advance, $15 at the event.

12] – On Fridays, from 7 to 10:30 PM at the Potter's House, 1658 Columbia Rd. NW, WDC 20009, enjoy the Sounds of Hope is Good Music, Good Food, for a Good Cause! Go to www.reverbnation.com/venue/soundsofhope. Contact Mary Shapiro, Sounds of Hope producer, at

soundsofhopebooking@gmail.com or 202-294-2906.

13] – The Cuban Five: Who They Are, Why They Were Framed,Why They Should Be Free is a talk on Fri., June 15 at 7:30 PM at 143 Kennedy St. NW, Suite 15, WDC. Since Cuba underwent a Communist revolution in the late 1950s the United States has been dedicated to terrorizing and alienating the country. A major event in US-Cuba relations following the Cuban revolution was the arrest of The Cuban Five (Five Cuban Nationals accused of espionage by the US). Panelists include Kamau Benjamin-DC Metro Coalition to Free The Cuban Five, Cindy Zavala-Latin American Student Organization at AU, Sonia Umanzor-Takoma Park Coalition to Free the Five, and Omari Musa, Socialist Workers Party. Call 202-536-5080.

14] – 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 June 8. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

15] – On Sat., June 16 from 8 AM to 1 PM at All Saints Catholic Church, 9300 Stonewall Road, Manassas, VA, take a look Inside the Human Costs in Light of Catholic Teaching of Virginia’s Death Penalty: the Law, the Process, the Victims. The keynote address will be by Michael Stone, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. There will be a panel discussion with Stephen Northup, Virginians for Alternatives to the Penalty; Jerry Givens, former chief executioner, Virginia, Linell Patterson, daughter of a murder victim and Terri Steinberg, mother of a death row inmate. RSVP to Marisa Vertrees at mvertrees@stcharleschurch.org or 703-527-5500 ext. 24.

16] – DC Solar Flare is happening on Sat., June 16 from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at HD Woodson Senior High School, 540 55th St. NE. Visit booths of over 60 exhibitors. Vendors include local solar installers and green business owners who can help you green your home. There will also be community groups and representatives from a number of DC government offices. Hear from over 20 speakers and panel participants about a variety of topics. Panels discussions include how to go solar, bringing green jobs to our communities, and how solar can help address challenges in our communities. Apostle Stephen E. Young Sr. and Tyrell Holcomb of Holy Christian House of Praise for All People will be giving the Keynote Speech on “Powering our Future for our Community.” VISIT www.dcsolarflare.com .

17] – Elijah Cummings' Foreclosure Prevention Workshop is on Sat., June 16 from 9 AM to 3 PM at Woodlawn High School, 1801 Woodlawn Dr., Gwynn Oak, Maryland 21207. More information and registration available at www.cummings.house.gov. This event will assist homeowners delinquent on their mortgages or facing potential foreclosure in getting the information and resources they need to save their homes. Homeowners who attend the event will receive free loan counseling, learn about refinancing options, and have the opportunity to meet with HUD approved housing counselors, attorneys and mortgage lenders.



18] – On Sat., June 16 from 9:30 AM to 2 PM, the Marshall Legacy Institute's K9-9K Walkathon will take place through the 87-acre campus of Glenelg Country School, 12793 Folly Quarter Road, and showcase a demonstration from Mine Detection Dog Utsi, who uses her keen sense of smell to sniff out land mines and save lives. The event will also include fare from local restaurants, raffles, games, canine agility courses, canine massage therapy, and more. All proceeds will go toward sponsoring a life-saving dog that will sniff out land mines in Angola, Africa. Go to http://www.glenelg.org. Registration includes a t-shirt; the cost for students is $15, adults $25, and children, 5 years old and younger get in free.



19] – Friends House, 17715 Meeting House Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860, hosts a peace vigil every Saturday, 10:30 to 11:30 AM, on the corner of Rt. 108 and Georgia Ave. in Olney, MD. The next vigil is June 16. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167.



20] – The Human Rights Campaign and Marylanders for Marriage Equality are ramping up efforts to talk to supporters across the state. The new marriage law doesn't go into effect until next year, and only if the voters decide to uphold it in November. HRC is sponsoring a Frederick Canvass on Saturdays from 11 AM to 1 PM at the corner of E. Patrick St & N Market St., Frederick, Maryland 21701. RSVP at manley@mdfme.org. HRC [field@hrc.org] is sponsoring an Annapolis Canvass on Sundays from 2 to 4 PM in the UUCA Parking Lot, 333 Dubois Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. RSVP at manley@mdfme.org.



21] – 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. Go to www.ccpeace.org. Email ccpeacemovement@aol.com.

22] – The DC Statehood Summit is on Sat., June 16 from 11 AM to 2 PM at Howard U., Blackburn Center, 2397 6th St. NW. There will be information on DC history, the ongoing efforts for equal rights in DC and why statehood will change life in DC for the better! Join elected officials, educators, activists and your friends and neighbors and add your voice to ways to make DC statehood a reality! And a little music and poetry will add some “flava” to the day! Light Lunch Provided! Email billmosley@comcast.net .

23] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., June 9. 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.

24] – A DC Labor Walking Tour will be happening on Sat., June 16 from 1 to 3 PM at Columbus Circle, across from Union Station, WDC. From the Labor Hall of Fame to Joe Hill’s ashes, worker history is around just about every corner in the nation’s capital, if you know where to look. This 2-hour walking tour will reveal labor’s often-untold story of protest and resistance. Metro Washington Council Union Cities Coordinator Chris Garlock - who usually helps local and national activists make history on DC’s streets - leads the tour. Contact Lillian at 202-543-1542 or Lillian@dcjwj.org.

25] – See the film "Race to Execution" on Sat., June 16 from 2 to 4 PM at Sankofa Video, Books & cafe, 2714 Georgia Ave. NW. After the film, there will be a discussion of the Troy Davis case with Davis' post conviction lawyer, Thomas Ruffin. The rising incarceration rate of people of color coupled with the growing privitazation of the US prison system makes the event a must see. Call 202-234-4755 or www.sankofa.com.

26] – There is a reception with the LGBT Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly, pro-equality champions, and you on Sat., June 16 from 2 to 4 PM at the City Café, 1001 Cathedral St., Baltimore 21201. Email director@NewWaysMinistry.org for ticket info.

27] – March With ANSWER Baltimore at Pride 2012 on Sat., June 16. The parade steps off at 4 PM from the corners of Monument and Charles Sts. in Mount Vernon. Meet at 3:30 PM on Charles St. between W. Centre and W. Franklin Sts. ANSWER is Group F, Spot.68. March with progressive banners and signs defending same-sex marriage in Maryland and for LGBT equality. Email baltimore@answercoalition.org with "Baltimore Pride" in the subject line. Call 443-759-9968.

28] – A Night for Palestine occurs on Sat., June 16 from 7:30 to 10 PM at Busboys & Poets, Loft, 1025 K St. (5th &K). Join US Palestinian Community Network and meet representatives from other US cities. There will be guest speakers, and a report by Philip Farah who recently co-led Interfaith Peace Builders 40th delegation to the holy land. Enjoy a musical performance by Shawkat Sayyad. A $10 donation will help support the work of US Palestinian Community Network. Visit www.uspcn.org.

29] – Party Under the Stars on Sat., June 16 at 10 PM at the Magnum House, 707 Ingraham St. NW. The Magnum House will provide food and drink and music. This is a fundraiser for the Washington Peace Center and the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES). There’s a $10-20 sliding scale at the door. The Peace Center is a local DC grassroots organization, working for peace and justice since 1963 (about to celebrate 50 years!) and CISPES has been a great model of long-haul solidarity work for over 32 years. Email info@washingtonpeacecenter.org.

30] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. On Sun., June 17, the topic is “Final Exit Explained” by Em Sabatiuk. Final Exit is a group that emerged in 2004 from the Hemlock Society with its primary mission being to serve U.S. residents who suffer intolerable medical circumstances, are mentally competent, want to end their lives, and meet the criteria established by Final Exit. Sabatiuk, one of a group of seniors with the all-volunteer Final Exit and a BES member, will explore the purposes and procedures of the organization and answer questions about its mission and criteria. Call 410-581-2322 or visit www.baltimoreethicalsociety.org.



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. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/



"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