52] Support Bradley Manning – June 26
53] Support Is Needed for a Living Wage – June 26
54] Support of Victims of Torture – June 26
55] Help Win D.C. Statehood – June 26 through July 7
56] Support Is Needed for a Living Wage – June 26
57] Book talk “We Created Chavez – June 26
58] "U.S.-Iran Cultural Engagement” – June 27
59] "Give Peace a Chance: Preventing Mass Violence” – June 27
60] I’ll Be There Awards – June 27
61] Raise Maryland Planning Meeting Help Win D.C. Statehood – June 27 through July 7
62] Dinner with PNHP President Dr. Andrew Coates – June 27
63] 35th Annual Great Labor Arts Exchange – June 28 - 30
64] PROTEST US KILLER DRONES – June 29
65] Max is seeking a place to live after June 30
66] Support the Transform Now Plowshares
67] Drones Quilt Project
68] Support Red Emma’s in its move
69] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
70] Join Fund Our Communities
71] Submit articles to Indypendent Reader
72] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
73] Do you need any book shelves or file cabinets?
74] Join Global Zero campaign
75] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale
76] Fire & Faith
77] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
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52] – Vigil at Bradley Manning Trial at Ft. Meade on Wed., June 26 from 7 to 8 AM Hwy. 175 (Annapolis Rd.) & Reece Rd. Bradley is on trial after exposing war crimes in the Middle East and other government misconduct around the world. The outcome of the trial, which began on June 3, will affect the future of American journalism and whistleblowing. The trial is expected to last until August. Attend one or more days- this will be a weekly event. Email emma@bradleymanning.org or for help with transportation call 202-704-3943.
53] – Support Is Needed for a Living Wage for D.C. Retail Workers is taking place on Wed., June 26 at 10 AM at Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Room 500. The D.C. Council will vote on the Large Retailer Accountability Act, which will require large, wealthy retailers to pay a living wage to their employees in D.C. Corporate and business interests have been at the council every day trying to get elected officials to go against the best interests of DC residents. This bill is specifically targeted at retailers that are large and wealthy enough to be able to afford to pay a higher wage, putting more money in the pockets of D.C. workers, boosting the economy by giving them more spending money, and allowing them to get off of public assistance. Email organizer@respectdc.org.
54] – The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is on Wed., June 26 from 11 AM to 2 PM at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Participate in a nonviolent direct action at The White House in support of the Victims of Torture. Get in touch with organizers at https://www.facebook.com/OccupyWDC. Stand in solidarity with the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Be part of a demonstration of 86 people dressed in orange jumpsuits wearing the names of the prisoners cleared for release. Sign up to participate in the rolling fast at www.closegitmo.net. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/374018799365796/.
The message "Close Guantanamo NOW" is more relevant than ever. It's not enough that 86 men are still being held in Guantanamo who have been cleared for release. Now on Day 135 of their hunger strike many of the men are being force fed. Using the only means of resistance they have, the hunger strike, the men are not being allowed even this! Join the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on Wed., June 26 from noon to 2 PM at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. There can be No More Excuses on Guantánamo. We will be judged by our actions, not our speeches. There will be orange jumpsuits for participants and signs bearing the names of each of the 86 men who have been cleared for release, but are still being held. Also there will be opportunities to participate in nonviolent resistance led by solidarity hunger strikers. Email witnesstorture@gmail.com if you are considering participating in nonviolent resistance. Meet at 9 AM on June 26 at St. Stephens, 1525 Newton St NW, WDC 20010 to make final plans.
55] – Help Win D.C. Statehood – Volunteer for the D.C. Statehood Survey Campaign on Wed., June 26 at 6 PM through Sun., July 7 at 6 PM on the National Mall (get in touch for exact location). Become a volunteer in the Statehood Survey Campaign being organized by the Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition, better known as “FREE DC.” You’ll ask visitors to DC about their views on Statehood and help dispel myths standing in the way of full citizenship for DC residents. To volunteer, contact Stand Up! at 202-232-2500 or StandUp_FreeDC@yahoo.com.
56] – Empower DC Empowerment Circle is happening on Wed., June 26 at 6:30 at Empower DC Office, 1419 V St. NW. Discuss and evaluate the 7 education bills Councilmember Catania has introduced to “reform” public education in the city. Come learn more about the bills, share your thoughts with others and put together a plan for the hearing date! Call 202-234-9119 xt. 104 or email Daniel@empowerdc.org.
57] – A book talk “We Created Chavez: A People's History of the Venezuelan Revolution” is on Wed., June 26 from 6:30 to 8 PM at Busboys and Poets, 14th and K Sts. NW. It provides a systematic, bottom-up approach to Venezuelan politics from 1958 to the present, offers a much-needed new perspective on Hugo Chavez's rise to power. The Institute for Policy Studies joins with Teaching for Change's Bookstore for a discussion and book signing with George Ciccariello-Maher. Visit http://www.ips-dc.org/events/author_event_we_created_chavez_a_peoples_history_of_the_venezuelan_revolution.
58] – On Thurs., June 27 from 9:30 to 11 AM, Ramin Asgard, former Foreign Service officer, Glenn Schweitzer, National Academy of Sciences, and Morad Ghorban, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, will discuss "U.S.-Iran Cultural Engagement: A Cost Effective Boon to U.S. National Security" at the Atlantic Council, 1101 15th St. NW, 11th Floor, WDC. RSVP at southasia@acus.org.
59] – On Thurs., June 27 11:30 AM, former Sen. Richard Lugar (IN) and David Hamburg, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), take on "Give Peace a Chance: Preventing Mass Violence" at the AAAS, Second Floor Auditorium, 1200 New York Ave. NW, WDC 20005. RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Gh1EUmxxMajUQbSir_lWGei3SfMVFDgZPOPaG7_eIg4/viewform?pli=1.
60] – The 11th Annual DC Jobs with Justice I’ll Be There Awards will be happening on Thurs., June 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the AFL-CIO Samuel Gompers Room, 815 16th St. NW. This year the honorees will be Ann Hoffman, Rabbi Bob Saks, the DC Employment Justice Center, and the George Washington University Progressive Student Union. Contact DC JwJ executive director, Nikki Lewis, at 202-543-1541 or Nikki@dcjwj.org.
61] – There is a Raise Maryland Planning Meeting! with Jews United for Justice on Thurs., June 27 at 7 PM at the Takoma Park Library. JUFJ will be working to raise the state's minimum wage to $10.10. Attend the first campaign planning meeting to learn more about JUFJ's role in this campaign and how you can be a leader! Email katie@jufj.org. RSVP at http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5483/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=67231.
62] – You are invited to a dinner with PNHP President Dr. Andrew Coates, M.D., F.A.C.P., in support of Maryland's Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign. The dinner will be at the AIDA Bistro, 6741 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, on Thurs., June 27, starting at 7 PM. The cost is $35 per person.
If you would like to attend the dinner, send notice to hchrmaryland@gmail.com. In a recent article, "Caregiving as Humankind's Shared Project," Dr. Coates, an Albany, N.Y.-based internist, writes, "Every effort to turn caregiving into a marketplace transaction does indeed demean us – not just we doctors and our patients, but all of us." Go to www.MDSinglePayer.org.
63] – The 35th Annual Great Labor Arts Exchange will occur on Fri., June 28 (all day) through Sun., June 30 (all day) at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights, MD. Go to www.laborheritage.org or call 202-639-6204. The Exchange is a gathering of union and community activists, rank and filers, organizers, cultural workers, artists labor educators, and youth.
64] – CODEPINK will be joining the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance at the Central Intelligence Agency to seek a much hoped upon meeting with Director John Brennan regarding his and his federal agency's criminal involvement with the use of the killer drones upon Pakistani, Yemeni, and other nationals. Because of our responsibilities under international law and treaties now a part of our US law we will seek accountability for the war crimes committed by the US killer drone strikes.
On Sat., June 29 at 3 PM, PROTEST US KILLER DRONES at CIA Headquarters, 900 block of Dolley Madison Blvd., Langley, VA. As of January 2013, the United Nations has launched a special investigation into the US killer drone program. Leading the UN investigation is Ben Emmerson, the UN rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights. He said "The exponential rise in the use of drone technology in a variety of military and non-military contexts represents a real challenge to the framework of established international law." The US Military & Central Intelligence Agency drones have maimed & killed thousands in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, & Pakistan without charge, trial or conviction of crime. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reports on estimates up to 3461 people killed and 891 injured in Pakistan, in Yemen 1112 killed and 178 injured in these two countries alone by CIA drone strikes. US killer drone strikes are illegal, immoral, and must stop now! The vigil and letter delivery is organized by the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance. Email Max at mobuszewski at verizon dot net.
65] – Max is seeking a place to live. Let him know of any possibilities. He can be reached at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.dot net.
66] – You can support the Transform Now Plowshares resisters by writing the judge and the prisoners. Greg Boertje-Obed, Michael Walli and Megan Rice are currently in the Irwin County Detention Facility in Ocilla, GA, awaiting their sentencing on September 23, 2013. The three were found guilty by a jury in Tennessee in May on two counts. Judge Amul Thapar revoked their pre-trial release saying they were technically guilty of a crime of violence and must be held.
Here are the addresses: Gregory Boertje-Obed 22090 Irwin County Detention Center 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774 ***Michael Walli 4444, Irwin County Detention Center, 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774. Megan Rice 22100, Irwin County Detention Center, 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774. You must make sure to include your entire return address on the outside of the envelope. No staples or paperclips can be included in your mail; no oversized envelopes. Magazines and books must be sent directly from the publisher or bookstore/Amazon. Photocopies of brief articles are likely to be permitted (based on our past experience). If you include inappropriate material or fail to comply with these rules, your mail will not get through—it will be returned to you.
The second thing you can do is send a letter to Judge Thapar. We have suggested guidelines for your letter, and we are asking people to send their letter to Bill Quigley, lawyer for Mike Walli (address below), so they can be collected and delivered to the judge. If you want to send a copy of your letter to us, that would be great—our address is also below. Invite Judge Thapar to think about sentencing in light of the fact that this was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience intended to awaken the conscience of the nation, and no evidence was presented that it was an act of terrorism meant to harm anyone. You could write that you share the court's concern that Congress would write a law that wouldn’t allow a judge to distinguish between peace activists and terrorists, and are disturbed that the government defines the crime they stand convicted of as a violent "crime of terrorism.” As testimony of the defendants showed during trial, they carried out their action in a spirit of nonviolence and hope. Without making it the focus of the letter, you could mention that the action was carried out with the clear understanding of the illegality and immorality of nuclear weapons, and intent to uphold higher laws. Encourage him to consider downward departures from the high guidelines for the charges, and to use his discretion at sentencing to bring more justice into the situation by recognizing that the defendants are NOT violent terrorists as the government has implied through its interpretation of the crime; and remind him of the intentions of the three nonviolent activists: to follow the words of the prophet Isaiah to beat swords into plowshares, and build a safer and more secure world for all. Our purpose with these letters is not to reargue the case, nor is it to condemn nuclear weapons production—the judge is not engaging those issues at this time. Our purpose is to address the legal system’s distortion of the nonviolent action of the TNP resisters and to provide support to the judge for a sentencing decision that takes into account the nature of their action and their nonviolent behavior throughout their action.
Letters should be sent to US District Judge Amul R Thapar, c/o Professor Bill Quigley, Loyola Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, 7214 St. Charles Ave., Campus Box 902, New Orleans, LA 70118. If you care to send a copy to OREPA that would also be appreciated--orep@earthlink.net or OREPA, PO Box 5743, Oak Ridge, TN 37831.
67] – The launch of the website to support the U.S. version of the Drones Quilt Project was developed to memorialize the victims of U.S. combat drone strikes. Leah Bolger has about 185 names, and at present there are over 40 completed blocks. Soon the blocks will be sown together to create panels of quilt blocks. She will create educational information about killer drones to accompany the quilts as part of a traveling exhibit. To support the project visit www.dronesquiltproject.wordpress.com. The completed blocks are shown on the web site. The web site also contains information about creating a block, anti-drone resources and endorsing organizations. Follow the project on Twitter: @dronesproject.
68] – Red Emma's has closed the location at 800 St. Paul St., and is reopening in a much larger new space on North Avenue in the fall. The collective is seeking your help. It's time to reinvent the project started in 2004 to build a self-sustaining progressive space in Baltimore, committed to providing a daily reminder that another world was possible and that there were people working in the city to build it. Here's how you can help: donate money, provide skilled help, and share these needs. Email john@redemmas.org or go to http://indiegogo.com/redemmas2.
69] – The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org.
70] – Fund Our Communities campaign is a grass roots movement to get support from local organizations and communities to work together with their local and state elected officials to pressure Congresspersons and senators to join with Congresspersons Barney Frank and Ron Paul, who have endorsed a 25% cut to the federal military budget. Bring home the savings to state and county governments to meet the local needs which are under tremendous budget pressures. Go to www.OurFunds.org.
71] – MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Baltimore's Indypendent Reader is looking for individuals interested in creating media - written, photo, audio, or video - that relates to issues like...economic justice, race, prisons & policing, environment, gender & sexuality, war & peace and more! If you would like to create social justice media, then email indypendentreader@gmail.com. Visit http://www.indyreader.org.
72] – If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.
73] – Can you use any book shelves? Can you use any file cabinets? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.
74] – Join an extraordinary global campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons: http://www.globalzero.org/sign-declaration. A growing group of leaders around the world is calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and a majority of the global public agrees. This is an historic window of opportunity. With momentum already building in favor of Zero, a major show of support from people around the world could tip the balance. When it comes to nuclear weapons, one is one too many.
75] – 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.
76] – Go online for FIRE AND FAITH: The Catonsville Nine File. On May 17, 1968, nine people entered the Selective Service Offices in Catonsville, Maryland, and burned draft records in protest against the war in Vietnam. View http://www.prattlibrary.org/digital/.
77] – 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.
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/.
"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
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