Baltimore Activist Alert - Aug. 21-22, 2013

Baltimore Activist Alert - Aug. 21-22, 2013 35] Speak with Afghan youth – Aug. 21 36] Support Bradley Manning – Aug. 21 37] Visit Rep. Sarbanes’ office – Aug. 21 38] Protest Bradley Manning’s sentence – Aug. 21 39] King's Unfulfilled Dream – Aug. 21 40] Praise and Worship Service – Aug. 21 41] Protest Bradley Manning’s sentence – Aug. 21 42] National Civic Leadership Training Conference – Aug. 22 43] Legacy of Women in the Civil Rights Movement – Aug. 22 44] Philip A. Randolph Institute National Conference – Aug. 22 45] Reflections on the March on Washington – Aug. 22 46] Pray for Peace – Aug. 22 47] Youth and women events on the 50th Anniversary of the March – Aug. 22 48] CodePink needs help 49] Max is seeking a place to live 50] Support the Transform Now Plowshares 51] Drones Quilt Project 52] Support Red Emma’s in its move 53] Sign up with Washington Peace Center 54] Join Fund Our Communities 55] Submit articles to Indypendent Reader 56] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records 57] Do you need any book shelves or file cabinets? 58] Join Global Zero campaign 59] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale 60] Fire & Faith 61] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil ------ 35] – On Wed., Aug. 21, the next monthly Global Day of Listening takes place with the Afghan Peace Volunteers and others. Go to http://globaldaysoflistening.org/. 36] – On Wed., Aug. 21 at 10 AM, Bradley Manning will be sentenced at Fort Meade. Contact mckee@bradleymanning.org or visit www.bradleymanning.org. 37] Visit Rep. Sarbanes’ office – Aug. 21 37] – As part of the national "Educate Congress" Campaign Letter Drops, on Wed., Aug. 21 at 4:30 PM, the Pledge of Resistance will go to Rep. John Sarbanes’ office, 600 Baltimore Ave., Suite 303, Baltimore, MD 21204. While inside, we will deliver a letter calling for a Robin Hood tax, job creation and Medicare for All. The letter also calls for an end to the use of killer drone strikes, which we believe to be illegal and unconstitutional. Let Max know if you can go to Sarbanes’ office--410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net. Are you a constituent? 38] – On Wednesday, August 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, the Baltimore Nonviolence Center will host a support demonstration for Bradley Manning at Centre and Charles Streets, Mount Vernon neighborhood in Baltimore. Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon dot net. There is also an emergency protest of Bradley Manning's sentence on Wed., Aug. 21 at 7:30 PM @ the White House. 39] – King's Unfulfilled Dream: Economic Inequality and the Working Poor is the topic of discussion on Wed., Aug. 21 from 6 to 8 PM at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW. Good Jobs Nations Presents: Close to the Eve of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington Jobs and Freedom March, there will be an event with Civil Rights veterans, workers and community leaders. They will have a robust discussion about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s views on job fairness and economic inequality, today's working poor, and highlight some solutions. See https://www.facebook.com/events/287400878069167/. 40] – On Wed., Aug. 21 from 7 to 8:30 PM, there is a Praise and Worship Service for the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington at Mt. Airy Baptist Church, 1100 N. Capitol St. NW, WDC 20002. This is hosted by the National African American Clergy Network, Sojourners, National Evangelical Association, and the Christian Community Development Association. Contact Barbarella Brown at barbarella.a.brown@gmail.com or 202-352-4956. 41] – On Wed., Aug. 21 at 7:30 PM, Demand President Obama Pardon Whistle-Blower Bradley Manning. Gather at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, (16th St. NW and H St. NW). At 8:30 PM, march to DuPont Circle. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/172893656228507/. The government asked Judge Denise Lind, to sentence Bradley to 60 years in military prison. Go to http://www.bradleymanning.org/. 42] – There is a National Civic Leadership Training Conference on Thurs., Aug. 22 from 9 AM to 5 PM at National Education Association, 1201 16th St. NW. It is hosted by the NCBCP Black Youth Vote!, NAACP, NEA, Generational Alliance, and NAN Youth Move. Celebrate the Legacy of Youth in the Movement. This is the 10th Annual National Civic Leadership Training Conference. Register at http://officialmlkdream50.com/august-22/. 43] – Celebrate the Legacy of Women in the Civil Rights Movement on Thurs., Aug. 22 from 10:30 AM to 1 PM at the Dorothy I. Height Building, 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. There is a Gospel luncheon and an intergenerational roundtable. See http://officialmlkdream50.com/august-22/. 44] – The 44th Annual Philip A. Randolph Institute National Conference is happening on Thurs., Aug. 22 from 2 to 6 PM at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW. Celebrate the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. Register at http://officialmlkdream50.com/august-22/. 45] – Catch the Reflections on the March on Washington and I Have a Dream Speech 50 Years Later on Thurs., Aug. 22 from 6 to 9 PM at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. This is a Conversation with Simeon Booker, author, “Shocking the Conscience.” Go to http://officialmlkdream50.com/august-22/. 46] – Pray for Peace on Thurs., August 22 at 7:30 PM at the Peace Chapel, Cathedral of the Incarnation, 4 East University Parkway. Contact Fr. Charles Cloughen, Jr. at frcharles@verizon.net or 410-321-0199. 47] – On Thurs., Aug. 22 join in events for youth and women on the 50th Anniversary of the March. See http://officialmlkdream50.com/august-22/ for information about these events. 48] – CODEPINK needs a new office and storage space! The group must vacate its current space by the end of August. Know of any office spaces? How about temporary space to store some of the supplies? The group is also looking for spare computers. Any help you can give is much appreciated. Contact tighecp@gmail.com. 49] – 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. 50] – 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. 51] – 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. 52] – 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. 53] – The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org. 54] – 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. 55] – 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. 56] – If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net. 57] – Can you use any book shelves? Can you use any file cabinets? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net. 58] – 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. 59] – 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. 60] – 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/. 61] – 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