Baltimore Activist Alert Aug. 24 – Aug. 26, 2013

Baltimore Activist Alert Aug. 24 – Aug. 30, 2013 "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 & stickers 2] Web site for info on federal legislation 3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists 4] Buy coffee through HoCoFoLa 5] BUILD's 35 Years of Organizing -- through Aug. 31 6] Created Equal exhibit – through Aug. 31 7] Wildlife Rescue exhibit – through Sept. 2 8] 50th Anniversary March on Washington – Aug, 24 9] United for Peace and Justice – Aug. 24 10] Arab American Institute – Aug. 24 11] PEOPLES POWER ASSEMBLY – Aug. 24 12] Program 9 AM to 4 PM – Aug. 24 13] Racial Disparity study – Aug. 24 14] Peace Action – Aug. 24 15] Fund Our Communities – Aug. 24 16] Progressive Maryland – Aug. 24 17] Clean Up Day – Aug. 24 18] Olney Peace vigil – Aug. 24 19] West Chester, PA demo – Aug. 24 20] Silent vigil at Capitol – Aug. 24 21] The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and the March on Washington, 1963 – Aug. 25 22] Baltimore Ethical Society – Aug. 25 23] Peace and Pancakes – Aug. 25 24] Gospel Brunch – Aug. 25 25] Celebrate Bayard Rustin – Aug. 25 26] Film "March on Washington” – Aug. 25 27] Drumming for Justice – Aug. 25 28] Soul Kitchen – Aug. 25 29] Pentagon Vigil – Aug. 26 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] – The Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Library, 400 Cathedral St., hosts an exhibit Learning, Listening, Leading: BUILD's 35 Years of Organizing in Baltimore City, which documents the achievements of BUILD, featuring the leaders who made these changes possible, through Sat., Aug. 31. Call 410-396-5430. Go to http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/central. 6] – Created Equal, an exhibit celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, is on display through Aug. 31 at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Library, 400 Cathedral St. Call 410- 396-5430 or go to http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/central. 7] – Wildlife Rescue is a new Maryland Science Center's travelling exhibit. It allows for experiment and exploration of the science of how we can save Earth's ecosystems. Visitors to the exhibit will be introduced to the rescue efforts used by experts, have a chance to experiment with puppets and costumes, and learn survival. The exhibit at the Science Center, 601 Light St., will continue through September 2. Call 410-685-5225 or go to http://www.mdsci.org. 8] – The 50th Anniversary March on Washington Realize the Dream March & Rally has a theme “Jobs, Justice and Freedom.” Buses will be leaving on Sat., Aug. 24 from West Baltimore but also from Govans Boundary United Methodist Church, 5210 York Road, at 7:30 AM, returning at 5 PM. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for youth and the unemployed. RSVP to Margaret Baldridge at mbaldridge@verizon.net. 9] – On Sat., Aug. 24 at 8 AM, United for Peace and Justice will be meeting at 14th St. and Constitution Ave., near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, between 21st and 22nd St. Email info.ufpj@gmail.com. The march will begin around 12:30 PM. 10] – The Arab American Institute will join hundreds of thousands of fellow citizens from across the country on the National Mall tomorrow to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's historic march on Washington. As a nation and as a community, we have come a long way over the past 50 years, but tomorrow’s march reminds us that there's much more to be done to fully realize the dream of equality, justice, and freedom that Dr. King devoted his life to. Whether we are combating profiling or advocating for voting rights, we stand as committed to the civil rights struggle today as we were 50 years ago. Contact Yasmine Taeb at 202-429-9210. Meet in front of the Federal Reserve on 20th and Constitution at 8 AM (closest Metro stops are Farragut West and Foggy Bottom). 11] – On Sat. Aug. 24 at the 50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOBS & FREEDOM MARCH ON WASHINGTON D.C., the Peoples Power Assembly will be a part of this historic day! Look for the 12 foot banner “Trayvon Martin Contingent -- STOP THE RACIST WAR ON YOUTH! JOBS NOT JAILS!” and the “BALTIMORE PEOPLES POWER ASSEMBLY” banner at 17TH St. & CONSTITUTION AVE. At 11 AM, this group will then proceed to the south side of the Lincoln Monument, near the Korean War Memorial at 23rd Street. Text or call 410-218-4835. The march will begin at noon. Participants will be leaving from the Solidarity Center, 2011 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218 at 8:30 AM sharp. The office will open at 8 A.M. If you need a seat or can drive your car or van please call 443-221-3775. It’s important to call and reserve your seat so that everyone is guaranteed a seat. Drivers will pass the hat for gas money and parking – but no one turned away for lack of funds. 12] – The official program starts at 9 am at the Lincoln Memorial. Check with groups you are associated with to see when are where the will be meeting downtown to march together to the Lincoln Memorial. Among the speakers and groups joining with Rev. Al Sharpton and National Action Network, and Martin Luther King, III are: the families of Trayvon Martin and Emmett Till; Congressman John Lewis; Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader; Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer; Randi Weingarten- President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Lee Saunders- President, AFSCME; Janet Murguia- President, The National Council of LaRAZA; Mary Kay Henry- International President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Dennis Van Roekel- President, National Education Association (NEA); and many others. 13] – Go to http://www.washlaw.org/news-a-media/312-racial-disparities-in-arrests-in-the-district-of-columbia-2009-2011. Get the word out about the racial disparity study and organize a grassroots response to it. On Sat., Aug. 24 at 9 AM at Farragut Square (17th & I Sts. NW -- Farragut West & Farragut North Metro), there will be a rally and 'feeder march' to highlight issues of racial profiling, police abuse, and mass incarceration in D.C. and around the country. Participants will include Etan Thomas (former Washington Wizard starting forward), Lawrence Hayes (ex-death row prisoner and civil rights activist) and many others. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/698692160157073/. 14] – On Sat., Aug. 24, Peace Action will join the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs, Justice and Freedom. You can march with the organization, the National Nurses United and Progressive Democrats of America. Gather at 9:30 AM at the Albert Einstein Memorial, corner of 22nd St. and Constitution Ave. NW. We march to honor the legacy of the Civil Rights movement and the prophetic vision of Dr Martin Luther King who linked the “the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism.” 15] – Join Fund Our Communities at 9:30 AM on Sat., Aug. 24, at the southwest corner of 14th St. NW and Constitution Ave. The closest Metro station to our meet-up location is Federal Triangle; Metro Center is about a half mile walk. 16] – To march with Progressive Maryland, meet the group at 10 AM on the west side of the Washington Monument. For BALTIMORE BUS INFO, call 410-539-6650. 17] – CLEAN-UP DAY at the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201, is on Sat., Aug. 24 from 10 AM to 4 PM. At the BES, they don't say that "cleanliness is next to godliness" but it sure is nice to see the building sparkle at the start of each season! Volunteer for the Clean Team! Cleaning supplies will be provided, along with breakfast treats and Kyro Pizza for lunch. 18] – 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. [Route 97] in Olney, MD. The next vigil is Aug. 24. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167. 19] – 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. 20] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Aug. 24. 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. 21] – See the Exhibit - Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and the March on Washington, 1963 at the National Museum of American History on Sun., Aug. 25 from 10:30 AM to 7 PM. 22] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 to noon. On Sun., Aug. 25 the platform address is “Multiple Perspectives on Baltimore Ethical Society” by Solana Craig, BES Sunday School Student. Solana will report on a survey she conducted this year of members of the Baltimore Ethical Society. Her survey focused on the concepts discussed at Sunday meetings, reasons for joining the society, and the perceived cultural and political influence of the society on Baltimore. She is entering the 8th Grade, and is the granddaughter of BES member Argentine Craig. Go to http://bmorethical.org/ or Twitter: @bmorethical or Facebook: http://fb.com/bmorethical/or email ask@bmorethical.org. 23] – Join the Kadampa Meditation Center for Peace and Pancakes on Sundays at 10:30 AM at KMC Maryland, 2937 North Charles St. All are invited to participate in guided meditation and chant praying for world peace. There will be a talk based on Buddhist thought followed by brunch. Call 410- 243-3837. Brunch is $5. 24] – "I Have a Dream" Gospel Brunch is happening on Sun., Aug. 25 at 11:30 AM at the Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC, 20004. The Willard’s Gospel Brunch features famed opera singer Denyce Graves. Dr. King put the finishing touches on the famous speech in his suite at the Willard Hotel the night before August 28, 1963. In addition to gospel and spiritual selections by Ms. Graves and the Voices of Worship choir, the program includes a dramatic reading from Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and stirring rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" - penned by poet Julia Ward Howe. Call 202-637-7350 for reservations. 25] – On Sun., Aug. 25 from 2 to 3 PM at Friends Meeting of Washington, 2111 Florida Ave. NW, WDC 20008-1912, above Dupont Circle, there is a Meeting for Worship to Celebrate Bayard Rustin, and showing of” Brother Outsider” - to celebrate the role of Friend Bayard Rustin in organizing the March on Washington 50 years ago. AFSC staffer Stephen McNeil will make a brief statement on the role of Rustin as an organizer and as a Quaker. At 3:30 PM, see the film and panel discussion afterwards with the audience including filmmaker Bennett Singer (schedule permitting), Mandy Carter (National Coordinator Bayard Rustin 2013 Commemoration Project National Black Justice Coalition), and David McReynolds (War Resisters League). Contact Stephen McNeil at SMcNeill@afsc.org or 415-350-9305. 26] – See the film "March on Washington: Through the Lens of Rowland Scherman" at the Newseum on Sun., Aug. 25 at 2:30 PM. 27] – The D.C. Host Committee presents the 50th Anniversary March on Washington, and is Calling All Drummers. DRUMMING FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM is happening on Sun., Aug. 25 at 3:30 PM at Malcolm X Park, 2400 15th St NW (off of 16th and Euclid St. NW). Dancers and supporters are invited to participate in this event which is in conjunction with the regular Sunday Drum and Dance circle that takes place from 3 to 9 PM. Contact Chuck Hicks at 202-421-8608. 28] – The SOUL KITCHEN is open. Gimmie Shelter Productions in conjunction with the Govans Presbyterian Church, 5828 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212 is hosting a meal for the needy and homeless on Sun., Aug. 25. To help with the serving or cooking of the food, arrive at the church at 5 PM. If you are able to provide musical entertainment, call Alan Barysh at 443-239-5325. This happens on the 4th Sunday of the month. To arrange to make a tax-deductible or an in-kind donation, call Rev. Tom Harris, pastor, at 410-435-9188. Go to govanspres.org/govanspres/welcome. 29] – There is a weekly Pentagon Peace Vigil from 7 to 8 AM on Mondays, since 1987, outside the Pentagon Metro stop. The next vigil is Mon., Aug. 19, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649. 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