Baltimore Activist Alert - Oct. 25-26, 2013

27] Support Gitmo prisoners – Oct. 25 28] Justice in Palestine/Israel – Oct. 25 29] Identifying Allies and Building Strong Coalitions – Oct. 25 30] Crypto Party – Oct. 25 31] Silent peace vigil – Oct. 25 32] Fabric of a Nation – Oct. 25 33] Arabian Sights Film Festival – Oct. 25 34] Guatemala Trip Report – Oct. 25 35] Support Bread for the World – Oct. 25 36] Eyewitness Venezuela – Oct. 25 37] Film GASLAND 1 – Oct. 25 38] Ballroom dancing – Oct. 25 39] Domestic Violence Prevention March – Oct. 25 40] Anti-Racist Action – Oct. 26 41] Olney Peace vigil – Oct. 26 42] West Chester, PA demo – Oct. 26 43] Stop Watching Us rally – Oct. 26 44] Silent vigil at Capitol – Oct. 26 45] Protest DRONE WAR COMMAND CENTER – Oct. 26 46] Healthcare Justice March – Oct. 26 --- 27] – On Fri., Oct. 25 at noon, participate in the White House Vigil To Save Guantanamo Hunger Strikers--NO MORE TORTURE! NO MORE WAR! Malachy Kilbride, a Witness Against Torture member who now works with Interfaith Action for Human Rights, will share news about the case of Shaker Aamer, one of the longest held Guantanamo detainees and hunger strikers. Aamer, subjected to ongoing torture, has never been charged or faced trial. The vigil is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker and Witness Against Torture. See www.witnesstorture.org and www.closegitmo.net. Last Friday activists filled the courtroom at the U.S. District Court in D.C. to hear Reprieve lawyers convincingly argue before a three judge appeals panel why they should issue a ruling to stop the force-feeding of those detainees still on a hunger strike at Guantanamo. Following the hearing Andres Thomas Conteris, on day 103 of a solidarity hunger-strike, engaged in another powerful naso-gastric feeding outside the courthouse to dramatize the plight of the detainees and why this tortuous illegal and immoral practice must end. Friday will be Day 4306 since first detainees were brought to Guantanamo and Day 260 of the Hunger-Strike. Fourteen detainees are still on Hunger-Strike. On Oct. 8 President Obama appointed Paul Lewis as special envoy at the Defense Department for the closure of the Guantánamo prison. 28] – A vigil for Justice in Palestine/Israel 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/. 29] – On Fri., Oct. 25, BORDC staff Shahid Buttar, George Friday and Adwoa Masozi will hold a training on Identifying Allies and Building Strong Coalitions. Workshop highlights include identifying and engaging allies, messaging, and creating conditions to win, and movement building for local victories. It takes place at the Historic Stewart Mott House, 122 Maryland Avenue NE, from 2 to 5 PM. Email organizing@bordc.org or call 862-668-8172. 30] – Crypto Party, a Talk on Benefits of Encryption, is happening on Fri., Oct. 25 from 4:30 to 7 PM at 1600 20th St. NW, WDC. Bring your laptops and join EPIC and Public Citizen for a crypto party happy hour, featuring prominent technologists and journalists talking about the benefits of encryption. Set up an encrypted e-mail system, and publish your public key to promote secure communications. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP at rsvp@epic.org. Visit https://epic.org/events/cryptoparty/. 31] – There is a silent peace vigil on Fri., Oct. 25 from 5 to 6 PM outside the Cathedral of the Incarnation, University Parkway and St. Paul St. The vigil is sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings, and was recently moved because of the construction on Charles St. War Is Not the Answer. Stop bullying. 32] – The Jerusalem Fund presents Fabric of a Nation on Fri., Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 PM at 2425 Virginia Ave. NW, WDC 20037. Photographer Amr Mounib has deep roots in Egypt and in film, extending back to the first silent films produced in Egypt by his grandfather, Fawzi Mounib. In this, his first solo exhibition at the Jerusalem Fund Gallery Al-Quds, he combines painting, collage photography and a touch of surrealism to produce images of an Egypt that lies in his heart. In the face of the present day chaos and uncertainty, the noise, the pollution, the plastic, he creates photographs of real people, real places, overlaid with magical images that illustrate a reality that is in the hearts and dreams of its people. Call 202.338.1958 or go to http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ht/d/EventDetails/i/42247. 33] – Starting Fri., Oct. 25 through Sun., Nov. 3, attend the 18th Annual Arabian Sights Film Festival in Washington, D.C. It presents a diverse selection of the most captivating and vibrant films from today’s Arab world. The festival showcases films that demonstrate the range and commitment of directors who invariably manage to tell moving stories while exploring issues facing their region. All have English subtitles. Visit http://www.filmfestdc.org. 34] – On Fri., Oct. 25 at 7 PM, hear a Guatemala Trip Report by Rose Mirabai Lord--Women’s Self Reliance Project--at 4209 E-W Hwy. This recent three week trip to Guatemala, where she has been teaching impoverished women to grow their own food and start their own businesses for more than ten years, has many highlights: installing a community orchard, ancient Mayan aquaculture, and beautiful wooden handicrafts. RSVP to shantiyoga2@earthlink.net. The Metro to use is the Red-Line Bethesda. 35] – On Fri., Oct. 25 from 7 to 9 PM, join Bread for the World members, staff, and friends for a private evening of shopping at Ten Thousand Villages, 915 King St. in Old Town Alexandria. This is the oldest fair trade store in the D.C. area, and it features terrific jewelry, home décor, and other gift items — along with delicious coffee and chocolate. Use the King St. Metro Station, Blue/Yellow Lines. Bread for the World will receive 20 percent of the total sales during this special event. 36] – Catch a Community Forum: Eyewitness Venezuela featuring Gloria La Riva on Fri., Oct. 25 at 7 PM at 617 Florida Ave. NW. Use the Shaw/Howard University Metro (Yellow/Green Line). La Riva is a well-known Latin American solidarity activist and president of the Typographical Sector, Media Workers Union, Lo. 39521, CWA. She has traveled frequently to Venezuela since her first trip in 2001, and most recently in July. She is the coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five. Call 202-234-2828 or visit www.PSLweb.org or email dc@pslweb.org. 37] – Meaningful Movies Olney is showing on Fri., Oct. 25 at 7:30 PM "Gasland: Part 1," a chilling look at "fracking" (hydraulic fracturing) as this practice, in pursuit of natural gas, has swept across the United States. Filmmaker Josh Fox was inspired to pursue the impact of fracking on individuals and the environment by drilling occurring near his own Pennsylvania property. Combustible drinking water is only one of many startling revelations that Fox unearths in his travels. See the film at the Re/Max Buffington Building, 3300 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney 20832. Contact Jean Athey at 301-570-0923 or jeanathey@verizon.net. 38] – 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 Oct. 25. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725. 39] – The Domestic Violence Prevention March is happening on Fri., Oct. 25 at 8 PM at the Old Town Mall Parking Lot, Orleans and Gay Sts., Baltimore 21202. This year, the 300 Men March Movement, Councilman Brandon Scott (2nd), and other Baltimore City leaders are leading a march through downtown Baltimore to symbolize a united stand against domestic violence. The march is to discourage violence against women and children and will end at Pratt and Light Sts. Then a 20-30 minute public demonstration with signs and posters will promote domestic violence prevention. Afterwards, march back to the corner of Orleans and Gay Sts. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own signs and posters that promote Domestic Violence Prevention. See https://www.facebook.com/events/1402031010031600/. 40] – Join an Anti-Racist Action against the National Policy Institute on Sat., Oct. 26 at 8:30 AM at Freedom Plaza, WDC 20004. The Whitefish, a Montana-based National Policy Institute (NPI) group, whose efforts include a campaign to make the Republican Party exclusively white, is holding its conference, and white supremacy is the order of the day. The conference is at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Building. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/650387488328231/. 41] – 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 Oct. 26. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167. 42] – 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. 43] – The largest protest yet against mass government surveillance is going down on Sat., Oct. 26 from 11:30 AM to 3 PM. The Stop Watching Us Rally Against Mass Surveillance is at Columbus Circle NE, right outside of Union Station. The Stop Watching Us rally will feature a wide range of speakers and musicians including NSA whistleblower, Thomas Drake, author Naomi Wolf, security expert Bruce Schneier, indie music group YACHT, Dennis Kucinich, libertarian Governor Gary Johnson, and activist Lt. Dan Choi. RSVP at https://rally.stopwatching.us/. 44] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Oct. 26. 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. 45] – The DRONE WAR COMMAND CENTER 'OPENED' OCTOBER 1, with TWO YEARS, HOWEVER, TO BE FULLY 'OPERATIONAL' . STOP IT NOW! On Sat., Oct. 26 from noon to 2 PM, continue to Demonstrate to Stop the Drone War Command Center at the Horsham Air Guard Station, Horsham, Montgomery County, PA. Be at the corner of Route #611/Easton Road & County Line Road on the last Saturday of the Month in Horsham...The demand to stop the drone war command center in Horsham NOW continues! The plan now is to continue these last Saturday of the month protests through the end of the year. Stand up...Speak Out...Protest and Demonstrate! Enjoy music, read the names of U.S. drone strike victims and their stories, and do bell-tolling. Bring an umbrella in the event of rain. Dress for chillier weather. Go to http://www.brandywinepeace.com/events/. 46] – United Workers is gearing up for a statewide Healthcare Justice march focused on bringing universal healthcare to Maryland. The march will include an incredible local marching band dressed in doctor coats, an elaborate street theater performance decrying the inequities and inadequacies of the for profit healthcare system, and leaders from over half of the state joining together to begin a major ramp up to make healthcare a major issue in the upcoming statewide governor's race. On Sat., Oct. 26 at 2 PM at the Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore 21224, join the march of about one mile. One can ride in a van for those who want to participate but aren't able to walk the route. See https://www.facebook.com/events/186145608233103/. 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