Baltimore Activist Alert - Jan. 16-20, 2014

17] Protest Iran sanctions – Jan. 16 18] Geoffrey Stone Speaks About the NSA – Jan. 16 19] Film "Monsenor: the Last Journey of Oscar Romero" – Jan. 16 20] "Ebony & Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America’s Universities" – Jan. 16 21] "Overview on Nuclear Nonproliferation and National Security” – Jan. 17 22] Justice in Palestine/Israel – Jan. 17 23] Stop War on Iran – Jan. 17 24] Silent peace vigil – Jan. 17 25] Film "Kangamba” – Jan. 17 26] Anarchists Building Popular Power in Chile – Jan. 17 27] Ballroom dancing – Jan. 17 28] Help DC Vote – Jan. 18 29] Olney Peace vigil – Jan. 18 30] West Chester, PA demo – Jan. 18 31] Strategic Dialogue with United Workers – Jan. 18 32] Silent vigil at Capitol – Jan. 18 33] Legal aid for the LGBT – Jan. 19 34] Peace and Pancakes – Jan. 19 35] “MLK: The Assassination Tapes” – Jan. 19 36] Pentagon Vigil – Jan. 20 37] Interfaith service day – Jan. 20 38] Marc Steiner on WEAA – Jan. 20 – Jan. 24 39] MLK Day Peace Walk – Jan. 20 40] Global Peace makers Walk – Jan. 20 41] MLK Parade – Jan. 20 42] Resist Lockheed Martin – Jan. 20 ----- 17] – Senators Menendez, Kirk, and Schumer are pushing a dangerous bill through the Senate that would put us on a fast track to war with Iran. They want to tighten the sanctions and destroy the progress that has been made by the ongoing negotiations. Join Code Pink on Thurs., Jan. 16 at 10 AM in the Senate Hart Building Atrium. Help to deliver petition signatures to the offices of senators still undecided about the bill to tighten Iran sanctions. NO WAR ON IRAN! Call Alli at 860 575 5692. 18] – Geoffrey Stone Speaks About the NSA on Thurs., Jan. 16 at noon at Public Citizen's Dupont Circle HQ, 1600 20th St. NW. Are you appalled by revelations that the NSA has been spying on millions of Americans? Learn more about the possible government response by attending a talk with Geoffrey Stone, a member of the panel President Obama assembled to review the NSA’s activities. RSVP at bholzer@citizen.org. 19] – See the film "Monsenor: the Last Journey of Oscar Romero" on Thurs., Jan. 16 at 6:30 PM at American University, Abramson Family Founders Room, School of International Service, 4400 Mass. Ave. NW. Join the Smithsonian Latino Center and American University for screening of a portrait of one individual's quest to speak truth to the rich and powerful forces which dominated his government. Visit http://www.american.edu/ocl/kay/. 20] – Craig Steven Wilder, the author of "Ebony & Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America’s Universities" will speak on Thurs., Jan. 16 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore and Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave. In this new critically acclaimed history, Craig Steven Wilder excavates the hidden ties of America's elite educational institutions to the profits realized through slavery, and tracing how these pervasive, systematic links helped shaped the way those institutions perpetuated and legitimated the conceptual apparatus of American white supremacy. The event is co-sponsored by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. Call 410-230-0450. Go to http://www.redemmas.org. 21] – On Fri., Jan. 17 from noon to 1 PM, Richard Meserve, Carnegie Institution for Science, and Tom Moore, Center for Strategic and International Studies, will comment on "Overview on Nuclear Nonproliferation and National Security." The discussion is sponsored by the Foundation for Nuclear Studies, and will take place at 2325 Rayburn House Office Building, WDC. RSVP to Charles Wadelington at charles@helenmilby.comor or 202-548 0021. 22] – 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/. 23] – On Fri., Jan. 17 at 4 PM, Say YES to Diplomacy and Peace; NO to more Sanctions and Threats of War...against Iran. Rally at the Philadelphia Office of Senator Bob Casey, 2000 Market Street, Suite 1870, Philadelphia, PA 19103. March to a brief demonstration at nearby office of Philadelphia office of Senator Pat Toomey, 8 Penn Center, 1628 John F. Kennedy Blvd. The event is sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action, and other area groups including the Brandywine Peace Community. Go to http://www.peacecoalition.org/component/content/article/39-cfpa/321-demonstrate-to-qgive-diplomacy-a-chanceq.html or call 215-360-5608. 24] – There is a silent peace vigil on Fri., Jan. 17 from 5 to 6 PM outside the Cathedral of the Incarnation, University Parkway and St. Paul St. The vigil, sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings, will remind us that War Is Not the Answer. Stop bullying. 25] – Catch the film "Kangamba," which is about Cuba's Role in Angola, on Fri., Jan. 17 at 7 PM at 617 Florida Ave. NW. The documentary is a stunning and realistic portrayal of a August 1983 battle in the People’s Republic of Angola, when Cuban volunteer troops and their comrades-in-arms, the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola, were under a brutal attack by the UNITA forces, who were armed and organized by the racist, apartheid regime of South Africa. Directed by Cuban filmmaker Rogelio Paris, the film movingly shows the determination of Cubans and patriotic Angolans to defeat the mercenary pro-apartheid forces. Fidel Castro said of the film, “Kangamba is one of the most serious and dramatic films I have ever seen. … The exploits of our compatriots fighting together with the Angolans in that battlefield were really moving. Their heroic resistance saved them all from death.” Call at 202.234.2828. 26] – On Fri., Jan. 17 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore and Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave. , hear Struggling to Win: Anarchists Building Popular Power in Chile. Chile has a long history of working class struggle in shanty towns, factories, mines, community organizations and schools. In the 20 years after the U.S.-supported coup which overthrew Salvador Allende’s government, much of the organizing was done underground. However after the fall of the dictatorship in 1990, there was a new rise of mass popular organization in the country. Anarchists have been a major force in the social movements, strategically organizing to build power. This has manifested in solidarity for the Mapuches, anarchists winning the student union elections at the University of Chile, militant pro-abortion actions, and libertarian labor organizations. This national tour brings Gabriel and Pablo, two individuals involved in these struggles, to talk about the lessons learned and to create solidarity across hemispheres. Call 410-230-0450. Go to http://www.redemmas.org. 27] – 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 Jan. 17. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725. 28] – In 2014, DC Vote will step up ongoing efforts to inform the nation about the struggle for equality. On Jan. 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Saturday of Service, DC Vote and a few of its partners will be encouraging the first step in democracy--getting DC residents registered to vote. RSVP to help at rramosmeyer@dcvote.org. 29] – 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 Jan. 18. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167. 30] – 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. 31] – Be at a Strategic Dialogue with United Workers on Sat., Jan. 18 at 11:30 AM at the James MC Henry Recreation Center, 911 Hollins St., Baltimore 21223. Leaders from across the state will join together in an in-depth analysis of the way commodification of public goods- i.e. healthcare, housing, our environment- has negatively impacted our fundamental human rights. The dialogue will also reflect on Dr. King's transformative vision and how to build a healthcare movement across color and class lines. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/247775238717435/. 32] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Jan. 18. 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. 33] – 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., Jan. 19, the platform address is “FreeState Legal: Advocating for Maryland’s Low-income LGBT Residents” with Aaron Merki, Esq., executive director, FreeState Legal Project. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) community has unique legal needs. Low-income LGBT individuals, particularly LGBT youth, people of color and immigrants, are harmed by systematic inequality arising from prejudice and discrimination. Prior to FreeState Legal Project’s founding, there were no organizations in Maryland dedicated to providing free or reduced-cost legal services to meet the legal needs of this population. Mr. Merki will explain FreeState’s work, give a sense of Maryland’s low-income LGBT population, and discuss the issues and work still remaining after marriage equality. Aaron Merki has been the Executive Director of Free-State Legal Project since 2012. Prior to assuming that role, Aaron was a corporate litigator at Venable LLP. There, he represented Fortune 500 companies, in addition to smaller companies and individuals. Go to http://bmorethical.org/ or Twitter: @bmorethical or Facebook: http://fb.com/bmorethical/or email ask@bmorethical.org. 34] – 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. 35] – View the documentary “MLK: The Assassination Tapes” on Sun., Jan. 19 at 2 PM at Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, 830 E. Pratt St. Call 443-263-1800. Visit http://www.africanamericanculture.org/. This Smithsonian-produced film pieces together obscure and previously unreleased audio and visual documentation from news broadcasts and videotaped testimonies surrounding the April 4, 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The result is a 46-minute-long found-footage documentary with supremely narrow but gripping focus that takes the viewer into the fray of African-American sanitation workers’ strike that brought King to Memphis, where he made his final speech (the “I’ve been to the mountaintop” address) and where he was shot by James Earl Ray. 36] – 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., Jan. 20, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649. 37] – On Mon., Jan. 20 from 9 AM to 2 PM at the All Souls Church, Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St. NW. Use the Metro: Columbia Heights. In honor of Dr. King, Interfaith Youth for Climate Justice will host an interfaith service day for students and teens! Participants will go door-to-door, helping Ward 1 residents swap out their inefficient incandescent bulbs for compact florescent bulbs, reducing their lighting energy use by 75%. The day will be filled with service, food, good company, and interfaith dialogue. The suggested donation is $5 per student. Adult volunteers are welcome. Email info@iycj.org. 38] – The Marc Steiner Show airs Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 AM on WEAA 88.9 FM, The Voice of the Community, or online at www.weaa.org. The call-in number is 410-319-8888, and comments can also be sent by email to steinershow@gmail.com. All shows are also available as podcasts at www.steinershow.org. 39] – On Mon., Jan. 20 at 9 AM meet to prepare for the MLK Day Peace Walk. Supporters of DC Equality will walk from the United Black Fund, Inc., 2500 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue S.E., to Covenant Baptist Church at 10 AM. If you would like to march, RSVP to Rafael Ramos-Meyer at rramosmeyer@dcvote.org or call 202.462.6000 x114. 40] – Participate in the Global Peace Makers Walk/Rally on Mon., Jan. 20 at 9:15 AM at 1230 Sumner Road, Birney Child Development Center, Barry Farms. As part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk on Monday, January 20th there will be a feeder rally and walk in Barry Farms at 9:15 am. It will gather at the Birney Child Development Center, walk through the community and rally at the Exeter Academy. The march will then join the main group of Peace walkers. The theme this year is celebrating "Global Peacemakers: I am a Peace Maker." Afterward there will be a program held at Covenant Baptist UCC at 12:30 PM. See https://www.facebook.com/events/250045591821906/. 41] – The annual Martin Luther King Day Parade starts at noon on Mon., Jan. 20 at Eutaw and Preston Sts. Join Veterans for Peace and other activists. 42] – On Mon., Jan. 20 at noon, get over to the Martin Luther King Day of Nonviolent Resistance to Lockheed Martin at 230 Mall Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA 19404, behind the King of Prussia Mall, just off the corner of Mall & Goddard Boulevard, across from the King of Prussia movieplex. Make it a day for justice & peace...Hear the words of Dr. King, loud and clear in front of Lockheed Martin & Honor Dr. King's Message of Nonviolent Action for Justice and Peace. At 11AM, there will be a pre-demonstration on-site meeting for those planning to participate in the nonviolent resistance/civil disobedience and accept arrest, resisting "...evil triplets of American society: racism, extreme materialism, and militarism..." (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, Riverside Church, April 4, 1967) Nonviolently resist the world's #1 war profiteer's production of nuclear weapons related systems and its production drone war technology, from UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) aircraft and satellite command systems to Hell Fire missiles. Call 610-544-1818 or visit http://www.brandywinepeace.com/events/. 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