Baltimore Activist Alert - March 8, 2014

48] Report back from Medea – Mar. 8
49] 35th Annual Baltimore Archdiocese Parish Social Ministry Convocation – Mar. 8
50] Get out the vote for Andy Shallal -- Mar. 8 & 16
51] Vigil to protest CIA drone strikes – Mar. 8
52] Olney Peace vigil – Mar. 8
53] Cove Point hearing – Mar. 8
54] West Chester, PA demo – Mar. 8
55] Remember the break-in at the Media FBI office – Mar. 8
56] Understanding Violent Extremism – Mar. 8
57] Rock, Rap & Speak out against Poverty, Prison & War – Mar. 8
58] L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C. – Mar. 8
59] John Bach, Harvard University’s Quaker Chaplain – Mar. 8
60] One Women’s Chronicle of Two Decades of Work in Guatemala – Mar. 8
61] Amplifying Voices for Peace -- Mar. 8
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48] – Medea Benjamin returned on the night of March 5 from a harrowing trip to Egypt where she was detained at the airport, beaten, and deported by the authorities. Though they gave no reason for their actions; this was quite clearly done to prevent Medea from joining an international delegation of women going through Egypt to Gaza for International Women's Day. She sustained a dislocated shoulder with a torn ligament from the terrible assault.

Join Medea and the rest of CODEPINK DC for a report back and discussion on Egypt's role in ensuring that Gaza remains the largest open-air prison in the world, and help give Medea a warm welcome home. The event will take place on Fri., Mar. 7 at Busboys and Poets, 5 & K Sts from 8 to 10 PM. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1427139534191719/!

49] – On Sat., Mar. 8 from 8:15 AM to 3:30 PM, enjoy the 35th Annual Baltimore Archdiocese Parish Social Ministry Convocation – Care for the Earth and Poor at Seton Keough High School, 1201 Caton Ave., Baltimore 21227. The keynote speaker is Jacek Orzechowski, OFM. The cost is $10, which includes lunch. You must pre-register to be guaranteed lunch and to ensure that the correct workshops will be repeated. Contact Carol Palmer at 410.261.6780 / cpalmer@cc-md.org.

50] – Andy Shallal, owner of Busboys and Poets restaurants, is running for Mayor of DC in the Democratic primary on April 1. Andy has been a major supporter of PDA over the years, serving on its national Advisory Board, providing a place for monthly meetings in Virginia and many, many events in his D.C. restaurants, and making personal financial contributions. He is the most progressive candidate for Mayor of D.C. and will provide great leadership with his balance of business acumen and his great passion for policies and programs that help ordinary people and fight discrimination of all sorts. Canvass for him on Sat., Mar. 8 from 10 AM to 1 PM. RSVP at //docs.google.com/forms/d/1riR9oACDqA6cOKQL4AVRGPzLBlYP3FruwKmFZ2ZAwPQ/viewform.

Join a phone banking party at the home of Sarah Stott and Howard Jennings on Sun., Mar. 16 from 6:30 to 9 PM, followed by pizza (Dutch treat). The address will be provided to all who RSVP. Bring your cell phone and a laptop if you have one for direct data entry. RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CGBqR_UBim0UZTWROGvIYa-UbGInhirxndhNy8OiWwo/viewform. Come to a fundraiser at the home of Mar and Lynn Raskin. RSVP at http://www.andy4dc.com/marc_raskin_s_event_for_andy_shallal. Go to www.Andy4DC.com for other volunteer activities.

51] – On Sat., Mar. 8 from 10 to 11:30 AM, PROTEST US KILLER DRONES at CIA Headquarters, 900 block of Dolley Madison Blvd., Langley, Virginia. Oppose CIA & US Military drones used in extrajudicial killings. US killer drone strikes are illegal, immoral, and must stop now! The protest is supported by Pax Christi Metro DC, Northern Virginians for Peace & Justice, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker of DC, Code Pink, Nova Catholic Community, Peace & International Outreach Committee of Langley Hill Friends, Washington Peace Center, Peace Action Montgomery, Little Friends for Peace, Maryland United for Peace & Justice.

52] – 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 Mar. 8. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167.

53] – 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.

54] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Mar. 8. 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.

55] – Meet-Up in Media, PA for a Walk & Rally to Celebrate Democracy, Civil Liberties, and Dissent at noon on Sat., Mar. 8 at the Delaware County Courthouse, Front Street & Veterans Square, Media, PA 19063. It is just across from the County Court Apartment Building, which housed the Media FBI in 1971, as well as the Media Draft Board/Selective Service Office which drafted young men to fight and die in the Vietnam War. Celebrate the anniversary (March 8, 1971) of the historic Media FBI Break-In and the release of secret files exposing the FBI’s COINTELPRO program of assaults on dissent and civil liberties. The identities of the participants and the details of the Media FBI Break-In were for forty-three years unknown until the recent publication of the book, THE BURGLARY, by Betty Medsger. Celebrate democracy, civil liberties, and dissent (all under threat!). Honor today's truth-sayers and whistle-blowers, like NSA whistle-blower, Edward Snowden, and imprisoned Pvt. Chelsea Manning, WikiLeaks. The celebration is organized by the Brandywine Peace Community (founded in Media, PA, spring of 1976.

Participate in whistle-blowing (& other noise-making) during a walk through Media and back to the Courthouse. Music will be performed by Tom Mullian. There will be speakers from various peace and justice groups. Bring whistle (and other noise-makers.

56] – There is an FCWG Event, Understanding Violent Extremism, on Sat., Mar. 8 from 1 to 4 PM at the Islamic Center of Maryland (ICM), Library Room, 19411 Woodfield Rd., Gaithersburg 20879. Go to http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102382248246-586/fcwg+understanding+violent+extremism.pdf. Did you know that 42% of homegrown terror plots have some nexus to Maryland and Delaware? Come interact with a distinguished panel of speakers who will cover violent extremist threats ranging from white supremacist groups to Al Qaeda inspired terrorists. Among the speakers will be two FBI agents. RSVP at fcwg2013@gmail.com.

57] – On Sat., Mar. 8, International Women’s Day, attend Rock, Rap & Speak out against Poverty, Prison & War from 1:30 to 6:30 PM at Tabernacle United Church, 3700 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Hear Legendary Spoken Word Artist Ursula Rucker, and many local musicians. Also catch the speak out from prisoner family members, welfare rights and anti-war activists and others. Enjoy a video commemoration of the March 8, 1971 FBI Burglary. Childcare, children’s activities and refreshments will be provided. Tickets are available at door from $10 to $20 (more if you can, less if you can't). All proceeds go to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund & Medical School of Dr. Aristide, and prisoner family groups. Contact Global Women's Strike/Phila at 215-848-1120 or www.globalwomenstrike.net.

58] – On Sat., Mar. 8 at 2:30 PM at Marymount University, Reinsch Library Auditorium, 2807 N Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22207, join L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C. for a bazaar; then from 3:30 to 5:30 PM, there will be a talent show with a pizza party. The suggested donation is $10. To RSVP for the pizza party, contact Bethany Keener at 202.507.1328 (call or text) or bethanykeener@larche-gwdc.org.
59] – John Bach, Harvard University’s Quaker chaplain, will speak on "Faith, and Resistance Within the Empire: the Beloved Community's Response" on Sat., Mar. 8 at 5:30 PM at the Friends Meeting of Washington, Meeting Room, 2111 Florida Ave. NW, WDC. The event is hosted by Friends Meeting of Washington Peace & Social Concerns Committee. Contact Malachy Kilbride at malachykilbride@yahoo.com.

60] – Hope and Action: One Women’s Chronicle of Two Decades of Work in Guatemala is an International Women’s Day Potluck Fundraiser on Sat., Mar. 8 from 6 to 8:30 PM at Howard Community College, Duncan Hall, Room 100, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia 21044. Funds raised will go towards an Education Building Annex. Barbara Lorraine Fenske will share an update on the women of Unidas Para Vivir Mejor [United for a Better Life]. Contact Linda Wiley at 410-730-4630 or boblinwiley@verizon.net. Bring a dish to share, and buy some of the crafts.

The women of UPAVIM need your support. If you cannot attend, you can still make a donation by sending a check made out to UPAVIM. Please mail it to: HoCoFoLA, PO Box 94, Columbia, MD 21045. In honor of Pete Seeger, there will be a sing-along segment led by folk singer and story teller Alan Klein. Learn how UPAVIM projects have transformed the community through Education, Healthcare, Nutrition, and Selling of Crafts. Come and listen to this exciting presentation and support UPAVIM by buying beautiful handmade fair trade gifts!

61] – At the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park on Sat., Mar. 8 at 8 PM, enjoy Amplifying Voices for Peace, a Heartbeat Concert (featuring Israeli and Palestinian Youth Musicians directed by Aaron Shneyer. Admission is $20 for adults, and $10 for youth. Special donors get reserved seating for $100. A discussion with the artists will follow. The event is sponsored by Am-Kolel, Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society and the Middle East Peace Working Group. Call 301-349-2799 for reservations. Email info@am-kolel.org.

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