Baltimore Activist Alert - June 11 - 15, 2014

27] “Portraying Arabs: 30 Years Later” – June 11
28] Rally to close the Sodexo loophole – June 11
29] Consider the Extended Unemployment Compensation bill – June 11
30] Be with Heather and Delman – June 11
31] Human Rights in Transit – June 11
32] "The Other Blacklist” – June 11
33] ADC Conference – June 12 - 15
34] Conference on Islam and Democracy – June 12
35] Caring Across Generations – June 12
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27] – On Wed., June 11 from 12:30 to 2 PM, hear a discussion “Portraying Arabs: 30 Years Later” with Edmund Ghareeb and Jack Shaheen at The Jerusalem Fund, 2425 Virginia Ave. NW, WDC 20037. RSVP at http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ht/d/RegisterForEvent/i/45537.

In 1984 seminal works on the images of Arabs and Muslims in the American media were published. Jack Shaheen’s “TV Arab “studied the images of Arabs on television while Edmund Ghareeb’s “Split Vision” looked at news, print and broadcast media. At this panel event, the authors discuss the theses of their works 30 years later and how much has changed, if anything at all, about the images and portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in U.S. mass media.

Edmund Ghareeb is the American University's Center for Global Peace's first Mustafa Barzani Scholar of Global Kurdish Studies. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Middle East history and politics in the School of International Service at American University.

Internationally acclaimed author and media critic, Jack Shaheen, is a committed internationalist and a devoted humanist. A Pittsburgh native and former CBS news consultant on Middle East Affairs, Shaheen’s lectures and writings illustrate that damaging racial and ethnic stereotypes of Asians, blacks, Native Americans and others injure innocent people.

28] – On Wed., June 11 at 1 PM, there is a rally to close the Sodexo loophole. This year, Sodexo re-classified about 10,000 employees as "part-time" -- even though they still work full time hours, but only for the academic year. Sodexo has stripped these workers of access to company health insurance, as well as all other benefits like paid vacations and paid sick days. Sodexo did not have to do this, and union and non-union food university food service workers alike are gearing up to take a stand. Contact Allison Burket at aburket@unitehere.org.

29] – 2.8 million workers lost benefits on Dec. 28, 2013, and are still without support. Members of the faith community will raise the voices of the unemployed who have lost support due to the House of Representatives’ unwillingness to consider the Extended Unemployment Compensation bill passed in the Senate last December. Meet at the House Triangle at Independence & New Jersey Aves., near the Capitol on Wed., June 11 at 1:30 PM and read stories from those who are suffering, losing homes and other possessions, getting by on SNAP (food stamps) and donations, and struggling to find money for transportation to job interviews. Yet, there are still 10s to 100s of seekers for each available job, and often there is not a good match of skills with available work. Contact Marge Clark at mclark@networklobby.org.

30] – Heather and Delman are hitting the road over the next two weeks to ensure every Marylander’s voice is heard in this election. Will you join them on Wed., June 11 for Early Vote Community Meetings in Ellicott City and Baltimore City? One meeting, from 6 to 7:30PM, is at the Phoenix Emporium, 8049 Main St., Ellicott City. The other meeting is from 7 to 8:30 PM at the Govans Presbyterian Church, 5828 York Rd., Baltimore. RSVP at http://www.heathermizeur.com/events.

31] – At Busboys & Poets, 14th & V Sts. (2021 14th St NW) on Wed., June 11 at 6 PM, join the Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF), the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), and Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS) for Human Rights in Transit: Confronting the Humanitarian Crisis of Central American Migration through Mexico. The Mexican government, with U.S. support, has begun to implement a series of security initiatives along Mexico's southern border, including an increased presence of federal security agencies. Given the history of abuse against migrants by migration officials and municipal, state and federal security agencies, additional border enforcement in southern Mexico could have harmful human rights implications for migrants in transit while doing nothing to address the root causes spurring migration from Central America's northern triangle. The discussion will be led by two inspiring migrant rights defenders who work with national advocacy networks and migrant rights organizations to protect the rights of vulnerable migrants in transit in Mexico. Visit
http://www.busboysandpoets.com/events/event/human-rights-in-transit-confronting-the-humanitarian-crisis-of-central-amer.

32] – Mary Helen Washington presents "The Other Blacklist" on Wed., June 11 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201 . Washington recovers the vital role of 1950s leftist politics in the works and lives of modern African American writers and artists. While most histories of McCarthyism focus on the devastation of the blacklist and the intersection of leftist politics and U.S. culture, few include the activities of radical writers and artists from the Black Popular Front. Her work incorporates these black intellectuals back into our understanding of mid-twentieth-century African American literature and art and expands our understanding of the creative ferment energizing all of America during this period. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

33] – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is holding its 34th National Convention starting Thurs., June 12 through Sun., June 15 at Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway in Virginia. It does take a community to protect our rights and preserve our cultural heritage. Everyone has an important role to play. Be at the 34th Annual Convention and reflect on the current challenges the community faces, and plan strategies for overcoming these challenges. See http://convention.adc.org/.

34] – On Thurs., June 12 from 8 AM to 6 PM, all are invited to attend the 15th Annual Conference on Islam and Democracy at The Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel, 999 9th Street, NW. Some of the best scholars, experts, practitioners and policy makers from the region and the whole world, there will a number of discussions and panels pertaining to this issue, each one focusing on a region in the Middle East. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-struggle-for-democracy-in-turbulent-times-practical-solutions-for-us-policy-tickets-11798209763?utm_source=REVISED+PROGRAM+-+CSID+15th+ANNUAL+CONFERENCE+-+June+12%2C+2014&utm_campaign=REVISED+PROGRAM+-+CSID+15th+ANNUAL+CONFERENCE+-+June+12%2C+2014&utm_medium=email.

35] – On Thurs., June 12 from 10 AM to 11:30 AM at the Center for American Progress, 1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor, the Center for American Progress’s Progress 2050 initiative will partner with Caring Across Generations and the Democracy Alliance to co-host a discussion on how communities of color and the aging Baby Boom generation are shaping the country’s course in public policy, changing politics as we know it. While considerable attention has been placed on the “emerging majority” of communities of color, America’s aging population—or the “silver tsunami”—will have important implications for public policy as well. Panelists at the event will delve into the importance of a multigenerational civic-engagement strategy for the 21st century, including how progressives can harness the power of both demographic groups to win a policy agenda that improves the lives of everyone. Contact Tanya S. Arditi at 202.741.6258 or tarditi@americanprogress.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