Baltimore Activist Alert - June 30 - July 2, 2014

Baltimore Activist Alert June 30 – July 6, 2014

"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] See THE EXONERATED – through July 6
6] Human, Soul & Machine: The Coming Singularity – through Aug. 31
7] Marc Steiner on WEAA – June 30 – July 4
8] Hearing about the family shelter – June 30
9] Ian Schlakman, Green Party, announces his run for U. S. House of Representatives – June 30
10] Planning meeting for the People's Climate March – June 30
11] Discussion with Barbara Arnwine – June 30
12] Pledge of Resistance/Fund Our Communities meeting – June 30
13] LGBT community marks the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act – June 30
14] Celebrate D.C.'s minimum wage increase – July 1
15] Protest at the Federal Communications Commission – July 1
16] Philadelphia Peace Vigil – July 1
17] "No Drone Research at JHU" – July 1
18] Split This Rock fundraiser – July 1
19] Monthly pet bereavement support group meeting – July 1
20] 38th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1976 decision in Gregg V. Georgia – July 2
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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 mobuszewski at Verizon dot net. 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 mobuszewski at Verizon dot 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 Francine Sheppard at 5639B, Harpers Farm Rd., Columbia 21044. The coffee will arrive some time the following week and you will be notified where to pick it up. Contact Francine at 410-992-7679 or FrancineMSW@aol.com.

5] – Enjoy “The Exonerated,” a thrilling docudrama by the Vagabond Players. The play transports viewers into the hearts and minds of 6 death row inmates who are actually innocent. It is thought provoking and provocative, and will make viewers recognize the madness of a death penalty. The performances will continue through July 6 at 806 S. Broadway. Call 410-563-9135 or go to http://vagabondplayers.org.

6] – See the exhibit Human, Soul & Machine: The Coming Singularity, which
delves into the various ways technology affects lives through the perspective of inventors, futurists and 40 plus visionary artists. The intent is to bring new thoughts on artificial intelligence, robotics, genetics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and big data, and you can see it through August 31 at the American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Call 410-244-1900. Go to http://avam.org. A ticket costs $20.

7] – 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.

8] – Get over to the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW on Mon., June 30 from 11 AM to 1PM for a hearing about the family shelter in room 500. It will address two items: 1 -- the proposal to build a playground at the facility and 2 -- the dignity of homeless families. Those who wish to testify should contact Mr. Malcolm Cameron of the Committee on Human Services at mcameron@dccouncil.us or at 202-724-8191.

9] – On Mon., June 30 at 11 AM at the War Memorial Plaza in Baltimore, Ian Schlakman will be formally announcing his campaign for United States House of Representatives, District 2. Schlakman, of Baltimore, will be officially accepting the nomination of the Maryland Green Party as its candidate for the 2nd District U.S. House race.

Supporters will join Ian Schlakman as he makes his campaign announcement on the lawn of War Memorial Plaza. He will also be available for interviews at 218 East Lexington St., Suite 203 at 1 PM. Go to http://marylandgreenparty.org. Call 443-240-6915.

10] – Join a planning meeting for the People's Climate March, happening September 20th-21st in NYC, on Mon., June 30 from 5 to 6 PM at 420 7th St. In September, world leaders are coming to New York City for a historic summit on climate change. With our future on the line and the whole world watching, we’ll take a stand to bend the course of history. Together, we’ll take to the streets to demand the world we know is within our reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet. Make the world safe from the ravages of climate change and a place with good jobs, clean air, and healthy communities for everyone. Contact Elise Shulman at eliseshulman@gmail.com.

11] – On Mon., June 30 from 6 to 7:30 PM hear a discussion with Barbara Arnwine, president & executive director of the national Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, in Room 505, 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW. She is internationally renowned for contributions on critical justice issues including the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1991 and creation of the renowned 2011 Voting Rights “Map of Shame.” A graduate of Scripps College and Duke University School of Law, she continues to champion civil rights and racial justice issues nationally and internationally in the areas of housing and lending, community development, employment, voting, education, and environmental justice. Ms. Arnwine’s work also includes immigrant rights, judicial diversity, criminal justice reform, racial profiling and health care disparities. Contact Professor John Brittain at JBrittain@udc.edu.

12] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore usually meets on Mondays at 7:30 PM, and the meetings take place at Max’s residence. The next meeting will be on Mon., June 30, and it is the last meeting at Roundhill Road. The proposed agenda will include news that Max has moved, a report on the appeal of the conviction of the CIA Five, anti-drone activities, including the arrests at the NSA on May 3, the July 4 visit to the NSA, a report on the conference in Chicago, FREEDOM SUMMER, and the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net for directions.

13] – On Mon., June 30 at 8:30 PM, mark the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as LGBT community activists will gather at the MLK Memorial, 1964 Independence Ave. SW, to herald LGBT civil rights heroes Bayard Rustin & Eleanor Roosevelt, and call on Congress to "ADD 4 WORDS" "sexual orientation, gender identity" (SO&GI) -- to America's nondiscrimination laws. The event also launches a new nationwide coalition - The Equality Pledge Network - based on The Pledge for Full LGBT Equality, supported by over 245 organizations in 44 states. This campaign is all volunteer and represents the vanguard strategy of the LGBT movement. The vigil will include singing, community hugs, and an open forum for speeches on the topic of full and equal LGBT civil rights, as a human rights imperative and public health emergency. Bring RAINBOW colored items, FLASH LIGHTS, and posters with the slogan “ADD 4 WORDS." Visit http://bit.ly/Add4WordsDCjune30.

14] – On Tues., July 1 at 11 AM, the Paid Sick Days for All Coalition, Respect DC and the Wage Theft Coalition are celebrating D.C.'s minimum wage increase and expansion of the paid sick days law! The D.C. minimum wage will go up to $9.50 an hour on July 1st and is on its way to $11.50 in 2016. The paid sick days law newly covers tipped restaurant workers and allows all workers to use accrued sick leave after only 90 days on the job. Join a press conference at Flava, 618 T St NW. Afterwards, help canvass businesses in the Shaw neighborhood to ensure business owners know requirements of the law and workers’ know their rights.

15] – Interested in the future of the internet? On Tues., July 1, CODEPINK will be at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th St. SW, at noon for a picket and street theater performance of “Which Side Are You On, Tom?” A co-sponsor is Popular Resistance, which means lots of fun with singing, dancing and a tug of war between the people and the telecom giants. RSVP at info@popularresistance.org. You can also join a rehearsal at the CODEPINK house on Mon., June 30 at 6:30 PM at 1241 Evarts St. NE, WDC.

16] – Each Tuesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the Catholic Peace Fellowship-Philadelphia for peace in Afghanistan and Iraq gathers at the Suburban Station, 16th St. & JFK Blvd., at the entrance to Tracks 3 and 4 on the mezzanine. The next vigil is July 1. Call 215-426-0364.

17] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. Join this ongoing vigil on July 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

18] – Dine at the Roti Mediterranean Grill, 1629 K St. NW, WDC, on Tues., July 1 from 6 to 8 PM to help raise money for Split This Rock (www.splitthisrock.org), a DC non-profit that calls poets to a greater role in public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. Building the audience for poetry of provocation and witness, it explores and celebrates the many ways that poetry can act as an agent for change. Roti will donate 20% of what is spent by patrons participating in the fundraiser to Split This Rock. To ensure that your purchase is credited correctly, you'll need to present a flyer for the fundraiser to the cashier. A Split This Rock representative will be outside of the restaurant or you can contact Camisha Jones at Split This Rock (camisha@splitthisrock.org).

19] – Andrew Mazan leads a free monthly pet bereavement support group that meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 PM at Baltimore Humane Society, 1601 Nicodemus Road. RSVP at 410-833-8848. Private counseling is also available. Go to http://www.baltimorehumane.org.

20] – Wed., July 2 is the 38th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1976 decision in Gregg V. Georgia, in which new death penalty laws were upheld and state-sponsored prisoner killings were allowed to resume. The vigil at the Supreme Court will end that evening. A closing circle will begin at 11:15 PM so people can share about their experiences with the group. At 12:01 AM on Thursday, they will break the fast with a meal, prepared by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, outside the court.

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