Baltimore Activist Alert - September 24 - 26, 2014

27] Challenge the Congressional Black Caucus – Sept. 24
28] Muslim-Christian relations – Sept. 24
29] Chris Hedges is speaking – Sept. 24
30] What’s Happening in Turkey? – Sept. 24
31] Catch the author of “Differently Abled Me”– Sept. 24
32] Advancing Justice Conference – Sept. 25 & 26
33] MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE PRISON AND IN WAR – Sept. 25
34] Organizing across the borders of ethnicity, race, class, and faith – Sept. 25
35] Morality and Legality of Targeted Drone Strikes – Sept. 25
36] No bombing of Syria – Sept. 25
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27] – On Wed., Sept. 24 from 9 AM to noon, the Black Agenda Report and other concerned individuals/organizations will be holding a rally to draw national and international attention to the Congressional Black Caucus's problematic support for Israeli Apartheid in Gaza, their support for police militarization, and their vote against net neutrality. Join them at Bunn Intercultural Center (ICC), Suite 270, 3700 O St. NW, WDC.

28] – On Wed., Sept. 24 at 12:30 PM, Dr. Clare Amos will explore the interreligious work (particularly, though not exclusively in the field of Muslim-Christian relations) undertaken by the World Council of Churches (WCC) during the last decade, and also address current issues of concern. She is currently program executive for Interreligious Dialogue & Cooperation at the World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Amos is from the United Kingdom and has spent a number of years living in the Middle East. A biblical scholar by background, her life experiences in the Middle East led her to realize how in that context Christian study of the Bible cannot be separated from interreligious concerns. Her most recent book is “Peace-ing Together Jerusalem,” published by the World Council of Churches earlier this year. Seating is limited. Lunch will be provided. Go to http://www.eventbrite.com/e/christian-muslim-relations-prospectives-insights-from-the-world-council-of-churches-with-dr-clare-tickets-12602912651.

29] – Come to the Mary Graydon Center, MGC 200, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC on Wed., Sept. 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM and discuss how the Obama administration, as well as preceding administrations, have waged a war on whistleblowers and skirted US accountability for fraud, dragnet surveillance programs, and war crimes. Snacks will be provided. The guest speaker is Chris Hedges who spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa & the Balkans. He has reported from more than 50 countries and has worked for The Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, The Dallas Morning News and The New York Times, for which he was a foreign correspondent for 15 years. He left the Times after being issued a formal reprimand for denouncing the Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq. His books include “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (2003) and the best-selling “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America (2008).” Hedges is now a Truthdig columnist and a senior fellow at The Nation Institute. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/737577879642983/.

30] – Since President Obama laid out his strategy to fight the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL), all eyes have turned to Turkey, a NATO ally that borders the territory captured by the jihadist group. The rise of ISIS presents several challenges for Turkey and forces Ankara to recalibrate its regional strategy. The Center for Turkish Studies at The Middle East Institute and the Institute of Turkish Studies at Georgetown University are pleased to host a panel discussion on the most recent developments in the region and Turkey's response. Experts Denise Natali (National Defense University), Mutlu Civiroglu (Journalist and Kurdish affairs analyst) and Kadir Ustun (SETA Foundation), will consider these questions on Wed., Sept. 24 from 1:30 PM at Georgetown University, 37th and O Sts. NW, WDC 20057. Go to http://www.mei.edu/events/turkeys-isis-challenge.

31] – On Wed., Sept 24 at 7 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, catch the author of “Differently Abled Me,” as part of Back to School Nights. Curtis Black is a Baltimore Native who has dedicated his life to understanding and helping others. His recently-published children's book encourages compassion and understanding in children and adults. He will read from the book but will also answer questions and foster dialogue about supporting children with different needs. Visit http://abledifferently.com/. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

32] – At the Washington Hilton Hotel on Thurs., Sept. 25 at 8 AM and through Fri., Sept. 26 at 5 PM, participate with the Advancing Justice Conference, the largest national conference focusing on civil and social justice issues impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Advancing Justice began the conference six years ago to provide a meeting forum where the AAPI community and our allies can strategize and mobilize to make lasting impact on the issues. Tickets and advanced registration are required. Go to http://conference.advancingjustice.org/2014/.

33] – EY WILLIAMS SYMPOSIUM - MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE PRISON AND IN WAR, FROM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE on Thurs., Sept. 25 from 9 AM to 7 PM at Howard University, 2400 Sixth St. NW, WDC 20059. The morning session will be comprised of the following speakers: Dr. Tanya Alim (or Mellman) who will address PTSD, Trauma, and Youth in the correctional system; and Dr. William B. Lawson who takes on Mad vs. Bad; and Dr. Patricia Newton handling Community. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ey-williams-symposium-mental-illness-in-the-prison-and-in-war-from-an-african-american-perspective-tickets-13016688265?ref=enivtefor001&invite=NjY2NDc5Ny9tb2J1c3pld3NraUB2ZXJpem9uLm5ldC8w&utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inviteformalv2&utm_term=attend&ref=enivtefor001.

34] – In the Library of Congress Mumford Room, 101 Independence Ave. SE, WDC, on Thurs., Sept. 25 from 10 AM to 4:30 PM, activists and scholars will discuss organizing across the borders of ethnicity, race, class, and faith in campaigns and movements for justice, human rights, freedom, and self-determination in the 1960s and 1970s. Topics will include the United Farmworkers Movement-led boycotts of non-union produce; the Poor People's Campaign of 1968; free breakfast for schoolchildren programs; the actions of groups such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Brown Berets, the Black Panther Party, and the National Farm Worker Ministry; and the role of the Mennonite, Catholic, and Protestant Churches in these events. The discussion is sponsored by the Civil Rights History Project at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. See http://www.loc.gov/folklife/images/CR_Sept25_flyer.pdf.

35] – The Morality and Legality of Targeted Drone Strikes will be discussed at the American University - SIS Founders, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC, on Thurs., Sept. 25 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM with Medea Benjamin and Chris Woods. A Q&A will follow regarding U.S. targeted drone strikes and their impacts both in the U.S. and abroad. Light lunch will be provided. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/279050592295952/.

36] – On Thurs., Sept. 25 at noon, join ANSWER, CODEPINK and others to say NO to the U.S. bombing of Syria at the White House.

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