Baltimore Activist Alert - October 15 - 16, 2014

33] What’s happening in Afghanistan? – Oct. 15
34] Lobby Rep. John Sarbanes – Oct. 15
35] Francis Fukuyama at JHU – Oct. 15
36] Protest the "Maccabi Haifa" basketball game – Oct. 15
37] Everyday Rebellion: Yemen After the Uprising – Oct. 15
38] Police Oversight hearings – Oct. 16
39] Social Justice Happy Hour – Oct. 16
40] Learn about fracking – Oct. 16
41] "War Comes Home: The Excessive Militarization of American Policing” – Oct. 16
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33] – Afghanistan just underwent a brutal political crisis that almost broke its executive office and significantly damaged Afghans' confidence in electoral processes. With the direct intervention of the US government, President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah formed a unity government that stands to be fraught with discord and power-wrangling. On the other hand, both leaders have committed to a range of much needed reforms; and the recently inaugurated Ghani has already taken a number of steps to suggest that he is committed to their enactment. After the successful conduct of the first round of elections in April, what happened? And where will Afghanistan's executive take the country from here? Join Richard Kraemer, the Senior Program Officer at the National Endowment for Democracy, as he speaks on these issues and questions at ICC 270, Georgetown University, 3700 O St. NW, WDC, on Wed., Oct. 15 at 12:30. The event is free, and lunch will be provided. RSVP is required:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/afghanistans-national-unity-government-the-road-ahead-with-richard-kraemer-tickets-13590103365.

34] – As part of the national "Educate Congress" Campaign Letter Drops, on Wed., Oct. 15 at 4:30 PM, the Pledge of Resistance will go to Rep. John Sarbanes’ office, 600 Baltimore Ave., Suite 303, Towson, MD 21204, to deliver a letter. Clean, fair, inclusive and open elections are essential to the legitimacy of our system. Therefore, Rep. Sarbanes is called upon to cosponsor the Democracy Restoration Act (H.R. 4459) to let 5 million voters who’ve paid their debt to society vote and to cosponsor the Voter Empowerment Act (H.R. 12) to modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for individuals with disabilities, and to protect the right and ability of individuals to vote for Federal office. Move away from counterproductive military responses to conflicts, and employ strong diplomacy instead. Therefore he should cosponsor H. Con. Res. 114 “Urging Congress to debate and vote on a statutory authorization for any sustained United States combat role in Iraq or Syria.” Military equipment deployed by police forces makes our communities look like war zones; he should cosponsor the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 5478).

The Administration is seeking “Fast Track” authorization for pending wide-ranging agreements. The representative should oppose “Fast Track,” “Smart Track,” and any other expedited approval procedures, and to oppose all clandestinely negotiated deals including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Finally, we are seeking an end to the use of killer drone strikes, which we believe to be illegal and unconstitutional. We ask Rep. Sarbanes to speak out against this assassination program. Let Max know if you can sign on to the letter and go to Sarbanes’ office--410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net. Are you a constituent?

35] – Hear noted author and political scientist Francis Fukuyama discuss his new book "Political Order and Political Decay" on Wed., Oct. 15 at 5:30 PM in Hodson Hall 101. Start with a reception and book signing, which will be followed by the talk. The event is free and sponsored by the Friends of the Libraries and the Johns Hopkins University Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1573832596178306/.

36] – Protest the "Maccabi Haifa" basketball game at the Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW, WDC 20004, on Wed., Oct. 15 at 6 PM. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1511114582467257/. Al-Awda (the Palestine Right To Return Coalition), the group spearheading protests against Israeli basketball teams playing in the USA, is calling on all people of conscience in the DC Metro area to come out and protest this game. It is a response to the call by Palestinian civil society to boycott Israeli institutions until the state of Israel complies with international law. Come out and support Palestine!

37] – On Wed., Oct. 15 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, hear about Everyday Rebellion: Yemen After the Uprising. Nearly four years after a popular uprising swept through its cities and led to the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen is often cited as a model of success for political transition, but this is far from the truth. Join Yemeni-American activist, Rooj al-Wazir and former NY Times reporter and author Laura Kasinof for a discussion on current events in Yemen. Kasinof is the author of “Don't Be Afraid of the Bullets: an accidental war correspondent in Yemen.” An Arabic speaker, she lived between Cairo and Sanaa for nearly five years. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

38] – Are you concerned about the lack of police oversight in your community? If so, share your concerns with the D.C. City Council at an upcoming hearing on Thurs., Oct. 16 at 11:30 AM. Councilmember Tommy Wells, chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, will convene a public oversight hearing in the Council Chamber, Room 500, of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC 20004. If you are unable to testify at the public hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made part of the official record if submitted by 5 PM on Mon., Oct. 27, 2014 to Ms. Goines, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, Room 109, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, WDC 20004, or via email at ngoines@dccouncil.us.

39] – On Thurs., Oct. 16 at 5 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, enjoy a Social Justice Happy Hour with UNITE HERE Local 7. Celebrate some recent victories, and learn more about upcoming actions for workers' rights. BWI Airport food & retail workers have been fighting for justice & equality at work. In September, HMS Host workers (at Starbucks, Phillips Seafood, Home Team Sports Bar, & Manchu Wok) won union recognition! Come celebrate this milestone in the BWI airport equality campaign & meet other activists and organizers. A portion of the proceeds will go to Interfaith Worker Justice of Maryland. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

40] – What is fracking all about and why should we care? Will Maryland allow fracking? Come and learn more at this social get together hosted by the Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Maryland Environmental Health Network on Thurs., Oct. 16 @ Birrotecca, 1520 Clipper Road, Baltimore, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Meet fellow activists and learn where the different environmental and health groups stand on this issue. Also present will be the Sierra Club and Food and Water Watch. A lot is happening on the fracking front in Maryland. This will be a great opportunity to hear from different groups about how you can get involved in this important issue. A RSVP is not required but welcome at twhitehouse@psr.org. Also, the workshop summary of the experts review of the health study on hydraulic fracturing in Maryland conducted by the Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health is now online at http://www.psr.org/chapters/chesapeake/resources/fracking-summary-of.pdf.

41] – On Thurs., Oct. 16 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, Kara Dansky, senior counsel at the ACLU Center for Justice, presents "War Comes Home: The Excessive Militarization of American Policing." How can we make sense of the images coming out of Ferguson, MO, where police look more like an occupying army than anything else? Dansky is the author of the ACLU's new report on exactly this disturbing trend. In War Comes Home: The Excessive Militarization of American Policing, she focuses on more than 800 SWAT raids conducted by law enforcement agencies in 20 states and on the agencies’ acquisition of military weaponry, vehicles, and equipment to paint a comprehensive picture of a national trend, fueled by federal policy that continues to not just prosecute a failed War on Drugs, but also subsidizes the transfer of military equipment and training to local police departments. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.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