Baltimore Activist Alert - October 31 - November 1, 2014

56] THE LATINO VOTE – Oct. 31
57] Public opinion in the Arab world – Oct. 31
58] Iran’s nuclear issue – Oct. 31
59] Vigil for peace at White House – Oct. 31
60] Vigil for Justice in Palestine – Oct. 31
61] See CITIZENFOUR – Oct. 31- Nov. 6
62] Silent peace vigil – Oct. 31
63] Fundraiser for child deportees – Oct. 31
64] Ballroom Dancing – Oct. 31
65] 2nd Annual 5k Walk/Run & Children's Race – Nov. 1
66] Take Back Your Health Conference - Nov. 1 - 2
67] Save the planet march – Nov. 1
68] THE LIBERATION OF ASSATA SHAKUR – Nov. 1
69] Teach-In on Iraq and Syria – Nov. 1
70] Ethical Society's Urban Farm Volunteer Event – Nov. 1
71] Olney Peace vigil – Nov. 1
72] West Chester, PA demo – Nov. 1
73] Slutwalk – Nov. 1
74] Silent peace vigil – Nov. 1
75] Drone Death Walk – Nov. 1
76] National March on the White House – Nov. 1 – 2
77] Beyond Extreme Energy – Nov. 1
78] Returning Hope to Gaza – Nov. 1
79] State of Hip-Hop in Baltimore – Nov. 1
80] The New Climate Reality – Nov. 1
81] Halloween fundraiser – Nov. 1
82] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
83] Join Fund Our Communities
84] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
85] Do you need any book shelves?
86] Join Global Zero campaign
87] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale
88] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
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56] – At the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, WDC 20045, hear about THE LATINO VOTE Reality and Myths on Fri., Oct. 31 at 10 AM. The moderator is MARGARET (PEGGY) SANDS ORCHOWSKI Ph.D., Congressional correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief, the Hispanic Outlook magazine; and the PANELISTS are Mark Hugo Lopez, director, Hispanic Research, Pew Research Center Hispanic Trends Project, and Esther Aguilera, president & CEO, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

The Latino voting block is growing, powerful and fluid. Investment in them will hold the future balance of political power in the Presidential, Congressional and local elections. Today, there are nearly 53 million Latinos in the US of which 34 million are US-born and an additional two million are foreign born US citizens. It's almost a mantra in the press that the political power of Latinos in the U.S. and the immigration reform issue is increasing because Latinos are the fastest growing demographic in America. Both parties have active outreach programs to attract Latinos whose vote cannot be taken for granted. However, the facts regarding this group are rarely seen in the media. Call 202-662-7500.

57] – On Fri., Oct. 31 from 10 AM to noon at the U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW, WDC 20037, hear about Public Opinion in the Arab WorldWhat do the latest surveys tell us? The Arab uprisings were a vivid demonstration of the importance of public opinion in the Middle East. Frustrated by poor governance and the lack of economic opportunity, citizens demonstrated in mass protests on the streets, and online, throughout the region. As autocrats fell, instability and extremism rose. Although democracy appears to be succeeding in Tunisia, in most of the Arab Spring countries the future is far from secure.

To learn how citizens in these countries view government, religion and economic opportunities, join the U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP), the Arab Barometer, the Arab Reform Initiative, the Project on Middle East Democracy, and the Project on Middle East Political Science for discussion on how people view the situations in their respective countries. The event will highlight new findings from the third wave of surveys (late 2012-2014) of the Arab Barometer across 12 Arab countries including Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, and more.

This event will feature the following speakers: Amaney Jamal, Edward S. Sanford Professor of Politics, Princeton University, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Project on Middle East Democracy; Michael Robbins, Project Director, Arab Barometer; Khalil Shikaki, Director, Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research; Mark Tessler, Samuel J. Eldersveld Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan; and Steven Riskin, Senior Program Officer for Grants, U.S. Institute of Peace. RSVP at http://www.usip.org/pages/visit-us#building.

58] – On Fri., Oct. 31 from 10:30 to noon., Yukiya Amano, IAEA, will address "Challenges in Nuclear Verification: The IAEA’s Role on the Iranian Nuclear Issue" at Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC. RSVP at http://www.brookings.edu/events/2014/10/31-challenge-nuclear-verification-iran-iaea-amano.

59] – On Fri., Oct. 31 from noon to 1 PM, join the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in a vigil urging the powers that be to abolish war and torture, to disarm all weapons, to end indefinite detention, to close Guantanamo, to establish justice for all and help create the Beloved Community! The vigil takes place at the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contact Art @ artlaffin@hotmail.com or at 202-360-6416.

60] – A vigil for Justice in Palestine/Israel takes place every Friday from noon to 1 PM at 19th & JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, across from Israeli Consulate. It is sponsored by Bubbies & Zaydes (Grandparents) for Peace in the Middle East. Email cswartz@pil.net. Go to http://phillyjewishpeace.org/.

61] – There is usually a silent peace vigil on Fridays, from 5 to 6 PM, outside the Cathedral of the Incarnation, University Parkway and St. Paul St. The Oct. 31 vigil, sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings, reminds us that War Is Not the Answer and that there is the need to stop torture.

62] – CITIZEN FOUR is being shown at The charles, 1711 N. Charles St., from at least Oct. 31 through Nov. 6. The show times are 1:40, 4:15, 6:55 and 9:20 PM. Call 410-727-FILM.

63] –At Haydees Restaurant, 3102 Mount Pleasant St. NW, WDC, on Fri., Oct. 31 at 6 PM, the Multicultural Artist Collective presents a fund and awareness raising musical showcase of bands, artists, poets, and more from NYC and D.C. Donations from the show will be given to children who were deported from U.S. and Mexican borders on their attempt to escape the violence and corruption from their native countries. The Salvadoran Consulate will designate an organization to disperse the funds. Call Alex Iraheta at 202.573.5677 or email lexirt@gmail.com.

64] – There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month, in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at 8 PM. Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St. Drive on campus by taking the third left turn. The next dance will be Oct. 31. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

65] – The United Workers are hosting the 2nd Annual 5k Walk/Run & Children's Race on Sat., Nov. 1 to raise funds to sustain the fight for fair development and universal healthcare. Team Exercise Your Rights is a collective of United Workers leaders ranging from seniors to youth with a goal of raising $12,000. Go to http://www.razoo.com/story/Team-Exercise-Your-Rights-5k-Run-1-Mile-Walk to Sponsor Team Exercise your Rights by donating today. Your donation of $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, or more will help sustain the growing network of Human Rights Committees across Baltimore and throughout Maryland. Human Rights Committee members participate in year-long study courses on political economy, history, human rights, and current struggles for social and economic justice.

66] – Join the Organic Consumers Association at the Take Back Your Health Conference on Sat., Nov. 1 from 8 AM to 5 PM and Sun., Nov. 2 from 8 AM to 1 PM at Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, 2800 S. Potomac Ave., Arlington 22202. Buy tickets here http://clubtbyh.com/the-conference/tickets/.

67] – Be at the Elm Street Urban Park near the Bethesda Metro Station on Sat., Nov. 1 at 8:30 AM, and then at 9:30 AM march into D.C. for climate justice. Follow Wisconsin Avenue, and end at Lafayette Park. The route is at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zLKFJl3xdg3k.k86C-EE7-V4Q. On March 1, 2014, dozens of climate patriots set out from Los Angeles, CA, walking 3,000 miles across America to Washington, D.C., inspiring action to resolve the climate crisis. This is one of the largest coast-to-coast marches in U.S. history. The March seeks to build the broadest possible public consensus and is focused strictly on the climate crisis.
At 7 PM, there will be a reflection and celebration of the March, at St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton St. NW. Fill out the volunteer form at http://bit.ly/1uieD10. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/697523390337643/.

68] – At UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW, WDC, on Sat., Nov. 1 from 9 AM to 5:30 PM begins the 2ND ANNUAL DAY OF CELEBRATION & EDUCATION ON THE LIBERATION OF ASSATA SHAKUR. She has been living in Cuba since 1986, after escaping from prison where she was serving a life sentence imposed in a highly disputed trial. Assata was a Black Panther then a Black Liberation Army (BLA) leader in the early '70s, so she was a target of the FBI's COINTELPRO. Before her daring escape from prison in 1979, Assata Shakur served a total of six years behind bars where she would also give birth to her daughter Kakuya. Visit http://www.afrocubaweb.com/assata.htm. Call Paulette at 646-271-4677.

See a short film about Assata before listening to speakers from the National Coalition for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Youth and The Law, the US Human Rights report, and George Jackson University. Childcare will be provided by the Childcare Collective.

69] – Go to Georgetown University, 3700 O St. NW, WDC, on Sat., Nov. 1 from 9 AM to 4 PM for a Teach-In on Iraq and Syria. Reflecting the importance of the topic, the Teach-In is sponsored by three organizations: the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, the Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, and the World Affairs Council of D.C.

The morning session, from 9 AM (with 8:30 AM breakfast) to noon is for educators, and will be held in the CCAS Boardroom, Intercultural Center (ICC) Rm. 141, with background on the current crisis in Iraq and Syria, and teaching resources to help convey these complex and urgent topics to students. Following a free lunch for registrants, educators will take part in the afternoon panel from 1 to 4 PM in the ICC Auditorium, which is open to public and press. An expert panel will discuss issues and prospects in the ongoing conflict, featuring Georgetown faculty Marwa Daoudy, Daniel Neep, Emad Shahin, and Tamara Sonn, and Imam Mohamed Magid of ADAMS Center and the Islamic Society of North America. RSVP to Susan Douglass at sld58@georgetown.edu.

70] – Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tXXGE-zZwPV2NTSXLfaVQyGsqSh8HOBefL_PMSCJLoo/viewform for the Baltimore Ethical Society's Urban Farm Volunteer Event with the Real Food Farm, 2801 St Lo Dr, Baltimore 21213, on Sat. Nov. 1 from 9 AM to noon! The BES leader, Hugh, will be bringing bagels and coffee for the early-birds starting at 8:30 AM. By participating in this event, you are contributing to a self-sustaining community and to the elimination of food deserts and food insecurity in Baltimore. Remember to wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather, and bring water and a snack. It should be cool and calm, a great day for planting.

71] – 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 Nov. 1. Call Chuck Harker at 301-570-7167.

72] – 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.

73] – SlutWalk is a worldwide movement against victim-blaming, survivor-shaming, and rape culture. Originated in Toronto in 2011, it started as a direct response to a Toronto Police Services officer perpetuating rape myths by stating “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized“. The march and the issues it addresses have struck such a chord that marches have been organized in over 200 communities in North, Central & South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.

This year's event will be a concert twist to the annual SlutWalk D.C.! It takes place on Sat., Nov. 1 at 11 AM at the Sylvan Theatre, 15th St. and Independence Ave. SW on the grounds of the Washington Monument, National Mall. See https://www.facebook.com/events/420699071372669.

74] – There will be a peace vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol at noon on Sat., Nov. 1. 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.

75] – It can be argued that the drone war is the most extreme terrorist war in history according to Noam Chomsky. On Sat., Nov. 1 from noon to 1 PM, join the Philadelphia Center City Monthly Drone Death Walk and Vigil. Gather at 12th & Market Sts and bring signs and banners. White Masks will be provided. RSVP Marge Cleef at 267-763-1644.

76] – On Sat., Nov. 1 and Sun., Nov. 2, the Black is Back Coalition (BIBC) is bringing together the many mothers, families and friends of those African-Americans killed by a police officer. The BIBC will be holding a march and conference under the slogan of “Peace Through Revolution: Resist U.S. Wars on Africa, African People and Peoples of the World!” Stand with all of the mothers in occupied Palestine, Afghanistan, Mexico and elsewhere, where the U.S. government is killing people. Call 224.572.9887.

Join the rally and march to the White House on Sat., Nov. 1 at noon at Malcolm X Park, before marching to the White House. There will be a teach-in on Sun., Nov. 2 at Howard University. Visit http://www.blackisbackcoalition.org/.

77] – On Sat., Nov. 1 at 2 PM, a coalition of frontline communities, regional and national organizations, and concerned individuals will begin to take nonviolent direct action in Washington, D.C. to interfere with business as usual. Business as usual is the collusion of government and industry to fast track new fossil fuel infrastructure investments while ignoring the warnings of climate scientists and the voices of ordinary people. Visit https://sites.google.com/site/beyondextremeenergy/.

78] – On Sat., Nov. 1 at 6 PM, get involved with RETURNING HOPE TO GAZA – a Benefit Dinner with MIKO PELED at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA 22101. Miko fits loosely into the category of "New Israeli Historians" who are probing archives and discovering what they call myths of the founding and history of Israel. For Miko it is not academic, but personal family history. His revelations set him on a campaign for truth, justice, and peace. He condemns Zionism, but he seeks harmony and reconciliation, not retribution. Best of all, he is hopeful for a just resolution in our time. In 2012 he published a book, “The General's Son, Journey of an Israeli in Palestine.” See http://mikopeled.com/. Tickets, which include a buffet dinner, are $25 for adults, $15 for students and $10 for children [12 and under]. See www.eventbrite.com.

79] – The Exchange: Dissecting the History and State of Hip-Hop in Baltimore is happening on Sat., Nov. 1 at 7 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201. It will be an evening of healthy and progressive dialogue with some of the city’s most influential voices. Speaking on the evolution of Baltimore’s Hip-Hop culture, the panelists will be highlighting the history, socioeconomic influences and current state of Baltimore Hip-Hop. The discussion will be moderated by Capri Shorter. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

80] – Join Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility for a discussion of The New Climate Reality on Sat., Nov. 1 from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at 8710 2nd Ave., Silver Spring 20910. Listen, learn, ask questions, and share your thoughts as Dr. Sara Via, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Maryland, gives a presentation: The new climate reality and what we can do about it. Hear from 350 Montgomery County (350MoCo) on its efforts to have Montgomery County sell off its $112 million in oil and gas investments, and from Chesapeake PSR on efforts to move Maryland away from fossil fuels. The event will be sponsored by Chesapeake PSR and 350MoCo. RSVP to twhitehouse@psr.org.

81] -- Not for the faint of heart, nor the weak of spirit...it is the Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen Extravaganza 2014 on Sat., Nov. 1 from 9 PM til the wee hours at 405 Beech Ave., Takoma Park 20912. Costumes are Strongly Encouraged. This is a FUNdraiser with a suggested donation from $10 to $50. The funds will support local groups & efforts to make the world a better place! Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/709128725822043/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming or call Nadine at 202-412-7611.

82] -- The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org.

83] -- Fund Our Communities campaign is a grass roots movement to get support from local organizations and communities to work together with their local and state elected officials to pressure Congresspersons and senators to join with Congresspersons Barney Frank and Ron Paul, who have endorsed a 25% cut to the federal military budget. Bring home the savings to state and county governments to meet the local needs which are under tremendous budget pressures. Go to www.OurFunds.org.

84] -- If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.

85] -- Can you use any book shelves? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.

86] -- Join an extraordinary global campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons: http://www.globalzero.org/sign-declaration. A growing group of leaders around the world is calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and a majority of the global public agrees. This is an historic window of opportunity. With momentum already building in favor of Zero, a major show of support from people around the world could tip the balance. When it comes to nuclear weapons, one is one too many.

87] -- WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER signs from Friends Committee on National Legislation are again for sale at $5. To purchase a sign, call Max at 410-366-1637.

88] – A Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil takes place every day in Lafayette Park, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 24 hours a day, since June 3, 1981. Go to http://prop1.org; call 202-682-4282.

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/.

"One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the US around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better" - Daniel Berrigan