Baltimore Activist Alert - January 29 - 31, 2015

30] Protest Saudi Arabia – Jan. 29
31] Paid sick leave hearing – Jan. 29
32] "Purgatorio: A Journey Into The Heart Of The Border" – Jan. 29
33] Annual Annapolis Summit – Jan. 30
34] Service to Justice Conference – Jan. 30 - 31
35] Vigil for peace at White House – Jan. 30
36] Silent Peace Vigil – Jan. 30
37] Degrading ISIS?? – Jan. 30
38] Ballroom Dancing – Jan. 30
39] Ready to Roll – Jan. 31
40] West Chester, PA demo – Jan. 31
41] Teach-In on Saudi human rights abuses – Jan. 31
42] Nonviolence training – Jan. 31
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30] – Be at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, 601 New Hampshire Ave. NW, WDC 20037, on Thurs., Jan. 29 at 5 PM and join Amnesty International and other human rights advocates to call the Saudi authorities to put a stop to any further flogging of Raif Badawi and unconditionally release him. Badawi is a Prisoner of Conscience sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes solely for encouraging free speech in Saudi Arabia on his website. On January 9, Raif received the first set of 50 painful lashes in public. The second set of 50 lashes were expected to take place the following Friday, but was twice postponed on medical grounds. Visit #FreeRaif #IStandWithRaif.

31] – On Thurs., Jan. 29 meet at 6 PM at California Tortilla, 199 E. Montgomery Ave., Rockville and at 7:30 PM go over to the Montgomery County Council, 3rd Floor Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville 20850, to promote sick leave. Jews for Justice says 43 million workers have no Sick Leave. See MoCo Paid Sick Days Hearing-- http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5483/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=72876.

32] – See "Purgatorio: A Journey Into The Heart Of The Border" followed by a panel with CASA de Maryland, Esperanza Center & the Mayor's Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs on Thurs., Jan 29 at 7:30 PM at the Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, MD 21224. Tickets are $12, but members pay $9. Director Rodrigo Reyes did this 2014 film as a joint USA/Mexico funded project. This provocative essay film re-imagines the Mexico/U.S. border as a mythical place comparable to Dante’s purgatory. Leaving politics aside, he takes a fresh look at the brutal beauty of the border and the people caught in its spell.

The panel of immigration experts are Elizabeth Alex, CASA de Maryland Lead Organizer, Helany Sinkler, Esperanza Center Client Services Manager, and Catalina Rodriguez, Mayor's Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs Director. Email rachel@creativealliance.org or 410-276-1561 ext 210.

33] – Join Marc Steiner on Fri., Jan. 30 for breakfast at 7 AM, followed by the program from 8 to 10 AM at Governor Calvert House, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, for the 12th Annual Annapolis Summit, in partnership with The Daily Record. He will interview Maryland's top political leaders about issues in the Maryland 2015 Legislative Session, including Governor-elect Larry Hogan, Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch. For information, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, go to www.thedailyrecord.com/Annapolis-Summit or contact Clare Sheehan: 443-524-8101 at clare.sheehan@thedailyrecord.com.

34] – On Fri., Jan. 30 from 9 AM to 5:30 PM and Sat., Jan. 31 from 9 AM to 6:30 PM at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Ave. NW, WDC 20005, attend Service to Justice Conference. There will be sessions on fundraising, self-care, creating meaningful leadership, helping clients become self-advocates, volunteering and social change, and other fascinating topics. There is a $15 registration fee, but no one will be turned away. Visit http://www.fairbudget.org/service-to-justice-conference/.

35] – On Fri., Jan. 30 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.

36] – There is usually a silent peace vigil on Fridays, from 5 to 6 PM, sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings, outside the Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St. The Jan. 30 vigil will remind us that War Is Not the Answer and that there is the need to stop torture, and prosecute the torturers.

37] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore is hosting Jim and Deborah Fine who will address Why the U.S. will have difficulty “Degrading & Defeating ISIS” on Fri., Jan. 30 at 7:30 PM in the Free School Classroom, Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201. The couple recently returned from Erbil, Iraq after working there for five years with the Mennonite Central Committee. Their principal work was with refugees fleeing the various conflicts, including the Yezidis terrorized by ISIS. The Fines have also worked with the American Friends Service Committee for years in the Middle East. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net.

38] – 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 Jan. 30. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

39] – February 15th is the last day you can sign up through the health care marketplace for coverage that starts in 2015. Come join OFA supporters in Columbia to make sure your neighbors are covered. The Ready to Enroll event is at 5610 Cedar Lane, Columbia 21044 on Sat., Jan. 31 at 10 AM. The Affordable Care Act has already helped millions of people get coverage -- more than 9.5 million Americans have already signed up for a plan so far during this enrollment period. RSVP now to help folks in Columbia get covered: https://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs8byq.

40] – 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.

41] – Go to the Amnesty International USA Mid-Atlantic Region, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, WDC 20003, on Sat., Jan. 31 at 1 PM for a Teach-In on Raif Badawi, Waleed Abulkhair, and the crackdown on human rights activism in Saudi Arabia. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/410379789126198/?ref=6&ref_notif_type=plan_user_invited.

42] -- On Sat., Jan. 31 from 2 to 5:30 PM, Ray Jose and Yash Mori of United We Dream are training 25 folks from the API #blacklivesmatter DMV working group and anyone else interested in the Auditorium of St. Stephens and the Incarnation Episcopal Church. 1525 Newton St. NW, WDC. RSVP at arunakjain@gmail.com.

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