Baltimore Activist Alert April 10 - 18, 2015

Baltimore Activist Alert April 10 - 18, 2015

"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.

1] Books, buttons & stickers
2] Web site for info on federal legislation
3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists
4] Buy coffee through HoCoFoLa
5] Two friends are looking to buy a house in Baltimore
6] Get your animal friend in the Maryland SPCA 2016 calendar – through May 15
7] Save Mumia’s life – Apr. 10
8] Peace vigil at White House – Apr. 10
9] Call Pennsylvania governor – no drone base – Apr. 10
10] Social Justice Happy Hour with Fusion Partnerships – Apr. 10
11] Silent Peace Vigil – Apr. 10
12] Film MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY – Apr. 10
13] Celebrate Women's Leadership – Apr. 10
14] Ballroom Dancing – Apr. 10
15] American Society for International Law (ASIL) Conference – Apr. 11
16] Ecumenical workshop – Apr. 11
17] West Chester, PA demo -- Apr. 11
18] March for the Nigerian students – Apr. 11
19] Film SILENCED – Apr. 11
20] Film “Misconception of a Father,” – Apr. 11
21] The Real Story Behind ISIS -- Apr. 11
22] Tawakkol Karman at Loyola – Apr. 11
23] Hear Cornell West -- Apr. 11
24] David Swanson speaks at CPSR dinner – Apr. 18
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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] – Two friends are looking to buy a house in Baltimore. Let Max know if you have any leads—410-366-1637 or mobuszewski@verizon.net.

6] – Enter a photo of your animal friend in the Maryland SPCA 2016 Calendar for $50. Each entry also includes one (1) free calendar! Participants can send photos after registration, so don't worry if you need a little extra time to find the purr-fect photo of Fluffy! To enter, go to www.mdspca.org/photo and use discount code "SPCAcalendar" during checkout, or contact Jennifer Mion at petcalendar@mdspca.org or 410-235-8826, ext. 133.

The 2016 Pet Calendar will be a full-color wall calendar, released in the fall of 2015. Thirteen of the best photos will be selected for the cover and pet-of-the-month pages. Photographs must be of animals, no people, and must be in color. High-resolution horizontal photos are preferred. Small photos, especially those taken by phones, are difficult to enlarge. All entered photos will appear in the calendar. A maximum of 400 photos will be accepted through May 15, 2015. The calendar is an important fundraiser for the Maryland SPCA. Proceeds benefit the needy and homeless animals in our care!

7] – Go to Freedom Plaza, 14th & Penn, NW, WDC on Fri., Apr. 10 from noon to 1:30 PM for a "National Call to Action to Save Mumia’s Life." For three months Abu Jamal showed signs of diabetes. He was examined by prison doctors multiple times with blood drawn three times in February alone, yet the diabetes was not diagnosed until he was taken to an outside hospital after fainting in the prison with blood sugar near diabetic coma levels. After a couple of days, he was sent back to the care in the same prison that put him at death’s door. This is a call for all concerned people to join in urging that the Department of Justice intervene in this crisis situation facing him and his family. The DC Day of Action is part of the broader National Day of Action for Mumia. People will gather first in Freedom Plaza before marching to rally in front of the U.S. Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/639113109522915/.

8] – On Fri., Apr. 10 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.

9] – With regrets, due to unforeseen circumstances the Brandywine Peace Community’s Friday, April 10 leafleting and sign holding vigil at 4 PM in front of the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia has been CANCELLED. These center city rush-hour vigils have been going on the 2nd Friday of the month in Philadelphia for the past two years, as part of the campaign to stop the drone war command center at the Horsham Air Guard Station. The vigils alternate between the SEPTA entrance at 15th & Market and the Bellevue Hotel where the State Governor has his S.E. PA office. You may know that the campaign is pushing Gov. Wolfe (as head of the PA Guard and Air National Guard) to initiate hearings on the drone command center in Horsham and related drone warfare activity around the state.

On April 13, representatives of the campaign primarily in the Harrisburg area will be meeting with members of the governor's staff in the State Capitol. What about making a call to the Governor's office in Harrisburg, (717) 787-2500, between now and Monday, asking him Take Responsibility and Initiate Hearings on the drone command center, located at the Horsham Air Guard Station, PA, ON Commonwealth Property! SAY NO! TO DRONE WAR COMMAND CENTER, HORSHAM, PA. Make a call. Go to www.brandywinepeace.com/events or call 610-544-1818.

10] – On Fri., Apr. 10 at 5 PM at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201 and participate in a Social Justice Happy Hour with Fusion Partnerships. Mingle with some of the most amazing, awe-inspiring small-scale social justice oriented non-profits in Baltimore - they're all projects of the invaluable Fusion Partnerships, a non-profit incubation organization that's been helping Baltimore social justice organizing to grow and flourish for over a decade. Two of the Red Emma's family of projects - 2640, and the Baltimore Free School - are Fusion Projects. The April Happy Hour will include discount drinks, food specials, good conversation and good times! Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

11] – 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 next vigil is on until Apr. 10. On that Friday it will remind us that War Is Not the Answer and that there is the need to stop torture, and prosecute the torturers. Afterwards enjoy a potluck dinner and a film.

12] – The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee, Baltimore Quaker Peace and Justice Committee of Homewood and Stony Run Meetings and Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility are continuing the FILM & SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS DVD SERIES. MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY [USA, 2006] will be shown with a discussion to follow on Fri., Apr. 10 at Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218, around 7:15 PM. There is no charge, and refreshments will be available. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at Verizon.net.

In the summer of 2004, director/cinematographer Laura Poitras begins chronicling the efforts of Riyadh al-Adhadh, a Sunni physician, father of six, who runs for office in Iraq's first democratic election. As a member of a political minority, the doctor tries to convince his fellow party members not to boycott the election, but with the entire political process hanging by a thread, he faces an uphill battle. Poitras is the director of CITIZENFOUR, the documentary about Edward Snowden.

Working alone in Iraq over eight months, Poitras created a portrait of Iraqis living under U.S. occupation. Dr. Riyadh, an outspoken critic of the occupation, is equally passionate about the need to establish democracy in Iraq. Yet all around him, Dr. Riyadh sees only chaos, as his waiting room fills each day with patients suffering the physical and mental effects of ever-increasing violence. Recognizing the chaotic situation, he visits the Abu Ghraib Prison after the notorious photographs surface. The documentary presents an Iraqi who is in agony over the tragic contradiction of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and its claim to spread democracy in the Middle East. The viewer sees the madness of the U.S. military occupation, complete with private security mercenaries, U.S. journalists and U.N. officials who orchestrate the elections. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski [at] verizon.net for further information.

13] – On Fri., Apr. 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, join Grassroots Global Justice Alliance (GGJ) and Grassroots International for a special evening, celebrating Women's Leadership and Grassroots Feminist Internationalism, and the 10th Anniversary of GGJ. At the Institute for Policy Studies, 1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600, WDC, meet powerful women leaders. The suggested donation is from $200 down to whatever you can give. Donations of all sizes are welcome and much appreciated. It is co-sponsored by the Institute for Policy Studies, National Family Farm Coalition and others. Refreshments will be provided. See https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JXUAZuB9XCbYyEJxu3w7Qygzs4BlKqF4ZZVvnZQiskk/viewform.

14] – 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 Apr. 10. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

15] – Continuing through Sat., Apr. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW, WDC 20001, come to the 109th American Society for International Law (ASIL) Conference. This conference will offer you the opportunity to come in contact with representatives of the City of The Hague, and other participants.

The Hague is known all over the world as the "International City of Peace and Justice." Currently, The Hague is home to 140 international NGOs and 25 international organizations. The Hague stands for hope for millions of citizens around the world. Hope that the crimes inflicted on them will not remain unpunished. Hope for a peaceful future. The Hague Reunion Reception is co-hosted by the Hague Institute for Global Justice (THIGJ). THIGJ was established by The Hague Academic Coalition, the City of The Hague, The Hague Conference on Private International Law, and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, and is supported by the Dutch government. The Institute is dedicated to the promotion of knowledge of law and justice as the basis of and in relation to peace, justice, and social and economic development. RSVP at was-jbz@minbuza.nl.

16] – Come to St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church, 4708 Prudence St. Baltimore 21226 on Sat., Apr. 11 from 10 AM to 2 PM for an ecumenical workshop. This is a space in which people of faith can connect to the struggle for the human rights and fair development in Curtis Bay. Its intention is to create a place for biblical study and theological reflection through the lens of the contemporary struggle for social and environmental justice—a struggle that takes place in a society where things, people and communities are considered disposable. This work will envision how communities and individuals of faith are an integral part of the transforming dirty politics and developed community-based alternatives through the human rights values of dignity for all, respect for all and the sanctity of life.

This workshop will study 1 Kings 21:1-16 in relationship to the struggle to stop the construction of the largest trash burning incinerator in the country in Curtis Bay being led by Free Your Voice, a human rights committee of United Workers. The story of Naboth being killed for his ancestral land by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel will be explored in relationship to the struggles of the community to be involved in decisions that directly affect their land and livelihoods today. There will be opportunities to take action in support of the campaign, and the workshop will conclude with a brief tour through Curtis Bay led by members of Free Your Voice. Lunch will be provided. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/461376637350894/ bible study. Go to http://unitedworkers.nationbuilder.com/.

17] – 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.

18] – Gather at the Federal Triangle Metro Station (Orange, Blue, and Silver lines) on the 12th Street side by the Metro elevator on Sat., Apr. 11 at 2 PM and remember that this is a solidarity march, not a protest. Show the families of the missing girls, and the people of Nigeria, that the world has not forgotten their daughters. The march will kick off at Constitution Ave. and head to the U.S. Capitol Building. Wear red and bring your signs, families and friends. Use our toolkit to print out a pre-made placard at http://act4accountability.com/tool-kit/. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1395721470745806/.

19] – Go to the Goethe-Institut Washington, 812 7th St. NW, WDC on Sat., Apr. 11 from 3 to 7 PM, as the Institute for Policy Studies teams up with Naked Edge Films and other co-sponsors for a screening about three National Security whistleblowers who fought to reveal the darkest corners of America's war on terror, challenging a government that is increasingly determined to maintain secrecy. Admission is $12. Following the screening will be Q&A with Jesselyn Radack, Thomas Drake, John Kiriakou, and film director/producer James Spione, moderated by IPS Director John Cavanagh. PURCHASE TICKETS at https://secure2.convio.net/ips/site/Ticketing;jsessionid=4635EFE3C0E67D25ABCA94C2047A56E2.app202a?view=Tickets&id=100281. View a TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HW0d1NO9Y4. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/354958408031485/ or http://www.ips-dc.org/events/film-silenced-americas-war-on-whistleblowers/.

SILENCED War On Whistleblowers asks the question: How far would you go to tell the truth? In SILENCED, Academy Award nominated documentarian James Spione investigates what really happened inside the U.S. security establishment after the events of September 11th, 2001 that caused it to radically change course in profound and lasting ways. The arc of post 9/11 history leading to today—an alternative, inside narrative—is revealed exclusively through three of the most important whistleblowers of the era, speaking for the first time in one film, who discuss in dramatic and unprecedented detail the evolution of the government’s increasingly harsh response to unauthorized disclosures. Exploring the unique courage and character it takes to challenge unethical behavior from within the American national security establishment, SILENCED offers a provocative critique of systemic failures of the U.S. government and its draconian over-reactions.

SILENCED includes exclusive first-person accounts from Jesselyn Radack, the former Justice Department lawyer who challenged the Bush Administration’s treatment of American-born Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh; Thomas Drake, the former senior official at the NSA who helped expose the massive waste and illegality of the earliest warrantless surveillance programs aimed at American citizens; and John Kiriakou, the ex-CIA officer who was the first official to publicly acknowledge waterboarding as sanctioned government policy, whom we follow closely as he attempts to defend himself against Espionage Act charges while struggling to keep his family afloat.

20] – Get over to the THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, WDC on Sat., Apr. 11 at 6 PM to see “Misconception of A Father,” the story of three fathers who must become men through the constant struggles of everyday life while living with the societal misconception that plagues the outlook of who they really are. The film speaks to several issues that continuously consume the society depicting the images of the African American men and the affect it contributes within their lives. The film also addresses some of the negative images that are constantly bestowed upon them by media, community and family alike. Email roosevelt@rooseveltproduction.com.

21] – Learn more about the bitter and largely misunderstood situation on the ground in Iraq and Syria-- Demystifying Syria - The Real Story Behind ISIS A Forum with World Renowned Experts. On Sat., Apr. 11 at 7 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Dr., Rockville, hear from Phyllis Bennis, Younes Benab and Raed Jarrar. Following the presentations and Q&A, refreshments will be served providing you an opportunity to talk informally with the speakers and the other members of the audience.

Phyllis Bennis directs the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies and is a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. Dr. Younes Parsa Benab is retired dean and professor of political science, Strayer University. An active member of the Iranian diaspora, he is author of the two volume book: “One Hundred Year History of Iranian Political Parties and Organizations (1904-2004)” and over a hundred other articles about Iran and the world in Persian and English. Raed Jarrar serves as AFSC's Policy Impact Coordinator at the Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington, D.C. Since his immigration to the U.S. in 2005, he has worked on political and cultural issues pertaining to U.S. engagement in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

The event is sponsored by Peace Action Montgomery, and cosponsored by many groups. Information on the speakers is available on the website, along with a map to the church, and you can RSVP there, as well--http://www.peaceactionmc.org/. Call 301-570-0923.

22] – The 2015 O's Public Defender Nights at Camden Yards line-up starts with a game on Sat., Apr. 11 at 7:05 PM. This is the home Opening Night vs. Toronto Blue Jays. The promotion is an AL East 2014 Champs wall art for the 1st 20,000 adults (15 years & older). Tickets are $14. This is a fundraiser. Net proceeds will be shared among MD SPCA, MD Public Interest Law Program (MPILP), University of Baltimore Students in Public Interest Law (UBSPI), Maryland Legal Aid, Public Justice Center, MD Criminal Defense Attorneys' Assn. (MCDAA), NACDL's Foundation for Criminal Justice, Association for the Public Defender of Maryland (APDM), and the Norm Uziak memorial children's scholarship fund. For tickets, contact Lou Curran at lcurran@opd.state.md.us or call/text 410-499-8899.

23] -- Sun., Apr. 12 at 10:30 AM, join the Thursday Network to see Dr. Cornel West at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel in Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, 2455 6th St. NW, WDC 20001. The internationally renowned author, activist and racial justice champion will be the featured speaker at HU's church service. Known for his provocative straight-talk, Dr. West is sure to inspire spirited debate. Afterwards, meet at Ulah Bistro for brunch and conversation. Contact Vice President Kendra Oates at social@thursdaynetwork.org. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/589327454537987/.

24] – Join us for Chesapeake PSR’s Annual Chapter Dinner on Sat., Apr. 18 from 6 to 9 PM at The Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles Street, Baltimore 21210. Our featured guest speaker is author, activist and radio host David Swanson. David will speak on trends that are driving change in our society. His talk will encompass three areas of great interest and concern to Chesapeake PSR -- peace, environment and democracy. The cost for dinner is $40. Limited financial assistance available. Please RSVP to twitehouse@psr.org or 240-246-4492.

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