State of Emergency in Baltimore, and the Beat goes on

Friends,

As peace and justice advocates, we have a responsibility to aid those who are suffering, especially in Baltimore. These are serious times with serious problems in Baltimore, and we need serious solutions.

About 50 % of the federal budget goes to warmongering, and those are tax dollars which are not going to rebuild our infrastructure. And the war machine only protects the 1 %. And where are the living wage jobs? Let me know of any suggestions you might have to help solve the immediate needs of the suffering in Baltimore, as well as any long-term solutions. The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore and probably other groups want to do something. Finally, note that I am fine, and that I will be protesting John Hopkins University swarming drones research at 33rd & N. Charles Streets on Tuesday, April 28 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

Kagiso,

Max

Willa Bickham - Viva CW House
Vivacatholicworker at gmail.com
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 6:52 AM

April 28, 2015

Dear Friends,

We received many e-mails and phone calls about the situation in Baltimore. This is how we view things looking up from the bottom.

Viva House is located on South Mount St., roughly three-quarters of a mile from North Mount and Presbury Sts. where Freddie Gray was arrested and murdered by the Baltimore police. The closest fires are about 5 blocks from the house. As we write, our block is tense but safe.

The rioting, looting, and mayhem are the results of decades of police brutality and outright murders of Baltimore residents. We have our own list of victims whose murderers run free without indictments.
The unrest and anger are the results of decades of unemployment (over 50% in our zip code), decades of miserable uninhabitable housing, decades of under-funded chaotic schools, decades of the drug trade, and, it goes without saying, centuries of racism.

The violence began with Columbus and has become “as American as cherry pie.” Most recently our merciless invasion of Vietnam, our invasions and bombings of Iraq/Afghanistan, teach our youth that all of this genocide is right and just. Indeed, the “chickens have come home to roost.” This time in Baltimore. The ruling class, the economic elites, the 1% have always been protected by the military and all branches of local police. The most violent country in the world has produced citizens, unfortunately another generation of young people, who will believe that violence is the solution to all problems.

The week-long curfew will end. The National Guard will pull out. The ball parks will re-open. The dice will roll at the casino. Shopping for useless junk will resume. People who work in finance, investment, development, and tourism will go back to making money. Probably even more money. And, all of this as if nothing happened.

And life in the “outer harbor,” life in the other Baltimore where people struggle and suffer great injustice, will also continue. But we know what has been happening. The future?

As for Viva House….we open this Wednesday as usual. And nonviolence will be served too.

All the best,

Viva,

Willa and Brendan Walsh - Viva CW House
Vivacatholicworker at gmail.com

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