Friday, May 22, 2015

Baltimore Activist Alert - May 21, 2015


47] Help distribute peace diplomas at JHU graduation – May 21
48] Swords to Plowshares Belltower – through May 28
49] Beyond Extreme Energy Call to Action – May 21 - 29
50] Stop Fast Track – May 21
51] Nonprofit housing – May 21
52] Get help with housing – May 21
53] Help AK Press – May 21
54] Black Lives Matter – May 21
55] Teaching for Change – May 21
56] Bernie Sanders – May 21
57] Film WATER DRUMS – May 21
58] Sunset the Patriot Act – May 21
59] Sunset the Patriot Act – May 21
60] Film HOLY OUTLAW – May. 21
61] Baltimore Rebellion May 21
62] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
63] Join Fund Our Communities
64] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
65] Do you need any book shelves?
66] Join Global Zero campaign
67] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
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47] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore annually distributes peace diplomas at Johns Hopkins University’s graduation ceremonies at the Homewood campus.  Help distribute peace diplomas on Thurs., May 21 from 8 AM to 9 AM outside the football stadium on University Parkway.  Afterwards, participants will go to One World Café for breakfast.  Call Max at 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net.

48] – Come to the National Mall through Wed., May 27 at noon to witness the Swords to Plowshares Belltower.  Mourn ALL the Dead and Wounded. Rid the Earth of the Waste of War. Beat Swords into Plowshares. Let Peace and Freedom Ring. Contact Roger Ehrlich at progerehrlich@gmail.com

49] – Beyond Extreme Energy is a growing coalition of communities and individuals on the front lines—and taking casualties—in the extreme energy economy. The coalition demands to be heard, and gets in the way of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s rubber-stamping of fracked-gas projects all over the country. So BXE has issued a Call to Action. From Thurs., May 21 through Fri., May 29, BXE is heading back to the FERC building on First Street in Washington. Intensify the nonviolence campaign, while the oil and gas industry is reeling from the massive drop in fuel prices worldwide.

On the first day of action, May 21, the monthly FERC meeting takes place-- FERC Headquarters, I Street NE, WDC 20002,.  There will be a weekend of training May 24 – 25 and then four days of action May 26-29. If you can participate, sign up at http://beyondextremeenergy.org/sign-up-for-mass-action-at-ferc-in-may/.

50] – Gather at the southeast corner of the Spirit of Justice Park (the park corner closest to D Street and New Jersey Ave. SE) right on Capitol Hill on Thurs., May 21 from noon to 2 PM.  Join Popular Resistance on Thurs., May 21 for a march and rally to Stop Fast Track! Make noise (bring noise makers!), and rally around the House Office buildings to pressure House members before they go on recess. Then, the people will march down to the Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, to highlight the ecological destruction and climate impacts associated with secret corporate treaties like TPP and TTIP. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1584087055214369/.

51] – Go to the John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC on Thurs., May 21 at 1:30 PM, as each year the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development's members gather and meet with DC Councilmembers to advocate for affordable housing and neighborhood economic development in the DC budget. This is a critical time just days before the Council votes on the Fiscal Year 2016 budget.  Contact Elizabeth Falcon 202 745 0902 x205 or click herehttp://www.cnhed.org/news-events/upcoming-events/.

52] – Are you struggling to make payments on your home? Have you stopped making payments and don’t know what to do? Get help from a certified housing counselor to understand what your options are. This free seminar at 11002 Viers Mill Rd, Suite 700, Wheaton on Thurs., May 21 from 4 to 5:30 PM will help you understand the various options and what you will need to do to prevent foreclosure. Go to http://ledc.nationbuilder.com/foreclosure_5-21-15.  Contact Yesenia Rivera · yrivera@ledcmetro.org or 202-540-7431.

53] – Get over to a Social Justice Happy Hour with AK Press on Thurs., May 21 from 5 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201. For 25 years, the AK Press collective has been on the front lines of keeping anarchist and anti-authoritarian history, political theory, and even fiction in print, providing support for the movement, support for independent bookstores, and serving as a reminder that collective businesses work, even in a capitalist world. The warehouse in Oakland, CA that houses the AK Press offices and much of the collective's back stock was badly damaged in a fire. They are still publishing, but are financially uncertain. So, in addition to celebrating AK's 25th anniversary with drinks and snacks, Red Emma’s will donate 15% of any book sales during the time to the fire relief fund! Call 443-602-7585.  Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

54] – Go to the Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th St. NW, WDC on Thurs., May 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM for an event which happens every Thursday. Participants will hold signs with the names of people who were killed by police, #BlackLivesMatter signs, and other messages.  There will be a Person of the Week-- Kajieme Powell, 25, St. Louis, Mo. Killed August 19, 2014--that will be studied and remembered. While holding signs, participants are encouraged to share what they learned about this person.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1655768397990657/.

55] – On Thurs., May 21 from 6:30 to 8 PM at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, WDC, Enid Lee will be interviewed by Allison R. Brown about ways in which schools can ensure that all #BlackLivesMatter. This event is sponsored by Teaching for Change, Washington Teachers Union, and Busboys and Poets. This is one of Teaching for Change's 25th Anniversary events. See http://www.teachingforchange.org/25th-anniversary-author-events.

56] – Come to the Hunan Dynasty, 215 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, WDC on Thurs., May 21 at 6:30 PM to discuss the Bernie Sanders Candidacy.  What does it mean for DSA, the country & the progressive left? The Hunan Dynasty is about 2.5 blocks from the Capitol Hill stop on the Orange & Blue Lines of the Metro. It's also nearly opposite from the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress across Pennsylvania Ave. Go to http://www.busboysandpoets.com/events/event/enid-lee-author-of-our-own-publication-beyond-heroes-and-holidays.

57] – Get over to The Potter's House, 1658 Columbia Rd. NW, WDC on Thurs., May 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM as the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is showing "Water Drums."  A panel discussion will follow featuring Dr. Sheila Walker, Executive Director of Afrodiaspora, Inc. and Mr. Carlos Ron, Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Venezuela. See https://www.facebook.com/events/1609411739302110/.

58] –  Join an Emergency rally to oppose the PATRIOT Act on Thurs., May 21 at 7 PM outside Sen. Barbara Mikulski's office, 901 S. Bond St., Ste. 310, Baltimore 21231.  The Senate will vote this week on whether to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act. CREDO, Demand Progress, Fight for the Future, Free Press, MoveOn and Restore the Fourth are organizing dozens of emergency rallies across the country to demand that Congress let the PATRIOT Act expire. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1584258865182957/.

59] – Join an Emergency rally to oppose the PATRIOT Act on Thurs., May 21 at 7 PM on the West Lawn of the Capitol.  The Senate will vote this week on whether to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act. CREDO, Demand Progress, Fight for the Future, Free Press, MoveOn and Restore the Fourth are organizing dozens of emergency rallies across the country to demand that Congress let the PATRIOT Act expire.

60] – Honor the anniversary of the Catonsville 9 Viet Nam War draft file burning action taken by brothers Dan and Phil Berrigan and 7 others. On Thurs., May 21 at 7 PM see rare screening of "Holy Outlaw," a documentary about Dan Berrigan, at the 2640 Space, 27th & St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218.  A performance by the Charm City Labor Chorus will precede this screening.  A Q&A and discussion will be led by Joe Tropea & Skizz Cyzyk, directors of “Hit & Stay.” The screening is co-sponsored by a number of groups including Veterans for Peace, Viva House, and Jonah House. 

The documentary has been long-lost documentary.  The Lee Lockwood film originally aired on TV in 1970 on NET Journal, but has been seen very rarely. It features Howard Zinn, William Kunstler and members of the Milwaukee 14, and chronicles the life and time spent underground of Father Daniel Berrigan as he evaded the FBI and temporarily avoided serving his prison sentence for conviction for the Catonsville Nine draft board action.

61] – Come to All Souls Church Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St. NW, WDC 20009 on Thurs., May 21 at 7 PM and discuss the Baltimore rebellion, many people’s eyes have been opened to the extreme economic devastation and systemic racism that has been inflicted on that city’s Black working class for decades. Neoliberalism’s impact on Baltimore has included not only cuts to education and other services, but also massive deindustrialization of the once-booming seaport and massive white flight, transitions that were deliberately laced with racism. While developers invest in downtown tourist attractions and stadiums, the Black majority is left severely impoverished. The presence of a Black political elite that holds most major posts only shows how this racism is structural and used to attack the working class.

Join for a discussion on neoliberalism, how it has affected Baltimore in particular, and what this means for the rebellion and other forms of popular resistance. All Soul's Church is just a couple blocks from Columbia Heights Metro. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/943772722319923/.

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

63] -- 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

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

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

66] -- 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.

67] – 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

 

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