Thursday, June 18, 2015

Baltimore Activist Alert - June 18 - September 22, 2015


53] No fast track authority – June 18
54] Challenges that the LGBTI refugees face -- June 18
55] Korea & U.S. security – June 18
56] Deadly Force – June 18
57] Remember those killed by police – June 18
58] Welcome Honduran migrants – June 18
59] Book talk on ONLY THE STRONG – June 18
60] Race & Surveillance – June 18
61] Where are the jobs? – June 19
62] Interdependence Day at the NSA – July 4
63] Commemorate Hiroshima & Nagasaki – August 6 & 9
64] Climate chaos, poverty & war actions – Sept. 22
65] Max is looking for a used minivan
66] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
67] Join Fund Our Communities
68] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
69] Do you need any book shelves?
70] Join Global Zero campaign
71] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
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53] – The House of Representatives is voting on fast track trade authority on Thurs., June 18. Popular Resistance is organizing a Capitol Hill protest at 7 AM, across from the Longworth Building on the Capitol grounds.  House members will be entering the building for a 9 AM debate on unfair trade.  There is a likely vote at 11 AM. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/852160794867467/.
 
54] – Each year on June 20th, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and civic groups in the U.S and around the world celebrate the World Refugee Day in order to draw the public's attention of refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict and persecution. World Refugee Day promotes public awareness about who refugees are, why they are here and what they contribute and to build welcoming communities. This year, the LGBTI Caucus of the Refugee Congress will gather ahead of this worldwide celebration at HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN - EQUITY CENTER, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, WDC on Thurs., June 18 from 9:45 AM to 2 PM. Refugees, asylum seekers, NGOs, UNHCR and government agencies will network and encourage dialogue to find solutions to many challenges that the LGBTI refugees face in term of medical, educational, housing and employment issues. See https://www.facebook.com/events/817080805043318/.
 
55] – On Thurs., June 18 from 1:30-4:30 PM, James Miller, former Undersecretary for Defense for Policy, and other speakers will tackle "The Korean Peninsula and U.S. National Security." Sponsored by ICAS Liberty Foundation, the discussion will take place in the Hart Office Building, Room 216, Capitol Hill, WDC 20510. Go to http://www.icasinc.org/2015/2015m/2015psym.html. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/icas-summer-special-symposium-2015-registration-17276417229.
 
56] – Get over to Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE, WDC 20002 on Thurs., June 18 at 4 PM and join Amnesty International in launching a new report on Police Accountability in the United States: "Deadly Force." To kick-off the report launch date, artists from DC and St. Louis have joined together to create an art installation representing those in the US who have been targeted and killed by the police force. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1620115731539464/.
 
57] – Go to the Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th St. NW, WDC on Thurs., June 18 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--Yvette Smith, Feb. 16, 2014, Bastrop, TX--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/754136158037987/.
 
58] – On Thurs., June 18 from 6 to 8 PM, JOIN THE DC COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS TO WELCOME THE CARAVAN OF HONDURAN MIGRANTS FROM AMIREDIS AS THEY ARRIVE at CARECEN-DC, 1460 Columbia Rd, NW, WDC. AMIREDIS is the association of migrants who have become disabled or lost limbs after suffering serious accidents from the northward train known as LA BESTIA. Join to hear their testimonies and spread the word about the REAL consequences of US policies that are forcing people risk life and limb to head north. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/387556748094268/.
 
59] – Come to BUSBOYS AND POETS, 14TH & V Sts., 2021 14th St. NW, WDC on Thurs., June 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM for a book talk with the author Jabari Asim about his book ONLY THE STRONG.  At home in nearly every genre, Asim has written essays and poetry, and published books of fiction and cultural criticism. He also teaches creative writing at Emerson College and is executive editor of the NAACP publication, The Crisis. In his first novel, he returns to Gateway City—the African-American community of the stories in “A Taste of Honey”—focusing on four people moved in different ways by the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. The collective experiences of these individuals—a doctor, her protégé, and a pair of criminals--richly evoke the tensions and changes of urban America in the 1970s. Go to http://www.busboysandpoets.com/events/event/jabari-asim-only-the-strong.
 
60] – The NSA's targeted surveillance of prominent Muslim Americans is one of the most important aspects of the current U.S. spying regime, because it is part of the longstanding practice of using surveillance to racialize and oppress certain groups that get in the way of America's colonial and imperial project. Join a discussion of two articles from the International Socialist Review, including Race, Surveillance, and Empire.  The article is at http://isreview.org/issue/96/race-surveillance-and-empire. The discussion will be at All Souls Church, Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St. NW, WDC on Thurs., June 18 at 7 PM.  All Soul's Church is just a couple blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro Station (Green/Yellow Lines). Meet upstairs in the Tupper Room. See https://www.facebook.com/events/1601437636767655/.
 
61] – In 2013, ONE DC helped recruit over 3,000 District residents to apply for the Marriott Marquis Jobs Training Program. The Marriott Marquis received over $200 million in public subsidies from the city, including $2 million which was earmarked for a jobs training program. Of the 719 workers that completed the jobs training program, only 178 were hired. 26% is a poor return on investment for the millions of dollars in public funds the Marquis received. Join the United Black Fund, 2500 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, WDC on Fri., June 19 from 10 to 11:30 AM to demand greater accountability and enforcement of the city's First Source law and broken workforce development system. ONE DC chose to hold the press conference on Juneteenth (June 19th) because of its historical significance. Juneteenth celebrates the liberation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. 2015 marks its 150th Anniversary.  Go to http://www.onedconline.org/juneteenth?utm_campaign=may15_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=onedctrac.
 
62] -- The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore will do its annual Interdependence Day visit to the National Security Agency.  We will depart at 10:15 AM on July 4 for Fort Meade, and then vigil at the NSA from 11 AM to noon.  We will then have a 6 PM potluck picnic. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net.
 
63] – The annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration will begin on Thurs., Aug. 6 with a 5:30 PM demonstration at 33rd & North Charles Streets to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a ban on killer drone strikes and research.  Visitors from Japan will speak, and then we would eat dinner at a Japanese restaurant.
 
On Sun., Aug. 9, we will enjoy a potluck dinner at 6 PM.  Then Ralph Moore, a long-time Baltimore activist, will address the problems facing Baltimore.  If you are in a social change organization, you would be welcome to inform the gathering about your accomplishments. We are seeking performers.  Let Max know if you have any suggestions. 
 
64] -- The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance is planning an action on September 21 or 22 in the D.C. area. We will gather at 10 AM in the office of a member of the House of Representatives to challenge him/her that the wars must end, that Mother Earth must be saved and that we must eliminate income inequality. We will occupy Rep. Paul Ryan’s office.
 
After delivering a letter and speaking with staff members, we will next gather at 1 PM at the White House.  There we will try to deliver a letter to the White House, raise the same issues and risk arrest. Let Max know if you can join us in D.C. for this action.
 
65] – Max’s mechanic has told him it is time to replace his van.  If you have any leads on a used van, let Max know at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at Verizon.net. 
 
66] -- The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org.
 
67] -- 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. 
 
68] -- If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.
 
69] -- Can you use any book shelves? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.
 
70] -- 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.
 
71] – 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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