Baltimore Activist Alert - March 25 - 30, 2016

50] Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here Exhibition - through Mar. 30

51] March Madness – Mar. 25

52] Justice Stations of the Cross – Mar. 25

53] Ignite peace – Mar. 25 & 26

54] Economic & Ecological Way of the Cross – Mar. 25

55] Peace vigil at White House – Mar. 25

56] WIB peace vigils – Mar. 25

57] Human Rights Education Summit – Mar. 25

58] Black Lives Matter – Mar. 25

59] Film "The Hunting Ground" – Mar. 25

60] Ballroom Dancing – Mar. 25

61] Sign up for WAT Retreat – by Mar. 25

62] Support Donna Edwards – Mar. 26

63] Job available with Little Friends For Peace

64] Sign up with Washington Peace Center

65] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records

66] Do you need any book shelves?

67] Join the Global Zero campaign

68] Join the Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

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50] – Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here Exhibition is a project that began as a call from Beau Beausoleil in 2007 for writers which quickly moved on to incorporate artists, artist books and now includes printmakers all who are responding to bear witness to a tragic loss of a center of literacy and humanity in Iraq. One of the purposes of this project is to let those in the Iraqi Arts Community know that we will not let them endure the destruction of Iraqi culture in silence, that we have a collective voice and we will use it. This was a street of booksellers, printers, and readers. This was a street where people still felt "safe" among all the words and books. How can we not see the commonality between al- Mutanabbi Street and any street in the world that holds a bookshop or cultural institution? This is the starting point: where language, thought, and reality reside; where memory, ideas, and even dreams wait patiently in their black ink.

A diverse coalition of DC-area universities and arts and literary organizations will present Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here DC 2016, a book arts and cultural festival through Sat., Mar. 5 throughout the Washington, D.C., area. Major exhibitions, programs, and events will commemorate the 2007 bombing of Baghdad’s historic bookselling street, celebrate the free exchange of ideas and knowledge, and stand in solidarity with the people of Iraq. Exhibitions of artwork created in response to the bombing will be featured at multiple venues, including the George Mason University School of Art Gallery, Atrium, Fenwick Library and the Workhouse Art Center, Gelman Library and the Corcoran School of Art and Design at The George Washington University, the Brentwood Arts Exchange, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, McLean Project for the Arts, Northern Virginia Community College, Olly Olly Gallery, and the Smithsonian American Art/Portrait Gallery Library.

 The exhibitions that are featured at the School of Art Gallery, the Fenwick Library, the Mason Atrium Gallery, and the Workhouse Art Center (plus partners) include three components: Letterpress Printed Broadsides; Artist Books; and Absence and Presence (a call to printmakers). Additionally, each gallery provides new interpretive documentary materials, hands-on workshops, and panels and conversations that will be built around the exhibitions. For a complete list of sites and dates and times go to http://www.amsshdc2016.org/contact-us.html. 

This is a list of some of the sites.  You can see the exhibit, for example, at the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St., WDC, through Wed., Mar. 30.  It is entitled “Night and the Desert Know Me,” and the curators are Shanti Norris and Spencer Dormitzer.   Also you can see this exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art/Portrait Gallery, 750 9th St. NW, Room 2100, WDC 20001-4505 through Wed., Mar. 30 -- “Come Together: American Artists Respond to Al-Mutanabbi Street.” The curator is Anne Evenhaugen.

51] – 2016 March Madness: An economic development showcase is taking place on Fri., Mar. 26 from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW, WDC, on Fri., Mar. 25 from 8:30 to 10:30 AM.   Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is having an event to tell the development community which of the public assets they will soon get a chance to bid on to develop. Join Mayor Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner for a special preview of new and upcoming projects soon to be available to the District's development community.  At this event, attendees will hear about solicitation process and response requirements, and most importantly, have the opportunity to network among potential team members across the community development sector. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dmpeds-2016-march-madness-an-economic-development-showcase-tickets-23061106390.

52] –On Fri., Mar. 25 (GOOD FRIDAY), come to the 30th presentation of the Pax Christi Baltimore Stations of the Cross for Justice and Peace in downtown Baltimore. The procession starts at noon at City Hall, 100 Holliday St, Baltimore 21202. The procession will stop at various sites in the downtown area, and a brief prayer service will be held at each site, linking that site with a traditional Station of the Cross. The procession usually ends at 2/2:30 PM. Contact Chuck Michaels at 443-846-5207 (cell).

53] – IGNITE PEACE @Lockheed Martin on Good Friday, Mar. 25 at noon.
...That we may break the chains of violence, fear, hatred, and war; that we may resist war-making and stop Lockheed Martin with acts of justice and Jesus’ love. Join the Good Friday Stations of Justice, Peace, and Nonviolent Resistance to Lockheed Martin at Mall & Goddard Boulevards, King of Prussia, PA (directly behind the King of Prussia Mall, and across from the UA King of Prussia movieplex).  Bring an umbrella in case of rain.
Call the Brandywine Peace Community, (610) 544-1818.   There will be an on-site meeting at 11a.m. for those planning on doing the civil disobedience.

IGNITE PEACE @ the drone war command center on Easter Sat., Mar. 26 from noon to 2 PM.  It’s time to rise against the remote-controlled killing and violence of drone warfare, against the policy of "endless war" and the related hatred and fear of our times. It’s time to ignite peace!  End Drone Terror, Say NO to the Drone War Command Center at the Horsham PA Air Guard Station, Route 611/Easton Road and County Line Road, in Horsham, PA. Go to www.brandywinepeace.com/events.

54] – Join an Economic & Ecological Way of the Cross on Fri., Mar. 25 from noon to 3 PM starting at Constitution Ave. & 1st St. NW, WDC.  Every year on Good Friday in downtown DC, Christians gather in an act of solidarity with the suffering of Christ and with all who suffer injustice in this world. Attendees gather at Taft Memorial Park (west side of U.S. Capitol), processing and stopping to pray at sites of national and international policy. The procession normally takes a little over two hours. Join the Faith Economy Ecology Transformation Working group for this moving and prayerful event. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1236783199682668/.

55] – On Fri., Mar. 25 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! This vigil will take place at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Contract Art @ artlaffin@hotmail.com or at 202-360-6416. 

56] – On Fri., Mar. 25 from noon to 1 PM, join a Women in Black peace vigil. A vigil will take place in McKeldin Square at the corner of Light and Pratt Sts., and another will take place outside Roland Park Place on 41^st St., across from the Rotunda.  Stay for as long as you can. Wear black. Dress for who knows what kind of weather. Bring your own poster or help with the "NO WAR IN MY NAME" banner.  When there are others to stand with, you don't need to carry the burden alone. Do this to be in solidarity with others....when everything around us says “Be afraid of the stranger.”

57] – There is a Human Rights Education Summit at UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Room 505, 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW, WDC, on Fri., Mar. 25 from 2 to 5 PM.  Join the US HR Network, HRE USA, and the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law for the first in a series on human rights education.  This event will revisit the Stakeholder Report on the Status of Human Rights Education.  Panelists and participants will dialogue about existing practices, accomplishments, and strategies for promoting human rights in curriculum, in teacher training, and in our schools and universities.  Visit http://www.law.udc.edu/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=790164&group=.

58] – 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 scheduled vigil is on Mar. 25. Black Lives Matter. 

59] – See a documentary at 617 Florida Ave. NW, WDC, on Fri., Mar. 25 at 7 PM.  It is alleged up to one in four women in higher education report facing sexual assault before graduating--a figure that becomes much higher once unreported assaults are counted. The stunning prevalence of sexual assault in colleges and universities reflects a deeply misogynistic society, where sexual violence is an epidemic.  See a screening of the documentary, “The Hunting Ground,” which reviews the factors behind the epidemic and exposes the scope of the epidemic. A brief analysis of the film and a discussion period will follow the screening. The film was written and directed by Kirby Dick, and produced by Amy Ziering. Contact the Party for Socialism & Liberation at 202-234-2828 or dc@pslweb.org.  RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/984626664952183/.

60] – 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 Mar. 25. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

61] – You are invited to the Witness Against Torture Retreat and Planning Session from Fri., Apr. 1 at 3 PM through Sun., Apr. 3 at 12:30 PM in Cleveland, Ohio. Every spring, WAT members gather to reflect on the year’s work and plan how to continue moving forward. There is simple housing available for those that are coming. RSVP by Fri., Mar. 25 to witnesstorture@gmail.com.

62] –  Together with DC for Democracy, the Donna Edwards campaign is hosting a Day of Action event on Sat., Mar. 26 at 10 AM at Donna Edwards Campaign HQ, 4500 Forbes Blvd., Suite 420, Lanham, MD 20706, to talk to voters about this critical election, which is just a month away. Congresswoman Donna Edwards herself will kick off the event and provide a strategic update on the race, followed by a quick training by Donna’s senior field staff and DFA's Electoral Director Annie Weinberg, before going out and knocking on doors. Sign up at http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/rsvp-donna-edwards-day-action/?t=1&akid=7661.1107696.nmC_oQ.

63] – Little Friends for Peace is seeking an Associate Director! See http://cts.vresp.com/c/?LittleFriendsforPeac/62044daa7b/361a8a1b5e/2126310dfa.  The new Associate Director position is a giant step toward achieving a strategic goal of building capacity to make a greater impact on the communities and expand outreach to new unserved communities. Reporting to the Executive Director (MJ Park), the Associate Director will share strategic and operational responsibility for LFFP's staff, programs, mission execution, and expansion. For the full Associate Director job posting and instructions on how to apply, click here: http://cts.vresp.com/c/?LittleFriendsforPeac/62044daa7b/361a8a1b5e/33b07f4182.

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

65] -- If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.

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

67] -- 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.

68] – 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