Baltimore Activist Alert - April 5 - 7, 2016

30] Vigil For Berta Cáceres – Apr. 5

31] Hear from Plowshares activists – Apr. 5

32] Victims of sexual violence in Colombia – Apr. 6

33] DC Labor Happy Hour – Apr. 6

34] Prevent sexual assault – Apr. 6

35] Housing Advocacy training – Apr. 6 & 7

36] Race Relations – Apr. 7

37] Chemical weapons in the Levant – Apr. 7

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30] – There is a March & Vigil For Berta Cáceres with members of COPINH and Berta's daughter, Berthita Zúniga on Tues.,  Apr. 5 starting at 5 PM. Gather at the World Bank, 1818 H St. NW, WDC. The World Bank has been a financier of some of the destructive mega-projects that Berta Cáceres died opposing. At 5:30 PM MARCH TO THE INTER- AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS.  At 5:45 PM Vigil at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights-IACHR, 889 F St. NW, WDC. There, join the Honduran human rights defenders present at the IACHR hearings. Honor and uphold Berta Caceres' legacy of fighting for human rights, the self-determination of the indigenous peoples of Honduras and the Americas, and against the economic exploitation of nature.

Berta Caceres' daughter, Berta Zúniga Cáceres, will speak at the vigil along with Tomás Gómez of COPINH (Council of Indigenous and Popular Organizations of Honduras), the organization that Berta co-founded and other Central American human rights defenders. 

The IACHR is scheduled to hold hearings with the Honduran government from 3:45 until 6 PM. The vigil will occur outside these hearings and will be visible to the delegates in attendance. Go to www.bertacaceres.org.

31] –Ray McGovern invites you to his class on Tues., Apr. 5 at 7 PM at the Festival Center in Adams Morgan. Sister Megan Rice and Michael Walli will speak about their Plowshares action in Oak Ridge TN, their arrests, conviction and a report on prison, jail and detention center conditions for men and women. Call Ray at 703-994-1459.   The occasion will be the final class of the Servant Leadership School course “On the Morality of Whistleblowing,” led by Ray McGovern. RSVP at rrmcgovern@gmail.com.

32] –  Access to Justice for female victims of sexual violence in Colombia is happening at NT07 Warren, American University Washington College of Law, 4300 Nebraska Ave. NW, WDC, on Wed., Apr. 6 from noon to 1:30 PM.  The constitutional court in Colombia found that sexual violence in the conflict is widespread, habitual and systematic, and ordered measures taken. Join the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in reviewing the effects of these measures. Go to https://www.wcl.american.edu/calendar/?calendar=0&month=4&year=2016.

33] –  Come to a DC Labor Happy Hour at Toro Toro, 1300 Eye St. NW, WDC, on Wed., Apr. 6 at 5:30 PM.  Join union members, organizers, activists and friends! With campaigns, actions, and elections keeping us busy, we rarely get a chance to relax and get to know each other. Let’s make space to meet up and share stories about our recent workplace victories, communal struggles, and ways to collaborate as we move forward. Want to share recent organizing victories? Thinking about organizing your workplace? Want to figure out how to get young people involved in your chapter? Let’s chat. This is hosted by the NewsGuild, and everybody who is interested in the future (and present) labor movement in DC is welcome to attend. Happy Hour food and drink specials run until 8 PM. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/1912887905604277/.

34] – In a city with higher than average rates of domestic violence and sexual assault what do survivors need from our government and service organizations? How can Baltimore City better prevent sexual assault and domestic violence and support survivors in their healing and justice? On Wed., Apr. 6 from 6 to 8 PM at 11 W. Mount Royal Ave., University of Baltimore Business Center Auditorium, there is a Town Hall about the experiences of survivors. The event will include storytelling from survivors, a chance for attendees to talk in breakout sessions and conclude in creating an agenda for Baltimore City.  This series is organized by AAUW Younger Women's Task Force, Baltimore Hollaback, The Family Arts Museum, Force: Upsetting Rape Culture, FreeState Legal and Equality Maryland and University of Baltimore. The event series will culminate with the largest display of the Monument Quilt to date, across North Avenue between Howard and Charles St. on Apr. 9. More info about the Monument Quilt is at www.themonumentquilt.org. 

35] – There is CNHED Housing Advocacy Training at WeWork, 641 S St. NW, WDC, on Wed., Apr. 6 from 6 to 8 PM.  There is also a workshop on Thurs., Apr. 7 from 6 to 8 PM at Shalom House, 1876 4th St. NE, WDC, near the Rhode Island Metro.  Do you want to speak out for affordable housing? Want a hands-on training to make you a better advocate? Each week will focus on a new area of how to speak out and tell your story. Learn about the DC’s budget process, elected officials and their roles, practice writing and giving testimony, and meet other advocates.  Childcare and Spanish interpretation available upon request. These sessions will be offered twice. It is recommended to attend as many as possible as they build on each other. RSVP to Elizabeth Falcon, Housing For All at (202) 745 -0902 x205.  Go to https://www.cnhed.org/housing-for-all-campaign/campaign-events/?utm_source=CNHED+List&utm_campaign=4a483c6d44-H4A+Writing+Competition+and+lunch+%28free%29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cb8a4cc81a-4a483c6d44-74687889.

36] – The Exploring Social Justice Series continues at American University, Letts Hall Formal Lounge, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC, on Thurs., Apr. 7 from 11 AM to 12:30 PM.  The discussion will feature Paul Butler, Professor of Law at Georgetown University, who will speak on race relations. Visit http://www.american.edu/ocl/kay/.

37] – On Thurs., Apr. 7 from 12:30 to 2 PM, Robert Mikulak, National Defense University (NDU), will explore "Crisis in the Levant: The Problem of Continued Use of Chemical Weapons" at NDU, Lincoln Hall, Room 1119, Fort McNair, WDC. RSVP at

http://wmdcenter.ndu.edu/Media/News/NewsView/tabid/15512/Article/705356/crisis-in-the-levant-the-problem-of-continued-use-of-chemical-weapons.aspx.

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