Baltimore Activist Alert December 17 – 20, 2016

Baltimore Activist Alert December 17 – 20, 2016

"I speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours.

The initiative to stop it must be ours." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Friends, this list and other email documents which I send out are done under the auspices of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center.  Go to www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com.  If you appreciate this information and would like to make a donation, send contributions to BNC, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.  Max Obuszewski can be reached at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski [at] verizon.net.

1] Books, buttons and stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists  

4] Two friends are looking to buy a house in Baltimore

5] Organizing meeting for J14 and J20 – Dec. 17

6] Meaning-Making in 21st Century Western Culture – Dec. 18

7] Pentagon Vigil – Dec. 19

8] Stop Trump in Maryland -- Dec. 19

9] Shut Down the Berks County Residential Center – Dec. 19

10] Marc Steiner on WEAA – Dec. 19 – Dec. 23

11] New research on voter attitudes – Dec. 19

12] Fix troubled pretrial / bail system – Dec. 19

13] Green Party gathering – Dec. 19

14] Get Money Out Maryland conference call – Dec. 19

15] Ban fracking rally – Dec. 20

16] Healthcare rally at Andy Harris’ office – Dec. 20

17] Peace vigil in Philadelphia – Dec. 20

18] Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" – Dec. 20

19] Food and Water Watch meeting – Dec. 20

20] Wilmington in Transition meeting – Dec. 20

21] Nonviolence? – Dec. 20

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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available.  “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers are in stock. Call Max at 410-323-1607.

2] – To obtain information how your federal legislators voted on particular bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/.  Congressional toll-free numbers are 888-818-6641, 888-355-3588 or 800-426-8073. The White House Comment Email is accessible at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.

3] – THE ORGANIZING LIST will be the primary decision-making mechanism of the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR].  It will be augmented by conference calls and possibly in-person meetings as needed.  It will consist of 1 or 2 representatives from each local, regional, or national organization (not coalitions) that wishes to actively work to carry out the NCNR campaign of facilitating and organizing nonviolent resistance to the war in Iraq.

To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to mobuszewski at Verizon.net.  Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.  

THE NOTICES LIST will include only notices of NCNR actions and related information and is open to any interested person to subscribe.  It will be moderated to maintain focus & will include periodic notices about getting involved in NCNR national organizing.  To join the NOTICES List, send an email message to ncnrnotices-subscribe@lists.riseup.net. You will get a confirmation message once subscribed.  If you have problems, please write to the list manager at ncnrnotices-admin@lists.riseup.net.

4] – Janice and Max are looking to buy a house in Baltimore.  Let Max know if you have any leads—410-323-1607 or mobuszewski at Verizon dot net.

5] – There is an Organizing Meeting for J20 Resist Stop Trump and the January 14th Dr. King Baltimore UNITY MARCH.  It will take place on Sat., Dec. 17 at 1 P.M. @ Harriet Tubman Solidarity Center, 2011 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218. Call 443-221-3775. There will be a January 20 Counter-Inaugural to Stop Trump’s agenda of racism, sexism, union busting in D.C. Also there will be a January 14 - Baltimore City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. UNITY MARCH – From Trump to City Hall.  This latter event will kick off a week of actions and resistance.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/209425946180534/.

6] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 AM to noon.  On Sun., Dec. 18, the platform address is ‘Meaning-Making in 21st Century Western Culture’ with Margaret Placentra Johnston.  Johnston is the author of the award-winning book ‘Faith Beyond Belief: Stories of Good People Who Left Their Church Behind.’  The topic of spiritual development theory is just one aspect of a new perspective emerging in our culture regarding religious belief and spirituality. The beliefs on which traditional religions were formed are losing credibility due to cultural changes.  This challenges us to consider a more comprehensive appreciation of the timeless and universal human drive to find meaning and hope in the 21st century.  The author will introduce concepts from her forthcoming book, “Rx for Spiritual Myopia: an Eye Doctor’s Prescription for Seeing Beyond the Societal Ills of Our Time.”  Go to www.MPJauthor.com.  As a practicing Optometrist, Dr. Margaret Placentra Johnston has spent most of her professional career helping people see better in the physical world. But now she is on a new mission to offer clearer vision of a different kind – a broader perspective about religion and spirituality than what the conventional world typically recognizes. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org. 

7] – There is a weekly Pentagon Peace Vigil from 7 to 8 AM on Mondays, since 1987, outside the Pentagon Metro stop.  The next vigil is Dec., 19, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker.  Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649.  The vigil will be outside the Pentagon's south Metro entrance and in the designated "protest zone" behind bicycle fences across from the entrance to the Metro.  By Metro, take Yellow Line and get out at the "Pentagon" stop. Do not go to the Pentagon City stop! Go up south escalators and turn left and walk across to protest area. By car from D.C. area, take 395 South and get off at Exit 8A-Pentagon South Parking. Take slight right onto S. Rotary Rd. at end of ramp and right on S. Fern St. Then take left onto Army Navy Dr. You can "pay to park" on Army Navy Dr.,  and there is meter parking one block on right on Eads St. Payment for both of these spots begin at 8 AM.  No cameras are allowed on Pentagon grounds. Restrooms are located inside Marriott Residence Inn on corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr. 

8] –   STOP TRUMP IN MARYLAND on Mon., Dec. 19 from 9 AM to 11 PM at the Maryland Statehouse, 100 State Circle, Annapolis 21401.  Email ata-maryland+owner@googlegroups.com. We have one last chance to stop Trump. Democracy Spring, the civil resistance organization that 99Rise generated through our historic April campaign in Washington, D.C. is partnering with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Americans Take Action, and Electoral College Petition to mobilize thousands of people at all 50 state capitols on Dec. 19. They are calling on members of the Electoral College to stand up for a “one person, one vote” democracy and refuse to vote for Donald Trump.  Stand up for political equality and join your state capitol protest.

Trump lost the popular vote to Clinton by over 2.5 million ballots. His Electoral College victory in key battleground states is due to massive voter suppression of people of color, young people, and poor people. In the first general election without the full protections of the Voting Rights act, we saw over 800 polling places close, early voting cut, voter ID laws proliferate, and hundreds of thousands of people purged from the voter rolls. Trump will only win by means of an overwhelmingly undemocratic election. It is our duty to exhaust every moral and constitutional option to prevent that from happening.

On Dec. 19, 538 electors from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will cast their votes for President of the United States. They are empowered by the constitution to exercise judgement when making their decision. We believe they should honor the principle of “one person, one vote” political equality above any allegiance to an antiquated and archaic Electoral College that is concerned more with the influence of states rather than that of the people. In short, the electors can and should vote the way the people did: elect Clinton and reject Trump. Email info@99rise.org.

9] – You are invited to come to Harrisburg on Mon., Dec. 19 from 10 AM to 1 PM to help Shut Down the Berks County Residential Center.  Call on Gov. Wolf to shut down the Berks County Residential Center, so the mothers and children can be released and not spend, for many of them, another Christmas in detention. Secretary of DHS, Ted Dallas, has the ability to do this and needs Governor Wolf to direct him. Be in front of the State Capital, intersection of State St. and 3rd St., under Gov. Wolf's windows demanding that this inhumane treatment of asylum seekers, primarily from Central America, be united with their loved ones. RSVP to Yvonne Marlier, Co-Chair Immigration Justice, UUPLAN, at 215 884-4868.

10] – The Marc Steiner Show airs Monday through Friday fr6m 10 AM to noon on WEAA 88.9 FM, The Voice of the Community, or online at www.weaa.org.   The call-in number is 410-319-8888, and comments can also be sent by email to steinershow@gmail.com. All shows are also available as podcasts at www.steinershow.org.

11] – Join the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) for this important panel and webcast on Mon., Dec. 19 from 1 to 3 PM. (ET) at EPI, 1225 Eye St. NW, Suite 600, WDC.  New research on voter attitudes will be presented by Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners. This innovative research provides an in-depth look at voters’ attitudes about the critical role for enforcement of laws and regulations in a number of areas of American life. The research builds on the groundbreaking 2014 survey of voters’ attitudes and presents a strong case for active enforcement at state and federal levels. Voters of all partisan stripes strongly support increased enforcement of laws and regulations in the U.S. and in the states.

Additional remarks will be provided by a panel of policy experts to explain how these important findings can impact the work of the progressive community on health and safety, environmental, labor, and financial regulation and enforcement. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/presenting-new-research-on-americans-attitudes-towards-the-enforcement-of-regulations-registration-29999466211?mc_cid=a4742d4653&mc_eid=e80ca75913.

12] – A few weeks from now, Quakers and other concerned citizens will gather to discuss plans for fixing our state's troubled pretrial / bail system.  Currently, our system keeps more than 6,000 Marylanders daily in jail mostly because they are poor -- unable to pay the average bail bond of over $20,000 to be released until their trial dates.   During the weeks or months that they await trial--while all still are presumed innocent-- youthful offenders lose their jobs, lose their homes, and stress family-ties to the breaking point. It doesn't have to be this way. African-American & other minority families are disproportionately impacted.

Come to a Baltimore County meeting -- in the backyard of a powerful State Senate committee chairman -- to discuss what can be done to make a difference. Meet on Mon., Dec. 19 from 7 to 8 PM, with light refreshments at 6:30 PM at Beth El synagogue (Kolker Room), 8101 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore 21208. Go to the Md. Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR} website - www.ma4jr.org.

13] – 2016 has been a big year for the Baltimore Green Party! It is time to get together and celebrate with a Baltimore Green Party Potluck on Mon., Dec. 19 at 7 PM at the Party Office, 100 E. 23rd St., Baltimore 21218. Contact Marie Murphy at MarieMurphy1@Gmail.com. Bring a dish and a friend! RSVP at http://www.baltimoregp.org/baltimore_green_party_potluck?utm_campaign=decpotluck&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bgp.

14] – Get Money Out of Maryland has a weekly teleconference, every Monday evening at 8:30 PM.  Call 605-475-6711, and use the Code 1136243#.  Go to http://www.getmoneyoutmd.org/.

15] – Join a rally to support a fracking ban! There will be a hearing on the fracking regulations in Annapolis. We know that the regulations are bad, and this hearing won’t change that, but we want to have a visible anti-fracking presence there just the same There will be a press conference with health professionals and anti-fracking activists on Tues., Dec 20 at 9:30 AM at 90 State Circle, Annapolis 21401. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/716531401862253/.

16] – MoveOn members and local allies have organized a "Don't Take Away Our Health Care" speak-out on Tues., Dec.20 at noon in the parking lot across from Representative Andy Harris' office., Bel Air 21014 MD Bel Air this coming Tuesday, December 20, right when your members of Congress are back home for December break. RSVP at http://act.moveon.org/event/tell-your-senator-dont-take-away-our-healthcare_attend/5591/signup/?t=3&akid=174415.8595732.cK1JEl.

17] – Each Tuesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the Catholic Peace Fellowship-Philadelphia for peace in Afghanistan and Iraq gathers at the Suburban Station, 16th St. & JFK Blvd., at the entrance to Tracks 3 and 4 on the mezzanine.  The next vigil is Dec. 20.  Call 215-426-0364.

18] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. join this ongoing vigil on Dec. 20  from 5:30 to 6:30  PM. Call Max at 410-323-1607.

19] – Food and Water Watch will host a meeting on Tues., Dec. 20 at 6 PM at the Food & Water Watch office, 31st and St. Paul Sts. This will include a snack potluck.  So bring some snacks. Call 978-835-6230.

20] --On Mon., Dec. 19 at 7 PM, there is a Wilmington in Transition meeting at Wilmington Friends Meetinghouse, 401 N. West St., Wilmington, DE 19801-2137. Go to http://witde.delawarehourexchange.org/wp/event/wit-monthly-meeting/?instance_id=18.

21] – On Tues., Dec. 20 at 7:30 PM at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, SHON MECKFESSEL PRESENTS NONVIOLENCE AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE. U.S. social movements face many challenges. One of their most troublesome involves the question of nonviolence. Civil disobedience and symbolic protest have characterized many struggles in the U.S. since the Civil Rights era, but conditions have changed. Corporate media has consolidated, the police have militarized, dissent has been largely co-opted and institutionalized, but the strategic tools radicals employ haven’t necessarily kept pace. Our narratives, borrowed from movements of the past, are falling short.  In his brand-new book from anarchist publishing collective AK Press, Shon Meckfessel maps emerging, more militant approaches that are developing to fill the gap, from Occupy to Black Lives Matter. It offers new angles on a seemingly intractable debate, introducing ideas that carve out a larger middle-ground between camps in order to chart an effective path forward. Call 443-602-7585.  Go to http://www.redemmas.org.  

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-323-1607; 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