Baltimore Activist Alert July 16 - 18, 2017

Baltimore Activist Alert July 16 - 18, 2017

"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 mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.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] Progressive Maryland will be canvassing – July 16

6] Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) Benefit Day – July 16

7] “Food Insecurity in Maryland” – July 16

8] Green Party Potluck Picnic – July 16

9] Creating a Shared Religious Activism – July 16

10] Do you gerrymander? -- July 16

11] The Music of Protest – July 16

12] Pentagon Vigil – July 17 

13] Marc Steiner on WEAA – July 17– July 21

14] People's Filibuster to Stop #Trumpcare – July 17 - 18

15] PTSD &Refugees – July 17

16] Peace vigil – July 18

17] End drone research at JHU – July 18

18] Resisting Mass Incarceration – July 18

19] See the performance WOMEN – July 18

20] See the film GANDHI – July 18

21] “Chocolate City” – July 18

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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] -- Progressive Maryland will be canvassing all over the state! Progressive Maryland’s Prince George’s Chapter will be deep canvassing on Sun., July 16 from 9 AM to 1 PM, starting at the Starbucks at Largo Plaza, 10586 Campus Way S., Upper Marlboro 20774.  Contact Krystal Oradha at koriadha@gmail.com.

This is also a great opportunity to meet people that share common interests as you! Progressive Maryland’s main goal is to mobilize people around issues and not elections by talking through communities near you. Register at http://www.progressivemaryland.org/_prince_george_s_county_weekend_of_action?utm_campaign=pgco_july16&utm_medium=email&utm_source=progressivemaryland. Go to http://www.progressivemaryland.org/.

6] – On Sun., July 16 from 10 AM to 9 PM, attend the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) Benefit Day at Great Sage, 5809 Clarksville Square Dr., Clarksville, Maryland 21029.  For more than three decades, ALDF has been fighting to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. They have encouraged the federal government to enforce existing animal protection laws and provided free legal assistance to prosecutors handling cruelty cases.  Great Sage is honored to donate 10% of all sales to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.  Meet Executive Director, Stephen Wells, from 11 AM to 1PM.

Stephen Wells is the executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals. A native of Chicago, IL, Wells joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund in 1999, exponentially expanding its Animal Law Program, attorney network and fundraising sources.  He is committed to promoting change and improvements for the environment and animals. In 1989, Wells helped to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. Since then he served as the executive director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, protecting Alaska’s bears and wolves, owned several businesses ‑ among them a vegan restaurant in California ‑ and helped the Animal Legal Defense Fund achieve numerous victories for animals including stopping wild animal trainers in Los Angeles from abusing primates and setting up a sanctuary for hundreds of animals in the infamous North Carolina Woodley hoarding case.  Reservations are welcome, 443.535.9400.  Go to www.aldf.org.

7] – 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., July 16, the Sunday Platform is “Food Insecurity in Maryland” with Thomas Higdon.  One in nine Marylanders struggle with food insecurity, which means they are uncertain where their next meal will come from. Thomas will discuss which communities are hardest hit by food insecurity in our state, how our state and local organizations are responding, and steps individuals can take to join the fight to end hunger in Maryland. Thomas is the Volunteer Program Manager at the Maryland Food Bank and the current President of the Baltimore Ethical Society.  Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

8] – On Sun., July16 from noon until 7 PM, enjoy a Potluck Picnic, hosted by the Baltimore County Green Party and Maryland Green Party, at Double Rock Park,

8211 Glen Ave., Parkville 21234.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1032398286891512. Come together and unite for a potluck picnic at the Rich Pavilion, which has a double grill and a capacity of 75 people.  All Maryland Green Party members welcome.

9] -- On Sun., July 16 at 1 PM, come to the Gathering Place: Creating a Shared Religious Activism for a March on Washington Film Festival event at the Washington National [Episcopal] Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. WDC 20016.   As a follow-up to last year's discussion on What the White Church Must Do, this year's panel will focus on creating a shared religious activism among interfaith and interracial movements.  Why is a shared activism necessary, where is this kind of action already happening, and what will it take to strengthen and sustain individuals and institutions in interfaith movements for justice?

    Moderator Robert Raben of the March on Washington Film Festival will be joined by panelists: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Diocese of Washington; The Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Washington National Cathedral; Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; Sayyid M. Syeed, Islamic Society of North America; and Dr. Dennis Wiley, The Black Church Center and Covenant Baptist UCC -  Come to an inspiring and challenging conversation as one of many steps toward building a shared religious activism.  Register at http://tinyurl.com/ybxxgvv6.  Call 202-537-6200.

10] – What comes to your mind when you think of “gerrymandering”? Whether you draw a total blank or conjure up images of convoluted maps, you should know that gerrymandering impedes clear, fair elections.  On Sun., July 16 starting at 3 PM, join Common Cause to end partisan gerrymandering. Celebrate Elbridge Gerry, the namesake of Gerrymandering, with a tour of restaurants in different districts within Baltimore County. Each stop enjoy food and drink specials, contests and a guest speaker on redistricting reform. Meet up at one of the stops in the restaurant tour or ride in the Gerry Van with to all four locations! RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gerrymander-meander-2-join-the-protest-join-the-party-tickets-662409284. The four choices are Le Bistro du Village [3 to 4 PM], Tark's Grill [4:40 to 5:30 PM, Roma's Cafe [6 to 7 PM, and the Greene Turtle Bar & Grille [7:30 to 8:30 PM]. To reserve a spot in a Gerry Van to all 4 locations, make a donation - $30 for 1 person and $50 for two people.

11] – On Sun., July16 from 6 to 8 PM, enjoy a Listening Party 15: The Music of Protest, hosted by The Room - Mt. Vernon, 800 Saint Paul St., Baltimore 21202, and Baltimore Kissa Society.  The Baltimore Kissa Society presents a FREE public listening party for jazz enthusiasts.  The party will feature vinyl recordings of music concerned with protest or freedom and will be presented in the wonderful atmosphere of The Room. After a few minutes of social time, listen to about an hour of music together, and then it's open turntables for anyone who brought their own jazz records to share.  The Japanese kissa is a small establishment with a coffee shop atmosphere, tasty beer, and plenty of jazz records for perusal. The Baltimore Kissa Society hosts events where audiences can listen to vinyl recordings of jazz music with other like-minded audiophiles. Listening parties are always FREE and OPEN TO ALL!

12] -- 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 July 17, 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. 

13] – 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.

14] – On Mon., July 17 from 2 to 6:30 PM, the People's Filibuster to Stop #Trumpcare will begin, hosted by UltraViolet and others.  It will continue on Tues., July 18 from 9 AM to 5 PM.  Gather outside the United States Capitol, WDC 20515.  McConnell vows that the Senate will vote on Trumpcare THIS WEEK. We've got to make vividly clear that the public rejects this terrible bill—with continuous nonstop protest outside the Capitol, rain or shine. Join Planned Parenthood Action, MoveOn.org, SEIU, Center for American Progress, AFSCME, Health Care for America Now, Protect Our Care, Families USA, People's Action, UltraViolet, Human Rights Campaign, and more.  Gather in Upper Senate Park, the north side of the Capitol Building. Check out http://bit.ly/USCapitolGroundsPDF.

15] – Michelle Shay, MSSW, LCSW-C, will speak on Mon., July 17 at 7:30 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 6701 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855, about PTSD and Refugees.  Michelle's mother is from Syria, and Michelle made her first trip to Syria in 2011 just as the Spring Awakening was being met by violence. Call 301-840-1407. 

16] –  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 July 18.  Call 215-426-0364.

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

18] -- Krystal Oriadha, the criminal justice issue lead for Progressive Prince George's, informs us that on Tues., July 18 at 6:30 PM, there will be a brief showing of the Kalief Browder story and a conversation on bail reform and ending mass incarceration in Maryland! RSVP at http://www.progressivemaryland.org/forum_to_resist_mass_incarceration?utm_campaign=bailforum&utm_medium=email&utm_source=progressivemaryland.

Color Of Change is hosting a forum at Mt Ennon Baptist Church - Fellowship Hall, 9832 Piscataway Rd., Clinton, MD 20735. The event is called People Powered Forum: Resisting Mass Incarceration and will focus on reforming Maryland’s criminal justice system, starting with the cash bail practice of forcing un-convicted people to buy their freedom.

19] – "WOMEN", choreographed by Nicole Bindler in collaboration with three dancers from the Bethlehem, Palestine-based Diyar Dance Theater, is a hybrid dabke/contemporary dance that explores the parallels between the conquest of Palestinian land and Palestinian women's bodies. The dancers create a map of Palestine with stones on the stage and on the geography of their bodies. They perform quotidian tasks, such as braiding hair to the sounds of war outside their window. They dance to the music and the sounds of the streets in their hometown, Bethlehem. This piece is an ode to the women of Palestine told by three women who grieve the loss of their land and the sea they cannot visit. This piece is also a celebration of their vitality, resiliency, and intelligence that resides not just in their minds, but in their skin, muscles and bones. You can learn more about the performance here: http://www.nicolebindler.com/women. See a performance on Sun., July 16 from 7 9 PM at the Motor House, 120 West North Ave., Baltimore 21201.

  Last year, Baltimore Palestine Solidarity received a $2,500 grant from the Research Associates Foundation to bring the dance performance "WOMEN" to Baltimore. While the grant covers the expenses of putting on the performance, help raise an additional $1,000 for the 5-person team of dancers, choreographer and director at https://www.gofundme.com/WOMENtoBmore.

20] – See, as part of the Pacem Film Festival, GANDHI on Tues., July 18 at 7 PM at 1502 West 13th St., Wilmington. The discussant is Alan Fox, Ph.D., professor of Asian and Comparative Philosophy, University of Delaware.  Richard Attenborough’s epic cinematic masterpiece from 1982 chronicles the rise of the Mahatma’s nonviolent, noncooperation movement against British colonial rule in early 20th century India.  RSVP at http://depaceminterris.org/fw-event-slug/pacem-film-festival-gandhi/.

21] – Black Women and the Making of "Chocolate City" will be heard at 1658 Columbia Rd. NW, WDC, on Tues., July 18 at 7 PM.  Author Treva B. Lindsey, Ph.D., author of the newly released “Colored No More: Reinventing Black Womanhood in Washington. D.C.” will discuss the unique and important role of black women in making Washington an intellectual, cultural, social, and political capital for African Americans in the early twentieth century. Black women in Washington during this period fought against racism and sexism. RSVP via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-women-and-the-making-of-chocolate-city-tickets-36007618757.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.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