Baltimore Activist Alert July 9 - 12, 2017

Baltimore Activist Alert July 9 - 12, 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] Represent Maryland at the Baltimore Farmers' Market – July 9

6] Overselling of Recyclables – July 9

7] Prepare Hygiene Packs & Lunch Bags – July 9

8] Workers Defense Network Organizing Meeting – July 9

9] Pentagon Vigil – July 10 

10] Speak out at the EPA against methane – July 10

11] Marc Steiner on WEAA – July 10– July 14

12] Baltimore Welcomes Cuban Union Leader -- July 10 -11

13] Community forum to counteract Trumpism – July 10

14] Peace vigil – July 11

15] End drone research at JHU – July 11

16] David Swanson in Baltimore – July 11

17] See the film SELMA – July 11

18] Book talk on MIRRORS – July 11

19] Stop street harassment – July 12

20] Join an action to condemn war funding – July 12

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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] -- On Sun., July9 at 9:30AM, canvas for Represent Maryland at the Baltimore Farmers' Market & Bazaar at the corner of Guilford Ave. and E. Pleasant St. The Baltimore Farmers Market is in full swing for the season and it's an excellent place to sign up new supporters of The American Anti-Corruption Act (Anticorruptionact.org) and volunteers for Represent Maryland! Please do not wear anything with brands (Nike, Disney, Coke, etc.) or supporting politicians/parties (Trump, Green, Bernie, etc.). Plain colored clothes are best, or a Rep.Us t shirt. If you are new to Rep.MD and the AACA, don't worry, 

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., July 9, the Sunday Platform is Overselling of Recyclables.  Mass development of renewable resources has been proposed, almost to the exclusion of traditional fossil fuels and nuclear energy. But over-hyping and overselling of renewables may actually delay the use of cleaner and more efficient energy sources, and the efficient use of energy. Overselling renewables may reduce living standards, especially among those with low incomes and resources. The appropriate use of renewables will be discussed, as well as their important role in humanity’s future. The talk will conclude with a discussion of what will hopefully be our clean energy future, minimizing climate change and assuring our greatest prosperity. This will be the greatest challenge for the ethical community, U.S. and global citizens. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

7] –    On Sun., July 9 from 2 to 3 PM, help prepare Hygiene Packs & Lunch Bags at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 120 N Front St., Baltimore 21202.  Volunteers interested in the next cookout, it is on July 23.

8] – There is a Workers Defense Network Organizing Meeting on Sun., July 9 at 6 PM at the Harriet Tubman Solidarity Center, 2011 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/254082008331305/.  This Network will serve as an emergency network of people who are committed to mobilize in response to abuses to workers and the oppressed and in advocacy for better conditions for workers and the oppressed.  Also there will be a Special Bon Voyage for Rasika Ruwanpathirana & birthday wishes to Andre and Andrew.  Enjoy cake and a pot luck dinner at 5 PM.

9] -- 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 10, 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. 

10] – Methane (natural gas) is a dangerous accelerator of climate change—far more powerful than carbon dioxide.  Climate change increases dangerous threats to health, including heat waves, extreme storms, and expanded ranges for disease-carrying insects. Methane extraction, especially via fracking, contaminates the air, water and land and is associated with premature birth, congenital heart defects, and increased rates of hospitalizations for cardiac, neurological, cancer-related and other problems. So why is the EPA proposing to roll back a common-sense rule that would require the oil and gas industry to capture leaking methane and other gases? Tell the EPA, Room 1153, William Jefferson Clinton-East, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW on Mon., July 10 from 9 AM to 4 PM. Go to http://www.psr.org/news-events/events/speak-out-for-protection-from-methane.html.

11] – 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.

12] – Baltimore Welcomes Cuban Union Leader on Mon., July 10 from 6 to 8 PM for a Citywide Welcome & Dialogue at the Amalgamated Transit Union Hall, 126 W. 25th St., Baltimore 21218. He will also speak on Tues., July 11 from 1 to 2 PM at a special Union & Community Luncheon @ 1199 SEIU Union Hall, 611 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201.  You must RSVP to ricarra.jones@1199.org.

The people of Baltimore have a unique and wonderful opportunity to welcome and dialogue with Cuban union leader Victor Manuel Lemagne Sanchez.  He is from Cuba's National Union of Hoteliers, a Secretariat member of the national CTC (Central Union of Cuban Workers), Secretary of the SNTHT, and Deputy National Assembly of People's Power for the Municipality of Trinidad.  Lemagne is also Vice President of the International Union of Hotels and Tourism for the Americas and the Caribbean, attached to the WFTU.  Call 410-218-4835.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/318478125276982/. 

13] –  On Mon., July 10 from 6 to 8 PM, come to the Columbia Heights Education Campus, 3101 16th St. NW, WDC 20010, to engage in a community forum. Help prepare for the impacts of new federal policies on the District of Columbia.  RSVP at http://www.davidgrosso.org/events/2017/6/19/community-engagement-forum-challenges-dc-faces-in-the-age-of-trump-rknlh.

14] –  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 11.  Call 215-426-0364.

15] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. join this ongoing vigil on July 11 from 5:30  to 6:30 PM. Call Max at 410-323-1607. 

16] -- David Swanson is speaking in Baltimore on Tues., July 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Parish Center, Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, 5200 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21210.  His books will be available for signing.  Sign up here. http://joinorans.org/event-registration/?ee=62&link_id=0&can_id=9c5bbb0ed9159a7bb5318410d9b7fb18&source=email-david-swanson-speaking-in-baltimore-3&email_referrer=david-swanson-speaking-in-baltimore-3&email_subject=baltimore-event-tuesday-july-11. Surprisingly after 16 years of nonstop war, the Congress is now debating law to repeal the current Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and possibly resetting the status quo from perpetual war to peace. Join us for presentations and discussion between Cathedral of Mary Our Queen Deacon Bill Senft and the noted peace activist on Active Nonviolence, Just Peace and War Policy. Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is director of WorldBeyondWar.org and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. Go to DavidSwanson.org,

17] – See, as part of the Pacem Film Festival, SELMA on Tues., July 11 at 7 PM at 1502 West 13th St., Wilmington. Sarah Trembanis, Ph.D.; professor of History, Associate in Arts Program, University of Delaware, will lead the discussion after the film. SELMA (2014) chronicles the campaign of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. as he sets forth his campaign to secure equal voting rights for African Americans through his epic 1965 march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, the state capital. Although the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, violence, brutality and oppression in Alabama were still rampant, making it challenging for some African American voters to register in certain counties.  Following the march, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  The film depicts not only the struggle of the civil rights movement, but also humanizes Dr. King providing an insight into his day-to-day family life. RSVP at http://depaceminterris.org/fw-event-slug/pacem-film-festival-selma/.

18] – On Tues., July 11 at 7:30 PM at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, get over to an author talk –MIRRORS with YOUNG BALTIMORE ACTIVIST AUTUMN BURTON. The author of this recently published book is a 17 year-old Baltimore native and incoming first year student at Duke University. She will discuss the power of empathy for the human rights crises occurring both in Baltimore and abroad. Call 443-602-7585.  RSVP at http://www.redemmas.org.

19] – Pass the Street Harassment Prevention Act at the John A. Wilson Building,  1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC, on Wed., July 12 from 8 AM to 5 PM, hosted by Collective Action for Safe Spaces.  Tell DC City Council to #PassSHPA! They will hold a hearing on the Street Harassment Prevention Act on July 12th, and they need your help to pack the hearing room. Stay tuned for a testimony prep session with the Washington Peace Center, too! Email sarah@collectiveactiondc.org. Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/pass-the-street-harassment-prevention-act. 

This winter, CASS convened the End Street Harassment Coalition, which will work to pass the Street Harassment Prevention Act, introduced by CM Nadeau. The bill will collect data on street harassment and make recommendations to curb this most pervasive form of violence. If passed, the bill will ensure that all government employees are trained to recognize and respond to harassment. Visit https://www.facebook.com/CollectiveActionforSafeSpaces/.

20] – JOIN the NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE in RIVERS OF BLOOD II on Wed., July 12.  This will be an action of nonviolent civil resistance to call on Congress to stop funding war causing rivers of blood to flow through the US Capitol.  Meet in Union Station in Washington, D.C. in the lower level food court near Walgreens at 10 AM on July 12 for final planning meeting.  First, the group will deliver a petition to offices of Congressional leaders calling on them to end the funding for war. Then a number of activists from the group will risk arrest on the steps of the Capitol by reading Martin Luther King’s Riverside Church speech.  We invite all people of nonviolence to join us, whether you will risk arrest or not.  Please wear a t-shirt with red paint to simulate blood – especially for those risking arrest.  Bring posters. Contact max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

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