Baltimore Activist Alert April 22 to May 9, 2018

Baltimore Activist Alert April 22 to May 9, 2018

"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] Write Reality Winner

5] Collect donations of Hygiene Kits – through Apr. 30

6] Progressive Summit – Apr. 22

7] “Poetry of Resiliency” – Apr. 22

8] Flint, MI Water Fundraiser – through May 9

9] Candidate Forum – Apr. 22

10] See the film “Naila and the Uprising” -- Apr. 22

11] Baltimore Green Forum – Apr. 22

12] Protest at the Pentagon – Apr. 23

13] "Advocacy for South Korea's International Development” -- Apr. 23

14] Film “The Land Speaks Arabic” – Apr. 24

16] Research Associates Foundation info session – Apr. 24

17] Peace Vigil – Apr. 24

18] No more Drone Research at JHU – Apr. 24

19] Film "Baltimore's Strange Fruit” -- Apr. 24

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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 6address 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] –  On June 3, 2017 Reality Leigh Winner was arrested and jailed and later charged under the Espionage Act for allegedly releasing a top-secret document to a media outlet, The Intercept.  The document analyzed information about Russian online intrusions prior to the 2016 presidential election. Reality had been employed by a contract agency and worked at the NSA in Augusta, Georgia following her honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force in December of 2016.  Reality has pleaded not guilty to this one charge, and her defense team is working furiously to defend against the Espionage charge, but the Court in Georgia continues to rule against Reality at every turn.  Reality has been denied pretrial bail and awaits trial in a small county jail in Lincolnton, Georgia.

The impact this has had on Reality and our entire family is devastating.  Because of her special diet, Reality’s nutritional and medical needs are not met in jail.  She has been spontaneously denied mail, books, and visits.  In order to assist in her defense, she must be transported to the Federal Courthouse in Augusta, Georgia and spends up to 12 hours in full shackles and is strip-searched multiple times during the day. Please write to Reality at Reality L. Winner, Inmate # 3342, Lincoln County Jail, PO Box 970, Lincolnton, GA 30817.

5] – During the month of April, Havenwood Presbyterian Church, 100 E Ridgely Rd., Lutherville 21093, will collect donations of Hygiene Kits to help CWS help those touched by disaster. Church World Service (CWS) Kits are small packages of supplies assembled by volunteers and shipped to families and communities in need around the world. In the face of natural disasters, violence, or grinding poverty, hygiene kits can mean the difference between sickness and health for struggling families. 132,096 Hygiene Kits were shipped to Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and Cuba in the immediate aftermath of the hurricanes.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/193934531383504/ to discover what should be in a kit. Monetary contributions in lieu of kits is accepted. Make checks payable to Havenwood and mark Hygiene in the memo line. Mail to 100 E. Ridgely Rd - Timonium, MD 21093.

6] – Come to the Silver Spring Civic Building, Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring on Sun., April 22 from 9:30 AM to 4 PM and discuss the future of the movement, while developing a plan for each chapter to mobilize for the 2018 Democratic Primaries.  Hear from Ben Jealous and national Our Revolution Leaders.  Contact Bob Muehlenkamp, chair of Our Revolution Maryland, at monk1944b@gmail.com.  Get tickets at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ormdsummit.

7] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there speaker and discussion from 10:30 AM to noon.  On Sun., Apr. 22, the Sunday Platform is a “Poetry of Resiliency.”  Participants will be guided in creating an interactive song with hand held percussion instruments. Linda Joy will share a poem or two while we make music and then more after we stop to talk about the relationship of intense and sometimes violent change to the cathartic nature of poetry bearing witness to that change.

Participants will read and discuss a few poems from handouts – using the work of Elizabeth Bishop, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde, Naomi Shihab Nye, Martin Espada, and other poets who speak to the topics of resiliency. Writing session: Using a line from poems handed out, individuals will create a new poem to share with the group.

Linda Joy Burke’s poetry, fiction, op-ed columns, reviews, profiles and feature stories have appeared in numerous publications including: The Little Patuxent Review, Obsidian II Black Literature in Review, and Beltway: An On-Line Quarterly. Go to www.lindajoyburke.com. You can follow her on twitter @ljoybird. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

8] –  The Flint, MI Water Fundraiser continues at the Zion Hill Baptist Church Incorporated Zion Hill Baptist Church Incorporated, 931 E Preston St., Baltimore 21202, each day at noon until May 9.  Zion Hill is on a mission to raise enough money to take 60,000 bottles to Flint, MI again this summer. The residents of Flint still need fresh drinking water. You can help by donating any amount to reach the goal. Email zionhill931@gmail.com. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/489804621416573/?event_time_id=489804741416561.

9] – The Frederick County Progressives Candidate Forum is Sun., April 22 from 1:15 to 3:30 PM at C Burr Artz Public Library, 110 East Patrick St, Frederick 21701, with Special Guests: Jennifer Brannon, Candidate for State Senator (District 3), Jessica Douglass, Candidate for State Senator (District 4) and Kavonte Duckett, Candidate for Frederick County Council (At Large).  The upcoming 2018 elections are critical to making a difference in the political landscape in Frederick County and in Maryland.  Come make your voice heard and see how you can make an impact.  Attendees will have the chance to both meet candidates and ask questions. Following the forum, there is a planning meeting to brainstorm and discuss strategies for the primary elections. CONTACT the Frederick County Progressives at frederickprogressives@riseup.net.

10] – “Naila and the Uprising” will have its Washington, DC premiere at Filmfest DC on Sun., April 22 at 3 PM and Tues., April 24 at 6 PM at the Landmark E Street Cinema,555 11th St. NW, WDC 20004. On April 22, the Just Vision Creative Director, Julia Bacha, will participate in a lively and meaningful Q&A with the audience. The film is about the legacy of the fearless women who galvanized their community in the most strategic nonviolent civil resistance movement in Palestinian history.  Email info@justvision.org.

11] – The BALTIMORE GREEN FORUM, a monthly environmental education and discussion forum, takes place on Sun., Apr. 22.  The presentation and Q&A goes from 4 to 5:15 PM, followed by announcements & networking from 5:15 to 5:45 PM.  There will be a Roundtable Discussion from 5:45 to 6:30 PM.  Finally, there is often a small gathering at a nearby restaurant.  The forum is at the Maryland Presbyterian Church, 1105 Providence Road, Towson 21286. Go to http://www.mpchurch.org/location-2/.    Celebrate Earth Day with Elliott Campbell, PhD, whose work for the State of Maryland includes estimating the value of all the ecosystem services provided to us in Maryland.

Dr. Campbell will also talk about two other related topics on which he is also an expert.  One is the MD GPI.   He has created and maintained the GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator) for Maryland.  MD was the pioneer.   Finally, he will explain why we must moderate our expectations and demands for "free" energy that comes directly from the sun.

The Baltimore Green Forum seeks to educate about and stimulate dialogue about what humans can do to make modern civilization more sustainable, including adjusting to finite resource limits and preserving biodiversity and a healthy environment. The topics are far ranging. They vary from local to planetary and from philosophical to scientific to very practical. This happens eight times a year.

BGF is open to the public and is free of charge, but donations to Maryland Presbyterian Church are collected during the meeting to thank the church for their generous gift of the space. RSVP at BaltimoreGreenForum@gmail.com or call Sam Hopkins at 410 554-0006.  Go to http://www.baltimoregreenforum.org.

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 Apr. 23, 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] – On Mon., April 23, from 3 to 5 PM, come to the GW Institute for Korean Studies, 1957 E Street NW, Room 505, WDC 20052 for a lecture series with Taekyoon Kim, Associate Professor of International Development, Graduate School of International Studies, Seoul National University.  He will speak about "Advocacy for South Korea's International Development: Escape from Developmentalism and the Asianization of Nordic Development Aid." Email gwiks@gwu.edu. Visit gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu. 

14] –  See the film “The Land Speaks Arabic” on Tues., April 23 at Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218.  This film documents the 19th century birth of Zionism—and its repercussions for Palestinians—complete with original source documents, leaders' quotations, rare archival footage,  witnesses and interviews with historians. All help to illustrate that the expulsion of the indigenous Arab population from Palestine was far from an accidental result of the 1948 war. A good way to prepare for Nakba and a place to ask questions.  Doors open at 6 PM.  Enjoy homemade Arabic food, available before and after the film. The suggested donation is $5. The evening is organized by Baltimore Palestine Solidarity.

15] – Research Associates Foundation (RAF) has announced its next grant cycle, for up to five small grants (maximum $2,500) to Baltimore-based progressive projects and groups.  The deadline for applications in this cycle is April 30, 2018.  Applications and other information can be found at RAFbaltimore.org.

An information session has been scheduled for Mon., April 23 at 7 PM at St. John's Church, 2640 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218.  Please use the 27th Street entrance (not the St. Paul Street entrance to the 2640 Space).  Meet in the Youth Room, to your right as you enter, at the end of the hall with the restrooms.  Come to meet with Rob Helfenbein and Barbara Larcom, two of the RAF board members, who will discuss the grant applications and guidelines and answer any questions you may have.  Questions and requests for additional help may also be sent at any time to info@rafbaltimore.org. 

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 Apr. 24.  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 Apr. 24 from 5:30  to 6:30 PM. Contact Max at mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net or 410-323-1607. 

18] – Come see a showing "Baltimore's Strange Fruit: A Story of Food Apartheid and the Struggle for Sovereignty" at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 615 N Wolfe St., Baltimore 21205, co-hosted by the Public Health Film Society and Center for a Livable Future on Tues., April 24 from 6 to 9 PM. This is a documentary film produced by Black Yield Institute, directed by Eric Jackson and Maddie Hardy. The film explores the intersections of food, land, and race and class politics through personal narrative and social commentary. The film journeys through the historical woes and triumphs of people of African Descent within the food system, while highlighting contemporary efforts to address the complex nature of food apartheid in Baltimore. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/baltimores-strange-fruit-screening-avenue-engagement-center-tickets-43335511682.

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