Baltimore Activist Alert July 29 to 30, 2018

Baltimore Activist Alert July 29 to 30, 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] Pat Elder for Congress

6] Support the Duncan & Porter Hospitality House  

7] Participate in Megan Shook's fundraiser for USA for UNHCR

8] Buy an Anti-War Veteran hat

9] Adopt a cat – through July 31

10] BARCS Benefit Day – July 29

11] “Multi-Dimensional Creativity” – July 29

12] Canvas for a better choice – July 29

13] History of Sparrows Point – July 29

14] Gun violence – July 29

15] DSA book club – July 29

16] Protest at the Pentagon -- July 30

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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 hono8rable 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 the undue pressure, Reality decided to cop a plea, and now faces five years of imprisonment. Please write to Reality at Reality L. Winner, Inmate # 3342, Lincoln County Jail, PO Box 970, Lincolnton, GA 30817.

5] – Green Candidate Pat Elder is Running against Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer -- www.elderforcongress.org/elderforcongress@gmail.com/301-997-3963. Elder is a life-long peace and justice activist, who will be on the ballot in November. He is a great progressive.  Elder calls for shutting down the Chalk Point and Morgantown coal-fired stations in the 5th district. Pat is opposed to Dominion Energy’s terminal at Cove Point and other projects in the 5th. He also demands a cessation of weapons testing in the Potomac and an immediate cleanup of Superfund sites at the Indian Head Naval Warfare Center and Patuxent River Naval Air Station. He calls for subjecting the military’s ongoing environmental degradation to state oversight. 

Pat supports Medicare for all, public financing of elections, free community college. Elder supports a living wage; strong measures to correct racial injustice; eliminating the Social Security taxable maximum of $128,400; He advocates for meaningful cuts in military spending and increasing the top tax for folks making more than $2 million to 50%. That’ll pay for everything. Pat supports non-violent, multilateral solutions to the problems facing our country.

Pat plans to capture 5% of the vote and expects to open the political debate. Pat expects to run the most successful Green Party congressional campaign ever. It shouldn’t be too tough. Hoyer is awful. Spread the message on social media. Send in a dollar or two if you can.

6] – Support the Duncan & Porter Hospitality House. What's a house of hospitality without a working kitchen? Donate at https://www.gofundme.com/v2s3h8.

More than 25 years ago Vincent Eirene, of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, opened up his doors to those in need. Vince, now 65, will always put others first and has given back to the community continuously. Avoiding the regulations of official shelters, he maintains an open door policy, working with a few men at a time that usually come from the local food pantry. He helps them with everything from medical care to social services. Vince has been running his open door home on his own disability check and the miracle of generosity. I personally have been helping him secure funding for purchasing the home and keeping it livable, from small touches to large ones. It is currently in need of a new stove. Please help us raise this modest amount before harvest, so the cooking can continue at the Duncan and Porter House of Hospitality.

7] – Participate in Megan Shook's fundraiser for USA for UNHCR.  She asks, “Want to join me in supporting a good cause? I'm raising money for USA for UNHCR and your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your support. I've included information about USA for UNHCR, which helps and protects refugees and people displaced by violence, conflict and persecution. Supporting UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – and its partners, we provide lifesaving essentials including shelter, water, food, safety and protection. Around the world, we help refugees survive, recover and build a better future.  Together we give refugees the hope they deserve, restore their dignity and help them rebuild their lives.”  Established by concerned citizens, USA for UNHCR is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Donate at https://www.facebook.com/donate/430046250797823/.

8] – Get a good-looking black hat which says Anti-War Veteran in the front and Viva House 50^th in the back.  The cost is $10. Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

9] – Now is the purr-fect time to adopt and give an unwanted cat or kitten a loving, new family! During the entire month of July, the Maryland SPCA, along with 19 other shelters across Maryland, are waiving adoption fees for felines with the collective goal of finding homes for at least 2,000 unwanted cats and kittens across the state. Regular adoption procedures still apply. The Maryland 2,000 sponsor Cat Hospital At Towson (CHAT) will be offering free wellness exams for all cats adopted during the month of July from the Maryland SPCA and BAWA Partners (BARCS, Baltimore Humane Society and Baltimore County Animal Services). Click here http://www.mdspca.org/updates/detail/maryland-20001. 

Help save more lives with Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance partners–BARCS, Baltimore Humane Society, Baltimore County Animal Services and special guest Humane Society of Harford County. The standard adoption fee for cats and kittens will be waived as part of our Maryland 2,000 adoption promotion. To help you and your new feline get off on the right paw, adopters will receive a free certificate for a cat wellness exam at CHAT. Standard adoption procedures will apply for each participating shelter.

10] – On Sun., July29 from 10 AM to 9 PM, get involved with BARCS Benefit Day, hosted by Great Sage, 5809 Clarksville Square Dr., Clarksville 21029.  This local nonprofit shelter operates Maryland's largest open-admission shelter and pet adoption center. BARCS accepts and cares for all animals in need and promotes responsible pet ownership for a more humane community in Baltimore City.  Ten percent of the sales will be donated to BARCS to help them increase adoption and rescues.  Reservations are welcome, at 443.535.9400.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/209049149726550/.

11] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 2521 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion at 10:30 AM.  On Sun., July 22, the topic is “Multi-Dimensional Creativity.”  Artist Therese Spadaro and poet Karen Elliott team up to get you playing in 3 dimensions (making maquettes out of some unexpected materials) and then adding some words to give your creativity a thorough workout.  Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

12] – Join the Indivisible Team on Sat., July 29 at noon to canvas in the VA CD10 for Jennifer Wexton.  Begin at the Kelly Price’s House, 6442 Lake Meadow Drive, Burke, VA 22015.  This is one of the most flippable Congressional seats. Bring a friend, your kids, everyone is welcome to join in. RSVP at http://act.indivisible.org/event/attend-local-actions/15011/signup/?no_redirect=&akid=24977%2E839288%2E1qwKCg.

13] – A unique look at the history of Sparrows Point will be presented on Sun., July 29 from   1:30 to 3 PM at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway in Baltimore.  Bill Wolf will present one of his incredible scale models of the mills and Andrew Morton will demonstrate his amazing computer-generated simulations of the mills. Both worked at The Point and have remembered the mill in very different ways.  Bill Barry will introduce them.  Contact Bill at billbarry21214@gmail.com.

14] – On Sun., July29 from 2 to 4 PM, check out Gun Violence: Patterns, Solutions and Hope, hosted by Karen 4 Maryland at the Anne Arundel County Police Eastern District, 204 E. Pasadena Road, Pasadena 21122.  Victims of violence, Maryland residents and 2018 election candidates are cordially invited to join the community forum honoring the memory of Marylanders lost to gun violence.  Help plan to conduct a constructive conversation about the problems with, solutions to, and hope for reducing violence in our community. Seek common ground to discuss community-based solutions.  Gun violence survivors are invited to share their experiences. 2018 General Election candidates will be provided time to share their solutions.  The invited guests include Ben Jealous.   All guns are prohibited on premises.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/567348213660057/.

15] – On Sun., July 29 from 3 to 4:30 PM, join up with the Metro DC Socialist Book Group in the Kogod Courtyard, hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 8th and F Streets NW, WDC 20001.  Discuss Naomi Klein's new book "The Battle For Paradise: Puerto Rico Takes on the Disaster Capitalists."  Please read the Socialist Reading Group's Participation Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16YKfMQwWe0yvM2i9VlWJRTvH_OGGJD3_3gLc6DYnpoY/edit?usp=sharing.  All royalties from the sale of this book in English and Spanish go directly to JunteGente, a gathering of Puerto Rican organizations resisting disaster capitalism and advancing a fair and healthy recovery for their island. For more information, visit http://juntegente.org/. See https://www.facebook.com/events/2166982426869761/.

16] – 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 30, 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.

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