Sunday, March 31, 2019

Baltimore Activist Alert March 31 – April 1, 2019


Baltimore Activist Alert March 31 – April 1, 2019

"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] Get involved with NCNR   
4] Buy an Anti-War Veteran hat  
5] “Explore & Live Palestine” from July 11 through July 25, 2019
6] Lawyers Against War
7] SUPPORT AMAZON WORKERS OF CONSCIENCE
8] Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five – Mar. 31
9] Ending Hunger and Homelessness – Mar. 31
10] Concert for Peace – Mar. 31
11] Amos Oz memorial – Mar. 31
12] Syrian Supper – Mar. 31
13] Twitter for Social Activism -- Mar. 31
14] Social Justice Seder – Mar. 31
15] Homeless Period Campaign -- Mar. 31 – Apr. 11
16] Pentagon Protest – April 1
17] Lobby for 100% Public Funding – April 1
18] Help deliver a letter to Mike Pompeo – April 1
19] Food Rescue – April 1
------
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 U.S. wars.

To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.  Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.  

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

5] – Jeff Ross, an attorney in Maryland, is interested in gathering with other lawyers to discuss ways in which the legal profession and the law generally can be conceptualized as a peace-building and war-resisting institution and redirected to these ends. Areas to explore might include: 1) ways in which this group could support with legal analysis/writing those lawyers who are representing peace-builders/war-resisters in criminal prosecutions; 2) ways in which, from a more theoretical perspective, the law might be grounded in an ethic of non-violence; and 3) ways in which law students and young lawyers might be exposed to a non-violent vision of the law. All religious, philosophical, and critical perspectives on the law are welcome. The group might want to call itself Lawyers Against War. Jeff can be reached at 443-690-6872 and jross50@hotmail.com.

6] – If you are 18 to 35, don't miss this unique opportunity to visit Palestine! Registration is Now Open at https://kthps.org/join. For more information, please visit: https://kthps.org/.  Know Thy Heritage, Inc. is offering a Leadership Initiative “Explore & Live Palestine” from July 11 through July 25, 2019.  This is a program of The Arab American Institute.  Visit http://www.aaiusa.org/.

7] -- SUPPORT AMAZON WORKERS OF CONSCIENCE.  We are in a deep struggle to support conscience within the high tech community, which may be the only way to prevent a major leap into artificial intelligence warfare that we see the beginnings of in the expanding global U.S. drone war system.  This may be of particular interest to Johns Hopkins' Navy-funded researchers, some of whom have been working on swarming drone technology.

These are not major asks and can be a powerful reinforcement of conscience at an extremely critical moment.  Please consider circulating this link to your lists encouraging people to sign the linked RootsAction petition - https://www.knowdrones.com/blog/2019/3/6/support-amazon-workers-who-dont-want-to-work-for-war and leafletting Whole Foods in your areas. This is a link to the leaflet -- https://gallery.mailchimp.com/dd110b000ca250d868d4f419b/files/107fc695-8af9-4f7e-a523-ecd1d1dfd28f/Wholefoods_Leaflet.pdf. Should you have interest in circulating the links and possibly leafletting, contact Nick Mottern at  nickmottern at gmail.com.

8] –  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., Mar. 31, the platform address is Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. “ Fifty years ago to the day, Kurt Vonnegut’s best-known, most critically acclaimed novel was published. Slaughterhouse-Five raises several topics we will explore: “just” wars, aerial bombing, censorship, free will, religion, and humankind’s place in the universe.

Wayne Laufert has been a fan of Kurt Vonnegut ever since one of his teachers in high school suggested he read Slaughterhouse-Five. Wayne now runs Vonnegut Baltimore, a book club in its ninth season, and is writing a book about Vonnegut for the American Humanist Association. His article about Slaughterhouse-Five in the current issue of the AHA’s magazine, The Humanist, is the basis for today’s talk. Wayne has been a Baltimore Ethical Society member since 2013, and he co-chairs the Membership Committee with Janey Solwold. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org

9] – On Sun., March 31 from noon to 2 PM, the topic is Ending Hunger and Homelessness in Montgomery County, hosted by Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 818 University Blvd. W, Silver Spring 20901. This will happen after the 10:30 AM service with homemade soup, bread, and dessert, and a discussion with local leaders who will share insights into poverty and homelessness, what their organizations are doing to effect change, and how faith communities like ours can help. Check out https://www.gsecmd.org/fighting-homelessness-in-montgomery-county.

10] – On Sun., March 31 from 1 to 10 PM, there will be a Concert for Peace in Franklin Square Park, WDC.  Event will include a CODEPINK photo booth, bands, speakers, poets, DJs, HIP-HOP, tabling and refreshments.

11] -- On Sun., March 31 from 3 to 5 PM, attend the Amos Oz Memorial, hosted by J Street DC Metro at Temple Sinai DC,  3100 Military Rd. NW, WDC 20015. Tickets can be found at act.jstreet.org.  J Street is pleased to partner with Temple Sinai, and a dozen other local and national organizations as it celebrates the life of the legendary writer and activist Amos Oz (z"l). Register at jstreet.org/ozmemorial. Pay tribute to this amazing man who lifted up the stories of so many and played a crucial role in giving voice to all those fighting for freedom. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2323310574657888/.

12] -- On Sun., March 31 from 4 to 7 PM, come to a Syrian Supper and Cultural Exchange, hosted by St. John's Grace UCC , 1000 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville 21228.  St. John’s Grace invites you to enjoy an evening of fellowship and an authentic Syrian meal prepared by Madiha, a Syrian refugee whose love of cooking was passed down from her mother and sisters. Proceeds from the event will go to support Madiha's family. Adults are asked for a $25 donation, and children 12 and under, a $5 donation.  Contact Laura Prinn at prinn329@msn.com or 410-897-2534 for tickets; and Leah Hayes for all other questions at lakhayes@yahoo.com.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/348980305705485/.

13] –  On Sun., March 31 from 4 to 6 PM, get caught up with Twitter for Social Activism, hosted by Woman's Democratic Club of Montgomery County at 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville 20850. See https://www.facebook.com/events/397417570815127/.

14] – On Sun., March 31 from 4 to 6 PM, attend the 6th Annual JUFJ Baltimore Social Justice Seder at Chevrei Tzedek, 3101 Fallstaff Rd., Baltimore 21209. Tickets are at jufj.org.  Be there for a night of discussion, music, speakers, food and friends, and take action for water justice in Baltimore. Go to https://jufj.org/event/social-justice-seder-2019/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/1830628847049157/.

15] – On Sun., Mar. 31 through Thurs., Apr. 11 from 4 to 7 PM, be a part of a Homeless Period Campaign, hosted by Project PLASE, Inc., 1814 Maryland Ave., Baltimore 21201.  Tickets are at www.firstgiving.com. Join @Project PLASE in raising awareness and funds to help homeless individuals and their #homelessperiod.  Make a donation at https://bit.ly/2GRF8rM.  Challenge a friend, organization or group to show their support for the #homelessperiod and to keep the challenge going.  Post into your social media posts to keep the challenge going.

In addition to dealing with the everyday hardships that come with homelessness, people who menstruate have an additional level of hardship each month. With the lack of resources to buy menstrual products, they must choose between spending money on these products, or eating. The #HomelessPeriod Campaign is a fundraiser organized by Project PLASE in accordance with the Why Women Cry Conference. It intends to raise funds to create menstrual hygiene kits that can be given to PLASE clients and homeless people. The kits will be distributed by Project PLASE staff and volunteers. Homelessness brings trauma and health issues into one’s life. We believe menstruation care should not be a secondary choice for people, and that all people deserve equal access to period product. Please join Project PLASE in the #homelessperiod Campaign to provide everyone with equitable menstrual care. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/244516872997983/?event_time_id=244516896331314.

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 Apr. 1, 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. 

17] – On Mon., April 1 at 10 AM to Fri., Apr. 5 at 5 PM, join the National Lobby for 100% Public Funding Only for ALL Elections, hosted by the Green Party National Women's Caucus.  Tickets are at greensvsgreed.org.  Greens from all over the USA will join together during this week to lobby congress to ask them to take the public funding only pledge and also to sponsor or co-sponsor a bill in Congress to free our elections from any sort of bribery cash: special interest PAC, corporate or dark money donations. Instead - qualified candidates from every party would get an equal chance in TV, radio and printed ads, debates and appearances. This would allow other voices to be heard and the American voters to be aware of all of their choices.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1824136497702165/.

18] – If you are upset with Trump’s support for Saudi Arabia and its war on the people of Yemen or Trump’s mistreatment of the Palestinians or his refusal to close Guantanamo or his embrace of many dictatorial regimes, including Egypt, the Philippines, and Brazil, or the administration’s attempt to overthrow the government of Venezuela or the threat of war with Iran or the abrogation of the Iran Agreement as well as the INF Treaty or the likes of Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and Elliott Abrams making foreign policy, you might consider joining the Baltimore Nonviolence Center and Baltimore Peace Action at a rally at the State Department, 2201 C St. NW, WDC 20520 at noon on Mon., April 1. 
After the rally, some of us will try to deliver a letter to Secretary of State Pompeo. A copy of the letter can be made available. RSVP if you are interested in getting involved in the letter delivery. Those of us who hope to deliver the letter will meet at 10 AM at a place near the State Department to work out final details.  If you RSVP, we will inform you of the location.  Join us on April 1st in our feeble effort to say no more killing.  Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast.net. 

19] – On Mon., Apr. 1 at noon, there will be a Food Rescue at Land of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201. Food Rescue Baltimore is honored to partner with The Land of Kush each and every Monday to bring access to free vegan/plant-based food in the community. Bring a bag. Take what you want from noon to 1PM or while supplies last. No purchase is necessary to take advantage of the Food Rescue Baltimore give away. Items from The Land of Kush's menu are not included in the give-away but will be available for sale. See https://www.facebook.com/events/415842178868197/.

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

No comments: