Friday, May 3, 2019

Baltimore Activist Alert -- May 3, 2019


60] End Drone Warfare May 3
61] Afghan Peace Talks – May 3
62] Film OUR STORIES – May 3
63] Divest from the Pentagon – May 3 - 5
64] Union Teach-In – May 3
65] Black Lives Matter – May 3
66] Free screening of THE HATE U GIVE – May 3
67] Current situation in the world – May 3
68] Looking Deeply at Iran – May 3
69] Ballroom Dancing – May 3
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60] – On Fri., May 3 from noon to 1 PM, get over to a Faith Rally to End Drone Warfare, hosted by Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, Edward R. Murrow Park, 1818 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC 20006.  The U.S. drone program is illegal, immoral and ineffective, and negatively impacts our neighbors around the world. Call for an end to CIA drone strikes, and for General Atomics to sign a commitment to not develop Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems.   After the speakers, people will walk to the General Atomics offices on 19th Street. See https://www.facebook.com/events/1981367151898383/.

61] – On Fri., May 3 from 1 to 2:30 PM, participate in After Doha, What's Next for Afghan Peace Talks?  It will take place at United States Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW, WDC 20037.  Tickets are at www.usip.org.  Afghanistan has entered a pivotal but uncertain time. A peace process to end the 18-year war has gathered steam, with talks between the U.S. and Taliban appearing to make substantial progress on foreign troop presence and counterterrorism. Negotiations among Afghans on the country’s political future have not begun, however, and last week’s conference in Doha that might have launched these discussions collapsed at the last minute. Diplomatic contacts continue, but the security situation throughout the country is dire as the Taliban gear up for what is likely to be another bloody fighting season. Hear a distinguished panel of experts examine what’s next for the Afghan peace process. Follow the conversation with #Afghanpeace.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/448506855886866/.

62] – On Fri., May 3 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, watch Our Stories, hosted by Project PLASE, Inc., 3559-3601 Old Frederick Rd., Baltimore 21229.  These are the stories of America's most vulnerable. The experience of homelessness in Baltimore City is vast and diverse. Project PLASE Inc. is launching an archival project to preserve these important stories. With the help of the American Studies and Media and Communications Studies Programs at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, these stories have been documented from some of the clients. Come to the premiere on the campus of UMBC in the Performing Arts and Humanities Building, room 132. The screening will begin at 4:45 and will be followed by a panel discussion. Suggested donation is $5. Look up https://www.facebook.com/events/783531918700248/.

63] – On Fri., May 3 at 5 PM through Sun., May 5 beginning at 1 PM, get over to the Divest From the Pentagon, hosted by the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC). Get tickets at nwtrcc.org.  REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED at https://nwtrcc.org/gathering-may-3-5-2019-logistics-registration/.  There is a Sliding Scale from $20-45 if able to pay.  Hear reports from peace advocates who have traveled to Iran, Kenya, and the US/Mexican border. They will share their experiences of US military spending and its impacts on communities. The program will include discussions and strategizing with activists from various divestment campaigns; introductory war tax resistance workshop and update sessions for current resisters; reports from tax season organizing and individual and group redirections; plus great meals courtesy and good company. The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee meeting is held on Sunday morning. For those arriving early on Friday there is a weekly vigil in front of the White House sponsored by the Washington DC Catholic Worker from noon to 1 PM.  A FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS is at https://nwtrcc.org/programs-events/gatherings-and-events/schedule/. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/306871520210475/.

64] – On Fri., May 3 from 5 to 6 PM, attend a Teach-In hosted by The Union We Deserve and JHU Sit-In at Garland Hall, Homewood Campus, Baltimore 21218.  Baltimore City teacher and organizer Cristina Duncan Evans will come talk about the exciting organizing happening right now among city educators. They are working to transform the BTU into a member-run, transparent, and social-justice-oriented union. Among their platform is a commitment to supporting student and community-led movements. They also are working towards counteracting Baltimore’s history of structural racism by intentionally promoting the voices and leadership of educators of color. The speaker will cover a little history of the labor movement and types of unions, contextualize the current situation, and explain their strategy. See https://www.facebook.com/events/493983824766406/.

65] – There is usually a silent vigil on Fridays, from 5 to 6 PM, sponsored by Homewood Friends Meeting, outside the Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St.  The next scheduled vigil is on May 3. Black Lives Matter.  

66] – On Fri., May 3 at 7 PM, see the film THE HATE U GIVE as part of the First-Friday Free Film Screening/Peace Center of Delaware County, 1001 Old Sproul Road, Springfield, PA with doors open at 6:30 PM for refreshments. Starr Carter is a teenager constantly moving between two worlds: the poor, mostly black, neighborhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed childhood best friend, Khalil, by a white police officer. Facing pressures from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what she believes to be right.  This is critically-acclaimed film is filled with immediacy and urgency but also much heart and soul. And love for family and community.  Watch the trailer:  https://youtu.be/ZuSFlrWmgAg   Directions and more are at www.delcopeacecenter.org . Or call the Brandywine Peace Community, 484-574-1148.

The film is directed by George Tillman, Jr., and the screenplay is by Audrey Wells, based on the bestseller by Angie Thomas. It stars Russell Hornsby, Regina Hall, Anthony Mackie, Issa Rae and rapper-actor Common.

67] -- Check out An Evening with Peter Kuznick on Fri., May 3  from 7 to 8 PM, presumably at the Embassy of Venezuela, 1099 30th St. NW, WDC 20007.  RSVP at https://www.codepink.org/dc_may_3_peter_kuznick?utm_campaign=dc_april_29_venezuela&utm_medium=email&utm_source=codepink.   Kuznick, professor at American University and co-author with Oliver Stone of "The Untold History of the United States" will speak about the current state of the world. This will be followed by a conversation about how you can join the movement to demilitarize and bring peace to our world. Remember the situation at the embassy is very fluid.

68] – On Fri., May 3 at 7:30 PM, Paki Wieland will expound on Looking Deeply at Iran in the Context of U.S. Foreign Policy at Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, 503 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, WDC 20010.  The saber rattlers in the current administration can put fear in the hearts of everyone from the U.S. to Iran. Located by Washington in the original "axis of evil," Iran remains in the crosshair of those saber rattlers. Paki recently visited Iran on a CODEPINK delegation. She will share her experiences and invite discussion of the various ways we confront the U.S. Empire. Paki, a long-time peace and justice activist, is a friend of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. She acts from a spirituality steeped in the Catholic faith which today produces Buddhist flowering. She is currently the host at the Washington, D.C. CodePink house, where she offers hospitality modeled on the CW tradition.  Contact the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Kathy Boylan by phone 202-882-9649 or Art Laffin by email artlaffin@hotmail.com. 

69] – There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at 8 PM.  Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St.  Drive on campus by taking the third left turn. The next dance will be on May 3. Call Dave Greene at 301-570-3283; or email eneergdivad@gmail.com.

To be considered

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

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