Baltimore Activist Alert – November 24 - 29, 2019

Baltimore Activist Alert – November 24 - 29, 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] Lawyers Against War

5] Call to protect Human Rights for Palestinian Children  

6] Waging Peace in Vietnam Exhibit – Nov. 24 - 26

7] Winter Holiday Gift Drive – Nov. 24 - 26

8] Nature’s Witness: Wildlife Photography Exhibit through Feb. 28

9] Co-governance training – Nov. 24

10] “Urgency and Radicalism” -- Nov. 24

11] Jewish perspective on social justice – Nov. 24

12] Heed the pope’s call to abolish nuclear weapons – Nov. 24

13] Fall Food Drive -- Nov. 24

14] Thanksgiving dinner – Nov. 24

15] Jamming for Justice – Nov. 24

16] Musical protest at the White House – Nov. 24

17] Anti-Imperialist Forum – Nov. 24

18] Pentagon Peace Vigil – Nov. 25

19] Picket with Striking Metrobus Workers– Nov. 25 - 29

20] Urge Congress to Hold Hearings on the ERA – Nov. 25

21] Food Drive for SPCA Food Bank – Nov. 25 -26

22] Liz McAlister interview – Nov. 25

23] Food Rescue Pop-Up at Flourish – Nov. 25

24] “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future” – Nov. 25

25] Get Money Out of Maryland – Nov. 25

26] DC Statehood Phone Bank – Nov. 26

27] Food Rescue at YO! Baltimore West – Nov. 26

28] Protest killer drone research at JHU – Nov. 26

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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 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] – 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.

5] -- CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE:  SUPPORT  HR 2407 -- “The Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act,” which would prohibit U.S. foreign aid from contributing to “the military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children in violation of international humanitarian law.” Additionally, it would authorize $19 million dollars annually to fund NGOs monitoring human rights abuses associated with the military detention of children and provide physical and mental health services to children who have been victims of military detention, abuse, and torture.  The Bill was introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum from Minnesota, and has found co-sponsors...BUT NOT IN MARYLAND. What if Maryland had some women in its delegation?   And, right now with the vacant seat following Rep. Cummings' death, don't hesitate to call another office and ask that your voice be heard. Call the main switchboard 202- 225-2131 and ask to be transferred to any of the following Maryland Representatives: Brown, Harris, Hoyer, Raskin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes or Trone.

6] - On Sun., Nov. 24, Mon., Nov. 25 and Tues., Nov. 26 from 8 AM to 5 PM, visit the Waging Peace in Vietnam Exhibit, hosted by the New Village Press, 1957 E St. NW, WDC 20052-0041.  November 15, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War Mobilization March on Washington, a gathering of over half a million demonstrators against the war. The George Washington University offers a series of events to educate students and the general public about often overlooked facets of the history of US involvement in Vietnam, including the impact that antiwar GIs and veterans had on ending the war. Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/508974299680430/?event_time_id=513544722556721.

7] - On Sun., Nov. 24, Mon., Nov. 25 and Tues., Nov. 26 from 9 AM to 5 PM, get with the Winter Holiday Gift Drive organized by Project PLASE, Inc. , 3601 Old Frederick Rd., Baltimore 21229. Help the clients out for a hopeful holiday season by hosting a Winter Holiday Gift Drive at your office, club, school, or organization! Email Jordan at jborkoski@projectplase.org or call 410-837-1400 ext. 121 if you would like to host a drive! Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/2183186298648674/?event_time_id=2183186435315327.

8] - On Sun., Nov. 24, 2019 through Feb. 28, 2020 from 9 AM to 5 PM, see Nature’s Witness: Wildlife Photography Exhibit hosted by the National Wildlife Federation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science,

1200 New York Ave. NW, WDC 20005. Come marvel at “Nature’s Witness,” an exhibition of 50 powerful wildlife photographs chosen to inspire conservation. Free and open to the public, this National Wildlife Federation exhibit will run until Feb. 28, 2020.

All 50 images were entries in annual National Wildlife® Photo Contests, which draw more than 22,000 images from around the world every year. Within the exhibit, one group of images titled “Nature’s Challenge” will raise awareness about some of the threats putting wildlife at risk today, including habitat loss, invasive species, disease and climate change. Another set of photographs titled “Life’s Essentials” will explore how people can help species thrive by gardening for wildlife. Kids attending the exhibit — a family-friendly event — will also be able to pick up a copy of Ranger Rick®, Ranger Rick Jr.™, Ranger Rick Cub™ or one of the National Wildlife Federation’s many other children’s publications. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2707182892665780/?event_time_id=2707182935999109.

9] -- On Sun., Nov. 24 join a co-governance training in Annapolis from 10 AM to 5 PM. Space is limited; to sign up or get information contact Beth M at beth@progressivemaryland.org. Veteran Chicago and People's Action organizer Richard Hatch examines what the emerging strategy of "co-governance is coming to mean in practice:  co-governance means that once elected, officials will continue to listen to and actively work with our communities – rather than corporate lobbyists – to draft policies and move them forward, together. We don't vote and then turn our backs, and neither should the folks we vote into office.

10] -- 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., Nov. 24 hear about “Urgency and Radicalism.”  How urgent are the crises we face? How radical should our responses be? What do different answers to these questions do to the cohesion of communities? How should we react to extremism expressed by those who feel their very survival is threatened? Hugh Taft-Morales explores these questions through the historical lens of environmentalism and anti-racism, particularly focusing on radical environmental activists and the Black Panthers. Hugh Taft-Morales joined the Baltimore Ethical Society as its professional leader in 2010, the same year he was certified by the American Ethical Union as an Ethical Culture Leader. He also serves as Leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia.  Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org. 

11] -- Join Chizuk Amuno Congregation for a series of Sunday morning learning sessions on a Jewish perspective on social justice. Each session begins with studying relevant Jewish texts, followed by presentations by guest speakers/teachers who bring an informed and personal perspective to these issues. On Sun., Nov. 24 from 10:30 AM to noon, the issue is Criminalization of Poverty with Caryn York, CEO, Job Opportunities Task Force. Chizuk Amuno Congregation is at 8100 Stevenson Rd.  RSVP at https://www.chizukamuno.org/events/social-justice-and-jewish-values-2019-10-27/.

12] -- From Hiroshima and Nagasaki to Philadelphia and elsewhere SOUND the Message of Pope Francis: ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS; Support the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty.  On Sun., Nov. 24 at 10:30 AM in front of the Saints Peter & Paul Cathedral Basilica, 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, east side of Logan Square, you are invited to continue to convey the Pope's abolish nuclear weapons message of peace during the 11 AM. Mass. Join the Brandywine Peace Community, Bryn Mawr Peace Coalition, Catholic Peace Fellowship, Germantown Friends Meeting Working Group for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, and the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia.  Call 484-574-1148 or visit www.brandywinepeace.com. 

13] – On Sun., Nov. 24 from 1 to 3 PM,  get with Eddie's Fall Food Drive, as part of GEDCO's CARES, 6213 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21212-1113. Join Eddie’s of Roland Park in supporting local hunger relief efforts during the fall series of nonperishable food drives—every weekend from now until Thanksgiving! On Saturdays it is from 1-3 PM at Roland Avenue; and on Sundays from 1 to 3 PM at North Charles Street.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/546818352787255/.

14] – On Tues., Nov. 26 from 3 to 7 PM, Safe Streets provides Thanksgiving dinner in the Brooklyn-Curtis Bay neighborhood at Empowered Church Ministries, 433 E. Patapsco Ave., Brooklyn, MD 21225-1829, hosted by Catholic Charities of Baltimore.  In addition to violence intervention, the core of Safe Streets' work is providing community programming. See https://www.facebook.com/events/2368921756569816/.

15] – Join the DC Poor People’s Campaign for Jamming for Justice on Sun. Nov. 24 at 4 PM, hosted by Maceo Kemp and Bonnie Burnett at North Capitol at Plymouth, 5233 N. Capitol St. NE, WDC 20011.Email washingtondc@poorpeoplescampaign.org. Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/709514569534230/.

16] –  On Sun., Nov. 24 and continuing through Sun., Dec. 15 from 6 to 7 PM, enjoy the music at the White House aimed at protesting the criminality, racism, sexism, bigotry, corruption and treason of the Trump administration.  This is a rally to advocate for civil rights, humane treatment of refugee children, democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech, and civility in American life. https://www.facebook.com/events/427929587801694/?event_time_id=509390132988972.

17] – On Sun., Nov. 24 from 5 to 7 PM, attend an Anti-Imperialist Forum in Solidarity with Bolivia, Chile, & Cuba, hosted by the Socialist Unity Party in Baltimore. Enjoy dinner and beverages. Discuss the recent U.S.-backed racist coup against the Bolivian people's socialist leader Evo Morales and the Indigenous resistance, as well as the popular movement in Chile against the brutal Piñera regime. Hear from speaker Leonardo Flores who was a staffer in the Venezuelan embassy in D.C. before it was invaded and seized by the U.S. and its imperialist puppet government. Flores participated in the Embassy Protection Collective and is a CODEPINK: Women for Peace activist.  Activists who attended the Anti-Imperialist Conference for Solidarity and Against Neoliberalism in Havana, Cuba will be giving report-backs on the 3-day long event that was attended by 1,200 activists from 95 different countries and featured keynote speakers Miguel Díaz-Canel (president of Cuba) and Nicolás Maduro (president of Venezuela)  See https://www.facebook.com/events/2417599055221903/.

18] – 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 Nov. 25, 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.

19] --  On Mon., Nov. 25 through Fri., Nov. 29 from 7:45 to 9:45 AM and then from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, join the  WMATA HQ Picket with Striking Metrobus Workers at 600 5th St. NW, WDC 20001-2610.  Go here for the schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/2310195405775260/. This secondary WMATA HQ picket will run from 7:45-9:45 a.m. and from 11:30-1:30 p.m. each day. See https://www.facebook.com/events/553753515478162/?event_time_id=553753548811492.

20] – Urge Congress to Hold Hearings on the ERA, which would be supported by Katrina's Dream.  Each Monday, including Nov. 25, at 8 AM, make calls to Senator Graham at (202) 224-5972 and your senators for the ERA. Hold hearings on S.J. Res 6, and S.J. Res. 5 which calls for the removal of a deadline for passage of the ERA. Click on this link https://bit.ly/2T1B8wp, and check out https://www.facebook.com/events/246467582967063/?event_time_id=246467699633718.

21] – On Mon., Nov. 25 from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Tues., Nov. 26 from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM and more dates, help with the Food Drive for SPCA Food Bank at the Annapolis Cat Hospital, 2244-48 Bay Ridge Ave., Annapolis 21403.  Consider donating to an animal in need. Details about donation drop off days, times, and items accepted can be found below. Your donations mean so much, and the entire Annapolis Cat Hospital staff thanks you! Donations accepted are unopened canned or bagged dog and cat food.  No boxed foods or treats. Call Annapolis Cat Hospital at 410-268-2287 or Bay Ridge Animal Hospital at 410-268-6994.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/397186717891355/?event_time_id=397186731224687.

22] – On Mon., Nov. 25 from noon to 1 PM, Tom Hall on MIDDAY at 88.1 FM will interview Elizabeth McAlister, a member of the Kings Bay Plowshares.  She and her six co-defendants were convicted on four charges on October 24, and will be sentenced in early 2020.

23] – On Mon., Nov. 25 from 3 to 4 PM, there is a Food Rescue Pop-Up at Flourish, 3418 Belair Road, Baltimore 21213-1233.  Bring a bag, and take home healthy, free food! View https://www.facebook.com/events/301851223848295/?event_time_id=301851350514949. This will continue into the future. 

24] – Progressive Maryland activists and your communities can find out more about the Kirwan proposals: The “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future” coalition, including Progressive Maryland and teachers’ organizations statewide, has set information sessions including a Washington County Forum on Mon., Nov. 25 at 5:30 PM at the Hagerstown Branch, Washington County Free Library, 100 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown.  Go to https://www.marylandblueprint.org/.

25] – Join the Get Money Out of Maryland Teleconference on Mon., Nov. 25 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.  Call 605-475-6711, code 1136243#.  Work only on brainstorming ideas for participation in the upcoming General Election.

26] –  Can you participate in a DC Statehood Phone Bank on Tues., Nov. 26 from 10 AM to 6 PM at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC 20004 in room G-9. Join the Washington, DC Statehood Office for a DC Statehood Phone Bank. Call state legislatures across the US to raise awareness of DC residents' lack of full and equal voting representation in Congress.   Phones, scripts, materials, and light refreshments will be provided. The Phone Bank continues each Tuesday. See https://www.facebook.com/events/673834763077915/?event_time_id=673834836411241.

27] – On Tues., Nov. 26 from noon to 1 PM, and continuing each Tuesday, come to a Food Rescue at YO! Baltimore West, 1510 W. Lafayette Ave., Baltimore 21217.  Enjoy fresh, delicious, and free food. Bring a bag. Bring a friend! Take what you want.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/403785397093000/?event_time_id=403785490426324.

28] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" at 33^rd and N. Charles Sts. on Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 5 to 6 PM. Contact Max at mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net or 410-323-1607. 

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