Baltimore Activist Alert -- January 15 - 16, 2020

32] Pruning Party for Healthy Trees! – Jan. 15

33] Swarm the Senate – Jan. 15 – Jan. 18

34] Release the Aid – Jan. 15

35] Sustainability Commission January Meeting – Jan. 15

36] Equity & Structure Committee – Jan. 15

37] DSA Phonebank for Bernie – Jan. 15

38] SOLIDARITY AND THE IMMIGRATION JUSTICE MOVEMENT– Jan. 15

39] No War With Iran - Remove Trump!  – Jan. 15 - 16

40] See JUST MERCY – Jan. 15

41] Adventures in the War Against Reality – Jan. 15

42] The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI – Jan. 15

43] Praying for Peace – Jan. 15

44] Food Justice Salon Series – Jan. 15

45] Vigil for a Faithful Democracy – Jan. 16

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32] -- On Wed., Jan. 15 from noon to 3 PM, get with a Pruning Party for Healthy Trees!  It is hosted by Blue Water Baltimore and Herring Run Nursery at 2801 N Dukeland St., Baltimore, MD 21216-2801.  Visit bluewaterbaltimore.org.  Have you ever wanted to learn how to properly prune a tree so that it stays healthy and grows tall and strong? A little care goes a long way! Help prune and maintain some of our recently-planted trees. Novice volunteers and expert Tree Keepers alike are welcome! Wear lots of layers, warm boots, and gloves.  Hats and sunglasses are also strongly encouraged.   Don't forget a reusable water bottle! See https://www.facebook.com/events/1248926451985259/.

33] -- The "Remove Trump Coalition has been swarming the Senate. The group held dramatic silent actions in the Hart Atrium, flooded Mitch McConnell's office to recite the impeachment clause of the U.S. Constitution, directly engaged key senators like Maine's Susan Collins and Iowa's Chuck Grassley, and brought the demand to remove Trump all over Capitol Hill. The Swarm is continuing on Wed., July 15, Thurs., July 16 and Fri., July 17. Meet up every day at noon in the Hart Senate Building Atrium. On Sat., Jan. 18, join the Women's March, which will foreground the demand to remove Trump.  RSVP at mikefox@pdamerica.org.

34] – On Wed., Jan. 15 from 4 to 7 PM, Raise The Volume For Puerto Rico -- Release The Aid, hosted by Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th St. SW, WDC 20410.  HUD must release the $18b in federal aid that Congress authorized more than 660 days ago. Hold the Federal and Puerto Rican governments accountable.  Puerto Rico's communities must lead a just recovery.

On January 15, Boricuas and allies in Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York City are protesting outside of HUD offices to demand the release of federal aid that should have been used long ago for protecting families and communities, who are now facing earthquakes. The protest is near the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/588970148607920/.

35] -- On Wed., Jan. 15 from 4 to 6 PM, attend the Sustainability Commission January Meeting, hosted by the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, 417 E Fayette St., Floor 8th, Baltimore 21202.  The topic is Transportation and Land Use.  Learn some of the history of transportation and land use in Baltimore. Hear a Community Perspectives on Transportation, Transportation Supportive Land Use Policy and about the northeast regional Transportation Climate Initiative. Join commissioners and staff for the monthly Commission on Sustainability meeting. Meetings are open to the public. The Commission on Sustainability is made up of volunteer members representing environmental groups, community organizations, labor unions, public health and environmental justice interests, and private industry.  Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/2775582975835891/.

36] -- On Wed., Jan. 15 from 5 to 7 PM, catch Hearing #1 hosted by the Equity & Structure Committee at the Baltimore City Hall, 100 Holliday St., Baltimore 21202.  The Equity & Structure Committee will begin hearings for the seven government reform charter amendments consisting of 19-0470 Exercise of Legislative Powers, 19-0467 Vetoes - Timing of Override, 19-0441 Charter Review Commission, 19-0382 City Administrator, 19-0381 Removal of Elected Officials, 19-0380 Vetoes and 19-0379 Ordinance of Estimates.  The Committee will hear agency reports and public testimony on all legislation. Written testimony may be submitted in advance by emailing Samuel Johnson, Jr. at Samuel.JohnsonJr@baltimorecity.gov and Chair Bill Henry at Bill.Henry@baltimorecity.gov.  This is the first hearing of many on charter amendments. Testimony will be limited. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/565247690926249/.

37] – On Wed., Jan. 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, help out a DSA Phonebank! The Baltimore Democratic Socialists of America will meet at 222 N. Charles St., 59 Charles Plaza, Baltimore 21201.  Come make calls in early primary states with other comrades using the DSA for Bernie resources provided by the national IE! January is the month of action for Medicare for All, so talk to some voters about healthcare as a human right! Email electoral@baltimoredsa.org if you have ANY questions, and please bring a phone and a laptop to the event to use the dialer! Get with https://www.facebook.com/events/1456124584563384/.

38] -- On Wed.,  Jan. 15 from 6 to 8 PM at the Eaton Hotel, Beverly Snow Room, 1201 K St. NW, WDC 20005, discuss SOLIDARITY AND THE IMMIGRATION JUSTICE MOVEMENT.  Numerous international human rights documents firmly establish the principle that no human being can be “illegal” or outside the protection of the law. Despite that, U.S. government policies continue to sanction human rights violations against migrants and immigrants - many of them women who are disproportionately affected. This session will gather, educate, and connect Women’s Marchers in advance of the 2020 March to build joint analysis about key 2020 opportunities as they relate to Immigrant Justice. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/solidarity-and-the-immigration-justice-movement/.

39] -- On Thurs., Jan. 16 from noon to 3 PM, think No War With Iran - Remove Trump!  This is hosted by the Women's March at the United States Capitol, WDC 20515. Demand that Congress stop Trump from going to war with Iran. We know Trump's actions speak louder than words and we have to be vigilant with this administration.  Take nonviolent direct action in D.C.  Meet on the East lawn of the Capitol, across from the Supreme Court• First St NE and Maryland Ave NE, Washington D.C., DC 20543.

There is a DIRECT ACTION TRAINING on Wed., Jan. 15 from 6 to 9 PM at Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Ave. NW, WDC 20005.  Go over the action plan, get all the legal details, and help organize to stop this war.  If you aren’t sure yet about whether you want to participate in the direct action portion of the action, don’t worry - there is a role for everyone. RSVP at this link to let us know you’re coming https://actionnetwork.org/events/nowarwithiran-mass-direct-action.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/2658396157588724/.

40] – On Wed., Jan. 15 from 6 to 9 PM, check out the film “Just Mercy" at 6:45 PM showing at the Charles Theater on N. Charles St., right by Penn Station.  Meet in front of Barnes and Noble at the JHMI stop at 6 PM to drive/ride over to the theater together.  After the movie, have a brief discussion about the movie and talk about how it connects with the Christian faith! Feel free to invite your friends! TICKETS can be purchased here https://plugin.retrieverapi.com/embed/7273464#/order/1027491/688267124.  "Just Mercy" is a 2019 American legal drama film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, and stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, and Brie Larson. It tells the true story of Walter McMillian, who, with the help of a young defense attorney Bryan Stevenson, appeals his murder conviction. The film is based on the memoir of the same name, written by Stevenson. Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/2483242005222086/.

41] – On Wed., Jan. 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, check out How the Future Began First in Russia, hosted by SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and The Ivy Bookshop at 3101 Wyman Park Drive, Baltimore 21211. We live in a world of influence operations run amok, where dark ads, psy-ops, hacks, bots, soft facts, trolls, and even world leaders seek to shape our very reality. In this surreal atmosphere created to disorient us and undermine our sense of truth, we've lost not only our grip on peace and democracy—but our very notion of what those words even mean.  Join SNF Agora Visiting Scholar Peter Pomerantsev, as he takes us to the front lines of the disinformation age with his latest book, “This is not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality.” Forty years after his dissident parents were pursued by the KGB, Pomerantsev finds the Kremlin re-emerging as a great propaganda power. Blending reportage, family history, and intellectual adventure, the book explores how we can reimagine our politics and ourselves when reality seems to be coming apart.

Pomerantsev is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Institute of Global Affairs at the London School of Economics, an author, and TV producer. Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/594996304646150/.

42] – On Wed., Jan. 15 from 7 to 8:30 PM, get over to Writers LIVE! Hear from David Grann, author of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” hosted by Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore 21201.  Grann is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. His newest book, “The White Darkness” is a true story of adventure and obsession in the Antarctic. His previous book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” documented one of the most sinister crimes and racial injustices in American history. Described by Dave Eggers in the New York Times Book Review as a “riveting” work that will “sear your soul.” The book was a finalist for the National Book Award and a winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best true crime book, a Spur Award for best work of historical nonfiction, and an Indies Choice Award for best adult nonfiction book of the year.

He will speak at the Central Library, Wheeler Auditorium (3rd floor).  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/555873321891993/.

43] – On Wed., Jan. 15 at 7 PM, get with Praying For Peace at the North Baltimore Mennonite Church, 4615 Roland Ave., Baltimore 21210.  Join for a time of prayer for peace in our hearts and for the world.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/525178274781540/.

44] – On Wed., Jan. 15 from 7:15 to 10 PM, come to a Food Justice Salon Series, hosted by Food Rescue Baltimore and Bird in Hand, 11 E. 33rd St., Baltimore 21218.  This is the beginning of a monthly salon series at Bird in Hand Charles Village on Food Justice in Baltimore City. Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/580791666043584.

45] – On Thurs., Jan. 16 from 10 to 11 AM, it has been 10 Years of Citizens United: Vigil to Restore A Faithful Democracy, hosted by the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) at the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Avenue NE, Room 1&2, WDC 20002.  "Faithful Democracy" marks 10 years of Citizens United. Starting at the steps of the Methodist Building and processing to section 8 in front of the Capitol.  Speakers include Sister Simone Campbell (Network), Rep. Ted Deutch (FL) and others.  Citizens United tragically opened the floodgates for corporate and dark money to infiltrate the political process.  Elevate the distorting and corrosive impact that increased PAC and large donors have had on the integrity of our democratic systems. The faith community gathers to lament the current state of politics and to call for renewal of our democracy by ending the outsized influence of money in our political system.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/807624086377349/?notif_t=event_calendar_create&notif_id=1578605488813126.

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