Baltimore Activist Alert – June 21 – 24, 2020

Baltimore Activist Alert – June 21 – 24, 2020

"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 Max Obuszewski, BNC, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212.  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]”The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks”

5] Fast for divestment from weapons contractors – June 21

6] Walk for Change – June 21

7] Free Food Distribution – June 21

8] Baltimore Ethical Society closed – June 21

9] Knowing Your Rights! – June 21

10] Emergency Healthcare Town Hall – June 21

11] The Navy is polluting our waters – June 21

12] Juneteenth Celebration – June 21

13] Support progressive candidates – June 21

14] Pentagon Peace Vigil – June 22

15] Food Rescue – June 22

16] National Defense Authorization Act mark-up – June 22 - 24

------

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] – Courtesy of the National Park Service and Google Arts & Culture, you can do a Virtual Tour of Five National Parks Online. ”The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks” is a satisfying escape. Whether you spend five minutes on the site or an hour, it’s an important reminder that the world is still beautiful and wonderful and weird, even in uncertain times.  Learn more about how you can take a digital adventure into your national parks: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/stuck-home-visit-these-5-national-parks-online?utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter.

5] –  On Sun., June 21 from 8 AM to noon, Concerned Catholic Activists will fast and witness to urge the Baltimore Archdiocese to stop investing in military contractors.  Contact Jeff Ross, jross50@hotmail.com, 443-690-6872 and Janice Sevre-Duszynska, rhythmsofthedance1@gmail.com. 859-684-4247. On May 11, 2020, five Roman Catholics, seeking to `follow the nonviolent Christ, sent a letter to Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore expressing their concerns about the financial investment practices of the Archdiocese. It was intended to spark a conversation: Does the Archdiocese invest in companies that are involved in manufacturing weapons?

  Unfortunately, there has been no response from the Archdiocese. Thus Sevre-Duszynska, Fontanesi and Ross will do a three-day fast and witness with Fontanesi and Ross alternating in order to care for their children.  The fast will be in front of the Baltimore Basilica, 400 Cathedral Street in Baltimore. Pope Francis inspired them:  “In a world where millions of children and families live in inhumane conditions, the money that is squandered and the fortunes that are made through the manufacture, upgrading, maintenance and sale of ever more destructive weapons, are an affront crying out to heaven.”

6] – On Sun., June 21 from 8:15 to 10:30 AM, Walk for Change in Old Town, Alexandria.  Start at Misha's Coffeehouse, 102 S. Patrick St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Every Morning, Walk. Wear shirts or carrying signs with positive messages of Equality. The only prerequisite is an able body, loving heart and a dedication to ACTION for change and EQUALITY. Each member has taken action and contributed $ to a BLM cause and continues to keep the MOVEment alive through Daily Walks. Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/2508407094

78673/?event_time_id=250840719478672.

7] – On Sun., June 21 from 10 AM to noon, get with the Free Food Distribution at Gurudwara in Silver Spring, hosted by India Development and Relief Fund, 12917 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring 20904.  IDRF and GWAPI in partnership with the Indian American Community of DC Metro Area are organizing a Drive-thru GROCERY DISTRIBUTION of 400 bags for the needy families at Guru Nanak Foundation of America. IDRF and partners are conducting many more food drives at different locations over the next few weeks to help families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. See https://www.facebook.com/events/302942714070812/.

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.  However, the meeting on Sun., June 21 seems to be cancelled.  Email ask@bmorethical.org. Visit https://bmorethical.org/events/?dd_year=2020.

9] – On Sun., June 21 from 2 to 3 PM, check out Online Workshop: COVID 19 and Knowing Your Rights! This is hosted by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore 21201.  Do you know what to do when you’re stopped by the police, especially during COVID-19? This training is to inform Marylanders of their rights so they can make informed decisions, be good witnesses when violations occur, and know their options for taking action. Email events@prattlibrary.org to receive login information via email.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/663743084434721/.

10] – Join Two Special Guests online on Sun., June 21 at 4 PM at the online Healthcare Emergency Town Hall. Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) endorses only the most committed progressive champions. PDA is proud to endorse progressive US House Candidate from New York Samelys Lopez.  Also on the call will be exemplary activist Erika Andiola.   COVID-19 is still killing people, and we’re still not seeing the leadership we need. Join Dr. Bill Honigman and special guests and discuss actions we can support to help mitigate the damage caused by this pandemic, and our on-going campaign for expanded and improved Medicare for All. RSVP here mikefox@pdamerica.org to receive the secure video conference/call numbers.

11] –  MD Peace Action is having a "seminar" with Pat Elder on Sun., June 21 at 5 PM to discuss the issue of PFAS in the Bay and the role of the military.  Maybe you saw the front-page article in the Sun on Sun., June 14 about the Navy polluting our waters, also in the Annapolis Capitol on Mon., June 15.  This is an important issue, and it is getting a lot of play. To register, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMucO-uqT0sGtQ_ClMW0GQU43-xxpEJntvJ   Pat's work can be reviewed prior to the call at www.militarypoisons.org.

12] – On Sun., June 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, get with a Juneteenth Celebration, hosted by Grace Episcopal Church and Wade in the Water, a Ministry for Racial Justice. The Grace Episcopal Church is with 1607 Grace Church Road, Silver Spring 20910. The Grace community will be celebrating Juneteenth with a peaceful vigil along Georgia Avenue. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/601826673781331/.

13] – Then, on Tuesday, we have the opportunity to keep up the momentum and elect two visionary Black leaders: Jamaal Bowman, running for Congress in New York, and Charles Booker, running for US Senate to take on Mitch McConnell. Join Sunrise, Working Families Party, Charles, and Jamaal on Sun., June 21 at 8 EDT for the final mass call of their campaigns to cap off this historic weekend and share plans to go all out in the last two days before the election.

  They’re not being called the ‘next AOCs’ for nothing—Jamaal and Charles are frontline leaders who have put forward a striking vision for where we need to go as a country. If we elect them to Congress this year, they will be some of the most powerful champions for the Green New Deal and for racial and economic justice we’ve ever had in Washington. Look at https://secure.everyaction.com/xXMUTUwUXESeV8iuIDx9FA2?ms=email-june18-text2&emci=8e2e53de-82b1-ea11-9b05-00155d039e74&emdi=0b6503f8-85b1-ea11-9b05-00155d039e74&ceid=177631.

14] – 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 June 22, 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.  

15] – On Mon., June 22 from 11 AM to 1 PM, there is a Food Rescue at Land of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201 on Mon., June 8 from noon to 1 PM.  This will continue each Monday through Oct. 26. Get some free vegan and plant-based food for the community. Bring a bag, take what you want as supplies last. 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/950858858703919/?event_time_id=950858865370585.

16] – Starting Mon., June 22 at  11 AM and again at 1 PM, Reps. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, will be involved in the markup for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. It begins in Rayburn 2118 and will also be available on Cisco Webex).  It will continue on Tues., June 23 at 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM and 4:30 PM.  Finally, it will conclude on Wed., June 24 at 10, which will take place in Longworth 1100 and on Cisco Webex. Check out https://armedservices.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F19C0C78-1610-4AC8-A7DB-6BC1D9A45809asures remain in place.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Baltimore, MD 21212.  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