Baltimore Activist Alert – October 11 – 12, 2020

Baltimore Activist Alert – October 11 – 12, 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] Progressive Democrats of America need your help

5] “Police Reform and Restructuring Law Enforcement” – Oct. 11

6] Food Rescue – Oct. 11

7] SISTERHOOD SUNDAYS – Oct. 11

8] Black Lives Matter Vigil – Oct. 11

9] Healthcare Emergency Town Hall – Oct. 11

10] Arts and Action – Oct. 11

11] FESTIVAL OF HOPE – Oct. 11

12] Ranked Choice Voting – Oct. 11

13] Power in Action – Oct. 11

14] Pentagon Peace Vigil – Oct. 12

15] North Korean Economic Forum – Oct. 12

16] Land of Kush Food Rescue – Oct. 12

17] The Israel-UAE-Bahrain Deal – Oct. 12

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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] – Election Day is coming up in less than two months. Progressive Democrats of America need your help now. Sign up at mikefox@pdamerica.org to make phone calls.

5] - 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., Oct. 11, the platform address is “Police Reform and Restructuring Law Enforcement.” Though police reform has been in the spotlight recently, the need for restructuring law enforcement has been an ongoing issue for many years. Maya Wiley is an American civil rights activist and former board chair of the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board. Among her many accomplishments, she founded and served as president of Social Inclusion, a national policy strategy organization dedicated to dismantling structural racism. Until recently, Maya was an MSNBC legal analyst.  Email ask@bmorethical.org. Visit https://bmorethical.org/?post_type=dd_events&p=4246.

6] – On Sun., Oct. 11 from 12:30 to 3 PM EDT, attend a Food Rescue at St. Francis Neighborhood Center also hosted by Repair The World Baltimore. Visit www.tfaforms.com/4710389. Volunteers are needed to assist in food pick up, sanitizing the distribution area, and assisting folks coming to pick up fresh produce and BGE lighting kits with LED light bulbs and an electrical strip. Work to address food insecurity and waste in Baltimore while assisting community members! Plan on wearing a mask during the event. For accessibility concerns, please contact Zohar Berman (zohar.berman@werepair.org).

7] – You can help engage other women to defeat Trump starting each Sunday from 3 to 5 PM ET, until Nov. 3.  Join these SISTERHOOD SUNDAYS where people will make phone calls to get out the vote. Join this Sunday to make phone calls to other Women’s March members. Sign up at https://act.womensmarch.com/signup/09102020_sisterhood-sunday-form?source=em20200918&t=2&akid=371%2E508952%2EHq5HVp. 

8] –  On Sun., Oct. 11 from 4 to 5 PM, get over to a Black Lives Matter Vigil at Governor Warfield Parkway and Windstream Drive, Columbia. This vigil will continue on the second Sunday of the month through May 13, 2021. This is a public witness to the problem of anti-Black racism in our neighborhood, our nation, and our world. Wear masks, observe physical distancing, and bring your own signs. See

https://www.facebook.com/events/292559938613842/?event_time_id=292559981947171.

9] – Join a Healthcare Emergency Virtual Town Hall on Sun., Oct. 11 at 4 PM ET. 

RSVP and receive the secure codes: mikefox@pdamerica.org. Join Dr. Bill and his special guest Dr. Hae Min Cho, PDA San Francisco Chapter Head, and progressive candidate for Congress Audrey Denney, CA-01 and get updates on the pandemic and campaigns you can join to help us make America healthier. 

10] –The CCAN Action Fund [info@ccanactionfund.org] invites you to an evening of Arts and Action on ‌ ‌Sun. Oct. 11 from 5 to 6 PM ET.  Fight voter suppression in the most important election of our lifetime.  This is a 'Fight to Vote' Fundraiser," which will feature music, magic, dance, and drama by award-winning artists. Tickets are just $11.99, and proceeds go directly to the artists and the work helping underserved voters get access to the polls.  RSVP at https://act.ccanactionfund.org/page/22622/event/1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=utm_ftv&utm_content=FTV-LubDub-1020-c4+C&ea.url.id=609533.

11] – Join a virtual FESTIVAL OF HOPE on Sun., Oct. 11 at 5 PM EDT prior to the sentencing of Steve Kelly and Patrick O'Neill. It will be hosted by Code Pink at the Zoom and YouTube links below. It will also be on the Kings Bay Plowshares Facebook page. Patrick and several of the defendants will appear. A message from Steve will be shared. Plowshares activists Marcia Timmel, Susan Crane and Steve Baggarly will speak. There will also be a slideshow, music and a blessing. if you’d like to receive a reminder on Sunday, you can register at www.codepink.org/kingsbay_festivalofhope. The Zoom link is at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86135062251. See CODEPINK's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSTEGsYwuvPpwjtIufg7gzA. Check out the Kings Bay Plowshares Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Kingsbayplowshares/. Steve and Patrick will be sentenced on Thurs., Oct. 15.

12] – Hear from Ihssane Leckey and Jesse Mermell on Ranked Choice Voting on Sun., Oct. 11 from 7 to 8 PM.  Sign up for this Online Event at http://masspeaceaction.org/venue/online-event/?emci=df5ae87e-3b07-eb11-96f5-00155d03affc&emdi=3839213b-3c07-eb11-96f5-00155d03affc&ceid=269591. This is part of an Our Revolution Virtual Leadership Summit, and the focus of this Summit meeting will be on Ranked Choice Voting and the campaign to pass Question 2, the Ranked Choice Voting ballot initiative in MA. Two progressive candidates for Congress in CD4, Jesse Mermell who came in second by only about a thousand votes and Ihssane Leckey, the endorsed candidate, whose votes combined with Jesse’s would have demolished the rest of the field, will each be speaking. How sad for Congressional District 4 that it does not have Ranked Choice Voting, yet. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has come out strongly in favor of RCV. Sometime will also be spent focusing on the national elections and what can be done to support and elect progressives and anti-fascists.

13] – Join the Power in Action online rally series to find out how you can take action to make an America for all of us.  Ballots are already being cast in what is no doubt the most important election of our lifetimes. It's up to all of us to ensure our votes are cast—and counted. But this election brings unprecedented challenges: We're voting in the midst of climate disasters, the global pandemic, a relentless news cycle, and so many attacks on our communities.  That's why MoveOn is hosting Power in Action, a series of #YourVoteIsPower national organizing livestreams featuring all-star speakers, movement leaders, and grassroots activists. The Power in Action national organizing livestreams will ensure you have everything you need to inspire your community to vote.  Sign up at https://act.moveon.org/signup/power-in-action/?source=mo&t=1&akid=278084%2E37684438%2E90M8P4.  Each Power in Action national organizing livestream will begin on Sunday at 8 PM ET through Nov. 1 and will be viewed on a special page just for this series. When you RSVP, you'll receive a special link and a reminder email to make sure you're able to participate.

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 Oct. 12, 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] – The GW Institute for Korean Studies [gwiks@gwu.edu] is hosting on Mon., Oct. 12 from 9 to 11 AM and Tues., Oct. 13 from 9 to 11 AM the North Korea Economic Forum Annual Conference (Part II).  The experts will be Researching North Korea: Sources, Methods, and Pitfalls. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-2nd-north-korea-economic-forum-annual-conference-part-ii-tickets-123451953115.

16] – On Mon., Oct. 12 from 11 AM to 1 PM, there is a Food Rescue at Land of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201.  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.

17] – The American Friends of Combatants for Peace is hosting The Israel-UAE-Bahrain Deal: how will it impact Israel, Palestine and the American Elections.  This will happen on Mon., Oct. 12 at 1 PM ET.  Register at https://secure.everyaction.com/jidrQjgnik-uLaelNMY6ZQ2?emci=1cd28414-5107-eb11-96f5-00155d03affc&emdi=ea1d2ba4-5807-eb11-96f5-00155d03affc&ceid=8142762.  Nizar Farsakh is a trainer on leadership, negotiations and advocacy with extensive experience across the Middle East and North Africa. Between 2003 and 2008, Nizar was a member of the Palestinian negotiating team advising senior Palestinian leaders including President Abbas, Prime Minister Fayyad and various ministries. Currently, Nizar teaches negotiations at George Washington’s Elliot School of International Affairs and is involved in several non-violence initiatives in Palestine/Israel and the US. He is also chair of the board of the Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington D.C.  Galia Golan, PhD, has been a leading Israeli peace activist and scholar for many decades, having co-founded and served in the leadership of Peace Now and a number of women’s local and international peace groups. Currently she a leading member of Combatants for Peace. Professor Golan is the author of ten single-authored books, most recent of which is Israeli Peacemaking since 1967: Factors Behind the Breakthroughs and Failures.

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