Baltimore Activist Alert -- November 11 - 12, 2020

29] Shop Fair Trade -- Nov. 10 – Nov. 22

30] Finding Hope in Extreme Weather -- Nov. 11

31] Armistice Day instead of Veterans Day -- Nov. 11

32] Food Rescue – Nov. 11

33] International Peace Bureau webinar – Nov. 11

34] Trumpism isn’t going away – Nov. 11

35] Safety through Solidarity Power Hour – Nov. 11

36] Reclaim Armistice Day – Nov. 11

37] Life & Witness of Ben Salmon – Nov. 11

38] Nuclear Weapons and International Law – Nov. 12

39] Plowshares sentencing – Nov. 12 - 13

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29] –- The Immigration Outreach Service Center [mailto:jean-marie@ioscbaltimore.ccsend.com] alerted us to a Collective Virtual Alternative Gifts Fair with sales taking place from Tues., Nov. 10 through Thurs., Nov. 22.  In the midst of a pandemic, Do Alternative Gifts really matter? Maybe now. more than ever.  Over the years, Alternative Gifts at St. Matthew has been a connection to missions and ministries doing essential work locally and around the world. The Alternative Gifts sale promotes fair trade around the globe, enabling producers, companies, advocates, and organizations to put people and the planet first. Fair Trade promotes safe conditions, protects the environment, builds sustainable livelihoods, and helps producers to earn additional money to empower and uplift their communities. These workers who promote Fair Trade are Comboni Sisters in Sudan, hospice workers in Tanzania, and IOSC tutors in Baltimore. They are family farmers tending fields and orchards, and church ministers nurturing our faith.

Go to St. Matthew Cross Cultural/Fair Trade Catalog at https://files.constantcontact.com/dab7619c001/0391bf9d-dbae-4899-9ca7-f52f492aa412.pdf.  Submit your list to Barbara at bjmetz51@gmail.com. Deliver it to the rectory or mail it to 5401 Lock Raven Blvd., Baltimore 21239. Pickups take place outside on Sat., Nov. 14 from 10 AM to noon at church entrance, Tues., Nov. 21 from 10 AM to noon at church entrance and Sun., Nov. 22 from 12:30 to 2 PM at rectory. Make checks out to St. Matthew Fair Trade. Call 410-323-8564 or email IOSCbaltimore.org.

30] – Finding Hope in Extreme Weather [Climate Chaos] is on Wed., Nov. 11 from 10 to 11 AM with Rev. Vernon K. Walker by Zoom.  Sign up at tinyurl.com/revwalker. You will receive a message “You need access” and should request access, and will then be able to join the event.

31] – Gather for an hour with masks and do social distancing on Wed., Nov. 11 at 11 AM at the War Memorial in downtown Baltimore at Gay and Fayette Sts. The Phil Berrigan Memorial Chapter of Veterans for Peace and allies will reclaim Armistice Day as a day of remembrance and mourning, as it was created after World War 1. National VFP has had a campaign to Reclaim Armistice Day for years, and Baltimore VFP is proud to join the effort. Sadly Veterans Day is yet another glorification of war, and VFP challenges that mindset as it seeks to abolish ALL war.  A "swords into plowshares" statue will commemorate Armistice Day instead of Veterans Day, a day of peace, not a day for warriors.  Get in a photo op and make some livestream comments for social media.  Speakers will include Baltimore VFP poet laureate and Viet Nam era nurse Madeleine Mysko, Baltimore VFP co-founder and coordinator Ellen Barfield, and others.  Contact Ellen Barfield at ellene4pj AT yahoo DOT com or 410-243-5876.

32] – On Wednesdays, at noon, get with a Food Rescue at Umar Boxing, 1217 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21217-3535.  This will continue through Nov. 11. Bring a bag, take delicious, high quality, and nutritious free food! Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/446288255935427/?event_time_id=446288312602088. 

33] – The International Peace Bureau is organizing a webinar about the implications of Biden’s victory at noon on Wed., Nov. 11. Speakers include Joe Gerson, Emily Rubino of Peace Action in New York and others. Registration details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ipb1910/photos/a.155079897867272/4574279855947232/?type=3.

34] –This week Jim Zogby will discuss what’s clear from last week’s election: Joe Biden won; Trumpism isn’t going away; and it’s going to stay ugly in Washington.  You can read his most recent column, "These Things Are Clear.", at https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/elections-2020-why-trump-may-not-concede-1.75118947?emci=7a70f439-a422-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&emdi=95a2c1cc-6d23-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&ceid=389907.  Register to receive the dial-in information for the Zoom call on Wed., Nov. 11 from 2 to 2:30 PM ET.  After you register, you will automatically get the dial-in information for the call: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpc--vqjwpEtycnQibSIlM63Ip0bd4ir17?emci=7a70f439-a422-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&emdi=95a2c1cc-6d23-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&ceid=389907.

35] –   Every Wednesday for the next six weeks, Jewish Voice for Peace is hosting the Safety through Solidarity Power Hour, a one-stop virtual gathering to take collective action, from the U.S. to Palestine, to learn skills for the fights ahead and to find political grounding & community.  Register now to join in on Wed., Nov. 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM ET for the first session:  https://act.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/a/2020-11-11-powerhour?contactdata=Mup6dli7weJwNf0QRlgXPKZQRF2ughX%2fWa3ytKhcGRjc22%2b1JUOUKfBsTKNPv%2brG0Uyxreyy0GE6iHtu%2fZ1sqIj4q2MdSmiYYd35hWPLHY13gqPR9v2LIZVNaLQN4BobdvBlmRD64hMJi%2bNfViOVW2VuVdXPVkzhLdOHbaC486NgKOj7dd5z9eYoUdmJG6tCZRfiMevf9DaxzE7Nw2T0ZMO2E2HsvrAFKvGSjuyqtpeVM86a1erlZ8CyWQFNuuco4S%2bGdWy0ZW6I1V88I3OFTg%3d%3d&emci=747f4369-7b23-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&emdi=4c150215-9023-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&ceid=237778.

If you can’t make it on Wednesday, sign up here to receive a reminder about forthcoming events, every Wednesday until December 16: https://act.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/a/2020-11-powerhour?contactdata=Mup6dli7weJwNf0QRlgXPKZQRF2ughX%2fWa3ytKhcGRjc22%2b1JUOUKfBsTKNPv%2brG0Uyxreyy0GE6iHtu%2fZ1sqIj4q2MdSmiYYd35hWPLHY13gqPR9v2LIZVNaLQN4BobdvBlmRD64hMJi%2bNfViOVW2VuVdXPVkzhLdOHbaC486NgKOj7dd5z9eYoUdmJG6tCZRfiMevf9DaxzE7Nw2T0ZMO2E2HsvrAFKvGSjuyqtpeVM86a1erlZ8CyWQFNuuco4S%2bGdWy0ZW6I1V88I3OFTg%3d%3d&emci=747f4369-7b23-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&emdi=4c150215-9023-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&ceid=237778.  These next six weeks and their possible tumult will continue to require the best of us, and we want to be grounded, organized, rested, and ready.

36] – Hear about Reclaim Armistice Day on Wed., Nov. 11 from 8 to 9:15 PM ET. This webinar is U.S. based, and David Swanson will speak on the topic of "The Pro-War Candidate Has Defeated the Pro-War Candidate: Now what?" Another speaker will be Fred Royal, Jr. who has been active in community advocacy throughout his career. Currently President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Milwaukee Branch, Royal has also served on a range of boards from Milwaukee Area Technical College to the Social Development Commission. Jesse Frewerd and Jason Moon, two talented singer-songwriters, both veterans of the Iraq war, will perform original songs. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2OnCf6IrRca737XeCpDe8w?link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-join-me-online-november-10th-or-11th&email_referrer=email_988270&email_subject=join-me-online-november-10th-or-11th.

37] – On Wed., Nov. 11 at 8 ET, Prof. Mike Baxter will expound on the Life & Witness of Ben Salmon. DePaul University (the host for the lecture) states there are already 138 ZOOM connections spoken for but that there are 162 left and more can be created if the need arises. Prof. Baxter will lecture to the ZOOM audience for the first portion of the event, followed by a discussion of Ben's ministry with Prof William Cavanaugh of DePaul and ending with answers to audience questions. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-life-witness-of-ben-salmon-on-the-front-lines-of-the-army-of-peace-tickets-125403490215.

38] –Nuclear Weapons and International Law in the Contemporary Era is a Virtual Conference on Thurs., Nov. 12 from 9 AM to 6 PM ET. The New York State Bar Association International Section is holding this all-day virtual conference to bring together leading public officials, thought-leaders, policymakers and experts for a comprehensive look at this often ignored subject. Click here to register. https://nysba.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mKOv6TPJRreE6LXsO1ZhqA.  “International law may well hold the world’s best prospect for addressing and getting ahead of the existential risks posted by nuclear weapons.” -- Professor Charles J. Moxley, Jr., one of the conference organizers.

39] – With the nation's attention being drawn to Georgia and the pending runoffs to determine the majority in the US Senate, three of the Kings Bay Plowshares defendants have arranged with the federal court in Brunswick, GA to appear virtually for sentencing this week. The disarmament activists have received little national attention since their action against the Trident submarine base more than two years ago while the stakes are much higher, our future existence and the very survival of our world as we know it.  Since Judge Wood would not grant them any further extensions they had to waive their right to appear in person to be sentenced. This was their preference but they had to subordinate it in order to avoid the health risks of traveling to Georgia during a spiking pandemic.

 Carmen Trotta will be sentenced at 10 AM EST on Thurs., Nov. 12. Clare Grady will be sentenced at 1 PM that same day.  Martha Hennessy will be sentenced on Fri., Nov. 13 at 1 PM.  Mark Colville opposed a virtual sentencing and after appeal has now been given a December 18 date.

The number and access code to call in to listen to the proceedings will be the same as in the previous sentencing. If one number isn't working well, try calling with the other access code. And please remember to MUTE as sometimes the court has trouble with that. Dial 888-684-8852, Access Code: 8878734, Security Code: 1234.  An alternate number is available: 888-684-8852, Access Code: 2296092, Security Code: 1234.

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