Baltimore Activist Alert – November 22 – 23, 2020

Baltimore Activist Alert – November 22 – 23, 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] Volunteer with a Catholic Worker house  

5] “Reflecting on Unconscious Bias”   – Nov. 22

6] Food Collection for the Maryland Food Bank – Nov. 22

7] Vegan Thanksgiving – Nov. 22

8] Hear from Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin – Nov. 22

9] Healthcare Emergency Town Hall – Nov. 22

10] Get out the Vote – Nov. 22

11] "The Condor and the Eagle" – Nov. 22

12] PDA Flip the Senate meeting -- Nov. 22

13] Pentagon Peace Vigil – Nov. 23

14] Poor People’s Campaign – Nov. 23

15] Grassroots Emergency Election Protection Zoom meeting – Nov. 23

16] New Georgia Project for a phone bank – Nov. 23

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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] - Suzanne Fontanesi and Jeff Ross are in the beginning stages of renovating the basement of their house for purposes of bringing in a volunteer (targeting young adults in discernment mode), starting next fall. They are trying to grow a Catholic Worker House in Irvington (West Baltimore). In a nutshell, there is a lot that a volunteer could do in that neighborhood/Baltimore, in addition to prayer and daily community living and in addition to plugging into all the good work that people are already doing in and around Baltimore (and beyond).  If you think you might know of anyone who might be interested in starting a conversation with them about becoming such a volunteer/community member, please contact Jeff/Suzanne at 443-690-6872.

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., Nov. 22, the platform address is “Reflecting on Unconscious Bias.”  Unconscious bias (otherwise known as implicit bias) can be defined as prejudices or stereotypes that most people hold, even though they are outside of conscious awareness. Unconscious bias shapes our interactions with others. By slowing down, reflecting on our own perception, and learning more about others, we can help combat unconscious bias. Demere Woolway currently works as the Director of LGBTQ Life at Johns Hopkins University, supporting institutional diversity and inclusion efforts. Previous roles include diversity work at Miami University of Ohio and Washington State University. Demere holds a PhD in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Miami University, and is a past co-chair of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. Email PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG for the ZOOM LOGIN INFORMATION.

6] - On Sun., Nov. 22 from 11 AM to noon EST, get involved with Food Collection for the Maryland Food Bank at the Locust Point Community Church, 1308 Beason St., Baltimore 21230.  The church will be collecting items for the Maryland Food Bank every Sunday through Dec. 27. Go to https://www.facebook.com/locustpointcommunityucc/.

7] - On Sun., Nov. 22 from 1 to 6 PM EST, get over to the Vegan Thanksgiving Event, 429 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201-1808, hosted by Refocused Vegan, The Vegan Mechanic and Antonio Simpson.  It will feature holiday themed food from various vegan companies. Come and enjoy vegan holiday food and drinks with everything being 100% plant-based/vegan. Due to Baltimore City COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, there will be limited indoor seating that will strictly adhere to Maryland COVID-19 Gathering Guidelines. Masks are required to enter the building. See https://www.facebook.com/RefocusedVegan/.

8] - On Sun., Nov. 22 at 3:30 PM, founder and organizer of Code Pink, Medea Benjamin, will present "A New Peace and Justice Movement for a New Administration." She will describe issues and opportunities for action that the peace and justice movement can address.  The event is sponsored by Maryland United for Peace and Justice. RSVP to Paulette Hammond who will send you the link for this Zoom event. Her email address is pham001@earthlink.net. Call Paulette at 410-747-3811 or Tony Langbehn at 301-390-9684.

9] – Register to join the Progressive Democrats of America Healthcare Emergency Town Hall on Sun., Nov. 22 at 4 PM ET. Email mikefox@pdamerica.org. Hear from Dr. Bill Honigman. Clearly, the voters have spoken: all of those U.S. House cosponsors on the Jayapal/Dingell National Medicare for All Bill #HR1384 who ran in the general election were re-elected. That’s right, all of them, even ones from swing districts like Rep. Katie Porter, CA-45, whose district, despite a changing demographic in Orange County, CA, still had more registered Republicans than Democrats at the time of her re-election victory.

So, the message is clear. Don’t travel this upcoming holiday weekend, but do bring up #MedicareForAll in your family gatherings, whether they are of the safe physical or virtual variety. And do bring up PDA and all of the great opportunities to elect even more champions for the cause of life, freedom from illness, and #HealthcareJustice for All. To Zoom, go to https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

10] – Our Revolution is asking you to volunteer to help make Get-Out-the-Vote phone calls to Georgia. These virtual phone banks will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 PM EST on Thursdays and Sundays!  In the months leading up to Election Day, Our Revolution’s army of grassroots volunteers powered a massive “Get out the Vote” campaign all across America. Over 650,000 people joined the rolling national and state virtual rallies, and together made more than 4 million one-on-one voter contacts. Volunteer with Our Revolution to help make Get-Out-the-Vote phone calls to Georgia! The next virtual phone bank is on Sun., Nov. 22 from 6.30 to 8:30 PM EST!  Other dates for the phone bank will be Sun., Nov. 29, Thurs., Dec 3, Sun., Dec 6, and more dates, all from 6:30 to 8:30 PM EST.  Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/362948/?akid=824.8252965.hctbnt&rd=1&t=9.

11] - Melina Laboucan-Massimo’s lands in Alberta, and Bryan Parras’ lands in Texas have been devastated by the oil industry. This destruction has remained an acceptable secret, with no real coverage from the media, and limited support from the Canadian or American governments. But while Indigenous peoples disproportionately bear the toxic burden of our extractive economy, they are also actively leading the resistance to it. You are invited you to an advanced online screening and panel discussion of the award-winning documentary "The Condor and The Eagle" on Sun., Nov. 22 from 7 to 10 PM ET. Sign up at https://event.webinarjam.com/register/146/xyg1yuxl.  The film follows Melina, Bryan, and others as they take their resistance to South America, Europe and beyond – making their local battles an international concern and exposing the corporations responsible for these environmental crimes.  There is a sliding scale suggested donation of $15-$100 in lieu of an admission fee, and all funds raised go to support Indigenous groups and those who amplify their work. After the film, there will be a panel discussion with an incredible group of six Indigenous leaders, taking you on a journey all the way from the tar sands in Canada to the heart of the Amazonian jungle.

12] – Join the Progressive Democrats of America in its Flip The Senate/Demote McConnell Team Meeting on Sun., Nov. 22 at 9 PM ET. Email mikefox@pdamerica.org.

13] – 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. 23, 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.  

14] – On Mon., Nov. 23 at 2:30 PM ET,  the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is organizing Moral Monday Caravans to mourn the quarter-million Americans who have died from COVID-19, demand a smooth and open transition of power, and lift up the moral policies we need immediately and in the first days of the new administration.  Automobiles plastered with makeshift memorials to COVID victims who died in poverty will caravan through state capitals in Maryland and many other states. You can also join online to hear reports from each participating state caravan.

  At 6 PM ET, following the Moral Monday Caravans, Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis and Rev. William Barber, II will be speaking during an online national service for those who have died from COVID, entitled In Their Remembrance: From Mourning to a Moral Mandate. From the steps of National City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Washington, D.C., Jewish, Hindu, and Christian clergy will lead a call to action for a just agenda with 2,500 candles to represent those who have died.

15] – The work continues and the battle for the two Georgia Senate run-off elections is coming up. Join Progressive Democrats of America on Mon., Nov. 23 from 5 to 6:30 PM ET for the next Grassroots Emergency Election Protection Zoom meeting. These Monday meetings will continue through Dec. 28. Register here: Zoom. https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYldumtrjIiH9L7_KfcFV1n8ynuO3anTGwp.

16] – Can you help CPDAction win Georgia? Join the New Georgia Project for a phone bank on Mon., Nov. 23 and Tues., Nov. 24 from 6 to 8:30 PM ET to help register voters for this critical double run-off election! Sign up now: https://www.mobilize.us/cpda/event/363574/?ms=POL_EMAIL_SIGNUPc4_11192020&emci=3321f2a8-e129-eb11-9fb4-00155d03affc&emdi=b18c414b-802a-eb11-9fb4-0003ff196a4c&ceid=447376.  Email CPD Action <info@cpdaction.org>. The phone bank will continue on Mon., Nov. 30 and Tues., Dec. 1.

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