Baltimore Activist Alert -- December 11 - 14, 2020

59] Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence – Dec. 11 -14

60] Climate Strikes vs. Chase Bank – Dec. 11

61] "Jumpstarting U.S.-Iran Diplomacy in the Biden Era" – Dec. 11

62] Food Rescue – Dec. 11

63] Eliminate Nuclear Weapons – Dec. 11

64] White House vigil – Dec. 11

65] Women in Black VIGILS FOR PEACE on hold? – Dec. 11

66] Make Calls for Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff – Dec. 11 – 12  

67] Peace and justice vigil – Dec. 11

68] MAKE CALLS TO GEORGIA VOTERS -- Dec. 11 – 12

69] Jewish Voice for Peace – Dec. 11 - 12

70] Maryland Legislative Coalition Summit – Dec. 12 -13

71] Food-production system in Gaza – Dec. 12

72] Biden's Foreign Policy – Dec. 12

73] Life of Holy Prophet Muhammad – Dec. 4 - 5

74] Zoom Sendoff and Blessing for two members of the King's Bay Plowshares 7 – Dec. 12

75] Music for Peace with the Balourdet String Quartet – Dec. 12

76] Read Dave Eberhardt’s book "For All the Saints- a Protest Primer"

77] Ted Glick has written a book

78] New Book: “Confessions of a Radical Academic”

79] Two Berrigan Books still in print

80] Contribute to the Lin Romano Peace and Justice Scholarship

81] Do you need a doctor?

82] Emergency Demonstration against an attack on Venezuela or Iran  

83] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records

84] Do you need any book shelves?

85] Join the Global Zero campaign.

86] Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

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59] – Team Brady [brady@bradyunited.org]  and Newtown Action Alliance Foundation will host the 8th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence virtually from Fri., Dec. 11 at 8 AM through Mon., Dec. 14 at 11:59 PM ET. Honor victims and survivors of gun violence and create a space for community support and healing during social distancing. This December 14 marks the 8-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy. By this December, over 800,000 people in America will be killed or injured by guns since the Sandy Hook massacre. If you would like to submit a photo of a loved one, fill out a form at bit.ly/2020vigil.  The virtual vigil event — which consists of submitted photos of lost loved ones — will be hosted on loop over Facebook Live throughout the entire day on December 14, 2020. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJqmH6afqmY&feature=emb_logo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScM3Vn1WnvQ&feature=emb_logo. Go to www.bradyunited.org.

60] – On Fri., Dec. 11 from 9 AM to 9 PM, get with the Climate Strikes vs. Chase Bank Every Friday! Flatten the climate pollution curve together! Help run an online climate strike at Chase Bank--the #1 investor in fossil fuels of any bank in the world--every Friday until further notice. You can post your own virtual climate strike on social media in 4 easy steps: https://www.climatefirst.us/calendar. Contact Ted at tconwell@climatefirst.us/ (301) 589-7598 (mobile). Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/3398894953477457/.

61] – Reserve your spot for a virtual discussion on Fri., Dec. 11 at 11 AM ET to discuss "Jumpstarting U.S.-Iran Diplomacy in the Biden Era."  Representatives from the Arms Control Association, European Council on Foreign Relations, and Eurasian Nexus Partner will discuss the impact of Trump's failed “maximum pressure" campaign, the administration's efforts to sabotage prospects for diplomacy under Biden, and much more. RSVP at HTTPS://WWW.NIACOUNCIL.ORG/NEWS/PANEL-JUMPSTARTING-U-S-IRAN-DIPLOMACY-IN-THE-BIDEN-ERA/?EMCI=8C695561-EE3A-EB11-9FB4-00155D43B2CD&EMDI=A96CBDE2-193B-EB11-9FB4-00155D43B2CD&CEID=5021972.

62] – On Fri., Dec. 11 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST, come to Grace Baptist Church, 3201 The Alameda to get some food, hosted by Food Rescue Baltimore. This will continue each Friday until March 26, 2021. Bring a bag, bring a friend, and take delicious, nutritious, free rescued food. Look at https://www.facebook.com/foodrescueday/.

63] – The Abolition 2000 youth group re-launched as Youth Fusion is inviting you to join a launch event on Fri., Dec. 11 at 11:30 AM ET for a nuclear abolition action plan being launched by the youth group of Abolition 2000, Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons. Register for this online event at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m7gfu-2TR2KtpM5nlnpEiQ?fbclid=IwAR10Yiow6A6ImuyKFWDJiBztN0TbQm6fk7zuAttJqE9b-WPg88YFneT_LRo.

64] – The Dorothy Day Catholic Worker will host a peace vigil at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC, on Fri., Dec. 11 at noon.  Contact the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker: 202-882-9649 or artlaffin@hotmail.com.

65] – It is unclear if there will be any Women in Black VIGILS FOR PEACE on Fri., Dec. 11 from noon to 1 PM.  The one at the Inner Harbor seems to be suspended. One is at Roland Park Place, 830 W. 40th St., Baltimore.  Free Parking is available. There will be NO LUNCH.   If it doesn't rain, vigil. If it rains, the vigil will be cancelled.  If you arrive for the vigil and don't see someone else, please don't leave. Other folks are on the way.  Email awyattbr@gmail.com.

The other is in Chestertown, Kent County on the Eastern Shore in Memorial Park at Cross Street & Park Row.  This will be a safe-distanced stand for Peace with Justice & No to War. Email wibbaltimore@peacepath911.org.

66] – Make Calls for Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.  The presidential election may be over (Donald Trump’s refusal to concede notwithstanding), but control of the US Senate hangs in the balance, pending the results of two runoff elections in Georgia, the nation’s newest battleground state. Early voting starts December 14, and Special Election Day is January 5, 2021. The Sierra Club will be making phone calls in support of Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, whose races could determine the fate of President-Elect Biden’s ambitious green agenda. Sign up to call Georgia voters at https://www.mobilize.us/sierraclubbattleground/event/272291/?utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter. The available times are Fri., Dec. 11 from 3 to 6 PM and 6 to 9 PM ET and Sat., Dec. 12 from 3 to 6 PM and 6 to 9 PM EST.  The calls will continue through Tues., Jan. 5 from 6 to 9 PM EST.

67] -- There is usually a Quaker Vigil for Racial Justice on Fridays, from 5 to 6:30 PM, hosted by the Baltimore Quaker Peace and Justice Committee (BQPJC) outside the Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St.  The next scheduled vigil is on Dec. 11. From 6 to 6:30 PM strategize. Black Lives Matter. Stop the Killing. Physical distancing applies. Wear your face mask. Email homewoodfriends@gmail.com or call 410-235-4438. Quaker values call us to speak truth and to seek equality for all people. We aim to follow Bayard Rustin’s wisdom that “we need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers” and John Lewis’s call to “make good trouble.” See https://www.facebook.com/events/311508100243529/?event_time_id=311508113576861.3&akid=18263%2E3302379%2Ez6bJVQ.

68] – As Lindsey Graham and Senate Republicans seek to sabotage the elections in Georgia, we must rise above them and mobilize Georgia’s Democratic base to cast their ballots. Making calls to infrequent voters is one of the most effective means of base-building and increasing voter turnout. Sign up to make calls with Turnout2020: https://www.mobilize.us/dailykos_2/event/363620/?link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-firstname-default-friend-the-only-birthday-gift-i-want-is-for-us-to-win-in-georgia-action-needed-2&email_referrer=email_1002406&email_subject=rsvp-to-connect-with-infrequent-democratic-voters-in-georgia.

MAKE CALLS TO GEORGIA VOTERS this week-- starting on Fri., Dec. 11 from 5 to 7 PM and 7 to 9 PM EST and Sat., Dec. 11 from 5 to 7 PM and 7 to 9 PM EST.  The calls will continue through Jan. 5 from 5 to 7 PM and 7 to 9 PM EST.

69] – Jewish Voice for Peace indicated that this is a lie --Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had labeled anti-Zionism, BDS, and the organizations that support BDS as anti-Semitic.  The best way to resist this dangerous and ridiculous lie is to be even more ourselves – even more vibrantly Jewish, even more staunchly anti-Zionist – and to show up even harder for Palestinian liberation.  That’s why this Hanukkah, you are invited to eight nights of events as a way for everyone a way to get engaged, be in community, and be in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. See the full schedule and sign up at https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/hanukkah-5781/?emci=14e8f14c-7d36-eb11-9fb4-00155d43b2cd&emdi=daed12a9-d038-eb11-9fb4-00155d43b2cd&ceid=237778.  Sign a light on abolition: the movement of activists and scholars trying to think beyond prisons as a tool to solve society’s problems. Whether you want to learn about the connections between the abolition movement and the movement for Palestinian freedom, experience performances, have a stronger understanding of the Torah, be in community with other anti-Zionist Jewish people of color, or deepen your Jewish practice, this is your chance. For example, on Night 2 hear from Artists for Abolition on Fri., Dec. 11 at 8 PM ET.  An outstanding line-up of International actors, dancers, spoken word artists and poets bring their heart and imagination to shine light on abolition, anti-Zionism and anti-racism. Night 3 will be Torah of Abolition on Sat., Dec. 12 at 8 PM ET. Join Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari and Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg to explore texts as a way into imagining Jewishly rooted transformative justice practices and non-carceral frameworks of communal responses to harm.  This will continue through Thurs., Dec. 17.

70] – On Sat., Dec. 12 and Sun., Dec. 13 at 10:30 AM and 2 PM, there will be sessions as part of the 4th Maryland Legislative Coalition Summit.  This will be a virtual conference with participation from many state activist organizations on Legislative Priorities for the 2021 General Assembly Session, with themed sessions on Social Justice, Immigration, Police Reform, Consumer Rights, Elections, Economic Justice and Education and Health. Read more here https://www.facebook.com/MarylandLegislativeCoalition/?ref=page_internal.

71] – A deep dive into the food-production system in Gaza will be presented in a Sat., Dec. 12 at 1 PM webinar in which Gaza Kitchen co-authors Maggie Schmitt and Laila El-Haddad will present short videos depicting savvy workers and managers in three different parts of Gaza's hard-pressed food production system. This unique learning event will start at 1 pm ET and will be moderated by Nora Barrows-Friedman of Electronic Intifada. Learn more about this event and register for it here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fDr6hZgaTi-5zBkDsEgJkA.

72] – On Sat., Dec. 12 at 2 PM ET, take in Biden's Foreign Policy, Who Will Be the Architects? Trump and his America First nationalists are on the way out, but the neoliberal wing of the national security establishment is being restored to power by President-Elect Joe Biden. Who are the new architects of U.S. foreign and military policy? How do they see the U.S. role in the world, what are their ties to the military industrial complex? And how can the left advance a progressive foreign policy based on international solidarity, cooperation, and ending U.S. militarism? Participants are Norman Solomon, Medea Benjamin, Maj. Danny Sjursen and John Tarleton. RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsdu6vpz8oGNOE_yZzplBBuA_gXXAjVS88.

73] – The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is inviting you to a virtual event celebrating the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Sat., Dec. 12 from 7 to 8:30 PM. It's a women only event. Join the Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89129026975?pwd=MHVoYXhYK0JLWmpOWGZ6cTdIYnZ6QT09. The meeting ID is 891 2902 6975 with a passcode: 595821.

Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C). The meeting ID is 891 2902 6975 with a passcode: 595821.

74] – On Sat., Dec.12 at 7 PM ET, join a  Zoom Sendoff and Blessing for two members of the King's Bay Plowshares 7, https://kingsbayplowshares7.org/   - Martha Hennessy and Carmen Trotta -  who will be self-reporting to prison on Dec. 14. Start with the lighting of candles by children of the community and reading the Magnificat. Consider having a candle ready to join in. Enjoy songs from Bud Courtney and Hermina Glass Hill.  As a Bible reading, Ched and Elaine Myers will offer a reflection.  There will be a Blessing Kathy Kelly and a closing song from Amanda Daloisio.

The Zoom link to use is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82710210465   The Meeting ID is 827 1021 0465 and the Passcode is 040575.  Call in 1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C).  The Meeting ID is 827 1021 0465, and the Passcode is 040575.  Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbonzTGfG8. 

You can write to Carmen Trotta #22561-021, FCI Otisville, Federal Correctional Institution, Satellite Camp, PO Box 1000, Otisville, NY 10963 and Martha Hennessy #22560-021, FCI Danbury, Route 37, Danbury, CT 06811. Use your full name in the return address. You can send letters to them on white paper with blue or black ink but no drawings. Check the website, kingsbayplowshares7.org, for more detailed instructions.

75] – Hear Music for Peace with the Balourdet String Quartet which will perform the Music of Mozart and Beethoven on Sat., Dec. 12 from 7:30 to 9:30 PM.  Hear two masterpieces, Mozart's quartet K.465 in C Major ("Dissonance") and Beethoven's quartet Op.131 in C# minor.  The concert will be pre-recorded and presented virtually exclusively for Music for Peace.   The musicians will join the audience for a discussion after the concert. The Balourdet String Quartet gets its name from Antoine Balourdet, chef extraordinaire at the Hotel St. Bernard and beloved member of the Taos School of Music community.  This is a Benefit for Massachusetts Peace Action.  $20 for Mass. Peace Action members, $25 for non-members, $75 or more for supporters, $5 for students and low incomes. To reserve, write a check to “Massachusetts Peace Action” and mail to 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, or call 617-354-2169 with credit card number. Or reserve your tickets online. https://secure.everyaction.com/thrfaCUOqUqBOEbwW_QPHQ2.

76] – David Eberhardt was a member of the Baltimore Four with Father Philip Berrigan, Tom Lewis and Rev. James Mengel.  The group poured blood on draft files on October 27, 1967.  They would be convicted and sentenced to prison. Dave has written a book "For All the Saints- a Protest Primer"- documenting the Baltimore Four action and many others up to and including the most recent Plowshares action – Kings Bay Plowshares 7.  Phil Berrigan’s wife, Elizabeth McAlister, is a member of the Kings Bay Plowshares 7.  Dave’s book is available for $20 by contacting him at mozela9@comcast.net. He prefers that you DO NOT order the book from Amazon.

77] –  Ted Glick has written a book about his years of active draft resistance during the Vietnam War, and published by PM Press! It’s entitled “Burglar for Peace: Lessons Learned in the Catholic Left’s Resistance to the Vietnam War. The book is part history, part autobiography and may be a valuable source of ideas and inspiration for today’s organizers against injustice, oppression, war, ecological devastation and the bad guys! Frida Berrigan has written a wonderful intro. The paperback book, all 220 or so pages, will cost $20, but if you order it now, you can get a 20% discount if you use the code “Burglar” when you do so.  Go to: https://www.pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1093 and click 'Add to Cart'. In the coupon code area be sure to put: Burglar to get the discount.

78] – Check out a New Book: “Confessions of a Radical Academic: A Memoir by Fred L. Pincus,” now available from Adelaide Books (https://adelaidebooks.org/collections/latest-releases/products/confessions-of-a-radical-academic) or from Amazon.  Fred taught sociology at UMBC for more than 40 years and is on the board of Research Associates Foundation.  His memoir details his struggles to have a successful career while keeping true to his radical principles and activism.  One major theme is his struggle with race and racism both on and off campus. Go to www.fredlpincus.com.

79] –Two books by Fred Wilcox are still in print.  The first one is “Fighting the Lamb's War Skirmishes with the American Empire” by Philip Berrigan and Fred A. Wilcox with a FOREWORD by Tripp York.  It can be purchased by Wipf and Stock: https://wipfandstock.com/fighting-the-lamb-s-war.html.  It is a Memoir in paperback/ISBN: 9781532660078/240 pages/republished 8/21/2018/ Retail Price: $26.00/and Web Price: $20.80.

  The second one is “Uncommon Martyrs The Berrigans, the Catholic Left, and the Plowshares Movement” by Fred Wilcox, who profiles members of this anti-war movement, whose Christianity compels them to acts of civil disobedience against the military industrial complex.  The ISBN is 0201522314/$6.50 for a hardcover, and it can be purchased at Powell's Books.  See https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/7094/uncommon-martyrs.

80] – Consider making a donation to a scholarship in her honor that would be most welcome.  Contributions to the Lin Romano Peace and Justice Scholarship can be made online via https://www.ndm.edu/lin-romano-peace-and-justice-scholarship or by check made out to Notre Dame of Maryland University (Memo line: Lin Romano Peace and Justice Scholarship) and mailed to Notre Dame of Maryland University, Office of Institutional Advancement, 4701 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210.

81] – Yousef Zarbalian [mailto:yzarbali@gmail.com] started his own medical practice in December before the pandemic hit. It is called East-West Medicine and Rheumatology, and its website is EastWestMD.com.  Yousef is licensed in Maryland and Virginia. He is doing primary care as well as rheumatologic care (focusing on joint problems and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and sjogren's).  He is offering telemedicine visits, and he has very reasonable rates for uninsured individuals.  He makes use of herbs (which can be sent directly to patients from the herbal dispensary) as well as prescribing medications to their local pharmacy if needed.  

82] – The Trump Administration is again beating the war drums.  Most recently, the target is Iran.  Should the Trump administration initiate an act of war against Iran, consider joining us. It is a violation of U.S. law for the Trump Administration to attack a country that has not attacked us, as only Congress can declare war. The Trump administration is nevertheless beating the war drums for war against Iran and Venezuela. Should a war criminal, John Bolton, convince Trump to attack either of these countries, such a military strike would demand an immediate and unequivocal response from us to show that we will not tolerate his abuse of power.

   Let's mobilize to show that we the people will not tolerate another military adventure, which would be bound to have profound negative consequences. If a military strike against Iran or Venezuela takes place, then meet at 33rd and N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218. If the attack is before 2 PM local time, then the event will begin at 5 PM, local time. If the attack occurs after 5 PM local time, then the event will begin at 5 PM, local time, the following day. Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.   

83] -- If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs, records, tarps and table cloths, contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at comcast.net.

84] -- Can you use any book shelves? Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at comcast.net.

85] -- Join an extraordinary global campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons: http://www.globalzero.org/sign-declaration. A growing group of leaders around the world is calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and a majority of the global public agrees.  This is an historic window of opportunity.  With momentum already building in favor of Zero, a major show of support from people around the world could tip the balance. When it comes to nuclear weapons, one is one too many.

86] – A Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil takes place every day in Lafayette Park, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 24 hours a day, since June 3, 1981. Go to http://prop1.org; call 202-682-4282.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/.

“One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the US around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better" - Daniel Berrigan