Saturday, December 26, 2020

Baltimore Activist Alert – December 27 – 29, 2020

Baltimore Activist Alert – December 27 – 29, 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] Free Prakash Churaman  

6] Count birds -- Dec. 27 – Jan. 5

7] A Candid Look at Racism – Dec. 27 

8] “Lessons and Resolutions” Dec. 27

9] Food Collection for the Maryland Food Bank – Dec. 27

10] New Georgia Project – Dec. 27 - 29

11] Make Calls for Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.  – Dec. 27 - 29

12] Healthcare Emergency Town Hall – Dec. 27

13] Flip the Senate Dec. 27

14] Pentagon Peace Vigil – Dec. 28

15] Food Rescue – Dec. 28

16] Georgia Absentee Voting Power Hours – Dec.  28

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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] – Prakash Churaman was 15 when he was arrested and accused of murdering his best friend. NYPD detective Barry Brown coerced him into making a false confession over the course of hours in an interrogation room. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison by Judge Kenneth Holder, a former prosecutor. That conviction was overturned this summer and now for the first time he has a chance to come home if money can be raised for his bail. Here is the link to a video which tells his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FStlvKjTt4&t=7s. Here is the link to Gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/freeprakashchuraman and another one to a petition: https://www.change.org/p/freeprakashchuraman.

6] – This will continue through Tues., Jan. 5, bird lovers across North America will take part in Audubon’s 121st Christmas Bird Count. Visit this website to learn more about the history of the count and how every survey helps us better understand birds and the places they need  https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count?ms=digital-eng-email-ea-x-engagement_20201213_eng-email_climate-watch-winter-2021&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=engagement_20201213_eng-email&utm_content=climate-watch-winter-2021&emci=5fb2c5bb-3b3b-eb11-9fb4-00155d43b2cd&emdi=f4b95d8e-543d-eb11-9fb4-00155d43b2cd&ceid=2504878.

7] –   On Sun., Dec. 27 from 9:45 to 11 AM EST, get with A Candid Look at Racism: History, the Church, and Today at Georgetown Presbyterian Church. Sign in at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85725721880?pwd=TWsxYk9SeDJiWUJHUzlEY0lVVEtxZz09. This online event is hosted by the Adult Education program at Georgetown Presbyterian.  Schedule updates and additional speakers will be shared at gtowpres.org. Email info@gtownpres.org. The meeting ID is 857 2572 1880, and the password is 343482. 

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.  On Sun., Dec. 20, the platform address is “Lessons and Resolutions.”  What lessons did 2020 teach you? What resolutions do you have for the New Year?  How can we bring out the best from a dumpster fire of a year full of struggle and anxieties?  Leader Hugh Taft-Morales offers an opportunity to share in an interactive end-of-the-year Sunday program.  Members will be offered 1-minute segments to share how to process the past and prepare for the future. Taft-Morales serves as Leader of the Philadelphia Ethical Society and the Baltimore Ethical Society and is a member of the Ethical Action Committee of the American Ethical Union (AEU).  Email PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG for the ZOOM LOGIN INFORMATION.

9] - On Sun., Dec. 27 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.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/locustpointcommunityucc/.

10] – The New Georgia Project is organizing volunteers to make calls to Georgia voters EVERY DAY through Election Day. Click here to sign up for a phone banking shift (or three) to help get out the vote in Georgia: https://www.mobilize.us/dailykos_2/event/363868/?link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-wanna-make-mitch-mcconnell-utterly-irrelevant-heres-how-2&email_referrer=email_1012290&email_subject=who-controls-the-senate-is-coming-down-to-georgia-please-be-able-to-say-you-did-all-you-could-to-help-us-win-rsvp,  Make calls on Sun., Dec. 27 from 2 to 5 PM and 5 to 8 PM ET, Mon., Dec. 28 5 to 8 PM ET and Tues., Dec. 29 from 5 to 8 PM ET.  The calls will continue.

11] – 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 started December 14, and the 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 Sun., Dec. 27 from 3 to 6 PM and 6 to 9 PM ET, Mon., Dec. 28 from 3 to 6 PM and 6 to 9 PM ET and Tues., Dec. 29 from 3 to 6 PM and 6 to 9 PM ET.  The calls will continue through Tues., Jan. 5 from 6 to 9 PM EST.

12] – As COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are spiking, we must all come together to help make our communities safer. Join a virtual town hall with experts and activists from across the country all focused on combatting this menace and bringing high-quality healthcare to all. The Progressive Democrats of America Healthcare Emergency Town Hall is happening on Sun., Dec. 27 at 4 PM ET. Dr. Bill Honigman will be on the Town Hall.  Email mikefox@pdamerica.org to register.

 There is a corporate class of manipulators and abusers, who are taking advantage of corrupt institutions to advance themselves in wealth and power. In particular, Big Insurance and Big Pharma, just like Wall Street and Big Banking, are making out like bandits during COVID-19, killing our frontline hospital workers by under-testing, under-tracing, and inadequate provision of staffing and PPE.  This pandemic makes it painfully clear that it’s time to get the money-changers out of the temple. Let the austerity measures begin with Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, and let We the People, who need to survive COVID-19 and those pandemics yet to come, have #MedicareForAll and the #GreenNewDeal. Yes, clearly the path to health and happiness for all is with Medicare for All.  As the late US Senator Paul Wellstone told us, “We all do better when we all do better.”

13] – Democracy for America [info@democracyforamerica.com] reminds us that the Georgia runoff elections are on January 5th! There is still time to flip the Senate. Will you join DFA members on Sun., Dec. 27 at 4 PM in Texting Out the Vote in Georgia? Register at http://act.democracyforamerica.com/survey/TextGA/?t=1&refcode=g-TOTV1222.d-20201226.m-25888.s-161261&akid=25888%2E4066212%2E-V2_De.  This texting will continue on Wed., Dec. 30 at 6 PM ET; Sat., Jan. 2 at noon ET; and Sun., Jan. 3 at 4 PM ET.

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 Dec. 28, 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., Dec. 28 from noon to 1:30 PM EST, participate in Food Rescue at Land of Kush, 840 North Eutaw St., Baltimore.  This Food Rescue will continue until Mon., Apr. 26. Food Rescue Baltimore is proud to partner with The Land of Kush each and every Monday to bring free vegan and plant-based food to the community. Bring a bag, take what you want, while supplies last. #KeepItFreshDay #MeatlessMonday. See https://www.facebook.com/The-Land-of-Kush-102096254517153.

16] - Get with the Sothern Poverty Law Center on Mon., Dec. 28 from 6 to 7 PM and be with the Georgia Absentee Voting Power Hours.  Sign up at https://action.splcenter.org/a/december-28th-splc-power-hour-virtual-phone-bankhttps://action.splcenter.org/a/december-23rd-splc-power-hour-virtual-phone-bank.

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  

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