Baltimore Activist Alert -- January 24 - 25, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – January 24 – 25, 2021

"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] "SOUPer Bowl" food drive – Jan. 24 to Feb. 7

7] Winter Bird Walk -- Jan. 24

8] “Lift Every Voice and Sing” -- Jan. 24

9] Adoption Event at Petco – Jan. 24

10] Weekly Seekers' BLM Witness – Jan. 24

11] World Social Forum Peace Day – Jan. 24

12] Demand Justice for Kwamena Ocran – Jan. 24

13] Nicaragua’s Popular Economy and Creative Development -- Jan. 24

14] Medicare 4 ALL Workgroup – Jan. 24

15] “The Nuns, the Priests and the Bombs” – Jan. 24

16] Pentagon Peace Vigil – Jan. 25

17] Solar Options – Jan. 25

18] Food Rescue – Jan. 25

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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] – On Sun., Jan. 24 at midnight to 11:45 PM EST, get over to a SOUPer Bowl Food Drive, hosted by the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.  This will continue each day through Sun., Feb. 7. Visit https://aafoodbank.org/. Fight hunger and celebrate the Big Game with a virtual "SOUPer Bowl" food drive in support of Anne Arundel County Food Bank.

7] – On Sun., Jan. 24 at 8 AM EST, take a Winter Bird Walk hosted by the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council, 1114 Shawan Road, Cockeysville. Join in for a small group naturalist led bird walk. Registration is required. Email gporter@baltimorecountymd.gov to register.

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., Jan. 24, hear about “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”  Hugh Taft-Morales remembers how conscious he was of racial identity the first time he was in a multiracial group singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” nick-named “The Black National Anthem.” The song prompted most Black singers to tilt up their heads and sing loud and proud, while white singers – himself included – struggled to feign familiarity with the song. Through the history of this important song, Hugh will explore what we can draw from it today to help us make sense of racial identity, patriotism, and the role of white activism in the Black Lives Matter movement. Hugh 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., Jan. 24 from 11 AM to 1 PM EST, go to an Adoption Event hosted by Double Dog Dare Rescue at PetSmart, 2450 Osprey Way, Frederick.  Get with https://www.facebook.com/Double-Dog-Dare-Rescue-1688608451374909/.

10] – On Sun., Jan. 24 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM ET, join a BLM Witness at the Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St. NW, WDC 20012. Visit https://www.facebook.com/seekerschurchDC/. It is a wonderful opportunity to show up for racial justice and experience unity as passing drivers and pedestrians of all races and ethnicities wave and raise fists. Cars honk, bicyclists ring their little bike bells, and sometimes passers-by ask for a sign and join in. 

11] – On Sun., Jan. 24 from 1 to 3 PM ET, enjoy World Social Forum Peace Day. President Biden assumes office in the midst of a host of national crises that impact the world: a white supremacist fascist insurrection and threats of continuing domestic terrorist attacks, the Covid-19 pandemic which has claimed nearly 400,000 U.S. lives and devastated the national economy, emerging and deepening cold wars with China and Russia, and a national budget that prioritizes preparations for war over human needs.  Initiated by the International Peace Bureau and the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security -- “For Peace, Justice & Democracy: U.S. Movement Perspectives," this webinar will present leading voices from the U.S. justice and peace movements, summarizing the challenges the U.S. people face and the priorities of the U.S. justice, peace and democracy movements.  Email JGeson80@gmail.com.  The Zoom link is http://bit.ly/PeaceJan24.

12] – Demand Justice for Kwamena Ocran. Protest a Gaithersburg Police Killing on Sun., Jan. 24 at 2 PM at Gaithersburg City Hall. Community supporters will hear from Del. Gabriel Acevero and ACLU of Maryland Policy Director Caylin Young, student groups, and many others.  The message is We demand justice.  On the evening of Friday, January 8th, four Gaithersburg Police Department (GPD) Street Crimes Unit officers, in plain clothes and without body-worn cameras, approached a 24-year-old resident, Kwamena Ocran, based on reports that he was armed with a gun. Then, according to police, they identified themselves, briefly chased the resident, he displayed a gun, and at least one officer shot him. Mr. Ocran died at the scene.

Within hours, GPD provided public reports that the victim “displayed a gun” -- details which could have had the effect of biasing the public towards the police’s unprovable version of events. Once SSJC asked for additional answers, Chief Sroka clammed up, claiming they needed to wait for an investigation. In addition, Gaithersburg City Council has erroneously labeled the investigation by Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) “independent,” despite the fact that the two departments work together every day. When a life is taken, police have a heightened duty to respond to the public’s need for clarity and information. Sign up at bit.ly/kwamena.

13] –On Sun., Jan. 24 at 3 PM ET, attend a webinar: Nicaragua’s Popular Economy and Creative Development by signing up at https://afgj.org/nica-webinar?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=f4a1fecf-fa1d-40bc-84aa-3355edd4d0da. Hear Nils McCune who has a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture from the Universidad Central de Las Villas in Cuba and a PhD in Ecology and Sustainable Development from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) in Mexico.  The other speaker is Daniel McCurdy, a Nicaraguan, has degrees in Economics and Sustainable Territorial Development. Throughout his time in Palestine, France, Switzerland, the US and Nicaragua, his work has focused on issues of economic and social development and monetary policy. Email afgj@afgj.org.

14] – On Sun., Jan. 24 from 5 to 6 PM EST, get with a Medicare 4 ALL Workgroup Weekly Meeting, hosted by Metro D.C. Democratic Socialists of America.  These meetings will continue through April 25.  RSVP HERE FOR ZOOM: https://actionnetwork.org/events/medicare-4-all-workgroup-weekly-meeting-m4a-19/?fbclid=IwAR0DIbPLAs5TxDKatV0gX7YDICCT4PEinwjQjDVrrsVKZMAoWK3MaI-b7Kc. Democratic Socialists are fighting to make single-payer Medicare for All healthcare a reality.  Help fight to replace our fractured and broken health system with a unified Medicare for All system. Not a DSA member? Consider becoming a Member. Fees are on a sliding scale according to what you feel you can afford: http://dsausa.org/join?source=Metro%20DC. 

15] – On Sun., Jan. 24 from 8 to 10 PM EST, see a screening and enjoy a live discussion: “The Nuns, the Priests and the Bombs,” hosted by Beyond Nuclear. As the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force on Fri., Jan. 22, it is timely to look back at the actions of committed peacemakers who have spent much of their lives — including serving jail time — trying to secure just that; a world without nuclear weapons.  The City of Takoma Park and the citizens’ Nuclear-Free Takoma Park Committee is pleased to host a screening of the documentary, The Nuns, The Priests, And The Bombs, which follows the story of two groups of peace activists who gained entry into the Kitsap Bangor naval base on the west coast, and the Oak Ridge nuclear weapons complex in Tennessee. Join the director, Helen Young, along with Mark Colville, who was involved in the most recent such action at the Kings Bay Trident naval base in Georgia, and is now awaiting jail time, for a discussion and Q&A after the screening. Participate by registering at the Zoom link: http://bit.ly/nuns-priests-bombs. If you are local to Takoma Park, you can watch the film and the post-screening discussion on Takoma Park City TV: www.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-tv.

16] – 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 Jan. 25, 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.  

17] – Everyone should have control over their energy production, with solar on every rooftop and money in every pocket. Solar co-ops are a big part of this work.  The Northern MD Solar and EV Charger Co-op is officially open!  Join a free webinar to learn more on Mon., Jan. 25 from noon to 1 PM by registering at https://coops.solarunitedneighbors.org/coops/md-northern-md-2021-solar-and-ev-co-op/.

18] – On Mon., Jan. 25 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.

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