Baltimore Activist Alert -- April 22, 2021

57] Climate Justice in the Biden Era – April 22

58] Protest at drone base – April 22

59] Coal plant in India is a disaster. – April 22

60] Winning in the States – April 22

61] Food Rescue at the Dovecote Café – April 22

62] Honoring Earth Protectors – April 22

63] The Lines between Us-- April 22

64] Capitol Area Solar Co-op Session – April 22

65] See the documentary SEASPIRACY – April 22

66] "War is not Green Op-Ed Writing Workshop" – April 22

67] An Empire of Sanctions – April 22

68] See the film Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock – April 22

69] District 15 - Post-Session Legislator Town Hall – April 22

70] "The FBI, Judas & the Black Messiah" – April 22

71] Interfaith Peace Partners hold a Peace Service – April 22

72] CCAN Comedy & Trivia Night – April 22

73] Child Tax Credit – April 22

74] Documentary NO DEFENSE – April 22

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57] – The DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council [info@dncclimate.org] wants you involved on Thurs., April 22 at 7:30 AM EDT for Opportunities for Environmental and Climate Justice in the Biden Era. Council Chair Michelle Deatrick is a panelist and Council Director of Black Engagement Alison Stephens is co-moderating. Tune in at https://www.democratsabroad.org/elainefychow/opportunities_for_environmental_climate_justice_in_the_biden_era_a_panel_discussion.

Also the Council wants your presence on Thurs., April 22 at 1 PM EDT at Progressive Democrats Abroad Earth Day Progress Report. Council Chair Michelle Deatrick is a panelist. Sign up at https://www.democratsabroad.org/jenniferrakowstepper/biden-harris_progress_report_after_100_days?link_id=4&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-council-earth-day-happenings-announcements&email_referrer=email_1150956&email_subject=council-earth-day-happenings-announcements.  Review the first 100 days of the Biden Harris Administration. Join us to discuss its accomplishments, shortcomings, and plans for more progress.

58] – On Earth Day, April 22, at 10:15 AM, gather at the May Memorial Church parking lot, 3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse & caravan to Hancock Air Base, home of the 174th Attack Wing of drones. Arrive at the base at 11 AM. No arrests are planned, and masks and social distancing are required. Park on the south shoulder of E. Molloy.  Make the point that the US military is one of the largest emitters of CO2 on the planet. Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/971590670330708. Contact Mary Anne Grady Flores at 607-280-8797.

The National Priorities Project tells why we go to Hancock on Earth Day: The Pentagon is a major polluter. U.S. militarism degrades the environment and contributes directly to climate change. The Pentagon is the world’s largest institutional user of petroleum; just one of the military’s jets, the B-52 Stratofortress, consumes about as much fuel in an hour as the average car driver uses in seven years. Plans to confront climate change must address militarization, but “greening the military” misses the point entirely. Militarism and climate justice are fundamentally at odds. Or Brown University’s Cost of War Project, “The [Department of Defense [sic]] is the world’s largest institutional user of petroleum and correspondingly, the single largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world.”  Hancock is a tiny part of the greater systemic climatic destruction of which the United States military takes a leading role. It’s a military institution that burns people and burns hydrocarbons—59 million metric tons of greenhouse gases a year putting all humanity in an emergency situation greater than Hellfire missiles.

59] – Jessie B., Sierra Club [reply@emails.sierraclub.org] says this webinar is important: What World Leaders Can Learn from India and Global Grassroots Calls for Climate Action.  It takes place on Thurs., April 22 from 12:30 to 2 PM ET. This is organized by the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth U.S.  Email Justin Uebelhor at justin.uebelhor@sierraclub.org.  The Sasan Ultra Mega Coal Power Project is one of the world’s largest integrated power generation and coal mine projects. The US Export-Import Bank originally financed this plant with US taxpayer money and has taken little to no action in responding to the numerous complaints around corruption, human rights, and labor violations, as well as at least 37 deaths, over the past decade. Learn about the story of Sasan and hold the US Export-Import Bank accountable.

60] – The National Immigration Law Center [info@nilc.org] is promoting a Winning in the States webinar on Thurs., April 22 at 3 PM ET entitled ‌‌“Advancing Universal Representation: Implementing the Vision at the Local and State Level.”  Other sponsors are the Vera Institute of Justice and the Center for Popular Democracy. Celebrate the completion of a three-part toolkit - Advancing Universal Representation: A Toolkit for Advocates, Organizers, Legal Service Providers, and Policymakers.  This event will feature a conversation with leaders in government, legal services, and advocacy to discuss best practices on how to design and implement universal representation programs at the local and state level that ensure zealous representation for all.  RSVP at https://verainstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2-JqzLGBSRWEo9QGAu6WIQ?_x_zm_rtaid=e6-ddcKwSQ6IQ1xdnY5FjQ.1619049062752.be48655fb1b273dc4a03bef655e633da&_x_zm_rhtaid=3.

61] – Thursdays in Reservoir Hill at the Dovecote Café, 2501 Madison Ave., will continue through May 27 from 4 to 5 PM.  This event is supervised by Food Rescue Baltimore.  Bring a bag, bring a friend, and take delicious, nutritious, free rescued food. See https://www.facebook.com/foodrescueday/.

62] – The Solidarity Collective [liz@solidaritycollective.org] is honoring Earth Protectors on Thurs., April 22 from 5 to 6:30 PM ET and 7 to 8:30 PM ET.  The first event is Environmental Justice: Centering the Voices of Earth and Territory Protectors.  Register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nQkkl9ntSv6pmskQnMnUSg?link_id=0&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-join-us-for-earth-day-events&email_referrer=email_1146415&email_subject=honoring-earth-protectors-events-next-week.

The second event is Building Movements in Defense of Life Earth Day Gathering. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ST001DCvTSKAtczeMFq7Wg?link_id=6&can_id=4f11de7696f1fb8258af4a5dbc0b9d86&source=email-bmdl-festival-youtube-links-enlaces-de-youtube&email_referrer=email_1141534&email_subject=_-bmdl-earth-day-gathering-festival-recording-and-more-bmdl-encuentro-para-el-d_a-de-la-tierra-videos-y-mas&link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_1146415&email_subject=honoring-earth-protectors-events-next-week.

63] – ACLU of Maryland [info@aclu-md.org] wants you to get over to The Lines between Us: Civil Rights and Housing in the 21st Century. The book talk and panel discussion will focus on Two Families and a Quest to Cross Baltimore's Racial Divide and takes place on Thurs., April 21 from 6 to 7:30 PM. Hear from author, Lawrence Lanahan, and ACLU's lead counsel who worked on the landmark Thompson v. HUD case, Barbara Samuels.  The book looks at segregation and inequality in the Baltimore region from the Fair Housing Act to the death of Freddie Gray and beyond, and wraps it around the story of Thompson v. HUD. It's been 25 years since the ACLU of Maryland won Thompson v. HUD. It was a landmark civil rights case that challenged segregation in public housing and whose remedy opened thousands of living opportunities for residents of public housing throughout the Baltimore region. RSVP at https://action.aclu.org/webform/md-lines-between-us-event?ms_aff=MA&initms_aff=MA&ms=210407_LinesBetweenUsEvent_&initms=210407_LinesBetweenUsEvent_&ms_chan=eml&initms_chan=eml.

64] – On Thurs., April 22 at 6:30 PM ET, attend a Capitol Area Solar Co-op Session.  RSVP at

https://cityofbowiemd-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jm-F160NRbWnaiNSRXIdig.

65] – Gracie at Sunrise Movement Baltimore [general@sunrisemovementbaltimore.org] wants us to know about the UMBC Sunrise for Earth Week!   On Thurs., April 22 at 6:30 PM, there will be a showing of the documentary SEASPIRACY. Visit https://www.mobilize.us/greenteamumbc/event/383344/?emci=334d6795-68a0-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=b9b7a64a-69a0-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=177631.

66] – Ally Hermes [ally@codepink.org] reminds us that Thursday is Earth Day and at 7 PM ET, there will be an OP-ED Workshop.  Co-Director Carley Towne will be hosting the "War is not Green Op-Ed Writing Workshop." This opportunity will focus on writing about the connections between climate change and militarism so that we can further advocate against Biden's $753 Billion Pentagon Budget.  Visit codepink.org/congresspentagon2021.  This workshop will give you a formula for writing Op-Eds, and encourage you to seek out these opportunities with your local news organizations. RSVP to the Workshop at codepink.org/04222021.

67] – An Empire of Sanctions: a new Syllabus on a tool of Oppression is the topic of discussion on Thurs., April 22 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET.  Register for this online event at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sdOCupzIsHNLqMeyU7RzjA4kif07Th6tU. Renate Bridenthal, Molly Nolan and Prasannan Parthasarathi from Historians for Peace and Democracy have compiled a syllabus on economic sanctions for educators and activists alike. The syllabus covers the history of sanctions, their forms, legality, and effectiveness, and their current deployment, as well as blowback from and resistance to them. All materials are readily available online. This webinar is the launch of the syllabus.

 Sanctions are now the preferred economic weapon that the United States uses to pressure, discipline and coerce enemies and even allies. Sanctions restrict targeted states from importing, exporting and receiving investments; they prohibit US corporations and banks from dealing with those countries, and they limit the economic activities of individuals in sanctioned countries.  Sanctions are now the preferred economic weapon that the United States uses to pressure, discipline and coerce enemies and even allies. Sanctions restrict targeted states from importing, exporting and receiving investments; they prohibit US corporations and banks from dealing with those countries, and they limit the economic activities of individuals in sanctioned countries.

68] – Deborah Spice Kleinmann, Sierra Club Greater Baltimore Group [reply@emails.sierraclub.org] is inviting you to join the group for Earth Day, April 22, from 7 to 8:30 PM ET! Watch Awake, A Dream from Standing Rock, and stay for a discussion of the film and water issues in Maryland. Live music will be featured after the movie! Contact Deborah Spice Kleinmann at spicearoni@gmail.com or (443) 465-1660. Please watch & support the film independently at http://awakethefilm.org/watch.php. 

69] –  Molly Amster [info@jufj.org] announced that there will be a District 15 - Post-Session Legislator Town Hall on Thurs., April 22 from 7 to  8:30 PM ET. The District 15 State Delegation is holding a call to discuss where things are after Sine Die, the end of the Maryland General Assembly's legislative session. Consider participating with Jews United for Justice in this meeting and to ask questions about priorities. Sign up for the Town Hall athttps://jufj.org/event/d15-postsession/?emci=fc05a03c-1c9e-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=cfca695d-ad9e-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=3403859.

70] – Defending Rights & Dissent [info@rightsanddissent.org] hopes you will join in LIVE on Thurs., April 22 at 7 PM ET for "The FBI, Judas & the Black Messiah."   While the assassination of Fred Hampton took place five decades ago, new revelations about the FBI’s role in Hampton’s death are still emerging. Researchers Aaron Leonard and Conor Gallagher have been key to these developments. In their quest to document the history of FBI repression of dissent, they obtained startling new information from the National Archives and Record Administration about the FBI’s campaign against the charismatic Black Panther organizer. Leonard and Gallagher will discuss what they’ve learned about the Hampton assassination, COINTELPRO and the FBI’s targeting of the Black Panther Party, and why it matters. RSVP at https://www.rightsanddissent.org/live/the-fbi-judas-and-the-black-messiah/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=4ad3129a-7b4f-46b3-bd03-36202c6bf9da.

 Leonard is a writer and historian with a particular focus on the history of radicalism and state suppression.  Gallagher is a researcher and educator from Brooklyn, New York.

71] – Interfaith Peace Partners are invited to join a Peace Service on Thurs., April 22 at 7:30 PM via Zoom at the Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore. Email Charles Cloughen at ccloughen@episcopalmaryland.org. Join the Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9117094820?pwd=QTgvTVJSWTdKTEl1MzN5MSsxdlozdz09 with a Meeting ID: 911 709 4820 and a Passcode: 964735. Dial in at +1 301 715 8592 with the same ID and Passcode.

72] –  Courtney Dyson, CCAN [courtney@chesapeakeclimate.org] invites you to an Earth Day comedy and trivia night on Thurs., April 22 at 8 PM ET.‌ ‌ Is it possible to save our planet by laughing?  The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is partnering with Grassroots Comedy DC for a hilarious night of comedy and climate trivia. The event will feature some of America’s top comedians, and there will be a special prize to the winning trivia team. Proceeds will support CCAN’s work to protect the climate, including fighting pipelines and promoting clean energy investments.  Get your ticket for “Wits & Roots: Trivia and Comedy Earth Day Spectacular.” Any amount you can donate will help in the fight for climate change. The lineup of comedians will include Brittany Carney (Comedy Central), Violet Gray (Church of Satire), and Matt Gubser (SF Weekly's "Best of the Bay").  Tune in to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wits-roots-trivia-and-comedy-earth-day-spectacular-tickets-149086496725?aff=CCAN.

73] – ACLU People Power [info@peoplepower.org] is organizing a Systemic Equality Action Session 5 about the Child Tax Credit on Thurs., April 22 at 8 PM ET.  Learn how child tax credits can promote racial justice.  The US has one of the highest child poverty rates in the world. More than half of all Black and Latinx children — and 36 percent of all US children — live in or near poverty. The Child Tax Credit has temporarily been increased and expanded to help more families, but that doesn’t go far enough to end this childhood poverty crisis in America. This help must be made permanent. RSVP at https://go.peoplepower.org/signup/rsvp-systemic-equality-action-series/?source=ppem_93735&t=2&akid=93735%2E1415127%2EoqQ2q8. Hear from US Senator Cory Booker and ACLU Campaign Strategist Rakim Brooks about the needed policy change.

74] – Pat Elder [patelder77@civilianexposure.ccsend.com] wants us to see No Defense, an Award-Winning Documentary (www.nodefensedoc.com), which includes interviews with the sick and dying as a result of the military’s use of PFAS at Wurtsmuth AFB, Michigan. This documentary, not yet released for distribution, indicates that the waters are severely contaminated, and some fish have nearly 10 million parts per trillion of PFAS. The Air Force is thumbing its nose at the folks in Oscoda, Michigan.  Laws have been passed regulating PFAS in waterways but the Air Force says they are not bound by state regulations. The suffering and the dying interviewed in this film have a different view.

At this point, individuals in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine can see the award-winning documentary for free through April 25. Other areas of the country eventually will also be provided the opportunity to see the film.

There are two parts to participating in viewing No Defense.  First, you will need to register to see the film at https://bit.ly/3rKkOwn and then proceed to order a ticket for the film. You can make a donation which will be split between the filmmakers and WILPF Burlington and the Vermont International Film Festival or enter “no thanks” to attend for free.  You’ll be emailed directions on how to view the film and to participate in the discussion.  Second, you are invited to participate in a one-hour film discussion after you’ve viewed the documentary.  On Thurs., April 22 at 8 PM (EDT), you can register for this zoom discussion at http://bit.ly/3bJHtnS.  The discussion will be led by Anthony Spaniola of Need Our Water (NOW), Marguerite Adelman of WILPF Burlington, and Nancy Price of WILPF US’ Earth Democracy Committee. Anthony Spaniola served as a consultant to the film and was also featured in it.

To be continued.

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/.

  "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