Baltimore Activist Alert -- April 26 - 27, 2021

21] Van Hollen Telephone Town Hall – April 26

22] Crisis in Tigray – April 26

23] National Organize to Win Call – April 26

24] Care Corner Food Pantry – April 27

25] Hear from Uyghur and Rohingya activists -- April 27

26] Protest JHU’s weapons research – April 27

27] Listen to Cuba’s Marta Nunez Sarmiento – April 27

28] Get after FERC – April 27

29] "Prisoners at Home: China and the Uyghur Genocide” – April 27

30] Theology Uncorked – April 27

31] Transforming Massachusetts’ Unjust Legal System — April 27

32] FCNL New Member Training – April 27  

33] People of Color Caucus – April 27

34] Animal Bereavement Support Group – April 27

35] In Defense of Whistleblowers – April 27

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21] – Senator Chris Van Hollen [updates@vanhollen.senate.gov] wants you to join him on Mon., April 26 at 6:30 PM ET for a Telephone Town Hall.  He will answer your questions and provide an update on the American Rescue Plan and how it’s helping Marylanders. Go to vanhollen.senate.gov/live. He will share the latest in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 and discuss some of the initiatives he is pursuing in Congress to advance Maryland's priorities, including President Biden’s proposed American Jobs Plan and legislation to tackle climate change, gun safety, school funding, criminal justice reform, and voting rights.

22] – Brian Garvey, Massachusetts Peace Action [info@masspeaceaction.org] is inviting you to an important webinar on Mon., April 26 at 7 PM ET about the Crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia.  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMuf-uurD0vGta_DIdSuQ7q0TyQXpPWqM1a?emci=828e679d-6ba4-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=0ea3af44-6ea4-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=269591. Learn about the human rights crises in Tigray, Ethiopia. Currently, 4.5 million people are displaced, and it is a fast evolving crisis of ethnic cleansing in which the Tigray people are being deliberately starved to death, where sexual violence is used as a weapon, and systematic infrastructure destruction is undermining the region to meet basic human needs. Medical and emergency relief is not allowed adequate access, there are communication blackouts and journalists are not able to move freely. 

23] – Our Revolution [info@ourrevolution.com] is reminding you about the National Organize to Win Call on Mon., April 26 at 8:30 PM ET.  Talk about Criminal Justice Reform with former Bernie 2020 co-chair Ben Cohen, whose latest book is “Above the Law: How Qualified Immunity Protects Violent Police,” and progressive prosecutors Larry Krasner (Philadelphia District Attorney), Eli Savit (Washtenaw County, MI Prosecuting Attorney), Pam Price (District Attorney candidate from Alameda County, CA) and other progressive changemakers! Visit https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/148017/?akid=1459.8252965.GniYp7&rd=1&t=8.

24] – On Tues., April 27 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM ET, get over to the Care Corner Food Pantry at the Pasadena United Methodist Church, 61 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena. This will continue each Tuesday through June 29.  Food bags are available for individuals and families in need. Food bags are first-come, first-served each week.  Volunteers are needed each week to help distribute the food. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0c49acae2b0-care. All COVID safety measures are followed, including outdoor distribution, mask-wearing and social distancing. 

25] –Merrill Zack, HIAS [info@hias.org] wants you be at a webinar to hear from Uyghur and Rohingya activists on Tues., April 27 at 2 PM ET.  Join in for an event commemorating Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month ‌ ‌-- Never Again: Standing against Genocide with Uyghur and Rohingya Activists.  This is a program about contemporary genocide and the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya and Uyghur peoples. Hear from Nury Turkel, Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK. This program is being convened by HIAS, Jewish World Watch and AJWS (representing the Jewish Rohingya Justice Network).  RSVP at https://www.hias.org/events/never-again-standing-against-genocide-uyghur-and-rohingya-activists?utm_medium=email&utm_source=hias.org&utm_campaign=events&utm_content=April+Events+at+HIAS:+hear+from+Uygher+and+Rohingya+activists. 

26] – There is a Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" at 33rd and N. Charles Sts. on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 PM. Contact Max at mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net or 410-323-1607.  You may consider contacting President Ron Daniels and telling him that the university should reject all military contracts, including those for killer drone and nuclear weapons research.  The president’s mailing address is Office of the President, 242 Garland Hall, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland 21218.  You can also reach his office by Phone: (410) 516-8068, Fax: (410) 516-6097 or email: president@jhu.edu.

27] – Massachusetts Peace Action [info@masspeaceaction.org] is hosting a series of talks Perspectives from Havana in a year of COVID and Embargo on Tuesdays at 6 PM ET and concluding on May 11.  Hear from leading voices from Cuba in a series of conversations:  April 27:  From the Perspective of a Sociologist and Feminist – Marta Nuñez; May 4:  From the Perspective of a Poet and Writer – Nancy Morejón; and May 11:  From the Perspective of the Next Generation -- David Faya.  Each week will start with a short presentation, followed by plenty of time for questions and dialogue.  The discussion will be moderated by Cole Harrison (Massachusetts Peace Action), Sandra Levinson (Center for Cuban Studies), and Gloria Caballero (Latin American Solidarity Coalition of W. Mass).  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUod-mopzkuEt1r-fMb_UhixOcMdw20ZD9g?emci=10bdaa86-1e93-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=d19c7940-2093-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=269591egister to attend.  (Only one registration is needed for the series). At the close of each session you will be given information and options for action to lift the Sanctions and end the Embargo, as well as ways in which you can get involved with the organizations sponsoring and co-sponsoring the series, or hold events and forums in your own community, institution or organization.

  Marta Nunez Sarmiento (Cuba, 1946) is a sociologist and a retired professor at the University of Havana (1966-2011). Her research concentrates on women and employment in Cuba (in the public sector and in the newly opened small businesses); gender studies in Cuba; images of women in Cuban mass media; transition toward democracy projects for Cuba proposed by Cuban American and U.S. scholars. Visit http://masspeaceaction.org/event/perspectives-from-havana-sociologist-and-feminist-marta-nunez/.

28] – Now that the FERC into FREC Summit is over, use the growing momentum surrounding dismantling the Federal Renewable Energy Commission and replacing it with the Federal Renewable Energy Commission. As part of the short term next steps in the FERC into FREC Campaign, Beyond Extreme Energy is planning a series of actions to coincide with the FERC monthly commissioner meeting on May 20th. If you would like to get involved in the planning of these actions- there is a planning meeting on Tues., April 27 at 7 PM ET. Join the Zoom Meeting at https://zoom.us/j/94923561535. The Meeting ID is 949 2356 1535.  Or dial in by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC).

29] -- Amber Maze [amber@craneprevention.org] wants you to attend on Tues., April 27 at 7 PM ET a talk "Prisoners at Home: China and the Uyghur Genocide" with Rayhan Asat.  Richard Falk does not agree with the term genocide in regards to China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority.  One could argue that China’s intent is to commit cultural genocide to turn these poor souls into mindless robots for the Chinese cause. Register at https://indianapolisjcrc.salsalabs.org/gam-uyghur/index.html?link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-china-and-the-uyghur-genocide-with-rayhan-asat&email_referrer=email_1152157___from_1534175&email_subject=china-and-the-uyghur-genocide-with-rayhan-asat.

Since a brutal crackdown in 2016, the Uyghur have become prisoners within their own homeland. Over a million are detained in concentration camps and thousands are forced to work in factories as slave labor. Here from advocates and experts, and learn concrete action steps you can take to end the atrocities.

30] – Join in the Ignation Volunteer Corps' (IVC's) Theology Uncorked on Tues., April 27 from 7 to 8:15 PM. The theme for this event is "Welcoming with Joy and Generosity: New neighbors, new stories in Baltimore's rich immigration history." Keynote speakers include Pat Shannon Jones, IOSC Executive Director, Tiffany Nelms, Asylee Women Enterprise Executive Director, and Sr. Mary Alice McCabe SNDdeN, Immigrant Advocate and Border Volunteer. RSVP at https://ivcusa.org/ivc-offices/welcome-to-ivc-baltimore/theology-uncorked-2/.

31] – Justice for All: Transforming Massachusetts’ Unjust Legal System will happen on Tues., April 27 from 7 to 9 PM ET. Call2Action, along with over thirty Democratic committees across Massachusetts, invite you to join a virtual forum on the future of our criminal justice system and opportunities to enact positive change at the local and state level. Register at bit.ly/justice4mass.  

 Hear from Andrea James, founder of Families for Justice as Healing and the National Council For Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls; Rahsaan Hall, Director of the Racial Justice Program for the ACLU of Massachusetts; Shaleen Title, an Indian-American attorney and longtime drug policy activist who currently serves as Distinguished Cannabis Policy Practitioner in Residence at the Ohio State University College of Law Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, and vice-chair of the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition; and Sana Fadel, Deputy Director of Citizens for Juvenile Justice and lead organizer of the statewide Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Reform Coalition. Helina Fontes, community organizer and Program Director of the Northeast Recovery Learning Community, will moderate. Representative Ayanna Pressley will offer introductory remarks.

32] – Maya Ulin-O'Keefe <maya.fcnl@gmail.com> wants you to know that the Friends Committee on National Legislation is holding a New Member Training on Tues., April 27 from 8 to 9 PM ET. This training is for people who are interested in joining an Advocacy Team. Inviting people to join this call is a great way to onboard new Team Members and keep your advocacy going strong! Here is the link to register. https://act.fcnl.org/event/advocacy-teams/2178/signup/?akid=&zip=.

33] – Join Indivisible on Tues., April 27 at 8 PM ET for a People of Color Caucus conversation with Dr. Ebony Hilton and Hae Young of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Discuss equity in vaccine distribution, vaccine hesitancy, and how to support vaccine equity and have conversations with the community who may be hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. RSVP here. https://indivisible.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIpc-qtrzojHdQTq2BqBCNpSRG37y71Ae93.

34] – On Tues., April 27 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET, get with the Animal Bereavement Support Group at the Baltimore Humane Society, 1601 Nicodemus Road, Reisterstown 21136. This will continue each Tuesday, through August 3. See https://www.facebook.com/BMOREHUMANE/.  The loss of an animal can be a devastating blow. Our friends are often loved as a member of our family, and we believe their passing should be treated with the same respect. RSVP to vvanhof@bmorehumane.org. 

35] – Marcy, CODEPINK CONGRESS [info@codepink.org] is urging you to attend on Tues., April 27 at 8 PM ET a webinar In Defense of Whistleblowers. ‌ Join CODEPINK CONGRESS, a campaign to mobilize co-sponsors and votes for peace legislation! RSVP at https://www.codepink.org/04272021?utm_campaign=cp_congress_04272021&utm_medium=email&utm_source=codepink. The speakers are as follow: Gabriel Shipton, Julian Assange’s half-brother: Stella Morris, Julian Assange’s partner; Chip Gibbons, policy director and legislative counsel for Defending Rights & Dissent; and Daniel Hale, the heroic former intelligence analyst who pled guilty to informing the public about the drone warfare program. Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, is incarcerated in Britain’s Belmarsh Prison, where he is fighting US extradition on espionage charges related to his involvement with whistleblower Chelsea Manning and the publication of the Baghdad airstrike of 2007 and Iraq War Logs, among other documents.

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