Baltimore Activist Alert – April 4 - 5, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – April 4 - 5, 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] Max is looking for tips on a garage or a storage suggestion.

6] Free Prakash Churaman  

7] House cleaner needed

8] Ellen Campbell may lose her house.

9] William Barber will speak – April 4

10] Poetry and the American Dream – April 4

11] Healthcare Town Hall – April 4

12] Hear MLK speak – April 4

13] Pentagon Peace Vigil – April 5

14] Protest Lockheed Martin – April 5

15] For the People Act – April 5

16] Food Rescue – April 5

17] Easter Moral Monday – April 5

18] We’re Not Bluffing Campaign Launch Party! – April 5

19] Maryland Sierra Club Legislative Committee – April 5

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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] – Max is in need of a garage or a storage space.  Any suggestions would be welcome.  Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

6] – 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.

7] – Is there a woman in the Baltimore area who does house cleaning?  This assignment would be on an irregular basis with several hours per week.  Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

8] –   Ellen Campbell may lose her house in Waverly due to a tax sale.  If you would like to donate, there is a Go Fund Me account: https://gofund.me/CO46ab3d.

9] – Join Rev. William Barber online on Easter Sunday, April 4 at 10 A ET live from Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for his new sermon “No Lie Can Hold This Body Down.” Watch via livestream at https://greenleafchristiandoc.org/livestream?emci=a9d61bf4-ab93-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=a873c50e-bf93-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=2588083.

10] – 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., April 4, hear about “Poetry and the American Dream.” Numerous great American poets from Walt Whitman to Maya Angelou and most recently inaugural poet Amanda Gorman have written poems that delve into the psyche of America. Their poems reflect the sensibilities of migration and nation building, and the landscapes created from dreams fulfilled or deferred in the wake of apathy, betrayal or war. These poems can elevate, act as warnings or serve as guideposts for reflection. Join poet and teaching artist Linda Joy Burke to read, listen to and discuss poetry that speaks to this topic. Participants will have an opportunity to create personal “American Dream” poems. Linda Joy Burke is a 2013 Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, performance poet, writer, photo artist, workshop facilitator, interactive music maker, humanistic co-creator, 1 drop in the ocean. She is currently a contributing editor for the Little Patuxent Review and a co-host of the Wilde Readings Literary Arts series of the Columbia Arts Center and Zoom/Facebook as of April 2020. See www.lindajoyburke.com. Email PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG for INFORMATION.

11] – Mike Fox for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] is inviting you to attend the Progressive Democrats of America's Healthcare Emergency Town Hall on Sun., April 4 at 4 PM ET. This is another in the weekly series of town halls to address COVID 19 and to help make America a healthier place for all in general as the new Medicare for All Act of 2021 is live!  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

12] – There is AN INTER-GENERATIONAL CALL for UNITY & ACTION on Sun., April 4 at 7 PM EST entitled BREAKING THE SILENCE. ATTEND THE (ONLINE) READING OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR’S POWERFUL AND HISTORIC VIETNAM WAR SPEECH OF APRIL 4, 1967. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke out powerfully against the Vietnam War, exactly a year later, King was assassinated. The words of Dr. King's 1967 historic sermon call us to urgent action - to eradicate racism, militarism and poverty. The readers are Alice Walker, Jane Fonda, Rosanne Cash, Tantoo Cardinal and many others. Register at https://kingandbreakingsilence.org/. Lockheed Martin, Mall & Goddard Boulevard Boulevards, King of Prussia, PA (directly behind the King of Prussia Mall).

13] – 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 April 5 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.  

14] – On Easter Monday, April 5, from noon to 2 PM, get over to a demonstration sponsored by the Brandywine Peace Community,  in front of Lockheed Martin, Mall & Goddard Boulevards, King of Prussia, PA (directly behind the King of Prussia Mall). One year later to the day…April 4, 1968, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, TN. Go to www.brandywinepeace.com or call Bob at 215-843-4827.

15] – Public Citizen [action@citizen.org] is promoting the For the People Act—which would strike at the heart of dysfunction plaguing our democracy and could come up for a vote in the Senate in a matter of weeks. Public Citizen is urging you to join the For the People Week of Action, April 5 - 9, to push for a swift vote and passage in the Senate. During the week, you can attend a teach-in, join a socially distanced event or protest, call your senators (or all of the above). For example, there is a virtual event on Mon., April 5 from 1 – 2 PM EDT.  Get with the DFAD Coalition for Ending Felony Disenfranchisement for a teach-in on Zoom and Facebook, where you will get the history of disenfranchisement, its lasting impact, how S.1 will address it, and how you can take action to end felony disenfranchisement. See https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/381497/.

16] – On Mon., April 5  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.

17] – On Easter Moral Monday, April 5 at 4 PM ET, join together with the Poor Peoples Campaign for some Holy Trouble with a day of action by people of faith and moral consciousness who are standing up for voting rights and living wages, while decrying the immoral Jim Crow filibuster that is hindering the passage of moral and just public policy. The broadcast live from Washington, D.C. can be picked up at https://www.breachrepairers.org/livestream?emci=a9d61bf4-ab93-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=a873c50e-bf93-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=2588083.

18] – The Justice Task Force of Progressive Maryland [kendall@progressivemaryland.org] is hosting a We’re Not Bluffing Campaign Launch Party! The Progressive Maryland Justice Task Force launched its We’re Not Bluffing Campaign to ensure Democrats who watered down Police Accountability legislation will be defeated at the ballot box in 2022. The Justice Task Force has been working hard to ensure the strongest Police Reform bill possible gets passed through contacting voters in key districts. Sign up at https://secure.everyaction.com/EGbVcmdOZUaygX50AFVMRQ2?emci=6c02befb-6292-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=c2d11845-6492-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=136680 to join the Party on Mon., April 4 from 5:30 to 7 PM.

19] – On Mon., April 5 from 6 to 7 PM ET, the Maryland Natural Places Committee invites you to join the Sierra Club  as the Legislative Workgroup wraps up this year's legislative work by helping to  lobby about natural places legislation in Maryland. Follow up on upcoming bills in the Maryland General Assembly relating to issues such as wildlife conservation, native plant corridors, parks, stream valleys, wildlife and wetlands, in order to provide input to the Maryland Sierra Club Legislative Committee. Contact Lily Fountain at lily.fountain@mdsierra.org or (301) 442-5854.

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