Baltimore Activist Alert – May 2 - 3, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 2 - 3, 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] Xochi needs a place to stay in Baltimore

10] Campaign to Ban Killer Drones – May 2

11] “Welcome to the Social Dreaming Space” – May 2

12] Demand freedom for jailed trade unionists! – May 2

13] American Political Polarization --- May 2

14] What can progressives expect from Congress in 2021?  – May 2

15] Healthcare Town Hall – May 2

16] Understanding the War Industry – May 2

17] Pentagon Peace Vigil – May 3

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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. Contact Cindy at farquhar.cindy7 at Gmail dot com.

9] – Xochi, a young person from El Salvador, is seeking asylum in the United States.  Xochi made the decision in April 2020 to move to Dallas, TX to live with her mother.  In the last year she lived with a few friends in Texas and with her mother.  Because of the pandemic, Xochi's court date has been pushed back many times.    Xochi would like to move back to Baltimore.  If you know where Xochi can live while she seeks employment in Baltimore, contact Bethany Gregg at bethany.gregg@gmail.com. 

10] – Register for the Webinar: the Campaign to Ban Killer Drones Is Launched as Biden Appears Ready to Expand Drone War at https://actionnetwork.org/events/webinar-campaign-to-ban-killer-drones-is-launched-as-biden-appears-ready-to-expand-drone-war?clear_id=true&link_id=1&can_id=058940b74823562b0911efda5990c5d1&source=email-webinar-to-launch-movement-to-ban-killer-drones&email_referrer=email_1147667&email_subject=webinar-to-launch-movement-to-ban-killer-drones.  It will take place on Sun., May 2 from 10 to 11:30 AM.  The speakers are Brian Terrell, Kathy Kelly, David Swanson, Leah Bolger, and Frances Jeffries.

This webinar will announce the launch of BanKillerDrones, a new campaign for an international treaty to ban weaponized drones and military and police drone surveillance. This comes at the moment when the Biden Administration is reportedly looking to increase U.S. drone killing and drone surveillance as key to retaining some level of colonial control in Afghanistan, under the guise of countering Al Qaeda, as U.S. troops are removed. The reality appears to be that U.S. drones, and other U.S. military aircraft, will continue to support U.S. Special Forces operating in Afghanistan. A New York Times article on April 15 indicates that drone killing will be even more at the center of global U.S. military policy, quoting U.S. Department of Defense [sic] Secretary Lloyd Austin: “’There’s probably not a space on the globe that the United States and its allies can’t reach,’ Mr. Austin told reporters.” Civilians continue to be the primary casualties of drone war.

11] – 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., May 2, get with the “Welcome to the Social Dreaming Space” hosted by Omowale Elson, Ph.D., and Martin Walker, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine.  In this interactive platform, you will be guided through an exploratory journey of shared dreams. We tell dreams, we listen to dreams, look for images that connect them, and allow our imagination to run free. Even if you don’t remember night dreams or don’t feel like sharing a particular one, you can still engage in free associations and may be surprised by what they evoke. As our time comes to a close we will have an opportunity to reflect on the content that emerged and look for themes that showed up during this creative and contemplative time together.

  Omowale Elson, Ph.D., is a VP and Senior Consultant at Elson Consulting Group. He believes that a clear vision inspires passion and creativity, and that vision should be a shared one. He is joined by Martin Walker, Ph.D., who is an expert in the Social Dreaming Matrix technique.  Email PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG for INFORMATION.

12] – LabourStart [ericlee@labourstart.org] wants you to demand freedom for jailed trade unionists! The Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights for 2021 was awarded to the independent trade union movement in Belarus, represented by the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) and its affiliates. According to the prize committee, "They receive the award for their fearless struggle for democracy and fundamental trade union rights in Europe's last dictatorship."  Their struggle - and that of the trade union movements in Hong Kong, Myanmar, Iran and Turkey - is the focus of this year's LabourStart May Day event, which will be hold on Sun., May 2 at 11 AM ET. Register for the event at https://www.labourstart.org/register4event.html.

13] – Herb Levy <herb.jids@gmail.com> wants you to know that on Sun., May 2 at 2 PM ET, there will be a program hosted by the Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society, American Political Polarization.  Join by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86144389733?pwd=UFhpdGVkdTI4V1VHa0QzeDNKd0l4Zz09.  The meeting ID is 861 4438 9733 and the passcode is 812228.  

14] – What can progressives expect from Congress in 2021?  How do we make our issues a priority? Come ask your questions of Representative Katherine Clark at the ANNUAL MEETING of the Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment on Sun., May 2 from 3:30 to 5 PM. Get the Zoom link at watertowncitizens.org.  Visit http://masspeaceaction.org/event/katherine-clark-what-can-progressives-expect-from-congress-in-2021/?emci=62bfe175-96a6-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=c9d087de-98a6-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=269591. Rep. Clark is a leader in Congress and has recently been elected as the Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives. She is also a champion for many of the issues important to Watertown Citizens.

15] – Mike Fox for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to attend the Healthcare Emergency Town Hall on Sun., May 2 at 4 PM ET.  PDA joins in celebrating the uplifting rhetoric offered to a pandemic weary nation this week by the Biden/Harris administration, and in particular the recognition that healthcare should be a right in the United States of America as it is in every other advanced country in the world. And, with President Biden’s suggested fixes to Obamacare of lower premiums and deductibles, and lower drug prices, just exactly how will healthcare become a right without also expanding Medicare eligibility and benefits to include critically needed services like dental, vision, hearing, alcohol and drug treatment, long term and mental health care? Sadly, not much said on that.

SinglePayer expanded and improved #MedicareForAll were the words we wanted to hear and didn’t. COVID-19 would be just the reason for Mr. Biden’s saying them. Hear exactly these words from the nationally acclaimed authors of Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide Drs. Abdul El-Sayed, M.D., and Micah Johnson, M.D. What do you think about the Biden/Harris plan to make healthcare a right instead of a privilege in America. Sign up at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

16] – Understanding the War Industry – the Local and the Hopeful will happen on Sun., May 2 from 7 to 8 PM as an Online Event. Check out http://masspeaceaction.org/event/understanding-the-war-industry-the-local-and-the-hopeful/?emci=62bfe175-96a6-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=c9d087de-98a6-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=269591.  Christian Sorensen is a researcher, journalist, and author focused on the U.S. war industry. His work includes distilling the U.S. military’s daily contract announcements into digestible monthly summaries in order to educate the public about the profitable nature of war. He believes an educated public can make the decisions necessary to redress the state of the nation, particularly moving to embrace the democratization of the workplace. Sorensen contributes frequently to independent media outlets. He is currently a senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, an organization of independent veteran military and national security experts. Understanding the War Industry is his seminal book describing today’s military-industrial-congressional complex.

His novels, available for free on this site, are designed to spark the creative steps toward a better future for all. His novel Reading Heeled—written in 2018, long before federal agencies cracked down on Portland—depicts a federal task force facing off against anarchists in Chicago. Sorensen’s website: See https://warindustrymuster.com.

17] – 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 May 2 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.  

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