Baltimore Activist Alert -- May 23 - 24, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 23 - 24, 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] House cleaner needed

7] Building Community -- May 23

8] Amazing Advances on Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast – May 23

9] Stories on Gaza – May 23

10] Third Reconstruction Resolution – May 23

11] Healthcare Town Hall – May 23

12] Nicaragua against Empire – May 23

13] Police Reform Canvass Training -- May 23

14] Multilateral Cooperation in Northeast Asia in the Biden Era – May 23

15] Pentagon Peace Vigil – May 24

16] Protest Blackrock – May 24

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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] – 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.

7] – 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 23, get with “Building Community in a World of Difference.” Felix Adler founded the Ethical Culture movement in a city of teeming diversity. In 1876, nearly half of the million people living in New York were foreign born. He strove to build human connection across chasms of difference. Today, in a world where difference seems to be tearing us apart, what can we learn from his efforts? What have we learned in the following hundred years that can help us with this difficult task? After all, in the words of Audre Lorde, “Any future vision which can encompass all of us, by definition, must be complex and expanding, not easy to achieve.” 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).  Zoom link and more info can be obtained at PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG for INFORMATION.

8] – Check out the webinar Amazing Advances on Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast on Sun., May 23 at 3 PM ET. Join Ambassador Francisco Campbell and Rick Sterling, as well as Nan McCurdy who will provide an update on recent Nicaraguan news. Attendees can address questions to the speakers, and the recorded event will be shared afterward with registrants. The webinar will focus on the Caribbean side of Nicaragua, where there have been remarkable advances in recent years, including new highways and hospitals. Ambassador Campbell will describe these achievements in greater detail. Sterling will discuss how these anti-Nicaragua claims are being promoted by billionaire-financed foundations and provide contrary evidence based on recent interviews with indigenous leaders and other Caribbean residents. Register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t5D82YUkTxiHFcCKfxBE_A?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=9953e6ff-23ee-4ce2-93d9-b1afc76a0ed7.

9] – Beth Schuman [beth@afcfp.org] is announcing the opportunity to hear Stories from Gaza on Sun., May 23 at 3 PM ET. Combatants for Peace activist Ahmed Helou left behind his two sisters and his mother in Gaza. Just three weeks ago, he saw his family for the first time in 31 years. Activist and author Haneen Aboualsoud escaped Gaza two years ago to build a better life for her family. She left her two young children, Hanan, age 7, and Zohair, age 5, behind in Gaza. Today, she is desperately working to get them out.   Join Ahmed, Haneen, and (if the electricity/internet remains stable enough in Gaza), a special guest from inside Gaza itself.  Combatants for Peace led this enormous "Freedom March."  This nonviolent action was met with police brutality and force. Eight of the group's activists were arrested and held in prison for hours. RSVP at https://afcfp.org/voices-from-gaza/?emci=50519252-54ba-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=00e1e58f-33bb-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=8142762.

10] –  On Mon., May 24 at 3:30 PM ET, gather for a Moral Monday online rally with Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Pramila Jayapal to launch the Third Reconstruction Resolution to the nation! Poor and low-wealth people will also share their stories of building power and changing the narrative of poverty in this country. The Third Reconstruction is a revival of our constitutional commitment to establish justice and provide for the general welfare after decades of austerity. It prioritizes policies that center the 140 million poor and low wealth Americans because these are also good economic policies that can heal and transform the nation. RSVP at https://www.breachrepairers.org/livestream?emci=1d329539-66b9-eb11-a7ad-501ac57ba3ed&emdi=3dc8cbb2-70b9-eb11-a7ad-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=2588083.

11] – Mike Fox for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] needs your attention as there is Healthcare Emergency Town Hall on Sun., May 23 at 4 PM ET.  The  weekly series of town halls address COVID-19 and try to help make America a healthier place for all in general.  The special guest this week is the new National Coordinator of the Labor Campaign for Single Payer, Rhiannon Duryea. Also get a COVID-19 update.  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

12] – See the documentary Nicaragua against Empire and participate in the discussion about "Yes to Sovereignty! No to Sanctions" Delegation to Nicaragua. Nicaragua against Empire highlights resistance by the people and revolutionary government of Nicaragua against Western imperialism, including sanctions and regime change efforts. It is dedicated to uplifting the voices of Nicaraguan people rarely heard in mainstream media, including workers, peasants, women and Afro-Indigenous communities. Following the screening, there will be panel discussion about the documentary and delegation. Join in on Sun., May 23 at 7 PM ET at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4odYGZb_RvKeG704vDoriw.

13] – Public Citizen [action@citizen.org] wants to inform you How we pass the For the People Act on Sun., May 23 at 7:30 PM ET.  Build support for the For the People Act (H.R. 1/S.1).   Every one of us has a story to tell—including stories that help us understand the importance of a democracy that represents, reflects and responds to all of us.  However, some of us have been turned away at the polls; others have struggled to afford medicine and know that Big Pharma’s political power blocks solutions; and, still others may be inspired to run for office but are unable to afford it.  Our stories are powerful and we can use them to energize our families and communities around the For the People Act—a landmark bill that will help us realize the promise of democracy by getting big money out of politics, ensuring our freedom to vote, and guaranteeing that congressional districts are drawn to give fair representation to all.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/389751/?utm_source=PublicCitizen&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=a9b5876a-b082-4910-a188-a80f50bbb66c.

14] – Justice Task Force Team [info@progressivemaryland.org] wants your attention for Mon., May 24 from 5:30 to 7 PM ET for a Police Reform Canvass Training. Learn how to talk to your neighbors about the importance of community oversight in policing. Sign up at https://secure.everyaction.com/GdUN8_j9Dk-KnFRrYDCKQw2?emci=d1abc941-f5b7-eb11-a7ad-501ac57ba3ed&emdi=f84f4f79-fab7-eb11-a7ad-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=136680.

15] – 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 24 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.  

16] – Amazon is scheduled to hold its annual shareholder meeting on Wed., May 26. At that meeting, Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy will report to investors on the company’s performance over the past year and celebrate the $21.3 billion in profits that the company generated for shareholders in 2020. But this year, more than any other, Amazon’s role in our democracy and economy is also on the agenda at Amazon’s shareholder meeting. On Mon., May 24, two days before Amazon’s annual general meeting, Eyes on Amazon Shareholders DC is going to challenge the institutions who get a vote on Amazon’s future to cast their votes with our communities, not Amazon’s destructive agenda. Head to the doors of Amazon’s biggest shareholders: Vanguard, Blackrock, State Street, Fidelity and T. Rowe Price, to call on them to vote. On Mon., May 24 at 2:30 PM head over to Blackrock, 1401 New York Ave. NW, WDC 20005. Contact Danny at dcendejas4 (at) gmail.com.  Sign up at https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/eyes-on-amazon-shareholders?utm_source=General+Contacts&utm_campaign=b7c38d1975-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_5_21_SHAREHOLDER_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2cc1e8b217-b7c38d1975-88760471.

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