Baltimore Activist Alert -- May 3 - 4, 2021

18] Call Gov. Hogan – sign the medical debt relief bill – May 3

19] Who’s Delaying Climate Action in Massachusetts?  – May 3

20] Get involved with Baltimore’s John Lewis Day of Action – May 3

21] National Organize to Win Call – May 3

22] Get a job as a Community Promoter – May 4

23] Care Corner Food Pantry – May 4

24] Protest JHU’s weapons research – May 4

25] Cuba, the embargo and COVID – May 4

26] Sunrise Movement Baltimore meeting – May 4

27] LETTERS TO THE EDITORS – May 4

28] Animal Bereavement Support Group – May 4

29] Berrigan-McAlister Award – May 4

30] Leaving Afghanistan – May 4

31] CODEPINK Calling Party – May 4

-----

18] – Progressive Maryland [malcolm@progressivemaryland.org] wants you to call Gov. Hogan to end medical debt!  Join Progressive Maryland and End Medical Debt on Tues., May 4 from 6 to 8 PM, and ask Marylanders to call Governor Hogan and urge him to sign HB 565/SB 514, the Medical Debt Protection Act of 2021. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkde2prTwvHNOnBkVFp_h2DNQ8AQjoEfjy. The first 30 minutes will be spent reviewing the script and phonebank interface, and at the end there will be a review of the progress.  HB 565/SB 514 received bipartisan, unanimous support in both chambers, and the Governor has 30 days to sign or veto the bill. If he chooses to take neither action, the bill will simply default into law. Governor Hogan's signature on the bill, however, would stand as a symbolic affirmation that we all deserve protections from predatory debt collection practices by our state’s non-profit hospitals.

19] – Who’s Delaying Climate Action in Massachusetts?  The question will be answered on Mon., May 3 from 7 to 8:30 PM.  Earlier this year, Brown University released a bombshell report that identified the forces working against climate action in Massachusetts. Researchers Trevor Culhane, Galen Hall, and J Timmons Roberts, as well as Rep. Mike Connolly will answer the question everyone is asking in a webinar about the toll of behind-the-scenes lobbying and what we can do to win. Register at https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/webinar_series.

20] – Get involved with Baltimore’s John Lewis Day of Action, scheduled for May 8. Help plan the Baltimore John Lewis Day of Action via phone or Zoom on Mon., May 3 at 7:30 PM ET to discuss logistics of the Votercade and “mini-rallies,” the program/press conference at the Park, and relations with members of Congress. Shannon Sneed will attend this event on behalf of Sen. Van H, and Rep. Mfume is considering it. Sen. Cardin’s office offered to send a video from the Senator himself or a representative. There are two ways to join Saturday’s and Monday’s teleconferences. Dial 1 301 715 8592 with a meeting ID of 931 3066 2622. The password is 173976. Or join by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93130662622?pwd=OE15SURJUWdXNHFicW94SDI3c2x3UT09#succes.

21] – Our Revolution [info@ourrevolution.com] wants you to join the Organizing Meeting on Mon., May 3 at 8:30 PM ET to discuss the PRO Act. The National Organize to Win Call will also focus on Rebuilding the Labor Movement with Michigan Congressperson and former national AFL-CIO organizer Andy Levin and other special guests! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/148017/?akid=1500.8252965.Y9kTrv&rd=1&t=10.

22] – Communities United [jessi@communitiesunite.org] is looking for Community Promoters.  These promoters will be needed for next 10 weeks.  On Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 5 of next week, CU will be back, doing paid orientation, training and hiring Community Promoters in the Towers at McCulloh Homes. Are you interested in canvassing the area in and around McCulloh for $15 per hour for the next 10 weeks? If you are interested, reach out to Tia@communitiesunite.org and share your name, address and phone number.

23] – On Tues., May 4 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. 

24] – 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.

25] – 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:   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.

Nancy Morejón is one of the foremost voices in Cuban poetry today, as well as a well-known essayist. She has received a number of prizes for her work, including the National Prize for Literature and in 2021 the National Alejo Carpentier Award. 

26] -- Amy at Sunrise Movement Baltimore [general@sunrisemovementbaltimore.org] invites you to attend the monthly hub meeting virtually on Tues., May 4 from 6:30 to 8 PM. This is the time to connect with one another, learn about the past month's activities and talk about how to get involved. Do a deep dive into the Maryland legislative session results and lessons, and have a chance to discuss the national Sunrise Movement. Register https://www.mobilize.us/sunrisemovement/event/385449/?emci=011b6fad-9da7-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=b4130456-9ea7-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=177631.

27] – Women's March is excited to be kicking off a brand new action campaign focused on building power for women --a May Days campaign. On Tues., May 4 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET get with Take Action Tuesdays. Visit https://www.mobilize.us/womensmarch/event/374453/?akid=2407.508952.8M2kxl&rd=1&t=3&utm_campaign=em20210501&utm_source=email.  The call will be to draft letters to the editor of their local publications. Letters to the editor are an important tool to shape public perception and discourse and get allies and elected officials' attention about the issues that matter to us.  Learn about the issues, have time for personal sharing and discussion, and then get to writing!  Make sure women’s priorities are top priority for the new administration. Take action by writing online LETTERS TO THE EDITORS of local, regional, and national publications.

28] – On Tues., May 4 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. 

29] – The Berrigan-McAlister Award from DePaul University will take place on Tues., May 4 at 7:30 PM ET and Wed., May 5 at 7:30 PM ET.  The Kings Bay Plowshares are receiving the first Berrigan-McAlister award for Gospel nonviolence from DePaul University. Dan Berrigan's 100th birthday which would be on May 9 will also be commemorated. You must register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inaugural-berrigan-mcalister-award-tickets-147618327391. On Tuesday, there will be the showing of a new documentary Devout and Dangerous with discussion following by the director, Susan Hagedorn, and members of the Berrigan-McAlister family. On Wednesday, the award will be presented with moderated remarks from the KBP7. Statements will be read from those presently incarcerated and virtual comments from the others.

30] – President Biden announced that he is pulling U.S. forces from Afghanistan in full, which is a monumental step toward ending the forever wars that have been used as justification for the war on terror against communities at home and abroad, destroyed countless lives, and unleashed violence on millions of Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians, Yemenis, Iranians and many others across the world. This critical step is the result of years of work of MoveOn members and activists all throughout the country, advocating for peace and diplomacy. There is still much work to be done to shift America’s foreign policy from endless wars and disastrous Trump policies to diplomacy and justice. President Biden's promising first step in ending our longest war provides an opportunity to reimagine America's role in the world.

MoveOn Civic Action [moveon-help@list.moveon.org] urges you to join together with fellow MoveOn members on Tues., May 4 at 8 PM ET for a national conversation with special guests Congresswoman Barbara Lee, activist Hoda Katebi, and MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting to hear about how we can take action to insist upon and create a foreign policy that rejects war and is instead rooted in human dignity, justice, and love.

31] – CODEPINK [info@codepink.org] is alerting you to its next Tuesday Capitol Calling Party on May 4 at 8 PM ET. Help mobilize co-sponsors and votes for peace legislation.  Join the Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87069485150.  The Meeting ID is 870 6948 5150. Or call 1 301 715 8592 to join the Calling Party.  The Meeting ID is 870 6948 5150.

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