Baltimore Activist Alert -- August 29 -- September 18, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – Aug. 29 - 30, 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] International Day against Nuclear Tests – Aug. 29

8] Get Out the Vote in Virginia – through Sept. 18

9] “Anti-racist Work in Ethical Culture” -- Aug. 29

10] Phone bank for the For the People Act!  -- Aug. 29 - 31

11] VAX_UP Parade – Aug. 29

12] Global Birthday Party -- Aug. 29

13] Our Revolution PGCo's Meeting – Aug. 29

14] Healthcare Emergency Town Hall – Aug. 29

15] Medicare for All Text Bank party -- Aug. 29

16] Phone bank for the For the People Act!  -- Aug. 29

17] Strategy Call – Aug. 29

18] Protest at the Pentagon – Aug. 30

19] "Pathways Prayers for Citizenship – Aug. 30

20] National Justice Roundtable -- Aug. 30

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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] – Since nuclear weapons testing began on July 16, 1945, over 2,000 have taken place. In the early days of nuclear testing little consideration was given to its devastating effects on human life, let alone the dangers of nuclear fallout from atmospheric tests. Hindsight and history have shown us the terrifying and tragic effects of nuclear weapons testing, especially when controlled conditions go awry, and in light of the far more powerful and destructive nuclear weapons that exist today.  On December 2, 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared August 29 the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35. The resolution calls for increasing awareness and education “about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.” The resolution was initiated by the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with a large number of sponsors and cosponsors with a view to commemorating the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site on 29 August 1991. The international instrument to put an end to all forms of nuclear testing is the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Unfortunately, this has yet to enter into force.

  2010 marked the inaugural commemoration of the International Day against Nuclear Tests. In each subsequent year, the day has been observed by coordinating various activities throughout the world, such as symposia, conferences, exhibits, competitions, publications, lectures, media broadcasts and other initiatives. Moreover, “convinced that nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons are the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of nuclear weapons,” the General Assembly designated September 26 as the “International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons", which is devoted to furthering the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, through the mobilization of international efforts. The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons was observed for the first time in September 2014. The International Day against Nuclear Tests, together with other events and actions, has fostered a global environment that strongly advocates for a world free of nuclear weapons.

8] – Ben Betz, People For the American Way [alerts@pfaw.org] is asking you to Help Get Out The Vote in Virginia by signing up to write letters to voters in Virginia through September 18! Since the Virginia Vote Forward campaign launched last month, 120,000 people have committed to sending letters! The goal is to reach more than 500,000 voters Sign up to write letters to Get out the Vote at https://votefwd.org/pfaw.

Virginia is a crucial bellwether state vital to America’s political landscape, and its state elections this year will have a serious impact on the 2022 national midterms. People For is gearing up to be very active in this year’s state-level campaign, and it seeks national support to make sure that the progressive gains from 2020 continue in the former seat of the Confederacy this year.  People For is thrilled to announce that we are once again partnering with Vote Forward, an exciting campaign to increase voter participation through letter-writing to key voters in battleground states and districts. Vote Forward’s letter-writing project is incredibly simple, as all you need are stamps, stationery, and a pen!

9] – 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., Aug. 29, the subject is “Anti-racist Work in Ethical Culture.”  Kate LaClair, a member of the Baltimore Ethical Society, has been on an intentional journey of learning how to dismantle white supremacy within her own life for several years, and most recently led book discussions on “White Fragility” for the American Ethical Union. She joined the Leadership Committee of the AEU to build anti-racist structures that will help support and employ Leaders of color, and spur a process of change that will make Ethical Culture overall more inviting to BIPOC people. She is presenting this platform as a part of the “Summer Sundays” when members present on topics of interest to them.  The Zoom link and more info can be obtained at PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG.

10] –Join activists around the country at a virtual phonebank to urge voters in key states to demand their senators’ support of the For the People Act! The August deadline for 2022 is fast approaching! Our democracy is in crisis: with redistricting around the corner and hundreds of voter suppression laws being introduced in states across the country, we do not have time to wait. Every day we’re getting closer to a very real deadline to take action to pass the For the People Act (S.1): If the Senate does not overcome the filibuster and pass S. 1 by late August, states will not have enough time to implement the legislation’s regulations before the 2022 midterm elections! Join activists around the country at a virtual phonebank to urge voters in key states to demand their senators’ support of S. 1! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/pfaw/event/376178/?utm_source=PFAW to call on Sun., Aug. 29 from noon to 2 PM ET, Mon., Aug. 30 from 4 to 6 PM and 6 to 8 PM ET and Tues., Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 8 PM ET.

11] – The Brandywine Peace Community's planned "REACH-OUT" at 15th & Market Sts., across from the Philadelphia City Hall west side/Dilworth Plaza, in support of the VAX-UP PHILLY PARADE will happen on Sun., Aug. 29 at 1 PM ET.  Visit www.brandywinepeace.com or call 215-843-4827.

12] – Metta Spencer [project@tosavetheworld.ca] wants you to celebrate his Global Birthday Party.  His 90th birthday will be on Sun. Aug. 29.  On the last Sunday of each month, Spencer will host Project Save the World’s “Global Town Hall” by Zoom for activists everywhere in the world from 2 to 4 PM ET. This one will include a party.  Tune in at URL: https://zoom.us/j/9108970203 / Zoom Room ID: 9108970203.  It will also be on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/391384512386300.

13] – The Maryland Poor People's Campaign [maryland@poorpeoplescampaign.org] is alerting you to a meeting on Sun., Aug. 29 at 3 PM ET of the Prince George’s chapter. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrdOqqpjwvH9xZRSPIs07qw_A0UEkOOrOn?link_id=5&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-md-ppc-weekly-update-20&email_referrer=email_1256884&email_subject=md-ppc-weekly-update.

14] – Dr. Bill Honigman for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to attend on Sun., Aug. 29 at 4 PM ET a Healthcare Emergency Town Hall. RSVP at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.  Everybody In, Nobody Out: We Need Medicare for All NOW.  Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is fully committed to an expanded and improved Medicare, with the intention of achieving nothing less than #SinglePayer expanded and improved #MedicareForAll, as what will finally arrive at #HealthcareJustice in America.  The Town Hall takes place every Sunday, and this week the guest speaker will be one such outspoken champion for Medicare for All, Healthcare Justice Executive Director of Social Security Works Alex Lawson.  He will discuss those particular Medicare expansion elements of what is now being called the Build Back Better Act.

15] –Jasmine Ruddy [info@medicare4all.org] wants you to know that winning the expansion and improvement of Medicare in the short term will be life changing for millions of people. With a continued push, it is possible to win the largest expansion of Medicare since it was created. Help identify thousands of new local Medicare for All supporters and mobilize them to take action. Sign up for a Medicare for All Text Bank party. Training will be provided at the beginning of the call. You don’t need to use your own phone to send texts — all you need is a computer or tablet. Go to https://act.medicare4all.org/signup/mfa-tb/?source=em20210827-116079&t=2&akid=116079%2E162593%2EbjAbjs. The available times are Sun., Aug. 29 at 6 PM ET, Tues., Aug. 31 at 7 PM ET and Thurs., Sept. 2 at 8 PM ET.

16] –Public Citizen [action@citizen.org] wants you to join a call on Sun., August 29 from 7 to 8 PM ET to discuss how we can still pass the For the People Act. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee will be on the call. ‌ ‌Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/409145/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=da586859-36e5-4e33-868e-6c48e5f630c8.

17] – Zach VanHouten [alerts@pfaw.org] would like you to be on a call on Sun., Aug. 29 from 7 to 8 PM ET. This is a strategy call to save our democracy!  Join People for the American Way and its coalition partners at the Declaration for American Democracy Movement Call to hear updates on the effort to pass the For the People Act and how to plan to get this bill passed and signed into law. Georgia State Representative Park Cannon will be one of the featured speakers on the call!  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/pfaw/event/409145/?utm_source=PFAW.

18] – 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 Aug. 30 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.  

19] –  On Mondays Aug. 30 at noon ET, get involved with "Pathways Prayers for Citizenship:" Join with faith partners from around the country for a half hour on Mondays during August Recess -- to share in prayers for pathways to citizenship, hear testimonies from DACA & TPS recipients, farmworkers, and essential workers, and receive resources for actions that you and your faith community can use each week to urge long-awaited opportunities for citizenship to be offered to our immigrant friends, neighbors, and congregation members! Check out https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOcBxpkSzV7CCZCoeAm-xPNdn39LFMXmpnSN8Amxl6yMndVg/viewform. RSVP at https://www.fplaction.com/weekactionholyrecovery.

20] – Mike Fox for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] is inviting you to Justice or Bust on Mon., Aug. 30 from 1 to 5 PM ET.  Join top leaders and organizers—including PDA Executive Director Alan Minsky—for an unprecedented, unifying gathering of progressive leaders and activists working together for progress, the first National Justice Roundtable. Register for the Zoom gathering: https://actionnetwork.org/events/national-justice-roundtable/.

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