Baltimore Activist Alert -- September 15 - 18, 2021

35] Strategy of Denial – Sept. 15

36] Free Alex Saab – Sept. 15

37] “How Bush’s Handling of 9/11 Made a Mess” – Sept. 15

38] Phonebank for a Green New Deal – Sept. 15 & 17

39] For the People Act phonebank -- Sept. 15 - 18

40] A More Perfect Union – Sept. 15

41] Tax the Ultra Wealthy phonebank – Sept. 15

42] Principles of Political Economy – Sept. 15

43] The Real Costs & Lost Opportunities of War – Sept. 15

44] United We Dream Action – Sept. 15

45] Maryland Poor Peoples Campaign Western Maryland Meeting – Sept. 15

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35] – On Wed., Sept. 15 from 11 AM to 12:15 PM ET, check out the discussion on The Strategy of Denial [Online]. The conversation will focus on Elbridge A. Colby's new book The Strategy of Denial which offers a detailed examination of how America's defense [sic] strategy must change in order to checkmate China's growing power and ambition and deter war.  Ashley J. Tellis will host the conversation and is joined by panelists Jennifer Lind and Christian Brose to discuss with the author how to address the rising threat China poses to the United States. The sponsor is Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Sign up at https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/09/15/strategy-of-denial-event-7689.

36] – Leonardo Flores leonardofloresandrade@gmail.com indicated there is a Rally to Free Alex Saab on Wed., Sept. 15 at noon ET at the Embassy of Cape Verde, 3415 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC.  Saab is a Venezuelan diplomat who was illegally detained by Cape Verde's authorities in June 2020. He was sent by President Maduro to Iran to finalize a trade deal for fuel, food and medicine. The fruits of his labor were evident in 2020 and 2021, when Iranian tankers full of gasoline, as well as other supplies and technicians to help repair refineries, arrived in Venezuela. On his way back from Iran, Saab's plane stopped to refuel in Cape Verde and he was taken into custody, in violation of the Vienna convention given his status as a diplomat. There's more background on Saab and his arrest here: https://www.mintpressnews.com/alex-saab-v-the-empire-how-the-us-is-using-lawfare-to-punish-a-venezuelan-diplomat/277364/.

  Saab's arrest was part of the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign that sought to deny Venezuelans food and fuel. Cape Verde's constitutional court recently cleared the way for his extradition to the U.S. Join in at the Embassy of Cape Verde to urge the country to free Alex Saab. Contact Leonardo Flores, Latin America Campaign Coordinator for CODEPINK.  Call 202-840-4292.

37] – James J Zogby [jzogby@aaiusa.org]  wrote a column “How Bush’s Handling of 9/11 Made a Mess, at Home and Abroad.” Go to https://www.aaiusa.org/library/how-bushs-handling-of-911-made-a-mess-at-home-and-abroad?emci=c576b317-9b14-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&emdi=be4ddb6d-a814-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=389907.  On Wed., Sept. 15 at 2 PM, he will discuss the column. Instead of building on the world's support, Bush arrogantly squandered it. The results of these fateful choices still haunt us today 20 years later.  Join in on Zoom by registering here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpce2hrDojGdRMHcJkLVTnl5CrVQndA17G?emci=c576b317-9b14-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&emdi=be4ddb6d-a814-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=389907.

38] – 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! 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, states may 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 Wed., Sept. 15 from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM ET, Thurs., Sept. 16 from 3 to 6 PM and 6 to 8 PM ET, Fri., Sept. 17 from 4 to 6 PM ET or Sat., Sept. 18 from noon to 2 PM ET, 4 to 6 PM ET and 6 to 8 PM ET.

39] – Phonebank for a Green New Deal with Sunrise National on Wed., Sept. 15 and Fri., Sept. 17 from 4 to 5:30 PM ET.  Sign up to call Sunrisers and ask them to demand a bold climate infrastructure package from their representatives. Sunrise will provide all the training you need and a lot of fun and hype too! Register at https://www.mobilize.us/sunrisemovement/event/403248/?emci=16326b3a-a4ff-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=7c2e4f48-a5ff-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=177631.

40] –  Sojourners [sojourners@sojo.net] wants you to join the conversation on Wed., Sept. 15 at 4 PM ET with award-winning journalist E.J. Dionne and Sojourners President Rev. Adam Taylor on the themes of Adam’s new book, A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community.  Register at https://act.sojo.net/page/33181/survey/1?ea.url.id=979836&forwarded=true. 

41] – Amanda DeStefano, MoveOn Political Action [moveon-help@list.moveon.org] needs you on Wed., Sept. 15 from 5 to 8 PM to join the Tax the Ultra Wealthy phonebank.  People across the country support President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, which, if passed, would ensure affordable college, free community college, free universal pre-K, paid family and medical leave, affordable housing for middle- to low-income families, removal of exclusionary zoning laws, investment in clean energy, a pathway to citizenship, and so many more ways to help our communities live fuller lives. 

The best part is this will be paid for by making the ultra-wealthy and tax-dodging corporations pay their fair share. However, a handful of Democrats in Congress have already attempted to obstruct this historic reconciliation package and will undoubtedly attempt to do so again if they don’t hear from their constituents. Sign up to call MoveOn members in key congressional districts and patch them through to their member of Congress to let them know that we are paying attention:. https://www.mobilize.us/moveon/event/413126/.

42] – Attend a course Principles of Political Economy on Wed., Sept 15 at 6:30 PM ET and continuing each Wednesday through Oct. 6.  Discover the fundamental laws of political economy and how they can guide policy toward shared and sustainable prosperity. This 5-session course offers a basic introduction to political economy in the tradition of Henry George as presented in his book “Progress and Poverty.” Get introduced to the key concepts, axioms and fundamental laws of the discipline and use this understanding to analyze and explain economic issues in the real world. Examine the causes of poverty and discuss George’s unique approach to the problem. Additional issues such as the alternating cycles of boom and bust that are so characteristic of capitalist economies will be also discussed.  The Instructor is Dr. Marty Rowland.  Sign up at https://www.hgsss.org/principles-of-political-economy/.

43] – Andrew Flaherty, Massachusetts Peace Action [info@masspeaceaction.org] is hosting The Real Costs & Lost Opportunities of War with Lindsay Koshgarian, Program Director of the National Priorities Project of the Institute for Policy Studies on Wed., Sept. 15 at  7 PM ET.  Visit http://masspeaceaction.org/event/the-real-costs-lost-opportunities-of-war/?emci=e50926c1-3313-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&emdi=7c8ec6e8-ce14-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=269591.  The National Priorities Project considers itself the “people’s guide to the federal budget.” Lindsay Koshgarian, NPP Program Director, will share new research on the costs of national security since the 9/11 attacks. The figures are sure to grab attention and should help us assess the wisdom of pursuing endless war. Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81216463335?pwd=eGwzYTdpZmtkNUk1RG1uMXBLZjBJQT09 with a Meeting ID: 812 1646 3335 plus a Passcode: Peace.

44] – United We Dream Action [info@uwdaction.org] is teaming up to phone bank AZ senators in support of a pathway to citizenship in the reconciliation package!  Undocumented people have been in the front lines of this pandemic as essential workers and have not had access to any relief funds. Call for permanent protection for millions!  RSVP now to join the phone bank on Wed.,  Sept. 15 from 5 to 8 PM EDT: https://www.mobilize.us/luchaaction/event/405536/?utm_source=UWDA&link_id=0&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_1275121&email_subject=we-knocked-doors-in-az-heat-to-demand-citizenship-now.

45] – On Wed., Sept. 15 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET, attend the Maryland Poor Peoples Campaign Western Maryland Regional Meeting. Canvass training will be available. Register at https://actionnetwork.org/events/md-ppc-western-maryland-region-organizing-meeting?source=direct_link&&link_id=3&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_1280252&email_subject=md-ppc-weekly-update. Email western@mdpoorpeoplescampaign.org.

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