Baltimore Activist Alert -- September 30 - October 2, 2021

54] Support a Civilian Conservation Corps – Sept. 30

55] Eliminating the Nuclear Threat – Sept. 30

56] Investigate Facebook – Sept. 30

57] Webinar about the Border, Resettlement, and Afghan Arrivals – Sept. 30

58] Fight for fair maps – Sept. 30

59] Food & Water Watch conference – Sept. 30

60] Say his name: Anton Black.  – Sept. 30

61] Phone bank For the Peoples Act – Sept. 30 – Oct. 2

62] Open Schools? -- Sept. 30

63] Cold War with China – Sept. 30

64] Robert Ellsberg knew Dorothy Day – Sept. 30

65] Hear from drone pilots – Sept. 30

66] Paid Family Medical Leave Working Group Meeting – Sept. 30

67] The Labor Movement -- Sept. 30

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54] – Sunrise Movement Baltimore [general@sunrisemovementbaltimore.org] wants you to join them in D.C. on Thurs., Sept. 30 from 8 AM to 8 PM ET to support a Civilian Climate Corps!   Wear white and join Sunrisers and the People’s Watch coalition at the Capitol. Call on Congress to Hold the Line and pass the full $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package to Build Back Better with a strong, fully funded Civilian Climate Corps. Demand a NO vote on the bipartisan infrastructure deal until budget reconciliation is passed.

55] – On Thurs., Sept. 30 at 11 AM, tune in for Eliminating the Existential Threat of Nuclear Weapons [Online]. As experts warn that we are closer to nuclear war than we have ever been, UN Under Secretary General Izumi Nakamitsu and the heads of the two NGO’s with official UN status, Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Shekhar Mehta, President of Rotary International discuss the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and other steps that we can take to eliminate the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons.  International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War is sponsoring this event along with its partners in the International Council of Nurses, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association, the World Federation of Public Health Association, and the World Medical Association.  Sign up at https://www.ippnw.org/eliminating-the-threat and hear from Peter Maurer, International Committee of the Red Cross; Shekhar Mehta, Rotary International; Ruth Mitchell, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; and Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.

56] – Our Revolution [info@ourrevolution.com] is hoping you will join a rally on Thurs., Sept. 30 from noon to 3 PM ET to investigate Facebook. A series of recently leaked documents showed just how corrupt Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook executives really are. Time and time again, we’ve seen Facebook fail to address the rampant disinformation, extremism, discrimination, and hate on their platforms. We need Congress to act. Get over to Capitol Hill at New Jersey Ave. and Southeast Dr. SE, WDC 20016.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/417586/?akid=2070.8252965.yuxCzn&rd=1&t=8.

57] – HIAS [info@hias.org] is hosting a briefing on Thurs., Sept. 30 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM ET. This webinar is about the Border, Resettlement, and Afghan Arrivals.  Hear the latest developments about newly arrived Afghans, asylum seekers at the border, deportations to Haiti, and more with HIAS policy experts.  We are at a critical juncture. The United States must step up with compassion for refugees fleeing unsafe countries around the world.  Hear the latest developments about newly arrived Afghans, asylum seekers at the border, deportations to Haiti, and more. HIAS experts will draw connections between the policies and actions in play, discuss what lies ahead, and share their perspectives on how you can make a meaningful difference for refugees right now.  Login details will be sent before the start of the event. RSVP at https://www.hias.org/events/urgent-briefing-border-resettlement-and-afghan-arrivals?utm_medium=email&utm_source=hias.org&utm_campaign=Urgent+Briefing+on+Border,+Resettlement,+and+Afghan+Arrivals&utm_content=Urgent+Briefing+on+Border,+Resettlement,+and+Afghan+Arrivals.

58] – Redistricting is a pillar of our democracy—determining where people can vote and who we can vote for. This process determines how resources, like funds for health care and schools, are given to our communities. Community maps are being drawn right now, and it's essential that they represent the needs of the people!  The League of Women Voters wants you to join them in the fight for fair maps by the Facebook Live panel discussion on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 1 PM ET. Sign up at https://www.facebook.com/events/3126047831005028/?ref=newsfeed&utm_source=LWV&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OurCommunitiesOurVoices&utm_id=9.27.21.  The actions we take now will determine fair representation for the next ten years!

59] – Food & Water Watch [act@messages.fwwatch.org] wants you to attend on Thurs., Sept. 30 from 3:30 to 7 PM ET the Virtual Conference & Benefit! Hear from an incredible lineup of activists, allies and public figures, including Amy Goodman, Host & Executive Producer of Democracy Now; and Mark Ruffalo, actor & environmental advocate. RSVP at https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/event/food-water-watch-virtual-conference-2021?j=1255347&sfmc_sub=5823356&l=35&mid=100001791&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-09-27_FWW_c3_NAT_General_2021-virtual-conference-email-8_Event_em_nL_D_EP&ms=onor-em-09292021-2021-09-27_FWW_c3_NAT_General_2021-virtual-conference-email-8_Event_em_nL_D_EP&oms=onor-em-09292021-2021-09-27_FWW_c3_NAT_General_2021-virtual-conference-email-8_Event_em_nL_D_EP&eml_name=2021-09-27_FWW_c3_NAT_General_2021-virtual-conference-email-8_Event_em_nL_D_EP&eml_id=1255347&gs=GxlJbkxjcq%2B8UZOd9mKlA%2FrUqmVv9Bhub1uCcnoOsk%2FAQ6T%2FAXyET%2BMg3cRAarznEzHCt2OjmsdtrlSDEDixGGAEUZALOZueWujWnmqqAL6EdUG%2FrkG9nV1e1aPSVG%2Br&af=RA1%2BJp3N228aRV69knhQi6HdXOURCg1a8LjFy%2FqVNQ3Po1gpJ2TWtaez2njMlOuEAnWCHkgEsbpWshTz9SyXZHZ4ZBqwHCVVpKJ%2BZXlAWLZyR%2BzfO2QzqSyd2JPeL%2BzCwsk6jgcMJb7Pj3wbBih8ImqkfiHWDev%2BgezUDN3cgbh1mDCeaXiPKbkB9fKqQpGU.

Tickets include access to both the annual benefit and the conference taking place beforehand. The conference features 12 sessions and workshops to give you access to the latest research and policy updates, as well as provide hands-on activities to build your activist toolkit.

60] – ACLU of Maryland [info@aclu-md.org] on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 4 PM wants you to Say his name: Anton Black.  Demand justice for his murder by police.  ‌ ‌On September 15, 2018, Anton Black was murdered by three white police officers and a white passer-by in a Confederate flag helmet who chased, tased, and pinned Anton down on his mother's front porch. His mother saw the whole thing. Sadly, it has been three years since the police murdered Anton. Nothing will bring him back, but on October 1, a new Maryland law named in his honor – Anton's Law – will take effect. This law will make investigations into police misconduct more transparent to the public. Join the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black's special event at the Edward Garmatz US District Court, 101 W. Lombard St., Baltimore 21201. Register at https://www.aclu-md.org/en/events/anton-black-day-remembrance-press-conference?ms_aff=MD&initms_aff=MD&ms_chan=eml&initms_chan=eml.

61] –Join activists around the country at a virtual phonebank to urge voters in key states to demand their senators’ support of the Freedom to Vote 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. If the Senate does not overcome the filibuster and pass this legislation, states may not have enough time to implement the legislation’s regulations before the 2022 midterm elections! Join activists around the country at a Common Cause virtual phonebank to urge voters in key states to demand their senators’ support the vote! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/pfaw/event/376178/?utm_source=PFAW to call on Thurs., Sept. 30 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Fri., Oct. 1 from 4 to 6 PM ET, and Sat., Oct. 2 from noon to 2 PM ET and 1 to 3 PM ET.

62] – Randi Weingarten [E-activist@action.aft.org] is inviting you on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 6 PM ET to a town hall with Open Schools USA. Parents and educators agree that the safety and health of our students and school community is paramount. It is in all our interests to have a safe and healthy reopening of schools this fall. The political polarization of COVID-19 and the changing circumstances with the delta variant have left parents and educators with questions about safety protocols. Experts will answer questions about school safety. Sign up at https://actionnetwork.org/forms/safe-healthy-reopening-of-our-schoolsa-parent-town-hall-with-the-aft-and-open-schools-usa?link_id=0&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-this-thursdays-town-hall-with-open-schools-usa&email_referrer=email_1305212&email_subject=this-thursdays-town-hall-with-open-schools-usa.

63] – Massachusetts Peace Action [info@masspeaceaction.org] is hosting Vijay Prashad, historian, journalist, and commentator, who will talk about the US’ new Cold War with China on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 7 PM ET. Talk about the impact of colonialism on China, Chinese revolution, Chinese socialism, the US campaign to isolate China, Xinjiang after Afghanistan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Eagle bill in Congress, Rep.  Jim McGovern’s campaign to boycott the Beijing Olympics, and the US-Australian submarine deal.  Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtd-2uqDovGdJAd2dWPnJg31sXVtKO2fG9.

64] – The Saint Jude Parish of Pittsburgh has a Speaker Series which welcomes Robert Ellsberg, who knew Dorothy Day very well.  In 1975, he interrupted his studies to become a member of the New York Catholic Worker Community and there, became a Catholic. “I met Dorothy Day when I was 19. I had taken a leave as an undergraduate from Harvard University and made my way to the Catholic Worker headquarters in New York City, drawn by a number of motivations. I was eager to learn something directly about life, apart from books. I was tired of living for myself alone and longed to give myself to something larger and more meaningful. But mostly, I think, I was drawn by the hope of meeting Dorothy Day, the movement’s legendary founder, and still, at 77, editor of its newspaper. I had planned to stay a few months but was pretty quickly hooked and remained for five years - the last five years of Dorothy’s life, as it turned out.” (Robert Ellsberg November 21, 2005)

He looks at the life of one of the most challenging and inspiring of modern-day figures, Dorothy Day; this fascinating woman who became the co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement with Peter Maurin, a French Catholic social activist. Join the discussion on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 7 PM ET at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87612959358?pwd=UWNkQlNOQkJZK2NEZGxEQ0ZOT0NwUT09. 

65] –Defending Rights & Dissent [info@rightsanddissent.org] will hold a discussion on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 7 PM ET on the Kabul Drone Strike. On August 29, 2021, a US drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan killed 10 civilians, including 7 children. While the Pentagon initially insisted it was “righteous strike,” they backtracked after media investigations exposed their statements as false.  Defending Rights & Dissent believes the voices of drone whistleblowers deserve to be heard- Lisa Ling, Cian Westmoreland, and Keagan Miller. RSVP at https://www.rightsanddissent.org/live/the-kabul-strike-drone-whistleblowers-react/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=a36998f5-294c-457d-a10d-de4cd5a28aaa.

66] –Jews United for Justice [info@jufj.org] are getting involved on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 8 PM ET for a Paid Family Medical Leave Working Group Meeting.  RSVP at https://jufj.org/event/pfml-9-30/?sourceid=1020679&utm_campaign=training&utm_medium=standalone&utm_source=ea&emci=dd271d0e-c90c-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&emdi=f1844a31-8b11-ec11-981f-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=3403859. Are you interested in establishing Paid Family and Medical Leave in Maryland? Join this working group! You will receive call-in instructions via email after you RSVP.

67] –Workers World Party [wwp@workers.org] wants you to know about the struggles of the labor movement on Thurs., Sept. 30 at 8 PM ET. Across the country in a broad spectrum of workplaces we are seeing examples of how an organized labor movement can fight for higher pay, safer working conditions, protection from unfair labor practices and against corporate greed, exploitation and oppression. Join us to learn about labor struggles and victories happening now. Hear from labor activists on how to advance the struggle to defeat capitalism’s stranglehold on the working class by building a global class wide movement. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GO1LZuR0SUeFA9JEjgvCXw.

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