Baltimore Activist Alert – October 23 to 26, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – October 24 to 26, 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] Welcome an Afghan Family to Baltimore!

7] Support Drone Whistleblower Daniel Hale

8] Burial Service for Sr. Megan Rice – Oct. 23

9] “The Persistence of Ghosts.” -- Oct. 24

10] Rally to Keep People Housed -- Oct. 24

11] See the film FOUR LIONS -- Oct. 24

12] Support Mckayla Wilkes – Oct. 24

13] Phone bank with Virginia voters -- Oct. 24 & 26

14] Want to text with Fair Fight? -- Oct. 24 & 26

15] MASS MORAL REVIVAL AND RALLY – Oct. 24

16] Medical Town Hall -- Oct. 24

17] Phone bank for India Walton – Oct. 24 - 25

18] Make calls for the Freedom to Vote Act.  – Oct. 24 - 26

19] Public Education Listening Session – Oct. 24

20] Protest at the Pentagon – Oct. 25

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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] – St. Matthew, Blessed Sacrament, and the IOSC are partnering to welcome an Afghan Family to Baltimore! Are you interested in serving our new immigrant family? If you are interested, you will be trained in how you may serve, you will be guided and scheduled at your convenience by the Lead volunteer coordinator, you may also make donations through the IOSC to assist the family in the transition process in order to: Purchase food & Purchase clothes for winter and other necessities. Contact the IOSC at info@IOSCbaltimore.org, call the office at 410-323-8564 and leave a message for Nathalie.

7] – There is a Call to Action to support Drone Whistleblower Daniel Hale. He was transferred to horrific prison:  abuse, silencing and continued punishment for being a truth-teller. Please write letters and organize something in your community. See what JOHN KIRIAKOU has written about this travesty: Drone Whistleblower Thrown in Pen with Terrorists -- https://consortiumnews.com/2021/10/19/john-kiriakou-drone-whistleblower-thrown-in-pen-with-terrorists/. The Daniel Hale Support Team @TeamDanielHale indicated he was placed in the Communications Management Unit at Marion, IL. Please send him letters: Daniel Everette Hale, 26069-075, USP Marion, U.S. Penitentiary, P.O. Box 1000, Marion, IL  62959.

8] –   The burial service for Sr. Megan Rice will take place on Sat., Oct. 23 at noon EST.  Please mute yourself when you sign in. The Zoom meeting will be left open for conversing after the burial service. 

For security purposes, the Zoom Meeting will be locked once the burial service begins. Join the Zoom Meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81155373779?pwd=b0RJV0wxaWhtcnZoRWFkc3R2U2RKZz09. The Meeting ID is 811 5537 3779, and the Passcode is 280861

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., Oct. 24, the subject is “The Persistence of Ghosts.” From ancient Egypt to modern Halloween, human culture is full of fantasies about spirits that haunt our houses and fill our imaginations. Sometimes, like Casper, they are friendly and fun. Other times they threaten and terrorize. Why are ghosts so ubiquitous? What purpose do they serve in our society and in our psyche? How should humanists deal with specters? As children once again prepare to trick or treat, Hugh Taft-Morales explores some of the history and culture surrounding these scary superstitions. 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).  The Zoom link and more info can be obtained at PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG.

10] – The ANSWER Coalition DC [dc@answercoalition.org] would like you to come out on Sun., Oct. 24 at 1 PM ET for a Rally to Keep People Housed. Demand That DC Fund STAY DC at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC. SHOW UP to Mayor Muriel Bowser's office to protect tenants! STAY DC is being shut down by the end of October! In the middle of a pandemic, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District government have announced that the STAY DC program will not accept any more rent relief applications after October 27th. The STAY DC application is needlessly complicated and slow, meaning that some people who need rent relief may be shut out if the program is ended. The pandemic is also still in full swing, and while Mayor Bowser has extended the public emergency order, this does not apply to the District's eviction moratorium or STAY DC! People are already being evicted, which will continue to worsen this pandemic at a crucial time.

11] – Check out the War on Terror Film Festival running through Sun., Oct. 31 at 6:30 PM EDT. The Festival is a month-long, public virtual event featuring 20 award-winning films made over the last 20 years that document abuses, highlight crimes, and satirize absurdities of the “war on terror. The next date for the virtual festival is October 24. The festival is entirely free and accessible to the public following registration. To register, go to wotfilmfestival.com.

On Sun., Oct. 24 at 1:30 PM ET and on Thurs., Oct. 28 at noon, see the film FOUR LIONS, which is about four incompetent British terrorists set out to train for and commit an act of terror.  On Sun., Oct. 24 at 3:30 PM ET, catch a Live Panel Discussion featuring key members of the film, including cast, producers, and more.

12] – Mckayla Wilkes [info@mckaylawilkes.com] invited you to celebrate Tom Johnson Day on Sun., Oct. 24 from 2 to 5 PM ET. This community event will be at Berwyn Neighborhood Park, 8301 49th Ave., College Park 20740. Tom Johnson was Mckayla’s Field Director on her first congressional campaign. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/tom-johnson-day?source=211019-em-a&link_id=0&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_1329263&email_subject=youre-invited-tom-johnson-day-community-event.

13] – Volunteer on Sun., Oct. 24 from 2 to 4 PM ET and Tues., Oct. 26 from 6 to 8 PM ET to make calls in Virginia. Early voting has started in Virginia—and the numbers are not where they need to be. Make these remote phone calls to Virginia voters with Sister District, New Virginia Majority, the Democratic National Committee or Grassroots Dems. Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/dailykos/event/417365.

14] – Want to text with Fair Fight? Join a texting training to see what texting with Fair Fight looks like, the texting platform, how to set up your account on it and get you all the information you need to text with Fair Fight in the future!  This is a training, NOT a text bank. No texting during this training.  To text with Fair Fight you will need either a smartphone OR a computer (you ca7 set up the texting system on either or both). The next texting trainings are on Sun., Oct. 24 from 4 to 4:45 PM ET and Tues., Oct. 26 from 8:30 to 9:15 PM ET.  Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/fairfight/event/380601/?emci=1ec65536-76f5-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=9099f5e0-77f5-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=1234726.

15] – The West Virginia Poor People's Campaign [westvirginia@poorpeoplescampaign.org] is holding a MASS MORAL REVIVAL AND RALLY on Sun., Oct. 24 at 4 PM at the West Virginia Capitol. SENATOR MANCHIN YOU CAN AND MUST DO BETTER!  Email WestVirginia@poorpeoplescampaign.org.  To watch the event on Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/546454423118256/?ref=newsfeed&link_id=3&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-mass-moral-revival-and-rally&email_referrer=email_1329413&email_subject=join-us-on-october-24th-mass-moral-revival-and-rally.

16] – Dr. Bill Honigman for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] is inviting you on Sun., Oct. 24 at 5 PM to the Healthcare Town Hall.  The Healthcare Human Rights Issue Team of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is intensely interested in negotiations taking place as it speaks on President Biden’s Build Back Better Act. In particular, PDA recognizes that to achieve #HealthcareJustice in America, we must expand and improve Medicare, which will then become #MedicareForAll when it finally includes everyone living in these United States.

 Political extortion being perpetrated by the entire opposition party and by a couple of rogue Democratic kingpin wannabes must not be tolerated, particularly when Americans are still dying needlessly due to #COVID19. Their actions, or inactions, now must have significant consequences at the ballot box in the ’22 midterms and in 2024. Discuss expectations around these congressional negotiations for Healthcare on the Build Back Better Act. What is still being fought for by champions in the House and Senate? What has already been cut out of the deal? What do we as a community of activated advocates see as the path forward to progress? Sign up at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

17] – Team AOC [info@ocasiocortez.com] needs volunteers to phone bank on Sun., Oct. 24 at 6 PM ET and at 6 PM on Mon., Oct. 25 for India Walton and get out the vote. Register at https://secure.ngpvan.com/ZUpCVt4TxkWLqII6pyLhwg2?akid=2598.751982.3ETN_s&rd=1&source=em20211020-2598&t=4&utm_source=em20211020-2598.

18] – Join activists around the country at a virtual phonebank to urge voters in key states to demand their senators’ support the Freedom to Vote Act.  Work together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Call on voters in targeted states and connect them to their Senators to support the Freedom to Vote Act, and to eliminate the filibuster. These phone banks are subject to change based on variables. 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. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/pfaw/event/376178/?utm_source=PFAW to call on Sun., Oct. 24 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Mon., Oct. 25 from 4 to 6 PM and Tues., Oct. 19 from 4 to 6 PM ET.

19] – On Sun., Oct. 24 at 7 PM ET, the Maryland Poor Peoples Campaign Prince George’s County will hold an AROS Public Education Listening Session.  Join in for a discussion what the children’s education policy goals should be for this coming MD Legislative Session. Help Reclaim Our Schools.  Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrf--pqz8qG9PIgizOIf4M7Vju0DvchT2k?link_id=4&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-md-ppc-weekly-update-36&email_referrer=email_1321698&email_subject=md-ppc-weekly-update.

20] – 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 Oct. 18 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.  

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