Baltimore Activist Alert – December 12 – 13, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – December 12 – 13, 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] Welcome an Afghan Family to Baltimore!

8] A friend needs a house or an apartment to rent

9] Voices of Women – Dec. 12

10] Knock on doors for Brooke Lierman – Dec. 12

11] Healthcare Emergency Online Town Hall -- Dec. 12

12] ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE – Dec. 12

13] “The Boys Who Said NO!” – Dec. 12

14] Make calls for the Freedom to Vote Act.  – Dec. 12, 13 & 14

15] Protest at the Pentagon – Dec. 13

16] Moral Monday Rally – Dec. 13

17] Christmas Peace Vigil – Dec. 13

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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] – 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.

8] – A friend, Brendan Walls, has to move out of a rented home on March 1.  So he is looking for housing and wants to live south of the Baltimore beltway, east of US 95 and north of Route 214.  Do you know of a house or apartment in the Annapolis area with as much peace and quiet as I can get for no more than $1800 a month? He does not mind pet sitting, house sitting, keeping someone company or community living.  Let me know if you have a lead on a home or apartment for Brendan to rent.  Thanks for giving this your consideration.

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., Dec. 12, the topic is Voices of Women.   Every month for the last year, Hugh Taft-Morales read a new book by a woman novelist. These writers offer compelling insights into their own external and interior lives and distinct perspectives on the wider world around them. Yet their work too often is marginalized in our still male-centric society. Come hear what Hugh learned from immersing himself in the works of such diverse authors as Toni Morrison, Louisa May Alcott, Zora Neale Hurston, Virginia Woolf, Isabel Allende, Octavia Butler, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ursula K. Le Guin, Geraldine Brooks, Barbara Chase-Riboud, and Kate Quinn.  He 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).  Email president@bmorethical.org.

10] – Knock on Doors for Brooke in Silver Spring, hosted by the Brooke Lierman for Comptroller.  The dates and times are as follows: Sun., Dec. 12 from 2 to 4 PM EST and Sun., Dec. 19 from 2 to 4 PM ET. Gather at Ellsworth Urban Park, 621 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring 20910. Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/397526/.

11] -- Mike Fox for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to attend on Sun., Dec. 12 at 4 PM ET the Progressive Town Hall on winning Red districts. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4. How Progressives Can Win in Rural Areas will be discussed with PDA Advisory Board Member Donna Smith and Congressional Candidate Derek Marshall.

12] – Chuck Michaels [cwmichaels@igc.org] announced a PAX CHRISTI BALTIMORE ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE. On Sun., Dec. 12 from 5 to 6:30 PM at hear from Bishop Denis Madden at St. Vincent DePaul Church on Front St. in downtown Baltimore, next to the Main Post Office and across Fayette Street from the Shot Tower. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Parking is available next to the church. Refreshments will be available after the service. Masks are required. All attendees are encouraged to be fully vaccinated. Call 443-846-5207 (cell) for more information.

13] – The Center on Conscience and War is presenting “The Boys Who Said NO!” film screening and round table discussion on the future of the draft. The film will be available to screen through Sun., Dec. 12 at 8 PM. The discussion of the future of the draft will take place over Zoom beginning at 4 PM on Sun., Dec. 12.  Sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-boys-who-said-no-film-screening-and-round-table-discussion-tickets-207600848727?keep_tld=1. The Boys Who Said NO! is the latest film from Oscar-nominated director Judith Ehrlich, whose earlier work includes The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It, about Conscientious Objectors to WWII.

  When you register, you will receive a link to view the film.  Then join an interactive round table discussion about the film and the current efforts in Congress to expand the draft to women - or to abolish the draft once and for all! Registration is free, but if you choose to make a donation to CCW's work for $10 or more, you will receive a copy of a book about a woman’s journey toward Conscientious Objection, Breaking Cadence: One Woman's War Against the War.

14] – Join the Freedom to Vote Act Phonebank with Common Cause on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Work together to demand bold changes to our alleged democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Call voters in targeted states and connect them to their Senators to support the Freedom to Vote Act and eliminate the filibuster. These phone banks are subject to change based on variables outside of our control (i.e. a Senator's mailbox is full). On Sun., Dec. 12 from 6 to 8 PM ET, connect AZ voters to Sen. Sinema to ask that they do everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster.  On Mon., Dec. 13 from 4 to 6 PM and 6 to 8 PM EST, connect AZ voters to Sen. Kelly to ask that they do everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster. On Tues., Dec. 14 from 4 to 6 PM ET, connect AZ voters to Sen. Sinema to ask that they do everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster.  Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=newsletter.

15] – 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 Dec. 13 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 begins 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.  

16] – Be A Hero Team [info@beaherofund.com] will be joining the Moral Monday Rally to build for the Build Back Better ACT on Mon., Dec. 13 at noon ET.  Sign up at https://actionnetwork.org/events/moral-monday-march-on-washington?akid=1859.542369.mz8vRO&rd=1&source=BeAHero&t=1. With the pandemics of systemic racism, poverty, voter suppression and COVID-19 still wreaking havoc on our daily lives, we need Congress to pass voting rights protections and the Build Back Better plan — including its $150 billion investment in home- and community-based services — before the end of the year. That’s why Team Be a Hero, led by our Co-Executive Director Jamila Headley, is joining Rev. William Barber and the Poor People’s Campaign! Rally (and wear masks) in Union Square, right in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool on 3rd Street between Madison and Jefferson Aves.

  Maryland Poor People's Campaign [maryland@poorpeoplescampaign.org] wants you to join the Moral Monday March on Washington on Dec. 13 at noon ET. Participants will practice COVID-19 safety precautions, by wearing your mask and social distancing when applicable.  Gather at Union Square, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, WDC 20001, 3rd Street between Madison and Jefferson Aves. With the pandemics of systemic racism, poverty, voter suppression and COVID-19 still wreaking havoc on our daily lives, our democracy, and our nation’s social and moral infrastructure, we need Congress to pass voting rights protections and the Build Back Better plan before the end of the year.  RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/moral-monday-march-on-washington?source=direct_link&&link_id=0&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_1380596&email_subject=ppc-dec-13-moral-monday-march-on-washington-reminder.   

There will be a Nonviolent Moral Direct Action component to the rally.  For participants, there is a mandatory training on Sun., Dec. 12 at 7 PM or Mon., Dec. 13 at 9:30 AM.

17] – You are invited to the Brandywine Peace Community's Christmas Peace Vigils in Philadelphia.  End the Violence...from Handgun to H-Bomb.  On Mon., Dec. 13 at 4 PM, gather at the Philadelphia City Hall North side in front of the city's Christmas tree, JFK Boulevard & Broad Street.  There will be banners, posters, and bell-tolling. Mask-Up, Vax-Up! Save Our City. Call Bob at (215) 843-4827.

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