Baltimore Activist Alert –January 23 – 25, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert –January 23 – 25, 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] End Solitary in Virginia – Jan. 23

10] Forgiveness -- Jan. 23

11] Ban Killer Drones meeting – Jan. 23

12] World Stands up to Sanctions – Jan. 23

13] Hands off Palestine at the Israeli Embassy – Jan. 23

14] Knock on Doors for Brooke – Jan. 23

15] Holocaust and Genocides and Awards Event – Jan. 23

16] Single Payer Victory -- Jan. 23

17] Phone bank for Jessica Cisneros – Jan. 23

18] United against Hate meeting – Jan. 23  

19] Make calls for the Freedom to Vote Act. – Jan. 23, 24 & 25

20] Voting rights event – Jan. 23

21] Protest at the Pentagon – Jan. 24

22] History of Slavery course – Jan. 24  

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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] – The Virginia Interfaith Center [office AT virginiainterfaithcenter. Org wants you to get involved in a Day of Action on Sun., Jan. 23. The issue is #SolitarySolidarity, and the action is organized to convince legislators to support a bill to prohibit the inhumane, barbaric use of solitary confinement the United Nations categorizes as torture. Help spread awareness about this human rights violation through your communities and through the media. This event will take place in the parking lots of congregations all over Virginia (outdoors, socially distanced, and masked, of course). The idea is to organize a coordinated statewide response to capture the attention of the media and legislators. People of all faiths and people of good will unite across the state to take a stand to value human life.

For purposes of coordination and organizing a media response, RSVP for the event of their choice by going to https://www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/solitarysolidarityvigilaction/ Take photos of yourselves, participants, posters, the mock solitary cells, and the prayer vigils.  Send them to ayeshaGT@virginiainterfaithcenter.org along with your name, the location at which the photos were taken, and if possible, identify the names of people in the photos if you know them. 

10] – 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., Jan. 16, the subject is “Forgiveness.”  What is forgiveness? How should humanists approach forgiveness so that it elevates one’s quality of life and strengthens a commitment to ethical living? Felix Adler wrote that “to forgive is not to forget – quite the contrary. To forgive is to remember the past action, but to remember it as belonging to the past, as the act of one who has since undergone the great change.” Is he right? Hugh Taft-Morales explores the process of seeking and giving forgiveness in interpersonal relationships.

  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.

11] – To join the Ban Killer Drones meeting on Sun., Jan. 23 at noon ET, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87119502310. The Meeting ID is 871 1950 2310.  Or you can dial in at 1 301 715 8592 (Washington, DC. The Meeting ID is at 871 1950 2310.

12] – Check out The World Stands Up to Sanctions on Sun., Jan. 23 at 1 PM ET.  Sanctioned countries are fighting back and finding ways around the US imposed economic sanctions.  Sanctions have been imposed on around 42 countries by the United States in order to change a government’s behavior. These sanctions primarily hurt the people of the sanctioned countries. This is especially true during the COVID pandemic as the US denies countries vaccines and medical equipment.  But sanctioned countries are now working together and finding ways around these sanctions. Learn what is happening as the World Stands Up to Sanction at https://tinyurl.com/yx2vaxdh.

13] – Iman Abid-Thompson [contact@uscpr.org] has called an emergency demonstration on Sun., Jan. 23 from 2 to 3 PM ET. Hands off Palestine at the Israeli Embassy.  Today it is home demolitions and expulsions in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem; then it was in the Naqab desert in '48 Palestine, Masafer Yatta in '67 Palestine, and more ongoing Israeli violence across Palestine such as the continued blockade of Gaza. The brutal Israeli apartheid regime is escalating its ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people–destroying the Salahiya family’s home in the dead of night in Sheikh Jarrah, mass arresting over 40 Palestinian people (including many children) in the Naqab, and so much more constant, inhumane violence. It is our urgent responsibility to join the steadfast people of Palestine in loudly resisting and exposing Israel’s colonial violence to the world, now and until liberation. Visit https://www.instagram.com/p/CY_yFCrldzf/?emci=b69cf05c-e37a-ec11-94f6-c896650d4442&emdi=e7064c6d-f57a-ec11-94f6-c896650d4442&ceid=5467956.

14] – There is a Literature Drop for Brooke in Montgomery County on Sundays from 2 to 4 PM EST starting at Panera Bread, 8541 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring 20910. Join a canvass and share Brooke's vision to transform the Comptroller's office to work for every Marylander. Once you sign up the team will follow up with everything you will need to knock on doors! This will continue through Fe. 27.  Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/brookeliermanforcomptroller/event/397526/?followup_modal_context=email_post_shift_future_timeslots_other_events.

15] – The 17th Annual Holocaust and Genocides and Awards Event will take place on Sun., Jan. 23 from 2 to 4 PM EST.  This is a virtual event; get on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83302436740?pwd=MzgzYkVoQ0pNWXBSMkRhT2dIdit4Zz09.        The purpose of this event is education, information, and activism.  The Center for Pluralism is a non-profit organization established in 1996 and committed to building a cohesive America where every American feels secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, or any other uniqueness.  Its work involves workshops, training, seminars and talks about Religious, Political, Societal and workplace Pluralism, in addition to human rights and including standing up for the religious freedom of every human being. See www.HolocaustandGenocides.com.

16] – Alan Minsky for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to attend a Town Hall on Sun., Jan. 23 at 4 PM ET.  Celebrate California’s Single-Payer Victories and participate in a Panel Discussion on Defending Democracy and Voting Rights. California Assembly Bill 1400, which sets in motion a single-payer universal health care system in California, has passed through both of its committees (with flying colors!) and is headed for a floor vote before the end of the month. Simply put, this could be the game changer for single-payer advocates. Hear an update from Dr. Bill and others on the front line to win a sane, fair, and excellent healthcare system in the largest state in the union.

 In the wake of the failure to pass essential voting rights legislation in the US Congress, how do we Defend Democracy and Voting Rights. It's a star studded panel including Mimi Kennedy, Alan Minsky, Andrea Miller, Ray McClendon, Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Kenny Bruno, Sara Nelson, James Fukuda, Christian Nunes, Danny Goldberg, Jan Goodman, Robert Wilson, Lori Pesante, Danny Sheehan, Rev. Rodney Sadler, John Brakey, Tatanka Bricca, Joel Segal, Harvey Wasserman and more!  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

17] – Help out on Sundays and Wednesdays through the end of February (times vary). On Sun., Jan. 23 from 4 to 6 PM ET. Phone bank for Green New Deal champion Jessica Cisneros in Texas’ 28th Congressional district! Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/sunrise2022/event/428089/?emci=6d0ae0cc-ff76-ec11-94f6-c896650d4442&emdi=3402a187-0977-ec11-94f6-c896650d4442&ceid=177631.

18] – United against Hate will meet on Sun., Jan. 23 at 5 PM ET.  Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9132004856.

19] – Join the Freedom to Vote Act Phonebank with Common Cause. 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., Jan. 23 from 6 to 8 PM ET, connect WV voters to Sen. Manchin to ask that he does everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster.  On Mon., Jan. 24 from 4 to 6 PM and 6 to 8 PM EST, connect AZ voters to Sen. Sinema to ask that she does everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster. On Tues., Jan. 25 from 4 to 6 PM ET, connect WV voters to Sen. Manchin to ask that he does everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster.  Register at https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/376178/.

20] – Catherine Murphy <theliteracyproject@gmail.com> wants you to know about a Voting Rights event on Sun., Jan. 22 at 8 PM EST. Go to www.Twitch.tv/HotHouseGlobal or https://www.facebook.com/groups/557570455198322/ or their YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/HotHouseGlobal.  Focus on Voting Rights & Education with Four Films: They Say I’m Your Teacher, Freedom Schools, Let the People Decide & Calculating Change (excerpt).  The discussants are Fannie Rushing, Bill Ayers, Ash-Lee Henderson and Rev. Allyn Maxfield-Steele & Host Adam Bush.  Go to www.theliteracyproject.org.

21] – 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 Jan. 24 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.  

22] – Bill Barry [billbarry21214@gmail.com] wants you to know that he is teaching a course History of Slavery starting Mon., Jan. 24 from 1 to 2:30 PM ET.

The course will be taught for CCBC on Zoom. This will be a labor history course about Baltimore with lots of guest speakers. Call 443-840-4700 or go on line to www.CCBCMD.edu.

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