Baltimore Activist Alert – December 18 to 19, 2022

Baltimore Activist Alert – December 18 to 19, 2022

"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 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] Max is looking for tips on a garage or a storage suggestion.

5] Support the Pratt Workers United

6] Get the book Surely Goodness and Mercy by Murphy Davis

7] Get the book Male Supremacy in the Catholic Church: An Insider’s View by Roy Bourgeois

8] Are you joining Witness against Torture in D.C. in January?

9] “Kwanzaa Celebration” – Dec. 18

10] Buena Vista Co-op Celebration – Dec. 18

11] Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition rally -- Dec. 18

12] Maryland statewide DSA meeting -- Dec. 18

13] Progressive Town Hall -- Dec. 18

14] Election Protection phone bank – Dec. 18

15] Voting Rights, a film – Dec. 18

16] Protest at the Pentagon – Dec. 19

17] Mayor Scott serving at Busboys – Dec. 19

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1] – Buttons, bumper stickers 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] – 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.

5] – The workers at the Enoch Pratt Free Library have started a drive to organize a union calling themselves Pratt Workers United.  Go to https://www.prattworkersunited.org/. There is a letter of support for community members to sign at https://www.prattworkersunited.org/community-letter-support.

"Pratt Library workers are forming a union, Pratt Workers United. We are seeking pay equity for all, safer working conditions, benefits for part-time workers, and a voice in decisions that affect our work.” The workers voted to unionize

6] – Consider getting HOSPITALITY, the newsletter of OPEN DOOR: A prophetic discipleship community honoring the Black Jesus, Dorothy Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. The September/October 2022 issue contains a wonderful review by Claire Schaeffer-Duffy of Surely Goodness and Mercy by Murphy Davis, reprinted from The Catholic Worker, March-April 2022.  Davis, a co-founder of the Open Door Community, died in 2020.   You can subscribe to the newsletter or buy a copy of the book by calling 404-290-2047 or by emailing opendoorcomm@bellsouth.net.

7] – Another book to consider purchasing is Male Supremacy in the Catholic Church: An Insider’s View by Roy Bourgeois. His new book is both memoir and position-paper, and it makes the case that the Roman Catholic Church is a corrupt system that spits out truth-tellers. The crime he was excommunicated for was attending the ordination ceremony of Janice Sevre-Duszynska in Lexington, Kentucky, in August 2008. The ordination was under the auspices of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests.  The Vatican’s response has been to excommunicate any woman who has the audacity to see herself as a priest equal to a male priest. You can purchase a copy from Amazon or by Kindle.

  Here are two quotes to contemplate: “I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men. She is to keep silent.” – Timothy 1, 2:12-13.  “If the patriarchy that dominates the church is not dismantled and women are not treated as equals, the church will continue to diminish and, eventually, die.” – Roy Bourgeois.

8] – Witness against Torture [contact@witnessagainsttorture.com] is announcing that the annual Fast for Justice will be in person in D.C. from January 8 through Jan. 11.  Organizers need to know who is coming. SO IF YOU'RE COMING, SEND AN EMAIL to witnesstorture@gmail.com.  Send your name, dates you will be there (Sun. night Jan. 8, Mon Jan. 9, Tues., Jan. 10 and/or Wed. Jan. 11), and if you need housing.

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. 18, however, there will be a “Kwanzaa Celebration” organized by the Brooklyn Ethical Society. Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulanga Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of west and southeast Africa. Email President@BEMOREthical.org for more information.

10] – Attend a Buena Vista Co-op Celebration Brunch on Sun., Dec. 18 at 11 AM ET at 3312 Sherman Ave. NW, WDC 20010.  Celebrate and show your support for the purchase and formation of the Buena Vista Tenant Co-op with the new tenant-owners! This victory has been a long and arduous fight and a celebration of the immense victories won by tenants is long overdue! Meet the tenants and tenant leaders that have been fighting for their health and homes in the face of years of landlord opposition and neglect. Now those same tenants can remain in their homes and preserve affordable housing despite the continually skyrocketing cost of living in the District.

The next step in this fight will be to repair and renovate the many parts of the building that the landlord left in terrible condition, including a broken boiler, decrepit HVAC system, and extensive water damage. Stomp out Slumlord organizers will help host this event in the apartment lobby and will bring food and drink but please feel free to bring something as this will be a potluck style event. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/buena-vista-co-op-celebration-brunch?source=direct_link&&link_id=5&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_1768142&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-dec-16-2022.

11] – The Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition <BLMInterfaithCoalition@gmail.com> is holding a Black Lives Matter rally on Sun., Dec. 18 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM ET at the Baltimore City Public Schools headquarters at 200 E. North Ave. Visit https://blmic.org/.

12] – There is a Maryland statewide DSA meeting on Sun., Dec. 18 at 2 PM ET at the Silver Spring Library, 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring 20910. Email at montgomerycountydsa@gmail.com. Join Montgomery County DSA, Frederick DSA, Southern Maryland DSA, Prince George’s County DSA and Greater Baltimore DSA for a statewide gathering and holiday party ahead of the 2023 session of the Maryland General Assembly. All interested DSA members and allies from across the region are invited to join if they can. In addition to a discussion about power in Annapolis, a discussion will include time to mingle and socialize. Feel free to bring any organizing swag or holiday cookies to exchange with comrades!  There is free parking across the street at the Wayne Avenue Garage, 921 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, and the meeting location is walkable from the Silver Spring Metro. Afterwards for a happy hour at nearby Silver Branch Brewing with special guest Del. Gabriel Acevero. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/maryland-statewide-meeting?link_id=4&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-dec-9-2022&email_referrer=email_1768142&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-dec-16-2022.

13] – Dr. Bill Honigman for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] hopes you can attend on Sun., Dec. 18 at 4 PM ET the Progressive Town Hall: Healthcare for All and more. PDA recognizes that COVID-19 is biological proof that our very existence on this planet depends on the elements of nature that confront us, and on our ability to live with those elements. No human alive can survive the ravages of infection and infestation without the help and care of other humans. So, in any civilized society, it’s tantamount to murder to withhold healthcare from any of its inhabitants. Under COVID-19 the United States of America is undeniably guilty of such societal abuse and criminal negligence. And COVID-19 has shown us that #MedicareForAll is the solution to this inequity and immorality.   Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

14] – Join an Election Protection phone bank hosted by Common Cause on Sun., Dec. 18 from 6 to 8 PM ET.  Demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests.  Register for a shift to make calls to protect our democracy.  These shifts also always will include training for first-timers before you make calls—so if this is your first time, no worries! The next shift is Sun., Jan. 8. Visit https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations.

15] – Voting Rights: The Struggle to Be Counted (a film showing) can be seen on Sun., Dec. 18 from 7 to 8 PM ET organized for the January 6 Hearings. DC photographer, film producer and social justice activist Phil Portlock is presenting his timely 25-minute documentary. With creative use of music, powerful images and narration by his wife Pat Sloan, the film traces the long and often brutal struggle by African Americans to gain and maintain the unrestricted right to be counted at the ballot box. The film is Phil’s response to the U.S Supreme Court’s June 5, 2013 5-4 decision in the Shelby County v Holder Voting Rights Case that declared Sections 4b and 5 of the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act unconstitutional. This decision has led to the enactment of hundreds of voter suppression/restrictive laws that have impacted voting rights all over the nation. This event will conclude on Jan. 1, 2023.  Register at https://www.mobilize.us/pfaw/event/540465/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations.

16] – 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. 19, 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. The restrooms are located inside Marriott Residence Inn on corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr.  

17] – Our Revolution Baltimore City/Baltimore County [barrie@ourrevolutionmd.com] is suggesting that you join on Mon., Dec. 19 at 11 AM ET Mayor Brandon Scott at Busboys and Poets, 3224 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218.  Our Revolution will be meeting informally for an early lunch at Busboys and Poets. Look back at a good political year in 2022 forward to a better legislative one in Annapolis in 2023. Mayor Scott will be serving in order to bring attention to the challenges Maryland's tipped workers face. Congressperson Kweisi Mfume is also going to be at the lunch.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/545641/?link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-baltimore-mayor-brandon-scott-is-your-server-for-an-hour&email_referrer=email_1768619&email_subject=join-baltimore-mayor-brandon-scott-for-lunch-monday. Busboys and Poets is very generously providing lunch for those in attendance.

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