Baltimore Activist Alert -- February 1 - 7, 2023

50] Drone Warfare – Feb. 1

51] Nuclear weapons in the Middle East – Feb. 2

52] Germany's Foreign Policy Shift -- Feb. 2

53] Support SB51 -- Feb. 2

54] Deterrence in the Nuclear Age -- Feb. 2

55] Welcome Congress Campaign – Feb. 2

56] Brady Organizing Team for a virtual training – Feb. 2

57] Election Protection phone bank – Feb. 2, 3, 5 & 7

58] Defend the Atlanta Forest – Feb. 2

59] Protect the PA House Majority! -- Feb. 2

60] Stop the F-35 – Feb. 2

61] Implications of China’s Nuclear Buildup – Feb. 2

62] Progressive Legislation in 2023 General Assembly -- Feb. 2

63] Get Solar Energy grants – Feb. 2

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50] – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture [nrcatlist@nrcat.org] is asking you to join with the Interfaith Working Group on Drone Warfare for a webinar on Drone Warfare: Mobilizing for Change on Wed., Feb. 1 at 10 AM ET.  Panelists include Elizabeth Beavers, the Vice President of the NRCAT Board of Directors. Elizabeth will join Adotei Akwei of Amnesty International USA and Kevi Snow of the Friends Committee on Legislation for a 45 minute panel discussion, followed by a 30 minute Q&A session. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_78AWovCpR8SwVGzKWsGrtg?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=af0ff976-12ba-4671-a0a3-16065a6bcb8f.

51] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at noon ET, check a CISSM Global Forum: Comparative Reactions to Israel’s Nuclear Posture & Egypt and Iran's Divergent Nuclear Decisions. It will take place at the University of Maryland, SPP Building, Room 0102, College Park. Email DENTRIK@UMD.EDU. The overarching goal of the presentation is to conduct an investigation of regional perspectives on the impact of Israel’s nuclear monopoly on nuclear decisions in the Middle East. In so doing, the presentation addresses the question as to why Egypt and Iran have taken divergent nuclear paths relative to Israel’s nuclear posture. The point of departure for this inquiry is whether the ‘introduction’ of Israel’s nuclear weapons has ever played a pivotal role in the nuclear decisions and escalation dynamics in the Middle East.  The speaker is ElSayed, an Egyptian diplomat with 18 years of experience in international and regional security. His exposure to key files has provided him with a solid perspective of the technical and political imperatives of arms control, nuclear disarmament, and nuclear nonproliferation.  Register at https://cissm.umd.edu/events/cissm-global-forum-comparative-reactions-israels-nuclear-posture-egypt-and-irans-divergent.

52] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 1 PM ET, hear about One Year On: Germany's Foreign Policy Shift and the War in Ukraine, hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, WDC.  You can participate online.  On 27 February 2022, three days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a set of transformative measures for Germany’s foreign and defense policy. One year on, to what extent has the war in Ukraine changed not only German politics and public opinion, but that of its allies? Looking ahead, how will the “Zeitenwende” impact relations with actors like Russia and China?  Hear from Julia Ganter (Körber-Stiftung) and Jacob Poushter (Pew Research Centre), who will share brief insights on German and U.S. public opinion based on the survey results of the annual report The Berlin Pulse. A panel discussion will follow with Emily Haber, Oksana Markarova, Dan Baer, and Sophia Besch. RSVP at https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/02/02/one-year-on-germany-s-foreign-policy-shift-and-war-in-ukraine-event-8008.

53] – Join Jews United at upcoming hearings, either virtually or in Annapolis.  Contact Molly Amster at info@jufj.org.  On Thurs., Feb. 2 from 1 to 5 PM ET, Support SB51 (Reduce Unnecessary, Harmful Interactions with Police). Transforming Public Safety Hearing: Support SB51 will take place in the Maryland Senate Office Building, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis 21401.  Sign up at https://jufj.org/event/sb51/?emci=07716425-ef98-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&emdi=671af88c-f098-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=3403859.

54] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 3:30 PM ET, tune into The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the Nuclear Age [Hybrid], hosted by Stanford University. Register at https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/events/rose-mcdermott-and-amy-zegart-february-2023. The foremost experts on nuclear policy and strategy offer insight into an era rife with more nuclear powers. Some of these new powers suffer domestic instability, others are led by pathological personalist dictators, and many are situated in highly unstable regions of the world—a volatile mix of variables.  The increasing fragility of deterrence in the twenty-first century is created by a confluence of forces: military technologies that create vulnerable arsenals, a novel information ecosystem that rapidly transmits both information and misinformation, nuclear rivalries that include three or more nuclear powers, and dictatorial decision making that encourages rash choices. The nuclear threats posed by India, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea are thus fraught with danger.

The Fragile Balance of Terror, edited by Vipin Narang and Scott D. Sagan, brings together a diverse collection of rigorous and creative scholars who analyze how the nuclear landscape is changing for the worse. Two speakers will discuss the book: Rose McDermott is the David and Mariana Fisher University Professor of International Relations at Brown University and a Fellow in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  Amy Zegart is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Professor of Political Science by courtesy at Stanford University.

55] – HIAS [info@hias.org] wants you to join an advocacy team for the Welcome to Congress Campaign on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 4 PM ET. Take Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. This program will provide a policy overview of some of the critical issues we expect to face in this Congress, a training on best ways to be successful gathering signatures to send to your members of Congress, and an opportunity for your community to take action toward systemic change during or just after your Refugee Shabbat programming. Register at https://hias.org/events/welcome-congress-take-action-your-congregation-community-refugees-and-asylum-seekers/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=hias.org&utm_campaign=230130_RefugeeShabbatInvite_e3&utm_content=230130+RefugeeShabbatInvite+e3.

56] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 from 5 to 6 PM ET, get with the Brady Organizing Team for a virtual training. Do you need support from Brady’s organizing team? Have new ideas to combat gun violence, but don’t know how to get them off the ground? Every week, a member of the organizing team is here to support your work. Sign up for the shift that works best for your schedule. If you can't find a time that works for you, email rgonzalez@bradyunited.org to schedule time to talk. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/380248/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest.  This will continue on Thursdays through Dec. 21.

57] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 from 5 to 7 PM ET, Fri., Feb. 3 from 4 to 6 PM, Sun. Feb. 5 from 6 to 8 PM, and Tues., Feb. 7 from 4 to 6 PM ET, there is a Common Cause organized Election Protection phone bank.  These phone banks will continue until April 2, 2023.  Work together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations. Register for a shift to make calls to recruit poll monitors to support nonpartisan Election Protection efforts in the GA Run-Offs.  Join in to make calls Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and/or Sundays.

58] – Food Not Bombs will host a film screening of The Animal People (2019) on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 5 PM ET as a benefit to Defend the Atlanta Forest. The screening and fundraiser will be held at The Outrage, 1811 14 St. NW, WDC. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $5-$25. Enjoy free drinks, snacks and ‘zines. Masks are required. Tickets are at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-fundraiser-for-defend-the-atlanta-forest-tickets-524019294817?link_id=42&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-20-2023&email_referrer=email_1798616&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-27-2023.

59] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 6 PM ET, help during Special Election VBM Calls to Protect the PA House Majority! There are three crucial special elections in Allegheny County coming up to fill seats in PA's HD 32, HD 34, & HD 35! Join the Zoom phone bank and reach out to Democrats to request and then chase mail-in ballots. Help elect Democrats & protect the majority in the PA House! Training & support is provided during every phone bank! Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/547049/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_most_popular_virtual.

60] – On Thurs., Feb. 2 at 6 PM ET, CODEPINK is holding a virtual Ground the F-35 Letter Writing Party at https://www.codepink.org/f35_letterwriting.  Promote it on social media! 

61] – Massachusetts Peace Action [info@masspeaceaction.org] on Thurs., Feb. 2 from 7 to 8 PM ET is holding an online  webinar -- Myths, Realities, and Implications of China’s Nuclear Buildup. The Pentagon’s annual report on Chinese military power, released on Nov. 29, 2022, claims that China’s nuclear stockpile will jump from some 400 warheads today to an estimated 1,500 warheads in 2035. This claim has been seized upon by military hawks in Congress to fuel their clamor for increased military spending, approving a record $858 fiscal year 2023 Pentagon budget – $45 billion more than President Biden requested. Most of the increased spending was earmarked for weaponry to counter China.  Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w2CR0SRRTwKiIV2wtifwUg.

While most observers agree that Beijing is expanding and modernizing its very small (as compared to those of the U.S. and Russia) nuclear force, there is widespread debate as to the scale and rapidity of those endeavors. With many in Washington now citing the Pentagon’s claims of a Chinese nuclear buildup to justify the further expansion of America’s already vast nuclear arsenal, it is essential to interrogate the claims of the Pentagon’s China military power report lest we all be drawn into a new, profoundly dangerous arms race.

The Committee for a Sane U.S.-China Policy invites you to join three outstanding experts to learn more about China’s nuclear buildup, the debate over its scale and intent, and how all this might inform U.S. foreign and military policy. The panelists are Michael Klare, co-chair of the Committee for a Sane U.S.-China Policy and a senior visiting fellow at the Arms Control Association in Washington, D.C.; Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists; and Zhao Tong, a senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

62] – Our Revolution Maryland [hal@ourrevolutionmd.com] on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 7:30 PM ET is holding a meeting on Progressive Legislation in 2023 General Assembly. Former State Delegate Jimmy Tarlau will provide a status update on several progressive bills in the MD General Assembly. Learn how to promote passage of this legislation. The calls to action are at www.ourrevolutionmd.com.  RSVP for the meeting at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/547475 - to get the Zoom link. 

63] – Solar United Neighbors [advocacy@solarunitedneighbors.org]on Thurs., Feb. 2 at 8 PM ET wants you to learn about grants to help farms & rural small businesses go solar. Visit https://solarunitedneighbors-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aDl3b0U-RkuPFf4TtXfnrQ.

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

Baltimore Activist Alert -- January 31 -- February 15, 2023

36] US embassy on stolen Palestinian land? – Jan. 31

37] Hate in the Headlines -- Jan. 31

38] Can Peace Be Preserved across the Taiwan Strait? -- Jan. 31

39] Election Protection phone bank – Jan. 31 and Feb. 2, 3 & 5

40] Holding Russia Liable for Invading Ukraine -- Jan. 31

41] Hearing on the Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission -- Feb. 1

42] Support MD landfill methane rule -- Feb. 1

43] Freedom Day webinar on prison labor -- Feb. 1

44] Roseate Spoonbill Cover Story -- Feb. 1

45] Ukraine War & its Implications for Taiwan -- Feb. 1

46] Community Solar -- Feb. 1

47] Woman's National Democratic Club phone bank -- Feb. 1

48] Better Democratic Framing & Messaging -- Feb. 1 & 15

49] Social Media Best Practices -- Feb. 1 & 5

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36] –  On Tues., Jan. 31 at 1 PM ET, join the Center for Constitutional Rights for a discussion on the U.S. State Department’s plan to build their embassy on stolen Palestinian land in Jerusalem. The plan – a violation of international law – entails the embassy’s construction on private Palestinian property that has been illegally confiscated by Israel, the owners of which include numerous U.S. citizens. Panelists will outline what the plan entails, its illegality, and what you can do to stop the U.S. government from moving forward with the plan! RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0xhZPHneSTWPN1NtWkIkeQ.

37] – Pen America is hosting HATE IN THE HEADLINES: JOURNALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF EXTREMISM on Tues., Jan. 31 at 1:30 PM ET, a digital event.  As extremism has increasingly penetrated mainstream politics, journalists, especially political reporters, face new challenges. Some news organizations have dramatically reframed coverage and created new beats to track the surge in extremism, but fundamental changes are still needed if audiences are to get a full and accurate view of how anti-democratic forces are infusing civic life, from local school board meetings to nationwide elections. A recent report published by PEN America, Hate in the Headlines, found that without hypervigilance from journalists and editors, propaganda and disinformation can slide into reporters’ stories, especially as extremists deliberately target them to convey their messages to the broader public. But the report also identified lessons learned as journalists have reckoned with this shifting political landscape, and from reporters who have long covered extremism. Join PEN America and the National Press Club Journalism Institute for a virtual discussion of how the mainstreaming of political extremism is affecting journalism, and how journalists and newsrooms are–or could be–shifting their practices in response. Please contact Hannah Waltz with any questions or concerns, including accessibility requests, at hwaltz@pen.org. RSVP at https://pen.org/event/hate-in-the-headlines-journalism-and-the-challenge-of-extremism/.

38] – On Tues., Jan. 31 at 3 PM ET, there will be a hybrid event -- Can Peace Be Preserved across the Taiwan Strait? The event is sponsored by Stanford University, and the speaker Kharis Templeman is with the Hoover Institution. Taiwan lies at the heart of the growing confrontation between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and it remains the only issue that could plausibly trigger a war between the two countries. Taiwan is claimed by the PRC as Chinese territory, and its government is unrecognized by all but a handful of states today. But it is also a prosperous liberal democracy of more than 23 million people, a major trading partner of both the U.S. and the PRC, and the source of more than 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductor chips. This talk will cover how the US-PRC-Taiwan relationship got to this point, what each side’s foremost interests and long-term strategies are, and how those have changed in recent years with Xi Jinping’s centralization of power and the shifting balance of economic and military power in the region. It will also touch on the current debates in Washington over Taiwan policy and how best to ensure that peace can be maintained across the Taiwan Strait for the indefinite future. Sign up at https://fsi.stanford.edu/events/seminar-kharis-templeman.

39] – On Tues., Jan. 31 from 4 to 6 PM, Thurs. Feb. 2 from 5 to 7 PM, Fri., Feb. 3 from 4 to 6 PM & Sun., Feb. 5 from 6 to 8 PM ET,  from 4 to 6 PM ET, there is a Common Cause organized Election Protection phone bank.  These phone banks will continue until April 2, 2023.  Work together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations. Register for a shift to make calls to recruit poll monitors to support nonpartisan Election Protection efforts in the GA Run-Offs.  Join in to make calls Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and/or Sundays.

40] – On Tues., Jan. 31 at  6 PM ET, check out Holding Russia Liable for Invading Ukraine - Can It Be Done? This is sponsored by Johns Hopkins University, and it will take place at SAIS, Room 500, 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC.  The speakers are Chiara Georgetti, University of Richmond and Brian Egan, former Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State. Hear a discussion on establishing a reparations regime with funding to hold Russia financially liable for its invasion of Ukraine -- topics would include assets seizure and a claims mechanism. Sign up at https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D805445768#/?i=2.

41] – The Baltimore City Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission has not been functioning.  Its last report was issued in 2013.  It was very negative, and the Commission members were clearly disillusioned.  However, there is now an opportunity to revitalize the effort and a hearing will be held in the Baltimore City Council Chambers at 10 AM on Wed., Feb. 1.

42] – Team Climate Action [info@chesapeakeclimate.org] wants you to attend a virtual hearing on Wed., Feb. 1 at 10 AM ET to support MD landfill methane rule.  ‌ ‌The Maryland Department of Environment is holding a virtual public hearing on their new rules to rein in methane from our landfills.  Sign up at https://act.chesapeakeclimate.org/page/48273/petition/1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=utm-mdnnff&utm_content=MD-NNFF-Landfill+methane+hearing+SINGLE-01233-c4&ea.url.id=1610858.

43] – Freedom United [team@freedomunited.org] is hosting a Freedom Day webinar on prison labor on Wed., Feb. 1 at noon ET. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EWqDH5PuS9a2QxPWe0A8Kg?trk_msg=5SDHDG3VMTB456CC3UHG8NGNS8&trk_contact=CLM465Q1ION47L3FT15J0RGU94&trk_sid=NKAABLDQ15HDDIKU6J6QJ1FKQS&trk_link=98PFH4HJL7E4T88Q7HG758QP94&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Reserve+your+spot!&utm_campaign=FU-EN-JAN-25-2023-AMEND-13TH-WEBINAR-actives&utm_content=FU-EN-JAN-25-2023-AMEND-13TH-WEBINAR-actives.  February 1 is Freedom Day – the day the resolution that would later become the 13th Amendment was signed by Abraham Lincoln.  Did the 13th Amendment really abolish slavery?

44] – National Audubon Society [audubonconnect@audubon.org] thinks you would be interested in a webinar: The Story behind the Roseate Spoonbill Cover Story on Wed., Feb. 1 at 4 PM ET. Listen to a conversation with Audubon magazine senior editor Hannah Waters, photographer Mac Stone, and Audubon Florida research director Jerry Lorenz.  The cover story explores Roseate Spoonbill research at the Everglades Science Center and lessons the bird's movements hold for climate change.  https://act.audubon.org/a/story-behind-spoonbill-cover-story?contactdata=KaSLzCx2bhhbYCTyCFpGfJ1qHPUWj7C%2fIOlWYMNfsg3uuFcCBgAKJmDuo68q1arNHTPXU5IMNW%2b3yyxLV6W4euIEYsa%2fdre4A8sIyOegLQrZFxbHExbA3UV2x%2bVbffO61b7y9jRB6BzvXaJ%2bQIFHwd7%2b8z95gN4%2bh%2b%2bOgKG%2bq7Nv0oGGDquWX8YqNdNKozWLmnM5meFI60WFClB%2fJXmhhLkgu8OyQmZIp7rDWpcJjKBKq3ISuzXj5BJZNkxgm2DMc%2bAFwKTx06w5fKszza8vHQ%3d%3d&ms=digital-eng-email-ea-x-engagement_20230117_eng-email_spoonbill-webinar&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=engagement_20230117_eng-email&utm_content=spoonbill-webinar&emci=67884f4a-7f96-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&emdi=c288a6da-a596-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=2504878. 

45] – The Ukraine War & its Implications for Taiwan will be examined on Wed., Feb. 1 from 5 to 6:30 PM ET. The Alperovitch Institute is delighted to welcome Mr. Dmitri Alperovitch, Executive Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator to SAIS Hopkins, Kenney Herter Auditorium, 1740 Massachusetts Ave, NW, WDC. Dmitri Alperovitch is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, a non-profit focused on advancing American prosperity and global leadership in the 21st century and beyond. He is a Co-Founder and former CTO of CrowdStrike Inc., a leading cybersecurity company. A renowned cybersecurity visionary, business executive, and thought leader on cybersecurity strategy, state tradecraft, and great power competition, Alperovitch has served as special advisor to the Department of Defense [sic] and currently serves on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Cyber Safety Review Board. Register at https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D805463777#/?i=2.

46] – Solar United Neighbors [mdteam@solarunitedneighbors.org] hopes you will get involved on Wed., Feb. 1 from 6 to 7 PM ET with Community Solar. Register at https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/event/no-panels-no-problem-community-solar-shares-the-benefits-of-solar-with-more-marylanders/. Learn how you can help share benefits of solar with more Marylanders. No Panels? No Problem. Community Solar Benefits All Marylanders.

47] – On Wed., Feb. 1 from 6 to 8 PM, join a phone bank organized by the Woman's National Democratic Club.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/548304/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_more_events_of_type. Gather at the Woman's National Democratic Club, 1526 New Hampshire Ave. NW, WDC 20036. Start off 2023 by supporting Jennifer McClellan in the special election for VA-04! This session will consist of phone banking AND post-card writing, and will be a hybrid session.  Consider bringing a charged laptop and headphones with you. The WNDC is committed to creating a community and space where you can show up each week with your friends and family members to take action to protect and expand democracy.

48] – On Wednesdays Feb. 1 & 15 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee will do Better Democratic Framing & Messaging.  Register at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/545753/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_most_popular_virtual. Join the Central Communications Committee (C3) of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee for a series of three Zoom workshops aimed at the practice (with a little theory for context) of framing better Democratic messages. The program is based on the teachings of George Lakoff, author of the "The Little Blue Book: The Essential Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic.”  Discuss the neuroscience and cognitive behavior that is the basis of Lakoff's framing theory; do a deep dive into our shared Democratic values; critique a few political ads; review a few influential books about the subject of Democratic messaging; and, do much discussing, questioning, and reasoning! Federico Cura, a former journalist, Op-Ed writer, and teacher, will lead the program.

49] –Get with Social Media Best Practices virtually, hosted by The Democratic National Committee on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7 to 8 PM ET.  Participate on Wed., Feb. 1 and Sun., Feb. 5.  Maximize your impact within your social network and join the social media best practices training. Whether you're just getting started on social media or already have an online presence, this training will provide you with the tools necessary to ensure you are reaching your full potential as an online organizer. Learn the essentials for utilizing platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram for political story telling. Email williamsak@dnc.org to schedule a presentation for your staff/volunteers or with any queries about co-presenting at one or more of these events.

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

What the Media Forgot About David Crosby

Published on Portside (https://portside.org/)

What the Media Forgot About David Crosby

Micah Sifry

January 24, 2023

Medium

I am a very late member of the Baby Boom generation, born in 1962. My first musical tastes involved a membership in the Partridge Family fan club that I shared with my younger sister. But I can date precisely when I woke up to the real music of my youth and of the larger counterculture: it was sitting on a grassy field in 1973 at sleepaway camp, hearing for the first time the thrilling harmonies of Suite: Judy Blue Eyes played over the PA system and wondering, who the hell was that? From that moment forward, I became a fan of Crosby, Stills & Nash (and soon Young), and it was through them that I came to discover the whole pantheon of 1960s rock and folk music.

So I was saddened, as were many, by the news of David Crosby’s passing last Saturday at the age of 81. Reading and listening to many of the tributes and obituaries that appeared after his death, though, I’ve been struck by how little most have said about his politics. Yes, he deserves our attention for his seminal role in two great bands, the Byrds and then CSN; and forgive me, for his seminal (semenal?) role in helping singer Melissa Etheridge artificially conceive two children. His battles with drug addiction and the law also belong in any balanced appreciation of his life. But if you read the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal or any number of other obituaries, you’d know more about his consumption of drugs along with his defense of menages a trois than you would about his fierce radical politics.

Over the years, he poured his musical stature into unpopular causes like opposing the Iraq War in 2006, when CSNY played 33 venues (a project that was instigated mainly by Neil Young); he sang benefit concerts for causes like opposing nuclear power and weapons, for the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings, to fight an anti-union campaign finance initiative in California in 2012, as well as performing at Occupy Wall Street in 2011; and in 2022 he along with his old bandmates took their music off of Spotify to protest its spreading of COVID misinformation. None of that got mentioned in any of the obits I saw.

I suppose this is old news; corporate mainstream media long ago sanded the politics off the edges of the Woodstock Generation to make it easier to sell jeans and anniversary concert tickets. But Crosby, like his former bandmate Young, never abandoned his political values. When I saw him perform a solo show at New York City’s Town Hall in 2015, between songs he ranted (perhaps a bit too long) about how the Warren Commission had covered up the truth of who killed John F. Kennedy and he lambasted America’s ever-increasing military budget. His 2019 NPR “Tiny Desk Concert” with The Lighthouse Band includes a beautiful new song, Half the Light, about letting women run the world, along with a great rendition of Joni Mitchell’s anthem Woodstock. On Twitter, where Crosby developed a whole new following, he expressed strong support for climate activist Greta Thunberg, he decried despotism, he slammed far-right Republicans, he bashed rightwing billionaires — and that was all just a sampling from his posts in the last few weeks.

For me, Crosby’s singing stands for remembering and honoring those young people who dared to change the world and shake America open by not conforming, at a minimum, or, at a maximum, by giving their lives for causes like civil rights and ending the Vietnam War. These were not small fights and it’s a shame to see them ignored, belittled or condensed into tidy little packets of pablum. Young people are always the innovators and the cannon fodders of movements for social change, then and now. I can still hear Crosby crying, “Why? How many more?” in the counterpoint to the “Four dead in Ohio” chorus of Young’s protest anthem Ohio, and know that the question is still as relevant today as it was when that song was written in 1970, days after the Kent state shootings.

Micah Sifry is co-founder Civic Hall. Publisher of The Connector newsletter (find it on Substack). Board member Consumer Reports.

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Source URL: https://portside.org/2023-01-28/what-media-forgot-about-david-crosby

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

 

Baltimore Activist Alert -- January 30 -- February 3, 2023

23] Ancestral Healing Summit -- Jan. 30 – Feb. 3

24] Election Protection forum – Jan. 30

25] Join Progressive Harford County's at budget hearing -- Jan. 30

26] Support SB 39 -- Jan.  30

27] Support the immigrant community -- Jan. 30

28] Organize to Win -- Jan. 30

29] Impact of the Radical Right on Israeli Civil Society -- Jan. 31

30] Russia out of Ukraine -- Jan. 31

31] Environmental Legislative Summit – Jan. 31

32] Maryland Education Coalition Town Hall -- Jan. 31

33] Kiwanis Club meeting -- Jan. 31

34] Online Storyteller Training – Jan. 31

35] Win Medicare for All -- Jan. 31

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23] – The Peace Alliance [info@peacealliance.org] is co-sponsoring an event on Mon., Jan. 30 through Fri., Feb. 3 -- an Ancestral Healing Summit with the Shift Network. This is a global gathering of leading ancestral healing experts and inspiring teachers who will be sharing a powerful synthesis of spirituality, science, and ancient wisdom and practices from around the world that promises to transform your life and your legacy and ground you into your highest purpose. Sign up at https://ancestralhealingsummit.com/?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=infusionsoft&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=d59999ca-5b3a-4f67-9a6a-709e9f99e554&cookieUUID=964ce298-388c-47b7-9773-e48a6d4bb914&cookieUUID=25bca577-dfd1-454b-aaa6-b501d151b60b&affiliate=15676.

24] – The Emergency Election Protection Coalition is happening at 5 PM ET on Mon., Jan. 30. Please submit any questions to: Solartopia@gmail.com. Sign up at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYldumtrjIiH9L7_KfcFV1n8ynuO3anTGwp. Progressive Democrats of America are part of the coalition.

25] – On Mon., Jan. 30 from  6 to 8 PM ET, Progressive Maryland hopes you will speak up for Councilmember Jacob Bennett at Harford County Budget Hearing at the Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company, 3825 Federal Hill Road, Jarrettsville21084. Harford County government is having two budget hearings to get citizen input on the fiscal year 2024 budget. Join Progressive Harford County's group attending to accomplish two goals: 1) Voice input for the county budget and 2) Voice support for Councilmember Jacob Bennett. Councilmember Bennett is being denied from serving on the Harford County Council in a partisan power grab by the County Executive. Show up and speak out about the county budget and to show your support for Councilmember Bennett.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/548342/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_more_events_from_org.

26] – Charlie [charlie@getmoneyoutmd.org] indicated that there will be a bill review process meeting about  working on Maryland legislation which the group is in favor of SB 39 ( Ballot Access - Affiliating With a Party - Unaffiliated Voters) on Mon., Jan. 30 at 6:30 PM ET.  Please reply to be added to the committee.

27] – Join Sojourners on the last Monday of every month. On Jan. 30 at 7 PM ET get together for prayer and action in support of the immigrant community. RSVP at https://act.sojo.net/page/19116/survey/1?ea.url.id=1368511&forwarded=true.  During Immigration Mondays, learn how we can join the efforts of coalitions lead by immigrant people and DACAmented people, coalitions fighting for the rights of undocumented and under-documented communities, including DACA recipients. We re-imagine our immigration system.  Provide your insights and ask questions as we continue to work for justice alongside our immigrant and DACAmented siblings. 

28] – Our Revolution [info@ourrevolution.com] wants you to know about the National Organize-to-Win Broadcast on Mon., Jan. 30 at 8:30 PM ET for a discussion with US Rep. Ro Khanna on the fight for One Fair Wage and progressive strategy in Congress. Then, hear from AZ Party Chair candidate Yolanda Bejarano and OR Chair Larry Cohen on progressive organizing inside the Party, and Tara Mosely on her run for Mayor of Akron, OH! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/148017/?akid=3942.8252965.M5fOB7&rd=1&t=15. The next organize to win broadcast will be on Feb. 13. 

29] – Beth Schuman [beth@afcfp.org] thinks you will be interested in this event on Tues., Jan. 31 at noon ET --  The Impact of the Radical Right on Israeli Civil Society. Enjoy a Conversation with former Speaker of the Knesset, Avrum Burg, on how we expect this new Israeli government will affect all aspects of Israeli civil society - and what can be done about it. Sign up at https://secure.everyaction.com/uHOueTVcx0-3hGpq-forhQ2?emci=b22fd990-a792-ed11-9d7b-00224832e811&emdi=296c462b-4797-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=8142762.

30] – Join the Baltimore Nonviolence Center on Tues., Jan. 31 from 4 to 5 PM ET at 33rd and N. Charles Sts. The invasion of Ukraine has the potential to become a war extending throughout Europe.  Putin has destroyed Aleppo and Grozny and has threatened the use of nuclear weapons.  Russian soldiers were sent into the area around the contaminated and still radioactive Chernobyl nuclear plant. Now they are stationed in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.   People who believe in peace and justice should come forward and take the risks of peace. The burial sites continue to expose ruthless war crimes by the invaders, Contact Max at mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net or 410-323-1607.

31] – Get over to the Environmental Legislative Summit on Tues., Jan. 31at 6 PM ET, sponsored by Maryland’s environmental community. Turnout for this signature event demonstrates to our legislators the power and public support behind environmental issues, so showing up is invaluable. Democratic control across state government is no reason to sit back and relax, as we know. You will hear from our environmental leaders and learn about important environmental bills in the General Assembly's 2023 session (and maybe bring some eco-socialism to the party). Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3Ra367q1QY6wsE9gteyFD2XazPaIgzVOO6jrUkMNIoqUChw/viewform.

32] – The ACLU of Maryland [info@aclu-md.org] wants you to get involved on Tues., Jan. 31 at 6:30 PM ET for a virtual town hall to advocate for our children.  ‌ At the Maryland Education Coalition Town Hall, there will be an urgent conversation with new Governor Wes Moore's legislative staff about his plans for our children's education in 2024. RSVP at https://www.aclu-md.org/en/events/maryland-education-coalition-town-hall?initms_aff=md&initms_chan=eml&utm_medium=eml&initms=230118_affcampaign_education_sail&utm_source=sail&utm_campaign=affcampaign&utm_content=230118_education&ms_aff=md&ms_chan=eml&ms=230118_affcampaign_education_sail.

33] – On Tues., Jan. 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM ET, the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. will have a New Member Orientation and Open House at Lost & Found DC, 1240 9th St. NW, WDC 20001. Service is critical in 2023, and it cannot be done without our outstanding members.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/546835/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_more_events_of_type.

34] – Janice Rottenberg [hello@protectourcare.org] is informing us that there is an Our Online Storyteller Training on Tues., Jan. 31 at 7:30 PM ET.  Everyone has a unique and inspiring health care story to share, and the plan is to help storytellers across America tell it. That’s why Protect Our Care is hosting its first Storyteller 101 Training.  Tell your unique health care story.  Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ocOioqD8qHdxL2Wn1akMKk9vJ5sDiV7SI?emci=af95481f-8b9d-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&emdi=8e3d5a28-a19d-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=10191230.

35] – The Nurses’ Campaign to Win Medicare for All has a National Organizing Call on Tues., Jan. 31 at 8 PM ET. How would Medicare for All work? What would be included? RSVP at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v1DPui0bTXu0RqzaXSRMXA?akid=168213.162593.rZULym&rd=1&t=3.

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

Baltimore Activist Alert – January 28 to February 3, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert – January 28 to February 3, 2023

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] Need help in archiving activist material    

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] Count birds – through Feb. 15

9] “The Nuns, the Priests and the Bombs” – Jan. 28

10] ICE Out of Arlington – Jan. 28

11] Children Putting Ethics into Action – Jan. 29

12] Hear from Jonathan Kuttab -- Jan. 29

13] DSA Political Education Working Group meeting – Jan. 29

14] Global Town Hall -- Jan. 29

15] Willow Run Tenant's Union community rally -- Jan. 29

16] PDA Town Hall with Cori Bush – Jan. 29

17] DSA Internationalism Working Group meeting – Jan. 29

18] Election Protection phone bank – Jan. 29 & 31, Feb. 2 & 3

19] Social Media Best Practices -- Jan. 29 & Feb. 1

20] Virtual Letter to the Editor Party – Jan. 30

21] Protest at the Pentagon – Jan. 30

22] Fight for affordable rent – Jan. 30

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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] –  Janice Sevre-Duszynska needs some assistance in archiving her activist material.  If you are interested in this project, contact Max at 410-32301607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

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] – The National Audubon Society [audubonconnect@audubon.org] has indicated that the Winter Climate Watch continues through Sun., Feb. 15 to count birds for science! Audubon needs your help to create a brighter future for the birds we all love this winter. Climate Watch is Audubon’s biannual community science program that enlists volunteer bird lovers across North America to tally vulnerable bird species. Learn more at  https://www.audubon.org/conservation/climate-watch?ms=digital-eng-email-ea-x-engagement_20230104_eng-email_climate-watch-winter-2023&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=engagement_20230104_eng-email&utm_content=climate-watch-winter-2023.

9] – Check out the film “The Nuns, the Priests and the Bombs” & the ‘Plowshares’ Panel Discussion in the East Parlor of St. Joseph Hall, Chestnut Hill College, 9601 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 on Sat., Jan. 28 from 1:30 to 4 PM ET. The Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation at Chestnut Hill College and the Catholic Peace Fellowship of Philadelphia are cohosting a free viewing of the 2018 documentary. The 87-minute film was written, produced and directed by Helen Young, an Emmy Award-winning, broadcast journalist. It describes the existential, nuclear threat facing humanity and our natural world. This threat has been heightened by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The film also explores the Plowshares movement.  The movement comprises religious sisters, priests and laypeople who enter military installations to conduct nonviolent, symbolic civil disobedience in protest of nuclear weaponry. Virtually all Plowshares activists experience imprisonment for their peaceful actions. The documentary viewing will be followed by a panel discussion and question and answer session.  Panel members will include some of the Plowshares activists who are featured in the film. Learn more about the documentary here: https://nunspriestsbombsthefilm.com/. For further information about the January 28th event, contact: Sister Catherine Nerney, SSJ, Ph.D. at nerneyc@gmail.com. Go to https://www.brandywinepeace.com/event/the-nuns-the-priests-and-the-bombs-plowshares-panel-discussion-chestnut-hill-college-germantown-ave-phila/.

10] – The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] need you on Sat., Jan. 28 at 2 PM ET to join the ICE Out of Arlington coalition for a community celebration at Tyrol Hill Park, 5101 7th Road S, Arlington, VA 22204, to celebrate the wins in ending the voluntary collaboration between the sheriff's department and ICE! To join the Migrant Justice workgroup, sign up athttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZV0wYx8MQkiLvPuWV6QFUKVTBSbvG-QrqNUWhqCR1ZoI2zg/viewform?pli=1&link_id=11&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-77&email_referrer=email_1797342&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events.

11] – 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. 29, hear about “The Future is Now: Our Children Putting Ethics into Action.”  This All-Societies Platform is brought to you by the team of Ethical Education Directors. Hear from the directors themselves about their program as well as from the parents on what goes into raising ethical leaders of tomorrow. The parents will also tell us about why it’s important that they teach their kids about the value of Ethical Action and service. For the stars of the show, the kids will share performances and their thoughts on what they need from the adults that they embark on their own ethical journeys. Email President@BEMOREthical.org for more information.

12] – Jonathan Kuttab will be in Toronto on Sun., Jan. 29 at noon ET (in person and virtual) as the Middle East Working Group presents its annual Palestine service for Bathurst St., Bloor St. and Trinity-St Paul’s United Churches.  The discussion will be about What is required of the church to be in solidarity with Palestine? To join virtually go to https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86335286671.  Kuttab is co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, and currently is the executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA). A well-known international human rights attorney, Jonathan practices law in the US, Palestine and Israel. 

13] – The Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] is letting members know about the online Political Education Working Group meeting on Sun., Jan. 29 at 1 PM ET!  Sign up at https://www.meetup.com/mdcdsa/events/290853590/?link_id=24&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-6-2023&email_referrer=email_1785618&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-13-2023.

14] – Metta Spencer [project@tosavetheworld.ca] is inviting you on Sun., Jan. 29 from 2 to 4 PM ET to the Global Town Hall - Project Save the World.  Sign up at https://zoom.us/j/9108970203. The meeting is for activists worldwide who are addressing issues of militarism (especially nuclear weapons), global warming, famine, pandemics, radioactive contamination, and/or cyber risks. Check out https://tosavetheworld.ca and then we publicize it widely.

15] – The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] need you on Sun., Jan. 29 at 2 PM ET to join the Willow Run Tenant's Union community rally. Make some noise about community issues at the apartment complex in Alexandria. Problems like rats, roaches, rent increases, evictions and maintenance issues. If you want to get involved with tenant organizing, sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvhthflteVEDuhdydbqrUMw7hze-j3JLyEFTroltVnNV5BJg/viewform?link_id=6&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-77&email_referrer=email_1797342&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events.

16] –  Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] want you to attend on Sun., Jan. 29 at 4 PM ET the Progressive Town Hall with Squad Member Cori Bush! Rep. Cori Bush is one of the most passionate and outspoken members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She not only votes right, but truly walks the walk. From camping out on the Capitol Hill steps for the eviction moratorium, to getting arrested for peaceful civil disobedience for women's rights, Cori is willing to put her body into the gears of the machine for justice. Discuss the ongoing struggle for justice, and how we can all play our role in bending that arc of history toward a better world for all.  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

17] – The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] hopes that on Sun., Jan. 29 at 5 PM ET you will attend the Internationalism Working Group meeting. Discuss a different political education topic each meeting, hear report-backs from various teams and efforts, and pitch ideas for new actions and campaigns. This meeting will start with a political education discussion on the current situation in Ukraine. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/january-29th-internationalism-working-group-monthly-meeting?clear_id=true&link_id=17&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-77&email_referrer=email_1797342&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events.

18] – On Sun., Jan. 29 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Tues., Jan. 31 from 4 to 6 PM, Thurs. Feb. 2 from 5 to 7 PM, and Fri., Feb. 3 from 4 to 6 PM ET, there is a Common Cause organized Election Protection phone bank.  These phone banks will continue until April 2, 2023.  Work together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations. Register for a shift to make calls to recruit poll monitors to support nonpartisan Election Protection efforts in the GA Run-Offs.  Join in to make calls Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and/or Sundays.

19] –Get with Social Media Best Practices virtually, hosted by The Democratic National Committee on Sundays and Wednesdays from 7 to 8 PM ET.  Participate on Jan. 29 and Wed., Feb. 1.  Maximize your impact within your social network and join the social media best practices training. Whether you're just getting started on social media or already have an online presence, this training will provide you with the tools necessary to ensure you are reaching your full potential as an online organizer. Learn the essentials for utilizing platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram for political story telling. Email williamsak@dnc.org to schedule a presentation for your staff/volunteers or with any queries about co-presenting at one or more of these events.

20] – Join the virtual Letter to the Editor Party, and Stop Lawless Lawmakers and beware of the Moore v. Harper Supreme Court decision hosted by Common Cause on Sun., Jan. 29 from 8 to 9 PM ET. Write letters to local media outlets about issues facing our country, from voting rights to ending mass incarceration. Get tips, as well as tools to quickly send a letter to all local news outlets.  Discuss Moore v. Harper and work to civically engage our communities on the importance of this case. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/418654/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations.

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. 30, 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.  

22] – The Maryland Poor People's Campaign (MD PPC) [maryland@poorpeoplescampaign.org] wants you to join the fight for affordable rent on Mon., Jan. 30 at 12:30 PM ET at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville.  Call 240-668-4599.  RSVP at bit.ly/Jan30RentRally.

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