Baltimore Activist Alert – January 15 to 20, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert – January 15 to 20, 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 – Jan. 15 to Feb. 15

9] Resisting American Antisemitism – Jan. 15

10] Book talk on Rosa Luxemburg – Jan. 15

11] Film On These Grounds – Jan. 15

12] Is Israel an Apartheid State? – Jan. 15

13] PDA honors MLK – Jan. 15

14] UFPJ honors MLK – Jan. 15

15] Election Protection phone bank – Jan. 15, 17, 19 & 20

16] Social Media Best Practices – Jan. 15 & 18

17] Protest at the Pentagon – Jan. 16

18] MLK Day of Service Cleanup – Jan. 16

19] Protest at Lockheed Martin – Jan. 16

20] Peace vigil – Jan. 16

--------

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 starts on Sun., Jan 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. The winter session runs through Feb. 15. 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] – 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. 15, hear about “Resisting American Antisemitism.”  The recent surge of hostility toward Jews in the United States is terrifying. Neo-Nazis march in our streets and dine with powerful politicians. Antisemitism, stoked by lies and hate, is used to generate attention, money, and votes. Hugh Taft-Morales will explore this complex and controversial topic and ask what lessons we can draw from the civil rights movement. Will exploring Martin Luther King Jr.’s partnership with the Jewish community help us better resist antisemitism?

 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). In April of 2009 he graduated from the Humanist Institute and was certified as an Ethical Culture Leader by the AEU in 2010. Email President@BEMOREthical.org for more information.

10] – Socialist icon Rosa Luxemburg stands out as one of the most prolific and steadfast advocates of a revolutionary but nevertheless democratic approach to political strategy in the classical socialist movement. The latest, 600-page volume of her Complete Works, published by Verso Books with the support of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, stands as a testament to this fact. Covering her writings on revolution from 1906 to 1909, it includes her thoughts on the epochal 1905 Russian Revolution and its aftermath. Over 80 percent of writings in this volume have never before appeared in English, such as her groundbreaking essay “Lessons of the Three Dumas”, which presents a unique perspective on the transition to socialism, her “Notes on the English Revolution” of the 1640s, and numerous writings on the role of the mass strike in fomenting revolutionary transformation.

  Join Verso Books and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation at 1 PM ET on Sun., Jan. 15, the anniversary of Rosa Luxemburg’s murder at the hands of far-right thugs, for a book launch and panel discussion on the relevance of her thought today. There will be streaming on YouTube and Facebook. Go to rosalux.org. Email loren.balhorn@rosalux.org.

11] – Rachel Kutler [info@jufj.org] hopes to see you on Sun., Jan. 15 at 1 PM ET for Martin Luther King Day. Join for a screening of On These Grounds at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation at 7401 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore.   There is a rich history of Jews advocating for racial justice in Baltimore, some alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For the past several years, Jews United for Justice has partnered with Baltimore Hebrew Congregation (BHC) and other local congregations and organizations to observe Dr. King's birthday. On These Grounds is a powerful documentary about race, police brutality in schools, and the school-to-prison pipeline. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with speakers from the Office of the Public Defender, Baltimore Algebra Project, and Youth as Resources. RSVP at https://jufj.org/event/mlk-2023/?emci=c97fa690-a992-ed11-9d7b-00224832e811&emdi=19d2e0dd-4b93-ed11-9d7b-00224832e811&ceid=3403859.

12] –Friends of Sabeel North America [friends@fosna.org] thinks you may want to watch a film on Sun., Jan. 15 at 3 PM ET. Join Voices for the Holy Land's January Film Salon.  Does Israel’s treatment of Palestinians constitute a form of apartheid–the systematic segregation and discrimination of a population on the basis of race, first put into place in South Africa? Such is the claim of the UN, Amnesty International, B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch, and journalists from a range of media. The International Criminal Court has labeled apartheid “a crime against humanity.” Two short documentary films explore the separate and distinct laws, physical infrastructure, civil systems and military enforcement applied to Palestinians in Israel and in the occupied territories. If this is apartheid, what is the authority of the UN and the ICC to adjudicate Israel’s violation of international law? Israel’s newly elected right-wing government promises more extreme forms of discrimination, exclusion, and violence directed at Palestinian citizens of Israel and in the occupied territories. Register at tinyurl.com/VFHL-January2023.  Watch the film for free at your convenience.  The join the Q&A Discussion with an expert panel.

13] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] will celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. as part of the Sunday Progressive Town Hall on Jan. 15 at 4 PM ET.  Note this will not be the watered-down, unthreatening version of Dr. King. MLK was anything but safe, unthreatening, or anodyne.  Indeed, both MLK's politics and his tactics were radical.  He did not waver in his commitment to civil rights, equality, economic justice, and non-violence - and he intended to win every campaign he led.  The question to ask is what would MLK do in 2023? RSVP at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

14] – United for Peace & Justice [contact@unitedforpeace.org] wants you to join in on Sun., Jan. 15 at 4 to 5:30 PM ET for Reimagining King's Vision - The Fierce Urgency of Now. RSVP at CODEPINK.ORG01152023. Exactly one year before he was murdered, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave an historic sermon at New York's Riverside Church on the profound connection between US militarism abroad with violence, racial repression, and widespread deprivation on the home front. Unfortunately militarism, exemplified by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, is widespread around the world including in Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.  Putin has tuned out King's message.

15] – On Sun., Jan. 15 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Tues., Jan. 17 from 4 to 6 PM, Thurs. Jan. 19 from 5 to 7 PM, and Fri., Jan. 20 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.

16] –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. 15 and Wed., Jan. 18.  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. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/bluefuture/event/486853/.

17] – 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. 16, 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.  

18] – The Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] is involved in a MLK Day of Service Cleanup with the  Deanwood Citizens Association on Mon., Jan. 16 at 10 AM. Participants should meet at the Marvin Gaye Mosaic, 4215 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE, WDC. Breakfast pastries, water and cleanup supplies will be provided. Contact trailranger@waba.org with questions.

19] – The On Mon., Jan. 16 at noon, get involved with a Martin Luther King, Jr. day of Nonviolent Action and Resistance at the World's #1 war profiteer/U.S.'s #1 nuclear weapons contractor, Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia, PA, Mall & Goddard Boulevards. Sign up at www.brandywinepeace.com.

20] – The Baltimore Peace Action is holding a vigil on Mon., Jan. 16 from 1 to 2 PM ET at McKeldin Square, Pratt & Light Sts. to focus on Martin Luther King’s Calls for Peace. Contact Jean Athey at jlathey at Comcast dot net or 443-682-8669. King made this point: “World peace through non-violent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed.” Lift up the message of peace that Dr. King brought to us and urge peace in the world, an end to nuclear weapons, and an end to massive military spending that deprives our communities, including Baltimore, of the resources it needs to combat poverty and racism.

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