Baltimore Activist Alert -- February 5 - 12, 2023

19] PDA Town Hall Black History Month – Feb. 5

20] Support unionization at Defenders of Wildlife – Feb. 6

21] Massachusetts Supreme Court to hear Super Pac case -- Feb. 6

22] Election Protection forum – Feb. 6

23] Jews United for Justice Baltimore Action meeting – Feb. 6

24] Election Protection phone bank – Feb. 7, 9, 10 & 12

25] Russia out of Ukraine -- Feb. 7

26] Labor Working Group meeting – Feb. 7

27] Climate Crisis and US militarism -- Feb. 7

28] Defend the Guard -- Feb. 7

29] People's State of the Union! -- Feb.  7

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19] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] want you to attend on Sun., Feb. 5 at 4 PM ET the Progressive Town Hall on Black History Month, State of the Union, and more. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

20] – The Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] urges you to Rally to Support Defenders of Wildlife Unionization efforts. The National Labor Relations Board has issued multiple complaints against Defenders of Wildlife, including illegally firing a labor organizer and negotiating in bad faith. After a year of bargaining, no progress between workers and management has been made. These complaints will go to trial next week, and workers are holding rallies in support of their unionization efforts. Join them in support from Mon., Feb. 6 to Wed., Feb. 8 between 8:15 to 8:45 AM at 1130 17th St. NW, WDC.

21] – Free Speech For People [contact@freespeechforpeople.org] wants you to join in on Mon., Feb. 6 at sometime after 9 AM ET to WATCH a Court Hearing in Case to End Super PACs in Massachusetts. ‌ ‌ ‌Free Speech for People and Equal Citizens, on behalf of individual Massachusetts voters, filed two lawsuits in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the state’s highest court) in October after the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office declined to certify our proposed ballot initiative petition to abolish super PAC spending in Massachusetts elections. This case could ultimately lead to an end to super PAC spending in the state and could provide critical legal precedent for ending super PACs nationwide. Watch oral arguments in this case to abolish super PACs in Massachusetts. Go to https://boston.suffolk.edu/sjc/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=3e852f2c-d695-4324-be07-f3864905364c. Ron Fein, Legal Director for Free Speech for People, and Lawrence Lessig, Professor at Harvard Law School, will present the argument to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in this case.  The court will hear several cases on February 6 with the final order to be posted at 9 AM ET at the livestream link.

22] – The Emergency Election Protection Coalition is happening at 5 PM ET on Mon., Feb. 6. 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.

23] –Rachel Kutler [info@jufj.org] wants you to know about a Jews United for Justice Baltimore Action meeting on Mon., Feb. 6 at 7 PM ET. Gather at the Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd St., Baltimore 21202 to explore their Power of Protest: The Movement to Free Soviet Jews exhibit. Also discuss how direct action has been used historically and within communities to make social change — and plan an upcoming Purim action with the Baltimore City Council. RSVP at https://jufj.org/event/baltimore-action-meeting-feb-6/?emci=c6a819da-a79d-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&emdi=58905ef8-c89d-ed11-994c-00224832eb73&ceid=3403859.

24] – On, Tues., Feb. 7 from 4 to 6 PM, Thurs. Feb. 9 from 5 to 7 PM, Fri., Feb. 10 from 4 to 6 PM ET and Sun., Feb. 12 from 6 to 8 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.

25] – Join the Baltimore Nonviolence Center on Tues., Feb. 7 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.

26] – The Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] Labor Working Group is holding a Hybrid General Meeting on Tues., Feb. 7 at 7PM at Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, 818 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1000 (near Farragut Sq.), WDC. RSVP to Richard Renner at rrenner@kcnlaw.com.  To join online, go to meet.google.com/tyj-yjjb-ivr. The meeting will include updates and opportunities for participation in the ATU strike in Loudoun Co., other worker organizing and strike support, collective bargaining rights for University of Maryland grad students, Initiative 82 debrief, Emergency Worker Organizing Committee volunteer opportunity, affiliation reports from DC Labor and DC Jobs with Justice and internal organizing. 

27] – The Ithaca Catholic Worker is hosting a Clarification of Thought webinar on Tues., Feb. 7 at 7 PM ET about Climate Crisis and US militarism with Todd Saddler, Extinction Rebellion Ithaca.  The zoom link is https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2787837555. Visit ithacacatholicworker.org for more detailed information about each date and how to stay in touch. Email PDMCWhouse@gmail.com.

28] – Scott Spaulding [defendtheguardmaryland@gmail.com] is holding a series of informational Q&A sessions on the purpose of the Defend the Guard bill, and how to go about testifying. All meetings will be at 8 PM on Zoom: Feb. 5: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87262657543, Feb. 8: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87424514195 and Feb. 12: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81538822298.  The hearing will be on Feb. 15.  Call or text Scot if you have any questions at 443-838-6850.

29] – Massachusetts Peace Action [info@masspeaceaction.org] is doing a CodePink Capitol Calling Party: People's State of the Union on Tues., Feb. 7 at 8 PM ET.  Hear from Katie Halper, host of The Katie Halper Show, and RootsAction co-founder Norman Solomon! Sign up at https://www.codepink.org/02072023?emci=4ec3725f-77a3-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=7a949358-fda3-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=269591. An hour before President Biden delivers his State of the Union address, find out about the People’s State of the Union and discuss whether it’s time–in the interests of world peace and justice– to wish President Biden a happy retirement come 2024.

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