Baltimore Activist Alert -- March 1 - 5, 2023

36] Nuclear Remembrance Day – March 1

37] The invasion of Ukraine – March 1

38] Protest the War on Yemen – March 1

39] Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness -- March 1

40] Defund ICE & Shut down Detention – March 1

41] Safe transportation – March 1

42] Defund NOVA police – March 1

43] Opposing the Militarization of Youth – March 1

44] Get with Social Media Best Practices – March 1 & 5

45] Hold Bad Landlords Accountable – March 1

46] Celebrate Purim in Annapolis – March 2

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36] – March 1 is Nuclear Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the Bravo–Castle nuclear weapons test, the most destructive nuclear test explosion ever carried out in the Pacific. The nuclear explosion, conducted at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands on 1 March 1954, was nearly 1000 times more powerful than the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The radioactive fallout caused – and continues to cause – high level of cancers, miscarriages, birth deformities and other related illnesses throughout the surrounding islands.

37] – Get with One Year Later: Russia's War against Ukraine on Wed., March 1 at 10 AM ET, hosted by the United States Institute of Peace. Register at https://www.usip.org/events/one-year-later-russias-war-against-ukraine. February 24 marks one year since Russia violated the sovereignty of its neighbor and launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As fighting grinds on and the United States and European countries continue to provide military equipment to assist Ukrainians in their fight against Russian aggression, the war’s impacts continue to be felt across the world — from food and energy security to debates over territorial integrity and sovereignty as key foundational principles of the international system. Join in on a conversation with Lise Howard, Peace Scholar, Center for Russia & Europe, U.S. Institute of Peace [USIP], Maria Snegovaya, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Ambassador Masha Yovanovitch, Senior Advisor, Russia and Europe Center, USIP, and Mary Glantz, moderator, Senior Advisor, Russia and Europe Center, USIP.  

38] – Protest the War on Yemen on Wed., March 1.  March 2023 marks the 8th anniversary of the war on Yemen which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and wreaked havoc on the country. In part as a result of our organizing, for over 10 months Saudi Arabia has not dropped any bombs on Yemen. This could change anytime. United for Peace and Justice is among more than 70 organizations calling on Congress for a permanent end to U.S. complicity in the war and for March 1 protests at Congressional offices to demand that our Representatives immediately pass a War Powers Resolution, stop weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, support the people of Yemen, assemble a Congressional hearing to examine the U.S. role in the war in Yemen, and call on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to lift the blockade and fully open airports and seaports. Read the full list of demands, learn more, and find a demonstration near you at https://every75seconds.org/.

  Baltimore Peace Action will gather at Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger’s office at 375 West Padonia Road in Timonium on March 1 at 11 AM.  There will probably be a demonstration outside and a possible visit to his office. Later that day around 1 PM there will be a gathering at Rep. Kweisi Mfume’s office at 1010 Park Avenue in Baltimore. It seems there will be a demo, a photo op and a possible outside meeting with an Mfume staffer.  Email richardochs10 at Gmail dot com.

39] – The first-ever UN International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is on Wed., March 1.  To mark the first-ever International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, the Permanent Mission of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations (UN) and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) will co-host a virtual launch event on March 1 from 11 AM to 12.30 PM EST. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pvzQ3_gSSGOVTvwtletM8w.   The International Day seeks to promote awareness and better understanding of disarmament issues among the public through General Assembly resolution A/RES/77/51. The inaugural event will provide an opportunity for all Member States, the organizations of the UN system, civil society, academia, the media, and individuals to commemorate the International Day as well as highlight the role of disarmament education as a tool for peace and security.

 The ODA is also launching a social media campaign from March 1 to 5. Learn more at https://www.un.org/disarmament/?link_id=12&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-action-for-peace-and-justice&email_referrer=email_1829043&email_subject=act-for-peace-and-justice-now.

40] – The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] is letting us know about a rally on Wed., March 1 at 5:30 PM ET -- Defund ICE & Shut down Detention. Come together as part of a day of action to highlight the harm and violence caused by DHS and the lives lost in ICE custody, and those who continue to be at risk. Go to the ICE Headquarters at 500 12th St. SW, WDC, near the Smithsonian Metro. Email novabranch at mdcdsa.org.

41] – Jed Weeks, Bikemore [jed@bikemore.net] suggests that you may be interested in a hearing about a proposed path extension on 28th Street.  Bicyclists and others are quite concerned about being sure that this path extension will be completed.  Join the Baltimore City Department of Transportation on Wed., March 1 at 6 PM ET for a virtual meeting about extending the Big Jump in the form of a road diet and two-way parking-protected path on 28th Street. Sign up to attend the meeting: https://bmore.webex.com/wbxmjs/joinservice/sites/bmore/meeting/download/0f82e43161034227aa0c207cae6fa9f8?siteurl=bmore&MTID=m523f1ed1b8282b0825a00188edc96524&emci=cd5c4a52-6bb7-ed11-a8e0-00224832e811&emdi=af891745-85b7-ed11-a8e0-00224832e811&ceid=9712492.

42] – The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] will be meeting to discuss DEFUNDING NOVA POLICE on Wed., Feb. 22 at 7 PM ET.  To get involved, fill out the interest form to get involved at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEcShQX51IL2Z1sNff7bqiYz68vAtPjUxpTuIrfvAK8iBDqA/viewform?link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-80&email_referrer=email_1819087&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events.

43] – Opposing the Militarization of Youth will be discussed virtually on Wed., March 1 at 7 PM ET. Military recruitment of high school students has been a tactic of the United States military services for decades. As recruiters have struggled to meet their goals for enlistment, recent reports indicate high school students across the country are being assigned to military classes without their consent. The webinar will examine the increasing militarization of the U.S. and explore methods for interfering in the militarization of youth.

  This webinar will examine the increasing militarization of our entire society and explore methods for interfering in the militarization of youth. Given the gargantuan size of the Pentagon budget, we know that money is not a concern for military recruiters who are resorting to offering “sign on bonuses” to entice young people, in addition to promises of education and improved job prospects after leaving the military. There are two speakers. Rick Jahnkow is a co-founder and board member of the Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (www.projectyano.org), a nonprofit counter-recruitment organization based in San Diego County, California. For 34 years Rick has organized around the issues of military recruiting, high school Jr. ROTC, and the general militarization of K-12 schools.  Gary Ghirardi is the communications staff person for the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth. He has developed web based projects for the Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft, The Project on Youth and Non-military Opportunities, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, U.S. Section, and War Resisters International in London. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-6rrT0tHtKN7pvYakCGxvRsFMGS8SFz.

44] –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., March 1 and Sun., March 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. Go to https://events.democrats.org/event/486853/.

45] –The AFSC [actioncenter@afsc.org] is hosting “The Millennia Resistance Campaign: Holding Bad Landlords Accountable” on Wed., March 1 at 7 PM ET. Millennia Housing Management is one of many landlords across the U.S. that get federal subsidies to rent to low-income people—even for conditions that are unsafe or unsanitary. For the past year, the Millennia Resistance Campaign has organized to expose Millennia's bad behavior and urge the federal government to hold Millennia accountable. Learn about the campaign and how tenants—no matter who their landlord is—can defend their right to safe housing.   Register at https://afsc.org/events/millennia-resistance-campaign-holding-bad-landlords-accountable?utm_source=weekendreading0225&utm_medium=email&ms=EMA23WR0225&emci=d58b8c43-afb3-ed11-a8e0-00224832e811&emdi=c3635e80-10b5-ed11-a8e0-00224832e811&ceid=764241.

46] – Jews United for Justice is celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim by delivering mishloach manot, bags of sweet treats, to elected officials, along with a reminder of our legislative priorities on Thurs., March 2 at 9 AM ET. Sign up at https://jufj.org/event/purim-2023/?emci=e3e466b4-2ab2-ed11-994d-00224832e1ba&emdi=183473b8-46b2-ed11-994d-00224832e1ba&ceid=3403859.  Bake or buy hamantaschen or other supplies or donate money to offset the cost of making it all happen.

  After this delivery, participate in two bill hearings in the afternoon. Purim commemorates the story of Queen Esther, who used her power to help her community during challenging times. Join in person or virtually to support labor justice and court and prison reform legislation that would make our communities more safe, fair, and just!

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