Baltimore Activist Alert – March 12 to 17, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert – March 12 to 17, 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] Fasting For Jessica Reznicek

9] Alan Barysh needs your help

10] Medicare for All resolution petition drive – March 12

11] What is a Leader? – March 12

12] Brake Light Clinic Training and Canvassing – March 12

13] PDA Town Hall -- March 12

14] Election Protection phone bank – March 12, 14, 16 & 17

15] Social Media Best Practices -- March 12 & 15  

16] Protest at the Pentagon – March 13

17] Power up Training deadline – March 13

------

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] – In 2016, Jessica Reznicek took direct action to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Following in the Catholic Worker movement’s long tradition of nonviolent protest, she disabled construction materials and machinery along the pipeline route. She was indicted on nine criminal charges by a federal grand jury, and in 2021 found guilty of “Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility.” Federal authorities waited until after the trial to define her actions as “terrorism,” a tag that nearly tripled the sentence attached to her conviction. On June 29, 2021, Jessica was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, and began serving her sentence on August 11 at Wauseca Federal Correctional Institute. In 2022 an appeals court upheld her conviction and continued to describe her as a “domestic terrorist.”

Her support community is calling for a fast.  During Lent, supporters will spend every Friday fasting for Jessica’s release.  This is a “Black Fast,” the oldest and most severe form of Christian fasting. That’s one simple meal a day with no meat, no milk and no eggs.  And some fasters have promised to pray every day for Jessica with the campaign prayer, a traditional devotion like the rosary, or both.  All Catholics, Christians and people of good will are encouraged to join the call for Jessica to be set free. And they are asking President Joe Biden, a self-described devout Catholic, to defend religious freedom and civil liberties by pardoning Jessica. Visit https://fastingforjessica.com/.

9] – Alan Barysh [magoo1917@earthlink.net] is seeking your help.  He received a notice shown below that there is consideration to take his book Coming of Age in New Milford to make a movie or a television production.   Contact Nat Mundel to inform him that If the production was done in New Milford it would be an economic boon to the town. If you have read the book, indicate how entertaining it was.  If you have not read the book, consider buying it.

 Nat Mundel <storytoscreen@voyagemedia.com> Mar 3, 2023 12:33 PM, Hi alan... Congratulations! Your application was chosen from the hundreds we received these last couple of weeks, as one that demonstrates the passion, commitment, and an intention to collaborate that is so fundamental to success with movies, shows and podcasts. Now it’s time to proceed to the final step, get to know one another more, and determine if joining our Incubator is the right choice: I will share with you some key things I’ve learned about the industry, how the incubator works, and help you prepare to get the most out of pitching one of our producers. Please click here now to schedule your Discovery Session with me. We cannot complete your application until you attend your session. I look forward to connecting soon. Nat, Voyage Media, 6600 Sunset Blvd., #245, Los Angeles, California 90028.

10] – The Northern Virginia Democratic  Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] will be gathering to collect petition signatures on Sun., March 12 from 10 to 11:30 AM ET at the Shops at Mark Center, 1462 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. The following Saturday, March 18 at 9 AM take the campaign to City Hall, 301 King St. to make the case for the Medicare for All resolution during the public comment period. Please join in and help pack the room with M4A supporters!

11] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 2521 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218, meets on Sundays, and there is a presentation of a platform address at 10:30 AM ET. On Sun., March 12 “What is a Leader?” Traditional patriarchal narratives portray leaders as drum majors, out in front, leading the parade. Felix Adler hesitated before settling on “Leader” as the title for clergy in Ethical Culture. He worried that loyalty to the drum major would dominate. He wanted everyone to become a leader. How should Ethical Culture help us all become leaders? Join Ethical Culture “Leader” Hugh Taft-Morales as he explores contemporary and collaborative perspectives on leaders. He 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).  Email PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG FOR ZOOM LOGIN INFORMATION.

12] – The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] hope you will be interested in the Brake Light Clinic Training at 1 PM and Canvassing at 2 PM ET on Sun., March 12.  Hang out and grab a bite to eat afterwards!  Meet at outside the AutoZone, 3705 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305. Park elsewhere if possible so not to overcrowd this parking lot.  RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_xPNmmb94DIPmWKv28G4SP1Y7LtrriYgwiH57ER6oWPvXoA/viewform?link_id=3&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-84&email_referrer=email_1837620&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events.

13] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] is holding its weekly Progressive Town Hall on Sun., March 12 at 4 PM ET.  Take a look at two big April 4 Elections: Chicago and Wisconsin. First, Analyze, then Organize! Also, how can the Progressive Movement take the next step: from Popular to Powerful? President Biden announced his proposed budget this week. At times, it sounded like a progressive wish list: raising taxes on the wealthy and large corporations (in a number of ways), supporting unions, refusing to cut social programs, and renewing his call for unprecedented investment in daycare. And he couldn't stop centering the entire presentation on middle- and working- class Americans.

Of course, none of it will get passed by this Congress. This is becoming all-too-familiar for Progressives. Whatever the specifics of the political moment (e.g., Sinema and Manchin last Congress, the GOP House majority now), we've settled into a pattern. Progressives are popular, but not powerful. The guest for this Town Hall, Richard Cohen, focuses on this quandary in his most recent article for the LA Progressive. In Wisconsin there is an election for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and a Chicago Mayor's race between a progressive and a reactionary, with public safety and policing dominating the contest.  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

14 – On Sun., March 12 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Tues., March 14 from 4 to 6 PM, Thurs. March 16 from 5 to 7 PM, and Fri., March 17 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.

15] – 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 Sun., March 12 and Wed., March 15.  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.

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 March 6, 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] – Climate Reality [info@climatereality.com] wants you to register before the deadline on Mon., March 13 for the Power up Training. Leverage the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Act for climate action now! Here’s a quick preview of what to expect: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/training/power-up-from-acts-action?ms=CRLCAPR23Email20223&emci=ad818f1d-fab2-ed11-a8e0-00224832e811&emdi=b384bb6b-92b3-ed11-a8e0-00224832e811&ceid=1393885&utm_source=advocacy&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=crlcapr23.

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