Baltimore Activist Alert – April 16 to 21, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert – April 16 to 21, 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] Stop the eviction of Piscataway Indians from their land  

10] Support Pekara Bakery

11] Join the Our Revolution Phone Bank Force!

12] “South Baltimore Land Trust.”  – April 16

13] Clean up Ward 8 – April 16

14] Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition rally – April 16

15] Meet Golden Rule crew – April 16 & 17

16] Progressives Can Win Rural America – April 16

17] Common Cause phone bank – April 16, 18, 20 & 21

18] Social Media Best Practices – April 16 & 19

19] Protest at the Pentagon – April 17

20] Election and Climate Protection Zoom – April 10

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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] – 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] – The Charles County Commissioners hope to evict the Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians from their land where their cultural center/museum has been for the last 40 years.  If this upsets you, take action at this ACLU link: <https://action.aclu.org/send-message/md-cedarville-band-piscataway-indians-2023>.

10] – Support a small restaurant called Pekara Bakery, 506 W. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore 21210.  Call 443-873-7190 or email pekarabakery@usa.com or visit www.pekarabakery.us.com.

11] – Join the Our Revolution Phone Bank Force! In 2022, 82% of Our Revolution candidates won their election. In 2023, OR is gearing up to Transform the Party, Elect more Progressive Candidates, Hold Biden Accountable, and so much more. To accomplish these goals, there is a need to continue to build the Phone Bank Force. Sign up to become a part of that transformative force at https://www.mobilize.us/ourrevolution/event/440081/?akid=4199.8252965.WFQlSi&rd=1&t=23.

12] – 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., April 16, hear about “South Baltimore Land Trust.”  The program will provide an overview of the current efforts of the South Baltimore Community Land Trust and ways to get involved. Review the purpose and goals to advance and create permanently affordable housing and opportunities for truly green and healthy jobs that do not harm the communities or jeopardize resident health. Dr. Meleny Thomas, the executive director of the South Baltimore Community Land Trust, has over 15 years of serving youth and families and building community based organizations. She believes in equitable development and continues to advocate for marginalized communities like the one in which she resides.  Email PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG FOR ZOOM LOGIN INFORMATION.

13] – Join a community event, hosted by Friends of Salim Adofo on Sun., April 16 from noon to 2 PM ET.  Gather at 1703 Frankford St. SE, WDC 20020 and help clean up Ward 8.  Make sure the environment is clean and safe for everyone, especially for the children. Yes, refreshments will be available for volunteers. Join a community clean up in the Ward 8 community.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/429008/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_custom_marketing.

14] – The Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition <BLMInterfaithCoalition@gmail.com> is holding its next rally on Sun., April 16 at 1:30 PM ET at the Rawlings Conservatory, 3100 Swan Drive, Baltimore 21217. During the Holy month of April, as communities celebrate Passover, Easter and Ramadan (Eid al Fitr is on April 21, 2023), stand against the awful hate speech and actions circulating in our State and country.

15] – On Sun., April 16 from 1:30 to 4:30 PM ET, catch The Crucible of Hope: The "Golden Rule" of Love as Inspiration for a New World Order at All Souls Unitarian Church, 1500 Harvard St. NW, WDC.  Take the tour of the Hiroshima Children's Drawings, and then enjoy panel discussions with historians and theologians on the role of protest, among Black Americans in particular, in the movement for nuclear disarmament.  On Mon. Apr 17 at 9 AM ET, the Golden Rule Embarks from the DC Wharf.  The crew will shove off and make her way back down the Potomac, pausing at sites of some of the worst nuclear and chemical contamination along the way. Visit https://www.militarypoisons.org/latest-news/golden-rule-schedule-for-washington-dc-region.

16] – Alan Minsky for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] hopes you will be interested in joining a Town Hall on Sun., April 16 at 4 PM ET. The theme is How Progressives Can Win Rural America.  Rural and Small Town America have Suffered Severe Declines over the Past Four Decades. Neoliberal Politicians, whether Republican or Democratic, have No Solutions. Progressives Do!  PDA is proud to be partnering with rural- and small town-based organizations and activists to develop a 21st-Century Rural New Deal. One of the groups is the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative (RUBI), and on Sunday hear from co-founder of RUBI, Anthony Flaccavento.  Anthony will discuss—among other things—how a progressive economic program, developed in coordination with the people of rural and small towns, could be a game-changer in so-called red-state America—so long as progressives truly listen to and respect working people across the entire country.

Also, joining in will be Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a PDA-endorsed congressional candidate in 2022. Jamie developed an exemplary rural- and small town-policy platform in her recent campaign and we are honored to have her work with PDA on developing the 21st-Century Rural New Deal platform. RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4#/registration.

17] – There are virtual Common Cause phone banks on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 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 for a shift to make calls and help strengthen the phone bank team to protect our democracy. Make calls on Sun., April 16 from 6 to 8 PM, or Tues., April 18 from 4 to 6 PM or Thurs., April 20 from 5 to 7PM or Fri., April 21 from 4 to 6 PM ET. These shifts will also always include training for first-timers before you make calls, so if this is your first time, no worries! This will continue through August 28, 2024. Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations.

18] –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., April 16 and Wed., April 19.  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.

19] – 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 April 17, 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.  This vigil will honor the visit to the area of the anti-nuclear ship the Golden Rule.

 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.

20] – Mike Hersh for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to join the Election and Climate Protection Zoom on Mon., April 17 at 5 PM ET.  There are attacks on our democracy, and climate chaos threatens us. Since its founding in 2004, PDA has mobilized for open, clean, and fair elections and for stopping global warming. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqfuygpjIiHtc20uIOxdeqYRiAicjSLWUc.

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