Baltimore Activist Alert -- April 21 - 22, 2023

56] Advance Care Medical planning – April 21

57] Peace vigil at the White House – April 21

58] Women in Black vigil – April 21

59] Election Protection phone bank – April 21

60] Dan Ellsberg speaks – April 21

61] Contact PG County rep – April 22 

62] Allies for Democracy – April 22

63] Deliver subpoena to JHU president – April 22

-------

56] – Dan Morhaim [danmorhaim@gmail.com] is holding a discussion on Fri., April 21 at noon ET OF THE HOW'S AND WHY'S OF ADVANCE CARE MEDICAL PLANNING. The goal is to empower you and your family to ensure that deeply held values are respected and honored. This webinar will explore breaking down the barriers to a challenging but essential topic, one we too often avoid but should not. Join on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bTe9ytlaSm-4Qe-V-Dujzw. Or by phone at +13017158592,,88207715142#.

57] – The Dorothy Day Catholic Worker will host a peace vigil at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC, on Fri., April 21 at noon.  Contact the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker: 202-882-9649 or artlaffin@hotmail.com.

58] – Every Friday from noon to 1 PM, Baltimore Women in Black vigil for peace with men and women who live in Roland Park. WIB invites all to join, and any peace sign is welcome, such as "Defuse Nuclear War."  The vigil takes place outside Roland Park Place at the corner of West 40th Street and Elm Street. Parking is free at RPP or at the Rotunda across the street. Contact Ann Vinup at annvinup@gmail.com.

59] – On Fri., April 21 from 4 to 6 PM, Sun., April 23 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Tues., April 25 from 4 to 6 PM ET & Thurs. April 27 from 5 to 7 PM there is a Common Cause organized Election Protection phone bank.   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 Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and/or Sundays. These shifts will also always include training for first-timers before you make calls, so if this is your first time, no worries! Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations.  

60] – The Campaign for Peace, Disarmament & Common Security [jgerson80@gmail.com] is hosting on Fri., April 21 at 5 PM ET SHAPE Webinar 3: The Rising Danger of Nuclear War – Daniel Ellsberg Speaks. Responding to his keynote address will be Richard Falk and Zia Mian - this Friday 21 April. It is a notable occasion to have this opportunity to listen to this live statement by Daniel Ellsberg on these themes as his own extraordinary life of dedication and witnessing approaches its end.

SHAPE was initiated some months ago with a CALL to individuals and groups around the world. It seeks to build a community of individuals and groups sharing this sense of urgency about the present historical situation, dramatized by the dual challenges of the prolonged Ukraine War, generating dangerously escalating tensions between Russia and the United States and the worsening prospects of responding adequately to climate change. SHAPE has previously arranged two prior successful webinars. We regard this event as our most ambitious and significant event and hope you will be with us. RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RKJiQ5mGSHitnE1ApdMJgg#/registration

61] – On Fri., April 21 at 6 PM ET, join Text Party Fridays with Progressive Prince George's.  The County Executive, Angela D. Alsobrooks, is refusing to let the community into the process of recruitment and hiring of the new PGCPS CEO. All stakeholders deserve a seat at this decision making table. Reach out to the community via text to raise awareness for this and other very important issues and encourage neighbors to take action to lift up the voice of the community and strengthen Prince George's County schools.  Please register for more than one outreach opportunity and feel free to share the link with friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Register to receive the Zoom link: https://www.mobilize.us/progressivemaryland/event/554531/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations.

62] – On Fri., April 21 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Allies for Democracy is hosting renew your activist soul with us at the Ivy Bookshop, 5928 Falls Road, Baltimore 21209. Several other groups including Indivisible Towson will be attending a special evening for and by activists and advocates. Sonia Shah and Dara Friedman-Wheeler will be in conversation, sharing insights from Dara's new book--Being the Change: A Guide for Advocates and Activists on Staying Healthy, Inspired and Driven. Come for the free tips on staying sane as an activist—stay for the camaraderie and browse through the amazing books at The Ivy!  Carpools will leave Woodbrook Church parking lot, 25 Stevenson Lane, Towson 21212 at 5:30 PM ET. Go to https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/558074/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest.

63] – The Baltimore Nonviolence Center will rally on Earth Day at 1 PM at 33^rd & North Charles Streets to challenge Johns Hopkins University which the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons [ICAN] declared the #1 School of Mass Destruction.  The ICAN report pointed out that JHU had received more tax dollars to perform research on nuclear weapons than any other university. The school also has many other research projects on non-nuclear weapons contracts. 

Around 1:30 PM ET, the group will march onto the JHU campus to gather at the home of Ronald J. Daniels, university president.  Once there, there will be an attempt to deliver a subpoena on behalf of the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal (MDWCT) which will take place in November.  Consider joining and/or signing on as a witness to the subpoena.  

The Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal

The Baltimore Nonviolence Center – Plaintiff

Vs.

The Johns Hopkins University – Defendant

This is a subpoena for Ronald J. Daniels, president, to testify and to provide a summary of the weapons contracts for Fiscal Year 2023.  This subpoena will be served by representatives of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center on April 22, 2023:

YOU ARE REQUESTED to appear before the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal in November in order to testify as to the culpability of the University in performing research on weapons systems which were used in the commission of war crimes.  For example, did the University engage in research on weapons used in the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq?  Regarding the University’s research on killer drones, were these weapons used in military operations where noncombatants were attacked, including in secret operations?

YOUR TESTIMONY will be conducted virtually via an online platform which will be sent to you.

YOUR AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE to this Subpoena must be sent electronically to mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net. Details on joining the virtual hearing will be shared upon receipt of your response.

Witnessed and Signed by the following:

Max Obuszewski, the Baltimore Nonviolence Center

Janice Sevre-Duszynska, the Baltimore Nonviolence Center

The National Science Foundation report on higher education research and development indicated that the expenditures for Johns Hopkins University includes funding for the Applied Physics Laboratory, which totaled $1.909 billion in FY2020. An estimated 90 % of this funding is weapons-related.

According to a report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons [ICAN], in 2020 the nine nuclear-armed states spent $72.6 billion on nuclear weapons, with the U.S. leading at $37.4 billion, or $70,881 per minute.  ICAN published a report that indicated JHU is the #1 School of Mass Destruction because of its nuclear weapons research. 

 At the time of the report, the University received more than twice as much funding from the Department of Defense [sic] than any other university due to the work of its Applied Physics Laboratory; in 2019 the funding ceiling for its ongoing contract was extended beyond $7 billion. This work includes research for the U.S. military’s nuclear weapons systems, despite the fact that the university’s mission statement includes the call “to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.”

  In violation of United States disarmament obligations under the 1970 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the U.S. is pursuing a nuclear weapons build-up which was launched by the Obama-Biden administration that is expected to cost at least $1.7 trillion by 2046. This includes large spending increases on a controversial low-yield smaller nuclear warhead, the total replacement of the intercontinental ballistic missile force, new B-21 strategic bombers, B-52 upgrades, and more destructive nuclear warheads.

In 2021, JHU was awarded a $530,000,000 contract in support of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent [sic] weapon system.

 In 2022, the JHU-APL received a potential 10-year, $10.6 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to perform research, development, test and evaluation work for the Department of Defense [sic].  Under the contract, the APL will support department programs in various competency areas such as space science and engineering, submarine security and survivability, and combat systems and guided missiles.

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