Baltimore Activist Alert – August 27 to 28, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert – August 27 to 28, 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] Can you sponsor a Ukrainian family?

9] Good Trouble Church – Aug. 27

10] Housing Justice Summit – Aug. 27

11] Metro DC DSA General Body meeting – Aug. 27

12] Global Town Hall – Aug. 27

13] Go after for-profit health insurance company – Aug. 27

14] Hear from Steven Donziger – Aug. 27

15] Phone bank for Virginia – Aug. 27

16] Hear from a death penalty exonerated prisoner– Aug. 27

17] Protest at the Pentagon – Aug. 28

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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] – Jerry Windley-Daoust is looking for an individual or community that might be in a position to sponsor a Ukrainian refugee family under the Uniting for Ukraine program. The head of this family, Dymtro, needs a sponsor. He is 33 and a male fashion model living in Kyiv. He speaks and writes English very well. His 54-year-old mother and his 19-year-old brother, Artem, live in a nearby city. His brother has autism, is nonverbal, and had been receiving care from a local institution until the onset of the war; in recent months, he has not received adequate care due to medical facilities prioritizing war-related physical and mental health issues. Dmytro’s mother is a professional baker who has been out of work and suffers from depression, likely due to the stress of the war and care for her 19-year-old son.

 Dmytro is the sole breadwinner and supporter of his mother and brother. He is keen to leave Ukraine to avoid military conscription, since that would leave his mother and brother in a more vulnerable position. He is legally able to leave the country due to his circumstances. The family would probably best be placed in a major urban center with an existing Ukrainian population, but at this point, they just want to get out of the country and will accept placement anywhere.

The main responsibilities of the sponsor would be to provide the family with temporary shelter and assistance getting Artem connected to the health care system. You can learn more about U4U sponsorship at the USCIS web page. If you or your community are interested in possibly sponsoring this family, please reach out to me at wind@gracewatch.org or jerry@catholicworker.org.

9] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 2521 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218, meets on Sundays, and usually there is a virtual platform address at 10:30 AM ET.  On Aug. 27, check out the Good Trouble Church. It was formerly known as the North Avenue Mission, and it is a grassroots community aid project that started in Station North three years ago. Come hear about the many projects they have doing in our neighborhood.  Email PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG for Zoom login information.

10] – Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility [gdubois@jhsph.edu] wants you to know that the Maryland General Assembly is considering real protections against household mold, lead, and PFAS. Take quick action to carry these measures over the finish line. Get over to the Maryland Housing Justice Summit on Sun., Aug. 27 from noon to 5 PM ET at Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia 21045. You can join in by Zoom. RSVP at https://secure.everyaction.com/qNVq-VpUVEOYwX7s2gWuFw2?emci=9efb432d-5c9a-ec11-a22a-281878b85110&emdi=5cecd980-0844-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=185524#:~:text=Join%20Renters%20United,justice%20in%20Maryland Join Renters United Maryland to celebrate wins from last session and plan for the future of housing justice across Maryland! This summit is an opportunity to continue advancing tenants' rights statewide. 

11] – The Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] is holding a General Body meeting on Sun., Aug. 27  from 2 to 4 PM ET. These general body meetings convene all chapter members bi-monthly. Working groups, caucuses, committees and leadership provide key updates on campaigns and other activities. Members may also propose and vote on business. Learn about the successful rent stabilization campaign in Montgomery County and hear back from delegates who went to DSA’s national convention about some of the decisions made at the national level and any takeaways for our chapter. Members, potential members and supporters are welcome to attend  Register https://actionnetwork.org/events/general-body-meeting-august-27-2023?source=direct_link&&link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&email_referrer=email_2026722&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-august-25-2023

12] – The Project Save the World invites you to its next monthly Global Town Hall on Sun., Aug. 27 at 2 to 4 PM ET. Join the Town Hall at https://zoom.us/j/9108970203. On the last Sunday of every month, there is an open meeting on Zoom for activists worldwide who are addressing issues of militarism (especially nuclear weapons), global warming, famine, pandemics, radioactive contamination, and/or cyber risks. Visit https://tosavetheworld.ca.  Visit https://tosavetheworld.ca.

13] – On Sun., Aug. 27 from 3 to 5:15 PM, knock on doors to demand that for-profit health insurance companies put Care Over Cost and people before profits. Do door-to-door outreach to voters in District 19 (Silver Spring, Aspen Hill area) to talk with them about building grassroots power to hold health insurers accountable. Meet at the Wheaton Library (outside near the playground) on Georgia Ave., Aspen Hill, MD 20902,  Email at https://www.mobilize.us/progressivemaryland/event/573733/?emci=715286ce-dd3a-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=21126cae-ee3a-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=136680.  Training, support and materials will be provided.  Email Patty at patty@progressivemaryland.org. 

14] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] are holding its Sunday Town Hall on Aug. 27 at 4 PM ET with Steve Donziger, jailed for fighting Texaco/Chevron’s illegal activity in the Amazon. He is a central figure in one of the most significant court cases of the 21st century—or, to be more precise, series of court cases across three continents. As much as any lawyer in the world, Donziger has challenged the fossil fuel industry—and when he won, they brought all their might, immeasurable wealth, and influence to gain vengeance. Donziger will tell his amazing story, and the lessons he has learned along the way, that we all need to understand if we’re going to save the planet from the forces destroying it. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4#/registration.

15] –  On Sun., Aug. 27 from 6 to 8 PM ET, the Democratic National Committee is organizing VIRTUAL PHONE BANKS FOR THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES- TO TURN VA BLUE! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/569453/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_most_popular_virtual. This event will continue on Sundays from 6 to 8 PM ET THROUGH November 5.  Call voters in Virginia to get them out to vote in the November election. NO EXPERIENCE is NECESSARY. Get TRAINING and hear from COACHES TO HELP ALL ALONG THE WAY.

16] – Glynn Simmons is soon to be the next exonerated death row survivor from #Oklahoma. He was on Oklahoma's death row for several years in the 1970's and has been serving a "life" sentence ever since, until his conviction was vacated and he was dumped out onto the street with NOTHING just a few weeks ago. His next hearing a few weeks from now will determine that the state has no evidence with which to re-try him, and he expects at that time to be fully exonerated. Meet Glynn Simmons on Sun., Aug. 27 at 8 PM ET. Register for the Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lFM2VF-sStSw2ifCn9eHkw?link_id=5&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-meet-glynn-simmons-the-next-oklahoma-death-row-exoneree&email_referrer=email_2027974&email_subject=meet-glynn-simmons-the-next-oklahoma-death-row-exoneree#/registration

17] – 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 Aug. 28, 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 Marriot Providence Inn on corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr.

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