Baltimore Activist Alert – November 12 to 13, 2023

Baltimore Activist Alert – November 12 to 13, 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] Get the book Surely Goodness and Mercy by Murphy Davis

6] Get the book Male Supremacy in the Catholic Church: An Insider’s View by Roy Bourgeois

7] Alan Barysh has another book

8] “Women Talking” – Nov. 12

9] Defund NoVA Police research meeting – Nov. 12

10] Metro DC DSA meeting – Nov. 12

11] “Faith and the Supreme Court” – Nov. 12

12] GOP shutdown – Nov. 12

13] Montgomery County DSA Branch Social – Nov. 12

14] Annapolis Academy – Nov. 12

15] Jews and Arabs Choosing a Shared Future – Nov. 12

16] How We Win the Civil War – Nov. 12

17] Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal – Nov. 12

18] Movement for Peace in Palestine and Israel – Nov. 12

19] Protest at the Pentagon – Nov. 13

20] Bear witness to the Israeli military’s massacres of Palestinian people – Nov. 13

21] Green Grassroots Emergency Environment and Election Protection – Nov. 13

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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] – 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.

6] – 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.

7] – Alan Barysh  [magoo1917@earthlink.net] hopes that you will purchase his audio book -- Shipyard Days and Nights and Other Baltimore Stories (Mostly true).  It's on amazon.com. Should this book hit the big time, Mr. Barysh says he will donate money to the Shipyard Retirees Association.

8] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 2521 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218, meets on Sundays, and usually there is a platform address at 10:30 AM ET.  On Nov. 12, the theme is “Women Talking.”  From mundane mansplaining to systemic silencing men regularly ignore the voices of women. That is made tragically clear in Miriam Toews’ book Women Talking and director Sarah Polley’s 2022 film, which the book inspired. The #MeToo movement has produced some progress. But when it comes to who commands an audience, we are still a long way from gender equity. Hugh Taft-Morales is fully aware of the irony that he, a man, will be talking.  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). Visit https://bmorethical.org

9] – On Sun., Nov. 12 at 1 PM ET, the Northern Virginia DSA will engage in Abolition Research. This DSA chapter [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] has started a new Defund NoVA Police research meeting every other Sunday at 1 PM. The group is co-working to research county budgets and ways to divert funds from the police into community careRSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEcShQX51IL2Z1sNff7bqiYz68vAtPjUxpTuIrfvAK8iBDqA/viewform?&link_id=50&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-october-27-2023-2&email_referrer=email_2109499&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-november-10-2023

10] – The next Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] General Body Meeting takes place on Sun., Nov. 12 from 2 to 4 PM ET at the Benning Road Library. The GBM will be held as a hybrid event, so members will have the option to attend virtually as well. Hear updates from chapter working groups and talk about the upcoming local convention. Members, potential members, and supporters alike are welcome to attend. The library is closest to the Minnesota Avenue Metro station (Blue/ Orange/Silver lines) as well as a number of bus lines. Please make sure to wear a mask if you’re attending in person. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/general-body-meeting-november-12-2023/?link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-october-27-2023-2&email_referrer=email_2109499&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-november-10-2023

11] – On Sun., Nov. 12 from 2 to 4 PM ET, join in for a robust dialogue entitled “Faith and the Supreme Court,” which will examine the religious protections of the First Amendment through the lens of the Supreme Court.  Meet at the Hill Havurah congregation, 212 E. Capitol St. NE, WDC 20003. This dialogue will begin with a talk by Mark Sherman, the eminent Associated Press reporter who has specialized in covering the Supreme Court since 2006.  That will be followed by a Q&A and then small group dialogues.  The First Amendment has presented a number of challenges to the nation’s commitment to the free exercise of religion, religious pluralism, and the ability to balance religious and secular interests.  RSVP at jids.washington@gmail.com

12] – Alan Minsky for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to attend a Town Hall on Sun., Nov. 12 at 4 PM ET with Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works. He will give a lowdown on how the GOP will use the threat of a government shutdown to make cuts in the most popular program in American history—and how we will defeat them! In the next week, the threat of a federal government shutdown will move back into the headlines, as we approach the end of the 48-day extension agreed to early last month. While a further extension is a possibility, now that the House GOP majority is supposedly unified behind the new Speaker, super-conservative Mike Johnson, they will certainly make demands in order to agree to an extension—and don't be surprised if demanding cuts in Social Security is their starting point.  For years, Congressional Republicans have sworn their fealty to cutting government spending and reducing deficits, and made the case that if this is to be done seriously, we'll need to cut the biggest program of all, Social Security.  RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4#/registration

13] –  The Montgomery County DSA will hold a Branch Social on Sun., Nov. 12 from 4 to 6 PM ET at the Lone Oak Brewery, 5000 Olney Laytonsville Road, Olney 20832. Email montgomerycountydsa@gmail.com. In the spirit of offering community and care amid all the organizing work and urgency of the moment, the next branch meeting will instead be a branch social for a winter clothing and toy drive for some local mutual aid groups. Enjoy food from Palestinian restaurants! A tent with a heater and a fire pit has been reserved at the outdoor brewery. Outside food is permitted at Lone Oak so feel free to bring a snack to share. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/november-branch-social?link_id=53&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-october-27-2023-2&email_referrer=email_2109499&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-november-10-2023

14] – Jews United for Justice [info@jufj.org] is holding Annapolis Academy: Our Issues, Our Legislators on Sun., Nov. 12 at 6:30 PM ET. Effectively communicating about issues to legislators is critical. Even more important than the facts and figures is sharing stories and values. This storytelling training is valuable for anyone who is interested in telling a story at a legislator meeting or who is interested in writing testimony for any of our issues. There will be two tracks, one for new storytellers and one for returning storytellers, which will build on the skills taught in previous years. You will receive call-in instructions via email after you RSVP: https://jufj.org/event/aa-oiol-11-12/?emci=f41275fc-f278-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&emdi=a2384110-0079-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&ceid=3403859

15] –  Rabbi Cat J Zavis [TikkunNSP@mailman.bloomerang-mail.com] is hosting Jews and Arabs Choosing a Shared Future on Sun., Nov. 12 at 8 PM ET.  Hear from Israelis and Palestinians on the ground in Israel/Palestine. The organization, Standing Together, calls for Jewish-Arab partnership, and it continues its work on the ground even in this tumultuous time. The New Israel Fund is hosting a call with their leaders. At a time of extreme tension and strife between the Palestinian Arab and Jewish communities in Israel, Sally and Alon-Lee—the leaders of the Arab-Jewish grassroots movement in Israel Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad-Naqif Ma'an)—are as committed as ever to promoting a message of a shared, equal, and just society, and real work and organizing to make it so. Their voice and work are so critically important right now.  REGISTER at https://secure.nif.org/a/nif-webinar-standing-together-arabs-and-jews-choosing-shared-future-1?emci=9cbe2e48-6a7e-ee11-8925-00224832e811&emdi=6c60c93c-8f7e-ee11-8925-00224832e811&ceid=145948&blm_aid=821414391

16] –Steve Phillips [info@democracyincolor.com] has written a book How We Win the Civil War. On Sun., Nov. 12 at 8 PM ET, Phillips will host a weekly “Sundays with Steve” on Facebook Live to discuss contemporary issues through the prism of the ongoing Civil War. Sign up at https://www.facebook.com/events/1380348316229936/1380348362896598/?active_tab=about

17] – Consider registering for the opening session of the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal. This is a People's Tribunal which will be launched on Sun., Nov. 12 at 8 PM ET, aiming to hold major military contractors accountable for possible crimes against humanity. The first episode will focus on Israel’s aerial bombardment against the people in Gaza, an historically monumental atrocity that could not happen at this time without the aircraft, missiles and bombs produced by three of the four defendants on trial before the Tribunal, -Lockheed Martin, Boeing and RTX (Raytheon). The fourth defendant is General Atomics, which produces weaponized drones. Weapon makers project obscene profits from U.S. funding for war. Once the Opening Session concludes, the entire Tribunal will be streamed via video links over consecutive weeks examining War Crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Gaza, and Yemen.  Following the senseless "industrialized slaughter" of World War I, antiwar protesters vowed never again to tolerate merchants of death dragging them into horrific wars. Share this link:  https://merchantsofdeath.org/. Sign up for the opening session at https://actionnetwork.org/events/us-weapons-makers-to-be-tried-by-war-crimes-tribunal-beginning-november-12-2023?clear_id=true

18] – Action Corps [national@actioncorps.org] is inviting you to join the Movement for Peace in Palestine and Israel on Sun., Nov. 12 at 8:30 PM ET.  As of today, over 1,200 deaths in Israel and at least 11,025 deaths in Gaza have been reported, with countless more injured and displaced. Join for an emergency info session on the need for a #CeasefireNOW and how you can help. Urge members of Congress to join the growing call for an immediate ceasefire and to enforce U.S. law on military aid to Israel. Call for the return of hostages and condemn all acts of violence against civilians. RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqfuuhrjsoHtzK7_Am0A5QUxWRa3VkRYM1#/registration?link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-action-alert-israel-palestine-2&email_referrer=email_2110679&email_subject=urgent-invitation-join-the-movement-for-peace-in-palestine-and-israel

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 Nov. 13, 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.

20] – The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights <contact@uscpr.org> is asking you to resist genocide with your whole heart and body on  Mon., Nov 13 at 10 AM ET. In Washington, D.C., gather at 10 AM at Constitution Avenue NW & 1st Street NW.  In this horrific moment, as we bear witness to the Israeli military’s massacres of Palestinian people sheltering inside Gaza’s hospitals, we must resist. Even in the midst of unthinkable grief, we must resist genocide with our whole hearts, minds, and bodies. Keep pressuring your elected officials by calling, emailing, and protesting them. Don’t stop talking about Palestine. Visit https://uscpr.org/oct-2023-protests/?emci=bdf7a25d-d380-ee11-8925-00224832e811&emdi=ca559387-d680-ee11-8925-00224832e811&ceid=1592131

21] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] want you to participate with the Green Grassroots Emergency Environment and Election Protection (GREEP) Zoom on Mon., Nov. 5 at 5 PM ET. Hear from leading activists, elected officials, and others committed to union organizing as well as cleaning up our elections and the environment, and other critically important issues. RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqfuygpjIiHtc20uIOxdeqYRiAicjSLWUc#/registration

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