Baltimore Activist Alert -- February 20 - 25, 2024

25] A PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE – through Feb. 21

26] LAW not war – Feb. 20

27] DC Action for Assange – Feb. 20

28] International solution to Climate Chaos – Feb. 20

29] Back from the Brink meeting – Feb. 20

30] Assange hearing – Feb. 20 - 21

31] Russia out of Ukraine – Feb. 20 & 25

32] Medicare for All - Feb. 20

33] Abolition Working Group meeting – Feb. 20

34] Fair Share for Maryland Working Group meeting – Feb. 20

35] Sing a Song, Belafonte film – Feb. 20

36] CODEPINK Congress -- Feb. 20

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25] – Jennifer Salan [communications@aaiusa.org] wants you to know that the Pilgrimage for Peace left Philadelphia on its way to Washington, D.C. On Tues., Feb. 20 march from Baltimore to Laurel and on Wed., Feb. 21 march from Laurel to Washington, D.C. Help Stop Genocide with a diverse group of activists, artists, and faith leaders calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, a halt of weapons funding for Israel, and unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza. Some of the participating organizations are the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, IfNotNow, Faith for Black Lives, Jews for Ceasefire, Red Letter Christians, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, Dream Defenders and many more for one or all of the days of the pilgrimage.  REGISTER TO JOIN THE PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE FOR AN HOUR, A DAY, OR ALL WEEK! Meals, water and a shuttle service will be provided. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/pilgrimage-for-peace

26] -- Alyn Ware [ware@wfm-igp.org] is inviting you on Tues., Feb. 20 at 10 AM ET to an online meeting of participating organizations involved with LAW not War. The increasing public attention to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the current genocide cases and climate change case, are indications of the value of the LAW not War initiative. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0td-GvqjMjHtQP0yVf1PAyXZBbC-GzbIhS#/registration

 The current cases in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on allegations of genocide (The Gambia v Myanmar, Ukraine v Russia and South Africa v Israel) as well as the ICJ case on The Responsibilities of States with regard to Climate Change, are generating considerable political and public attention. The ICJ, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, provides a vital mechanism for States to resolve their international disputes peacefully, prevent escalation to war and/or end armed conflicts. Despite this, only 1/3 of UN Member States currently accept compulsory (unrestricted) ICJ jurisdiction, which they do through submission to the ICJ of a declaration accepting jurisdiction for unresolved conflicts between them and other States which have made similar declarations.

27] -- DC Action for Assange and other area supporters of Julian Assange are planning a rally at the Department of Justice, for "Day X."  Day X is the date of Assange's appeal hearing, in the High Courts of London; and the appeal will begin on Feb 20 and is scheduled to last for two days.  Groups all over the world are planning solidarity rallies and vigils, as part of "Day X."  In DC, the rally will be on Tues., Feb 20 from noon to 2 PM at the US Department of Justice, 950 Constitution Ave. NW, WDC.

  The rally will include speakers, "open mic" opportunities, and singing.  Banners and signs related to Assange's case will be available.  Contact Martha Allen at (marthaleslieallen@gmail.com).

28] -- Team 350 [350@350.org] is coming together on Tues., Feb. 20 at noon ET to present “Why Internationalism Matters.”  Global solutions are needed to tackle the climate crisis. ‌ ‌ ‌The U.S. is already seeing the effects of the climate crisis, from deadly wildfires and flooding to more frequent and more intense storms and droughts. And now that we’ve crossed this threshold, it’s only going to get worse, especially for countries in the global south. For decades, rich countries like the U.S. have been profiting off the exploitation of the planet while countries in the global south suffer the most from the climate crisis. https://350org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1LcIWV2GTOSdHsvck-6DrA?refcode=em20240215-1-subs-us&amount=3#/registration

29] -- Back from the Brink [info@preventnuclearwar.org] is meeting virtually on Tues., Feb. 20 at 1 PM ET. The agenda items include opportunities related to Academy Award nomination of Oppenheimer. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86434879139?pwd=OERHYTFyeEpyalBVNEZQNlNBUmFmQT09&emci=515e683a-93ca-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=6278f015-a2ca-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=13712990#success

30] – Defending Rights & Dissent [updates@rightsanddissent.org] wants you to attend virtually on Tues., Feb. 20 and Wed., Feb. 21 at 1 PM a high stakes Assange hearing.  You can watch a livestream each day by going to https://www.facebook.com/rightsdissent?sourceid=1082741&emci=7827968d-09cd-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=b80c1617-0ecd-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=2461345

31] – Join the Baltimore Nonviolence Center on Tues., Feb. 20 from 4:30 to 5 PM ET at 33rd and N. Charles Sts. The invasion of Ukraine has the potential to become a war extending throughout Europe.  Putin has destroyed Aleppo and Grozny and has threatened the use of nuclear weapons.  Russian soldiers were sent into the area around the contaminated and still radioactive Chernobyl nuclear plant. Now they are stationed in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.   Contact Max at mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net or 410-323-1607.

 Also note, on Sun., Feb. 25 from noon to 1 PM, there will be a vigil at 2401 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore 21224 in Patterson Park across from St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church. The Ukrainian people have now been under Putin’s boot for two years. Show support for the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora, as well as for the brave people of Russia who have condemned the invasion. Regardless of the situation, the Biden administration should remove US nuclear weapons from Europe, and try to engage in negotiations with Russia about nuclear weapons disarmament.  The United Nations must use its influence to convince Russian authorities to withdraw its forces from Ukraine.

32] – The Northern Virginia DSA [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] is holding a Medicare for All meeting to give an update about the work in Alexandria and Arlington on Tues., Feb. 20 at 6 PM ET. A link to attend this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/nova-medicare-for-all-working-group-meeting-tuesday-february-20th-6pm/?clear_id=true&link_id=9&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-139&email_referrer=email_2195398&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events

  Discuss plans for furthering the M4All Resolutions in Alexandria and Arlington - as well as other ideas. The group meets the first and third Tuesday of the month.

33] --   The Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] on Tues., Feb. 20 at 6 PM ET is holding an Abolition Working Group biweekly meeting.  A link to attend this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/abolition-working-group-biweekly-meeting-2202024?link_id=62&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-february-2-2024&email_referrer=email_2200197&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-february-9-2024

 Discuss strategy and planning. This event is open to both DSA Members and supporters. Email abolition@mdcdsa.org

34] – Elianna Cooper [info@jufj.org] Indicates that Jews United for Justice need you on Tues., Feb. 20 at 6:30 PM ET for a Fair Share for Maryland Working Group meeting on Zoom. RSVP At https://jufj.org/events/category/md-economic-justice/?emci=8f3112c6-3fcc-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=0b020bd9-53cc-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=3403859

35] –The Maryland CPUSA [md@cpusa.org] on Tues., Feb. 20 at 7 PM ET will show the film Sing Your Song. Honoring this year’s Black History Month’s theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” the Baltimore Marxist Study Group pays tribute to Harry Belafonte who died April 25, 2023 at the age of 96. Watch the 2011 biographical film, Sing Your Song, narrated by Belafonte himself, to relive the calypso and folk music with which Belafonte enriched U.S. culture.  Watch documentary footage of key hallmarks of the civil rights and peoples’ movements of the 1960s through the first decade of the 21^st century (when the film was made) in which Belafonte was a leading force challenging U.S. imperialism abroad and racism at home.

 These are the stalwarts Belafonte was inspired by and whom he inspired:  Paul Robeson, Huddie Ledbetter, Eleanor Roosevelt, Tom Mboya, Cora Weiss, Nelson Mandela, Mariam Makeba, John Lewis, Sekou Toure, Fannie Lou Hamer, Buffy St. Marie, Quincy Jones, Marian Wright Edelman, Ruby Dee, to name a few, are all included in the narrative. For those who wish to discuss the film or the movements it portrays, stick around for the discussion afterwards.  Register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqf-yorzorGN2X_ECbPWPZJx3mSFZnpKHn

36] – CODEPINK [info@codepink.org] is meeting on Tues., Feb. 20 at 8 PM ET to discuss Supplemental Bills! For example, the Senate bill also includes a prohibition against US funding for UNRWA, the lifeline for water and food to Gaza, to threaten mass starvation for over two million people. Finally, there’s a provision that allows President Biden to send unlimited weapons to Israel without the legally-required notification to Congress. There is a need for a ceasefire and negotiated peace settlements in both Gaza and Ukraine, not more war funding! Hear from peacemakers about the supplemental bills. RSVP at https://www.codepink.org/cpc220?utm_campaign=cpc_02202024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=codepink

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