Baltimore Activist Alert – February 4 to 5, 2024

Baltimore Activist Alert – February 4 to 5, 2024

"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 Bag of Stones

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

7] Brian Barrett is on the road to recovery.  

8] Learn more about Nelson Mandela – Feb. 4

9] Montgomery County DSA meeting – Feb. 4

10] Meet progressive candidates for Congress – Feb. 4

11] Join a protest for Julian Assange – Feb. 4

12] DSA Electoral Working Group meeting – Feb. 4

13] Death Penalty Action – Feb. 4

14] Protest at the Pentagon – Feb. 4

15] Election Protection – Jan. 29

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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 410-323-1607 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] – Barry Lee Burnside, a gaggle of great writers and copy editors are finishing up “A Bag of Snakes: Selected Writings on Prisons and the Death Penalty by Murphy Davis and Eduard Loring. Edited by Barry Lee Burnside.” Ed indicates the book will be available for sale on April 13, and is asking you to pre-order your copy. Your donation will provide a needed financial boost for the printing costs. The suggested donation is $20 for one copy; and $30 for your copy and an additional copy for a prisoner or someone in need. Any donation is appreciated. More or less you will receive the book.  Barry and the team have spent over two years putting this book together. It begins with outlines and notes found in the boxes of materials Murphy left when she ascended. The work is a work of love, and all involved are proud of the fruit borne by seeds nourished in good soil.

  A Bag of Snakes will be available at a gathering at First Iconium Baptist Church. Celebrate the life of Murphy Davis and The Open Door Community along with presenting the book. Also enjoy an Open Door Supper—vegetarian chili, Willie Dee Wimberly cornbread, salad and chocolate chip cookies.

  To order by postal mail, make your check to Open Door Community.  Send it to Open Door Community, PO Box 10980, Baltimore 21234.  For any questions, contact David Payne at 404-290-2047 or davidpayne@opendoorcommunity.org.

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] – Brian Barrett is doing better and has wonderful support in the Collins Ave. community. Brian might welcome visitors now that he’s staying in the building behind 512 Collins Ave. If you would like to visit Brian, contact Suzanne (443-690-4060) or Jeff (443-690-6872) to check on his availability.

8] –  Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore 21202, meets on Sundays, and usually there is a platform address at 10:30 AM ET.  On Feb. 4, the meeting will be by Zoom, and the theme is “Writing for Mandela.” Garrey Dennie presents a talk focusing on the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and his role as a speechwriter for Nelson Mandela when he was released from prison. Dr. Dennie, an Associate Professor of History at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, obtained his Ph.D. in African History at The Johns Hopkins University. He has lectured widely on liberation rhetoric in South Africa, and he is a founding member of Africa and African Diaspora Studies at St. Mary’s College. At St. Mary’s College he teaches courses in African Diaspora Studies, African history, Caribbean history, and American slave systems.  To receive a Zoom invitation, please email president@bmorethical.org. Visit https://bmorethical.org

9] –The Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] wants you to know about a Montgomery County DSA February branch meeting on Sun., Feb. 4 from 2 to 4 PM ET.  The meeting will be hybrid.  To attend in person, come to the Silver Spring Library, 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring 20910. To attend virtually, RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/february-branch-meeting-2?link_id=64&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-19-2024&email_referrer=email_2183576&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-26-2024 

During this meeting, candidates for the branch steering committee will have the opportunity to share why they are running for branch steering. Email montgomerycountydsa@gmail.com for more information.

10] – The PDA Team [info@pdamerica.org] hopes you will join in for the weekly PDA Town Hall on Sun., Feb. 4 at 4 PM ET.  Meet Angelica Duenas, Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman and Ahmed Mostafa, four progressives running for the U.S. House. RSVP and the machine will email you your secure codes: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4#/registration

 The 2024 primary season is upon us. This week's PDA Town Hall will highlight how great the stakes are for progressives, as we will hear from four candidates in highly competitive primaries. Of course, the establishment will spend money to defeat progressives.

11] – There is an important appeal hearing for Julian Assange in the High Courts of London on Feb. 20-21. The hearing will consider whether Julian Assange's legal team may proceed with further appeals in the UK.   There will be large rallies outside the High Courts in London. In the US, Assange Defense and local groups are planning solidarity vigils, banner-hanging and educational programs. In addition, US advocates are asking members of Congress to sign on to House Res 934; this Congressional resolution calls for respect for independent journalism, and for charges against Assange to be unconditionally dropped. 

  On Sun., Feb. 4 from 4 to 5 PM ET, join a vigil at the home of US Attorney General Merrick Garland, 5000 block of Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD.  The address is two blocks west of the Bethesda Red Line Metro station. On Sun., Feb. 18 from 4 to 5 PM ET the vigil will at the White House sidewalk.  There will be a Crowdcast on-line, starting Feb. 18, a 24-hour broadcast including live reports from London, remarks by experts, journalists and others.  More information and links can be found at www.assangedefense.com or @stella_assange. On Tues., Feb. 20 at noon, the protest will be at the Department of Justice, 950 Constitution Ave. NW, WDC.  Meet at the Constitution Ave, side of the DOJ, opposite the Smithsonian Museum.

  Urge member of Congress to sign on to H. Res. 934, which has bi-partisan support: "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that regular journalistic activities are protected under the First Amendment, and that the United States ought to drop all charges against and attempts to extradite Julian Assange." Get with Law, Democracy & Human Rights: The Case of Julian Assange - Assange Defense on Feb. 21 at 12:30 PM ET featuring Prof. Marjorie Cohn & other experts: https://assangedefense.org/event/law-democracy-human-rights-the-case-of-julian-assange/

12] – The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] will hold an Electoral Working Group meeting on Sun., Feb. 4 from 7 to 8 PM ET.  A link to attend this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP. The group will discuss the work to be done in 2024! Get prepared for the chapter's endorsement process! Reach out to @Alex Yarkosky on slack with any questions about electoral work. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/nova-electoral-working-group-meeting-sunday-january-7th-7pm/?clear_id=true&link_id=8&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-138&email_referrer=email_2184282&email_s

13] – On Sun., Feb. 4 at 9 PM ET tune in to THE FORECAST and note that there are two upcoming executions. Register with Death Penalty Action:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GQi-Z-U0QyyvyVOoYaL3nA#/registration?link_id=7&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-tonight-the-forecast-5&email_referrer=email_2191522&email_subject=save-the-dates-the-forecast-sc-hearing-next-week or tune in at YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@deathpenaltyaction8966/streams.

14] – 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 Feb. 4, 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.

15] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] want you to participate with the Green Grassroots Emergency Environment and Election Protection (GREEP) Zoom on Mon., Jan. 29 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