Baltimore Activist Alert – April 28 - 29, 2024

Baltimore Activist Alert – April 28 - 29, 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 A Bag of Stones

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

7] Baltimore activist selling her home

8] A Celebration of the Earth – April 28

9] Canvass in Silver Spring for the Uncommitted Vote – April 28

10] Update from the West Bank – April 28

11] PDA Town Hall – April 28

12] Common Cause virtual phone bank – April 28

13] John Lewis: Good Trouble – April 28

14] Protest at the Pentagon – April 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.

 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] – A home in Baltimore is for sale on a dead-end street in the Lauraville neighborhood, with three bedrooms, and one bath. The yard backs into a field and then a forest. There is a serene and quiet setting with an abundance of wildlife. The owner will be asking a reasonable amount for the property but it will not be overpriced. Contact her by text only at 443 500 6733. On the text, leave your name and phone number, and she will get back to anyone that reaches out. 

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 April 28, there will be a hybrid “A Celebration of the Earth.”  Ethical Culture encourages us to harmonize with nature to bring out the best for all life. What do you do in your life to nurture this sense of interrelationship? How does the work of the South Baltimore Community Land Trust offer us opportunities to heal the wounds humanity has inflicted on the biosphere? Hugh Taft-Morales explores these questions to honor Earth Day 2024. 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).  To receive a Zoom invitation, please email president@bmorethical.org

9] – Canvass in Silver Spring for the Uncommitted Vote for Palestine on Sun., April 28 from 11 AM to 2:30 PM.  Meet in Sonny's Green/Park next to the Blair apartments, 175 High Park Lane, Silver Spring 20910. Join Montgomery and Prince George's County Branch members in door knocking for the Uncommitted Vote in Maryland's Presidential Primary by May 14th!  RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/canvass-in-silver-spring-for-the-uncommitted-vote-for-palestine?clear_id=true&link_id=7&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-152&email_referrer=email_2283865&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events

10] – MAPA [info@masspeaceaction.org] is hosting on Sun., April 28 at 1 PM ET a webinar -- Update from the West Bank: How the Occupation has Intensified Since October 7th. Since Oct. 7, we have been mostly focused on the Israeli assault on Gaza, unable to look away from the bombing, displacement and starvation of the Gazan Palestinians.  At the same time, the oppression and violence against Palestinians living in the West Bank has escalated.  In the past 6 months, 7000 Palestinians have been detained in the West Bank, including 440 children, and over 1500 Palestinians have been displaced from Area C. (source: WAFA News agency and Reliefweb).  At least 317 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces and settlers in the West Bank since the Gaza attack began, according to the Palestine Authority Health Ministry.  In this webinar we will turn our attention to the West Bank.

  Hear from Shaina Low, a human rights lawyer who serves as the Norwegians Refugee Council (NRC) Palestine Communication Adviser working to amplify the stories of communities facing displacement in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).  Also speaking will be Issa Amro, well-known Palestinian activist, resident of Hebron. Working with B’tselem, the Israeli human rights organization, Issa coordinated the "Shooting Back" camera project in Hebron, which distributed cameras to Palestinians so they could document human rights violations by Israeli soldiers and settlers. RSVP at https://masspeace.us/updatefromwestbank

11] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] are doing its Sunday Town Hall on April 28 at 4 PM ET to talk about the Progressive Conference plans for Chicago during the Democratic National Committee Convention. Also hear from Jamie McLeod-Skinner on winning a primary for Congress in a largely rural area by promoting progressive answers to problems. RSVP Now! https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4#/registration

  Discuss issues and strategies that will bring victories home in November, and this Sunday get an overview of the current plans, and how you may participate.  In the opinion of PDA Executive Director Alan Minsky, "There may be no more important election across the entire country than Oregon's 5th District. The progressive candidate there, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, is a transformative politician, who is advocating for the type of policies that will make a positive impact on the lives of Americans in small towns and rural areas from coast-to-coast. Jamie's program is so well designed to address endemic issues that plague so much of the country, it would turn rural America from MAGA red to progressive blue."

12] – Join a Common Cause virtual phone bank to 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. Join a call on Sun., April 28 from 6 to 8 PM ET. This shift will also include training for first-timers before you make calls, so if this is your first time, no worries! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations

13] – On Sun., April 28 at 7 PM ET, watch John Lewis: Good Trouble, an online screening hosted by Fix Democracy First. Register at https://bit.ly/john-lewis-good-trouble-screening-eventbrite

 The Meaningful Movies Project along with Fix Democracy First presents an exclusive, free online screening of the thought-provoking documentary, John Lewis: Good Trouble by Dawn Porter. Embark on a journey towards positive societal change. The film is a powerful call to action and a reminder why it’s important that we exercise our right to vote.  There is a panel discussion after the film with Barbara Arnwine, president & founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition, an organization focused on systematic change that achieves racial justice, gender, economic and social justice and human rights. Also speaking is the Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins, a senior advisor with Raben, a public affairs and organizational consulting firm, where he uses his extensive political and ministerial experience to help advance the firm's Faith Strategies Group. A final commentator is Cinthia Illan-Vazquez, the Executive Director at The Washington Bus, a movement building organization that increases political access and participation for young people across WA.

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 April 29 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. 

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