Baltimore Activist Alert – May 26 - 28, 2024

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 26 - 28, 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] Do you need a fax machine?  

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] “Aging Gracefully” – May 26

9] Rent Stabilization canvass – May 26

10] PDA Town Hall – May 26

11] Protest at the Pentagon – May 27

12] Social Media Joint Action – May 27

13] Memorial service – May 27

14] TRBA organizing call – May 27

15] Election Protection Zoom – May 27

16] Letter-Writing with Swing Left – May 28

17] Russia out of Ukraine – May 28

18] Targeting Public Utility Commissions – May 28

19] Meet with Rep. Jamaal Bowman – May 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 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

4] – Max is moving his archives out of a garage, which he must leave.  Does anyone want a fax machine?  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 making available “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 May 26, the platform address will be by Zoom --   “Aging Gracefully.” Too often, our youth-centric culture treats aging as something to avoid, hide, or belittle. Yet, every one of us—if we are lucky—will grow old. Hugh Taft-Morales urges us to embrace this journey, so as to nurture greater meaning and gratitude. And he introduces the concept of “intentional eldering,” which allows us to live more fully and mentor future generations. Hugh asks, can we move from “aging” to “sage-ing?”  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] –Join a Rockville Rent Stabilization Canvass on Sun., May 26 at 12:30 PM.  Be at the Bainbridge Shady Grove Metro, 15807 Frederick Road, Rockville 20855. Email montgomerycountydsa@gmail.com

The Rockville City Council is currently considering adopting its own rent stabilization law, since the City of Rockville is not covered by county-wide rent stabilization. Join Montgomery County DSA to talk to tenants about rent stabilization and building conditions, and urge the Rockville City Council to pass rent stabilization! This building location is adjacent to the Shady Grove Metro. Meet at the Wendy's at 15807 Frederick Road and then walk over to the Bainbridge Shady Grove. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/rockville-rent-stabilization-canvass-shady-grove?clear_id=true&link_id=5&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-158&email_referrer=email_2326420&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events

10] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] on Sun., May 26 at 4 PM ET will do its weekly Town Hall -- How Progressives can win the 2024 Election. RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4#/registration

 Join Prof. Harvey J Kaye and the leadership team of Young Progressive Democrats of America (YPDA) for a discussion on how Progressives can impact the 2024 election by presenting their positive vision for America. In 2016 and 2020, progressive politics captured the imagination of the American people, thanks to Bernie Sanders successive presidential campaigns, sparked by PDA drafting Bernie to run as a Democrat. Last spring, PDA Executive Director Alan Minsky noted that the 2024 election cycle would represent a challenge for progressives. Minsky asked, "How will our electoral movement, which has grown in each successive cycle since 2016, fare in a presidential election year when there was no high-profile progressive standard bearer running for President? We have to anticipate that the political establishment will exploit this circumstance to re-marginalize progressives."

11] – 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 May 27 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.

12] –On Mon., May 27 at on 8:15 AM, Crisis Action wants you join a Social Media Joint Action around the Monday May 27 Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. Come together collectively with humanitarian and human rights organizations at the start of EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting to ask the EU: "how many more red lines will be crossed before the EU decides to act to stop the impunity and protect civilians, humanitarians, and medical staff in Gaza?"

 In reference to Rafah being called a ‘red line’ by many member states it can be shown that too many red lines have already been crossed such as the number of civilians killed, number of hospitals and school destroyed, journalists, medical and aid personnel attacked and killed, no aid getting in… Together we are calling on EU leaders to go further than words and take action on Gaza. These messages have been prepared to highlight the need for EU leaders and states to take action on what is unfolding in Gaza. Send the messages at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J6oOpEvT258RfD2gcDrOaQW2s5IBYmLeVrpm0hgbxD0/edit

13] –United Workers [info@unitedworkers.org] is organizing a Poverty is a Violation of our right to health launch on Mon., May 27 at 2 PM ET.  The memorial service will take place in-doors at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where the dinner will be held.  Go to the church at 915 Liberty Road, Sykesville 21784.  Afterwards there will be a car caravan to the gravesite after the memorial for those who would like to lay flowers and mementos, so bring your umbrella if you wish to participate. Reach out to Todd at (410)340-2838 or Todd@unitedworkers.org.

14] –The Metro Democratic Socialists of America are holding a Trans Rights & Bodily Autonomy Campaign Biweekly Meeting  on Mon., May 27 from 7 to 8 PM ET. Email lyrabmcmillan@gmail.com

A link to this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/trba-bi-weekly-organizing-call-4?clear_id=true&link_id=34&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-155&email_referrer=email_2303290&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-

15] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to participate with the Green Grassroots Emergency Environment and Election Protection (GREEP) Zoom on Mon., May 27 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

16] – Letter-Writing with Swing Left Baltimore will happen on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 PM ET.  This will take place from May 28 through June 25.  Meet the organizer on his/her porch in Roland Park to make a difference in the upcoming election. Flip the House and re-elect President Biden. Write letters using an award-winning, proven tactic to reach potential voters in important upcoming elections. Never written letters before? Hop on to votefwd.org/swingleft and make an account; and download twenty letters.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/625941/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest. Get over to a Mobile Bike Shop on Tues., May 28 from 4 to 7 PM at Lake Montebello, Whitman Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218. RSVP at https://secure.everyaction.com/paxDhVoXyEqKz_6IHeLAIg2

17] – Join the Baltimore Nonviolence Center on Tues., May 28 from 5 to 5:30 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.

18] – Taylor Smith-Hams, 350.org [350@350.org] thinks you will be interested in an event on Tues., May 28 at 7 PM ET -- Targeting Public Utility Commissions.   RSVP at https://350org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvf-yoqDMpG9PbGKzmWbXzeNvV680rx_8x?source=em2024M0419-1-120-MD-us#/registration

Join every Tuesday at 7 PM ET to dive deep into utility campaigning! Each session will feature different guest speakers who will share their expertise and then lead attendees in interactive breakout sessions through July 16.

19] – Peace Action [info@peaceaction.org] is meeting with Rep. Jamaal Bowman on Tues., May 28 at 7:30 PM ET.  AIPAC is coming after him, and other pro-war Super PACS. The most closely watched, and potentially tightest, primary election race in the nation also involves one of Peace Action’s strongest allies in Congress. On June 25, Rep. Jamaal Bowman is facing off in a primary election against an opponent backed by millions in pro-war Super PAC money. Join the conversation to talk about his historic race and to answer your questions about building a more peaceful U.S. foreign policy. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WJQfQMErSkSWYkUXzJR7cg?emci=774671b5-4a18-ef11-86d0-6045bdd9e096&emdi=56edf615-4d18-ef11-86d0-6045bdd9e096&ceid=218683#/registration

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, and 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