Baltimore Activist Alert -- June 18, 2024

27] Palestinian refugees – June 18

28] Russia out of Ukraine – June 18

29] Meet RABBI ARIK ASCHERMAN – June 18

30] Medicare for All Working Group meeting – June 18

31] Phone bank for climate hawks – June 18

32] Build power for working families – June 18

33] Training for Freedom to Vote Act – June 18

------

27] – Join Sabeel's KUMI NOW to Stay Informed, Take Action, and Get Involved. On Tues., June 18 at 11 AM ET discuss Palestinian Refugees.

In 1948, over a million Palestinians were uprooted as a result of the Nakba. In 1950 the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was set up by the United Nations in order to address the housing, health, education, and welfare needs of refugees that were mostly housed in temporary shelters. In 2019 UNRWA reported that over 5.4 million Palestinian refugees were registered with its offices in the five geographic areas where it works: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza. There are 58 refugee camps in the region: 10 in Jordan, 12 in Lebanon, 9 in Syria, 19 in the West Bank, and 8 in the Gaza Strip. 28.4% of all registered refugees continue to live in camps, with the highest percentage in Lebanon with 50.6%, followed by Gaza with 40.9%.

At the secret discussions held in Oslo, Norway, the parties agreed that the refugee issue (together with Jerusalem, the settlements, security arrangements, and final borders) would be discussed at a later stage in negotiations. The Palestinian refugee issue remains as intractable as ever and no permanent peace solution between Israel and the Palestinians can take place without either ensuring the rights of Palestinian refugees to return or providing restitution. RSVP at https://kuminow.com/palestinianrefugees/

28] – Join the Baltimore Nonviolence Center on Tues., June 18 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.

29] – RABBI ARIK ASCHERMAN will be speaking on Tues., June 18 from 5 to 7:30 PM ET at the Owings Mills Library meeting room, 10302 Grand Central Ave.  He will discuss the grave circumstances Palestinians face and the mission of Torat-Tzedek volunteers to protect them from violence and displacement. Torat Tzedek (Torah of Justice) is an Israeli human rights non-profit organization internationally recognized as a role model for faith-based activism.  The event is sponsored by Maryland Peace Action, Baltimore Chapter.  Email rondacooperstein@hotmail.com

30] -- The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists of America [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] Medicare for All Working Group is meeting on Tues., June 18 at 6 PM ET. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/nova-medicare-for-all-working-group-meeting-tuesday-june-18-at-6pm?clear_id=true&link_id=30&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events-159&email_referrer=email_2340109&email_subject=nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events

 Discuss the Medicare for All resolution campaign in Arlington and other ideas in the work towards universal healthcare. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

31] – Join Food & Water Action, Climate Hawks Vote [info@climatehawksvote.com] and others to call voters  ahead of June primaries!  On Tues., June 18 from 6 to 8 PM ET, make calls to voters in New York to elect climate champions to Congress. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/climatehawksvote/event/594140/?emci=8259fe46-3027-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&emdi=f6f703b2-3827-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&ceid=13143726

 Early voting has just begun in New York, support climate hawk Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Sarah Klee Hood who is trying to flip a key Red-to-Blue district.  Hood is an Air Force veteran and environmental policy expert who currently serves as a town councilor in DeWitt. She ran in this district in 2022, placing second in the primary.  She lists as climate/ environment priorities, among other things, bringing clean energy jobs to this district and advocating for a farm bill that addresses weather-related vulnerabilities. She’s on the executive board of a local Sierra Club chapter, and recently worked at a climate tech small business incubator. She has recently signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge.

32] – Every other Tuesday, the Working Families Party will engage in a Virtual Text Bank. On Tues., June 18 from 6 to 7:45 PM ET, volunteer to text. From local elections to ballot initiatives to Congress, we're building power at the local, state, and federal level for working people in 2024! The next virtual text bank will be on July 2. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/545747/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_most_popular_virtual

33] – In the 118th Congress (2023-2024), both the Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act once again received an enthusiastic re-introduction in the House and Senate with Democratic Leadership in both chambers declaring pro-democracy legislation a top priority as well as support from the White House. Unfortunately, these bills are at a standstill this session, but let us gear up for what's next.

 The Declaration for American Democracy Coalition invites you to a training series this summer to be a part of the strong and prepared movement to pass the Freedom to Vote Act in the next Congress. Join in for the four part series to ensure there is a fight for Democracy on Day 1!  Our first training will be on social media and getting out the pro-democracy message online. Join in at 7 PM ET on June 18th with an expert trainer, Jamie Carter of DemCast! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/632887/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations

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