Baltimore Activist Alert – May 11 – 12, 2025

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 11 – 12, 2025

"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] Get the book A Bag of Snakes

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

6] Baltimore activist selling her home

7] Eat the Rich – May 11

8] Gaza update – May 11

9] Boycott Bezos – May 11

10] Meet Ro Khanna – May 11

11] Rapid Response for Our Freedoms – May 11

12] Vigil at the Pentagon – May 12

13] Round the Clock Resistance – May 12

14] Unarmed Civilian Defense Online Course – Starts May 12

15] Power Half-Hour for Gaza – May 12

16] Grassroots Election Protection Coalition meeting -- May 12

17] Fifth Annual Berrigan-McAllister Award – May 12

18] Indivisible meet up – May 12

19] DC Abolition Working Group meeting -- May 12

20] Electoral Research meeting – May 12

21] Mother’s Day is for Peace – May 12

22] Stop the Crypto Power Grab – May 12

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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] – 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.

5] – 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.

6] – 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. 

7] – The Baltimore Ethical Society invites you on Sundays at 10:30 AM for a platform presentation on Zoom or at the Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 E. North Ave., Baltimore 21202.  On May 11, it will be an in-person platform "We Are All in This Together" by Morris Pearl. Pearl will explain that a society with a few extremely rich people, and everyone else living in austerity is not good. It is not good for those living in austerity, and it is also not in the long run interest of the rich people either. Mr. Pearl will outline how some government policies tend to make the rich richer, in comparison to everyone else. The talk will largely focus on tax policies, explaining how people who make money from their labor have a much greater tax burden than people who are already rich or come from rich families. He will also touch on other topics such as mortgages and inflation.

He chairs the Board of Directors at Patriotic Millionaires. He was formerly a Managing Director at BlackRock and had a long tenure on Wall Street, where he invented some of the securitization technology connecting America’s capital markets to consumers in need of credit. He has also co-authored two books: Tax the Rich: How Lies, Loopholes and Lobbyists Make the Rich Richer (2021) and Pay the People: Why Fair Pay is Good for Business and Great for America (2024).  Email president@bmorethical.org

8] – Doctors against Genocide [info@doctorsagainstgenocide.org] on Sundays, May 11, May 18, May 25 & June 1at noon ET wants you to check out updates from Gaza. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aUUzycRDSwaem750Nc6iFg

9] – Get with a WHOLE FOODS Sign Wave: SAY NO TO BEZOS, hosted by Baltimore Sign Waves on Sun., May 11 from 2 to 3 PM ET at Falls Road & Smith Ave. Billionaire Jeff Bezos is a Trump enabler, fascist collaborator, and enemy of the free press. Let’s use our spending power to make him pay for the damage to our democracy. Why should Elon Musk feel all the economic pain? Help us make Bezos’s brands toxic, just like Tesla's. Urge shoppers to take their business elsewhere. Bring signs, noisemakers, and other useful objects. This sign wave will continue on Sundays through May 25. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/780875/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest

10] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] on Sun., May 11 at 4 PM will hold its weekly Town Hall  with Ro Khanna from a swing district in Wisconsin. This Sunday is Mother's Day, and PDA will focus on how to make the world better for all children by featuring progressive public policy and campaigns designed to protect and uplift all. Much as Bernie Sanders and AOC are attracting huge crowds as they tour Republican-held districts, thousands of people have also been joining Ro Khanna at public events across the same territory. Ro will be joined in Kenosha, Wisconsin, by PDA Executive Director Alan Minsky and YPDA's William Walter, Tyler Rivera, and Kendall Avenia.

There is simply no politician in the country who matches Ro Khanna when it comes to advocating for the welfare of the poor, middle, and working classes while presenting a resonant critique of the contemporary global neoliberal economy. RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4?emci=2c1cec37-8b2c-f011-8b3d-6045bded8cca&emdi=f91e7ca5-df2c-f011-8b3d-6045bded8cca&ceid=2907617#/registration

11] – On Sundays, May 11, May 18 & May 25 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM ET, join for a virtual "Rapid Response for Our Freedoms," a crucial event where we stand as one to defend democracy, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard the rights and freedoms we all hold dear. This is our moment to rise up for an America that includes everyone when we say "liberty and justice for all," not just the wealthy and powerful.  At People Power United, we believe in progress and the strength of collective action. Together, we can push back against extremism and build a brighter future. Join us in the fight for Freedom over Fascism and help amplify the power of people to shape our democracy! RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/747339/

12] – 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 12, 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.

13] – The Round-the-Clock Resistance continues for However Long It Takes.  The location is In front of Union Station-Columbus Circle through August. Join for a sustained, peaceful protest demanding the impeachment and removal of Donald Trump. The sit-in is active 24/7, with daily programming that includes speeches, art, workshops, and demonstrations. Whether you’re showing up for a day or staying for the long haul, there’s a place for you here. On May 12 the theme is Faith, Healing & Sacred Resistance. RSVP at https://share.hsforms.com/26K4Bcq8gSw6xDxl7A2y2twtlhsx

14] –World BEYOND War [education@worldbeyondwar.org] on Mon., May 12 will start Resisting War without Weapons: Join the Unarmed Civilian Defense Online Course. What should unarmed civilians do when militaries attack or occupy their communities? What alternatives do they have beyond fighting back with violence? This is a six-week online course on Unarmed Civilian Defense (UCD).  It will conclude on June 22.  Register for the course at https://worldbeyondwar.org/unarmed-civilian-defense-online-course/?clear_id=true&link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-subject-resisting-war-without-weapons-join-the-unarmed-civilian-defense-online-course&email_referrer=email_2704056&email_subject=resisting-war-without-weapons-join-the-unarmed-civilian-defense-online-course

15] – Jewish Voice for Peace is doing a Power Half-Hour for Gaza: Channel grief & outrage into action to stop a genocide.  A year into the genocide in Gaza, we are overwhelmed with sorrow and rage. There are no words to describe the devastating pain of the past year in which the Israeli military has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including more than 17,000 children. The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court have both declared that Israel must stop the genocidal acts being committed on the Palestinian people. And the U.S. government is actively supporting the Israeli military as it wreaks devastation on the over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. JVP continues to come together as a political community in its daily half-hour to take action. Join in and take collective action to demand an arms embargo to Israel, immediate end to the genocide, a lasting ceasefire and an end to Israeli siege, apartheid, occupation, and oppression of Palestinians and Lebanon. All are welcome. All are needed. Get involved at 3 PM ET on Mon., Mon. 12, Tues., May 13, Wed., May 14 & Thurs., May 15. Visit https://jvp-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Un0Lupy1SFObVVXJaZO5UQ?_x_zm_rtaid=8L0JUS3pQkenMGtx9ha3mQ.1732760660364.03949df73aedc7035fc618f76c52fc75&_x_zm_rhtaid=249#/registration

16] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to participate with the Grassroots Election Protection Coalition/ALLIANCE 4 GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY Zoom on Mon., May 12 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

17] –Get with the Fifth Annual Berrigan-McAllister Award Celebration on Mon., May 12 at 6:30 PM ET. Omar Haramy, representing Sabeel, was recently awarded the Berrigan-McAlister award by DePaul University. The Berrigan-McAlister Award honors those whose acts of Christian nonviolence resist injustice, transform conflict, foster reconciliation, and seek justice and peace for all. People can attend virtually by registering with this link https://fosna.nationbuilder.com/r?u=h5Tb9Avpn8RCMCDmRw-lQ9EMrNQGO2LHCGvv50l8w7CY8XCu-COpGsdsWqGUU5PE054yzR1J25jvrktwCEI88_fPtgQcMu-PcXzKhN_TKK62D-yi32F27wTAy71bY5OQ&e=63c44389e32dff42840fd946fb089e7d&utm_source=fosna&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fosna_news_april_28_may_2&n=8

18] – On Mon., May 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, there is a monthly meeting of Eastern Shore Indivisible. Review the action items from the last meeting, provide updates and discuss new topics. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/773927/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations

19] – The DSA DC meeting will take place on Mon., May 12 from 7 to 9 PM ET. A link to attend this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/dc-abolition-working-group-biweekly-meeting-5122025?link_id=4&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-05012025-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events&email_referrer=email_2727329&email_subject=05082025-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events&&

Join the DSA DC Abolition Working Group to discuss strategy and planning biweekly on Mondays. Email abolition@mdcdsa.org. This event is open to both DSA Members and supporters.

20] –The Northern Virginia Democratic Socialists [novabranch@mdcdsa.org] will hold an Electoral Research meeting on May 12 from 7 to 8 PM ET.  A link to attend this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/nova-electoral-research-meeting-0512?link_id=5&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-05012025-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events&email_referrer=email_2727329&email_subject=05082025-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events&&

Join the work on primary research together in this meeting.  Join in #nova-electoral on slack, and fill out an interest form. Also, feel free to reach out to @Alex Yarkosky on slack with any questions about electoral work.

21] – CODEPINK [info@codepink.org] on Mon., May 12 at 8 PM is holding a Mother's Day Call to End War, as part of Missing Peace Monday.  ‌ Join the Palestine Campaign Organizer, Nour, and the Engagement Manager, Grace, for the monthly online community call, "Missing Peace Mondays," where folks reflect, educate, and mobilize. RSVP at https://www.codepink.org/missingp512?utm_campaign=mpm_5_12_invite&utm_medium=email&utm_source=codepink

22] – Our Revolution [info@ourrevolution.com] on Mon., May 12 at 8:30 PM is inviting you to Stop the Crypto Power Grab. Learn about the Trump-Crypto Alliance: What’s at Stake. RSVP at https://act.ourrevolution.com/signup/otw-crypto-call/?akid=8429.8252965.ibkJav&rd=1&source=email-20250508&t=12

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