Baltimore Activist Alert - June 16-17, 2013

26] Life Is a Jigsaw Puzzle – June 16

27] Peace and Pancakes – June 16

28] Forum on the Syrian Refugee Crisis – June 16

29] Meet and Greet with Delegate Heather Mizeur – June 16

30] Pentagon Vigil – June 17

31] Support Bradley Manning – June 17

32] Anti-torture trainings – June 17

33] Stop mass incarcerations – June 17

34] Theater of the Voiceless International Symposium and Festival – June 17

35] Save food stamps funding – June 17

36] Marc Steiner on WEAA – June 17 – June 21

37] End gun violence – June 17

38] Celebrate TASSCs 16th Anniversary – June 17

39] Pledge of Resistance/Fund Our Communities meeting – June 17



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26] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 306 W. Franklin St., Suite 102, Baltimore 21201-4661, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion from 10:30 to noon. On Sun., June 16, the Platform Address is Life Is Not A Jigsaw Puzzle (video) will be examined by Joseph Chuman, leader, New York Society for Ethical Culture. The human mind is organized in such a way that we want everything to fall neatly into place. We live in an imperfect world, and we can imagine a time when problems will be resolved, peace will be achieved, people will get along, and tranquility prevails. Such utopian visions, we might assume, are the end point of our struggles and aspirations, the result of our quest for knowledge and social progress. It is where, we hope, the human career, writ large, will end. But is this the way reality is constructed, like some looming, seamless jigsaw puzzle, wherein everything would fall into place if we could resolve all outstanding mysteries? As I move on in life, I have come to admit that I don’t think so. Rather, different people will always value different things, and those different values will forever elude a harmony about which we may dream, but which I believe is not in the cards for us. How we relate to those differences is the hard work of the humanist project. (34 min) Go to http://bmorethical.org/. Twitter: @bmorethical; Facebook: http://fb.com/bmorethical/. Go to http://www.bmorethical.org. Email ask@bmorethical.org.



27] – Join the Kadampa Meditation Center for Peace and Pancakes on Sundays at 10:30 AM at KMC Maryland, 2937 North Charles St. All are invited to participate in guided meditation and chant praying for world peace. There will be a talk based on Buddhist thought followed by brunch. Call 410- 243-3837. Brunch is $5.



28] – On Sun., June 16 at noon, tune into a Forum on the Syrian Refugee Crisis with Elizabeth Ferris, senior fellow in Foreign Policy and co-director of the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement. She recently returned from Jordan and Lebanon where she observed the refugee situation, and will share her first-hand experience of the humanitarian crisis created by the flight of more than 2.5 million Syrians from their homes since the March 2011 outbreak of the civil war. The event is sponsored by the Middle East Committee of Westmoreland Congregational UCC, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda. Email churchinfo@westmorelanducc.org or 301.229.7766.



29] – There is a Meet and Greet with Delegate Heather Mizeur on Sun., June 16 from 3 to 5 PM at 1 Hamill Ct., Cross Keys. The hosts are Nick Sheridan and Wendy Shuford. Hear from Heather about her vision for Maryland as she considers a run for Governor in 2014. RSVP at Jeremy@heathermizeur.com or 202-316-1202. Twice named a Top 100 Woman and a Health Care Hero by the Daily Record, Del. Mizeur has worked to expand health coverage, create jobs, protect the environment, and invest in transportation. The Baltimore Sun called her “one of the leading environmental advocates in the General Assembly," and has featured her plans on how to rebuild Baltimore City schools, expand low-income family planning access, and reform the criminal justice system.



30] – 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 Mon., June 17, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649.



31] – Bradley Manning’s court martial continues on Mon., June 17. Vigil for Army whistleblower PFC Bradley Manning on Mondays during the court martial from 7 to 8 AM. On Mon., June 17 at 7 AM, join the vigil in front of the Fort Meade Main Gate, Reece Road and U.S. 175. Afterwards, consider going to the court martial (via the Visitor Control Center). Bradley is on trial after exposing war crimes in the Middle East and other government misconduct around the world. The outcome of the trial, which began on June 3, is expected in August.



To get inside the court martial, drive to the Fort Meade Visitor Control Center at the Fort Meade Main Gate (all the other gates are for military ID holders only), Reece Road and U.S. 175. The multiple layers of security take time to navigate, and procedures often change from day to day. Each person will need a valid state or federal photo ID such as a driver’s license, state photo ID card, or passport. Foreign passports are accepted. Anyone driving on to Fort Meade will be required to submit their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and printed (not digital) proof of insurance. Your vehicle will be subject to search, and you may be required to cover over political bumper stickers on your vehicle. Consider walking on base if there are any questions at all regarding your vehicle and paperwork.



The proceedings will be held at the Magistrate Court, 4432 Llewellyn Ave, Fort Meade, MD 20755 (this is one mile from the Visitor Center). Electronic devices, including cell phones, computers, cameras, are not allowed in the courtroom, and should be left in your vehicle. There are no pre-registration requirements for the public to attend the proceedings. However, those wishing to attend as credentialed media should contact the US Army Military District of Washington Public Affairs Office at 202-685-4645.



32] –The 16th ANNUAL SURVIVOR WEEK ACTIVITIES continue through June 26. The events are in Commemoration of the United Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture.



On Mon., June 24, there will be Human Rights Advocacy Training from 9 AM to noon. Call for Ending Mandatory Detention of Survivors and Asylum Seekers. According to the NY Times (4/1/13), "ICE's detention system - which handles 34,000 people a day and 400,000 a year - is not a model of humane incarceration.....many detainees are victims of political oppression or human trafficking...These are people America should be sheltering, not arbitrarily brutalizing." The training will focus on ending mandatory detention of torture survivors and asylum seekers. TASSC is currently working with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee on a project focusing on this goal along the border in Texas and Arizona.



From 1to 4 PM, the training will focus on Ending US Sponsored Torture at Home and Abroad, including on U.S. sponsored torture of post 9/11 detainees. Advocacy will focus on urging the Senate Intelligence Committee to release its report on CIA torture, closing Guantanamo, ending the use of prolonged solitary confinement in US prisons and urging President Obama to sign the Optional Protocol for the Convention on Torture. Email tasscinfo@gmail.com.



33] – Join the Day of Direct Action at the White House to stop mass incarcerations. On Mon., June 17 at 10 AM, be at the Metropolitan AME Church, 1518 M St. NW, WDC 20005. Email info@ibw21.org or call 888-774-2921. Call on President Obama to end the war on drugs and mass incarceration and invest in America’s “Dark Ghettos.”



34] – The Theater of the Voiceless International Symposium and Festival of Documentary Theater is happening on Mon., June 17 from 11 AM to 6 PM at the Davis Performing Arts Center, Georgetown University main campus, 37th and O Sts. NW. Global migration challenges, government-sponsored genocide, terrorism and other manmade disasters that permanently alter our world view – these universal topics are addressed in non-fiction plays by playwrights interested in using their art for social change: Konradin Kunze and Sophia Stepf (Germany), Milo Rau (Swiss founder of the International Institute of Political Murder), and Kathrin Röggla (Austria).



The Symposium and the Festival will feature workshop performances and readings of these playwrights’ plays produced in partnership with three of Washington DC’s largest theaters, a presentation about the power of documentary theater to affect social change by Ping Chong (one of the United States’ foremost practitioners of documentary theater), and performances of devised theater works specifically created for this symposium by two of Washington’s most innovative theater companies, as well as a screening of one of Europe’s most famous documentary theater pieces by Rimini Protokoll. Reserve tickets at http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/prj/zgt/tov/en11036942v.htm.



35] – On Mon., June 17 at noon, join the Emergency Event in front of Steny Hoyer's office, Federal Courthouse Building, 6500 Cherrywood Lane, Suite 310, Greenbelt 20770, to Call on Congress to Protect Nutrition Programs. Tell Congress to Protect Food Stamp Funding. Shockingly, the House Agriculture Committee passed a bill to slash funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka Food Stamps) by more than $20 Billion. Meet with staffers to explain the facts and tell House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer to lead his caucus to defeat any Farm Bill that increases hunger for Americans in need. Visit http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1987/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=72219.



Bring signs saying things like: "Restore SNAP, Feed the Hungry" "Fund Food Not Bombs," "Reduce Hunger, Not Food Stamps." 50 Million Americans--including retirees, working families, veterans, and 7 million children--rely on nutritional support (SNAP). Aid averages about $1.50 per person per meal. The House Farm Bill would cut $20.5 billion from Food Stamps (aka SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The Farm Bill is headed to the House and Senate for final votes. RSVP to Mike Hersh [mailto:maryland@pdamerica.org].



36] – The Marc Steiner Show airs Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 AM on WEAA 88.9 FM, The Voice of the Community, or online at www.weaa.org. The call-in number is 410-319-8888, and comments can also be sent by email to steinershow@gmail.com. All shows are also available as podcasts at www.steinershow.org.



37] – On Mon., June 17 from 5 to 6 PM help end gun violence by joining the Washington Chapter of Heeding God’s Call at its weekly vigil at REALCO Guns, 6108 Marlboro Pike, District Heights, MD 20747. This is an effort to convince the gun shop owner to sign the 10-Point Code for responsible gun dealers based on the one signed with Wal-Mart by Mayors against Illegal Guns. According to The Washington Post, Realco Guns in District Heights sold 86 guns linked to homicides within the last twenty years with 300 guns sold there being linked to non-fatal shootings, as of 2010. In that article Major Andy Ellis is quoted as saying, “I can only imagine how much lower our violent-crime rate would be if Realco sold shoes instead of guns.” Go to http://www.heedinggodscall.org/.



38] – On Mon., June 24, celebrate TASSCs 16th Anniversary from 6 to 10 PM at Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD. Join survivors and supporters of TASSC for an evening of solidarity in the Howard Zinn Room. Email tasscinfo@gmail.com.



39] – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore usually meets on Mondays at 7:30 PM, and the meetings take place at Max’s residence. There will be a meeting on Mon., June 17. The proposed agenda will include Cindy and Sharon’s bash, anti-drone action at the CIA, NSA spying, Bradley Manning, Julian Assange, the films THE EAST and WE STEAL SECRETS, THE WIKILEAKS STORY. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net for directions.



To be continued.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218. Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.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