Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Baltimore Activist Alert - July 3-4, 2013

46] Declare Your Independence from Drone War and Spying – July 3


47] Election Integrity Movement – July 3

48] Bradley Manning play – July 3

49] Annual protest at NSA & Fort Meade & Picnic – July 4

50] March for Bradley Manning in Takoma Park – July 4

51] March in the Palisades Parade for DC Statehood – July 4

52] "Restore the Fourth” – July 4

53] NSA Mixtape Bike Ride – July 4

54] Max is seeking a place to live after June 30

55] Support the Transform Now Plowshares

56] Drones Quilt Project

57] Support Red Emma’s in its move

58] Sign up with Washington Peace Center

59] Join Fund Our Communities

60] Submit articles to Indypendent Reader

61] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records

62] Do you need any book shelves or file cabinets?

63] Join Global Zero campaign

64] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale

65] Fire & Faith

66] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil

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46] – Declare Your Independence from Drone War and Spying. Protest the planned drone war command center at the Horsham Air Guard Station, outside of Philadelphia in Horsham: Not in Our Backyard, nor anyone else's! Join the protest on Wed., July 3 from noon to 4 PM, and Meet the Reaper...large Drone Replica display at the Independence Visitors Center, 6th & Market Sts., Olde City Philadelphia. Bring sun block, umbrella in the event of rain, and water bottle. Contact the Brandywine Peace Community at 610-544-1818. Go to www.brandywinepeace.com.



47] – On Wed., July 3 at noon, meet Marta Steele, author of "Grassroots, Geeks, Pros, and Pols--The Election Integrity Movement's Nonstop Battle to Win Back the People's Vote," at the Rockville regional library. She will sign books, and there will be a panel discussion: "Does your vote count? The Election Integrity Movement and the battle over ballots."



48] – On Wed., July 3 go to Lamont Park at 7 PM for readings of the street theater version of the play, Bradass87. Go to http://bradass87.wordpress.com/street-theater-script/. Interested parties can contact bradasses@gmail.com or janezara@gmail.com.



Bradass87 is a guerilla theater piece using documentary sources highlighting the isolation experienced by Bradley Manning in solitary confinement paralleled with the isolation he felt while stationed in Iraq. This is a startling example of how brutally the U.S. government treats those brave enough to provide even a glimpse of the machinations of its imperial assault on the rest of the world. Manning and the whistleblower web site WikiLeaks are credited with providing information that helped precipitate earthshaking historic events, including the Arab Spring and the recent withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Manning and WikiLeaks are also credited with (and criminally accused of) release of the so-called "Collateral Murder" video footage of the slaughter of Reuters reporters and other civilians by the US military in Baghdad. For his alleged role in this "crime," Manning is enduring one of the most aggressive legal prosecutions in American history.



After 3 years of incarceration, the trial of PFC Manning is now under way at Fr. Meade. Every Monday of the trial, there is a vigil from 7 to 8:30 AM in front of the Fort Meade Main Gate at Reece Road and US 175. Enter Fort Meade (via the Visitor Control Center), and go to the courtroom. Email emma@bradleymanning.org for vigil updates and carpooling to the trial. If you need transportation, go to http://www.bradleymanning.org/ or call 202-704-3943.



49] – Join the Pledge of Resistance in protesting the NSA and in supporting Bradley Manning. Meet at 1202 Roundhill Road, Baltimore 21218 at 9 AM. At 9:15 AM, we will depart for the annual Fourth of July protest at the national Security Agency. We will head south on 95 and take 32 to get to the NSA off Canine Road. We will park in the visitor’s parking lot, before doing our protest against the NSA’s criminal behavior on Route 32 until about 10:45 AM. Then we leave the NSA entrance on Canine Road, and take Route 32 to the Baltimore Washington Expressway and go north. At 175, we will take the Odenton exit at 175. From around 11 AM to noon, we will vigil in support of Bradley Manning at Ft. Meade. 175 (Annapolis Rd.) & Reece Rd. On Mon., July 8, Bradley will begin the defense phase of his court martial.



We will return home. At 6 PM, we will do a potluck picnic at 1202 Roundhill road, Baltimore 21218. Bring vegetarian food or drink. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at Verizon.net.



50] – In the Takoma Park 4th of July Parade, March for Bradley Manning & Support All Whistle Blowers and War Resisters on Thurs., July 4 at 9:30 AM at Carroll and Boyd Aves. Contact Carrie Hathorn at 202-714-8530.



Join the Bradley Manning Support Network and Veterans For Peace to support Manning, who is facing life is prison. Marchers will also express support for Edward Snowden, who has exposed the vast surveillance of the U.S. government on ALL communications of EVERY person in this country, as well as many others. We have the right to privacy and freedom of association without intimidation. We also have the right to know what our government is doing in our name with our tax dollars. This is what Independence Day means to us.



51] – March in the Palisades Parade for DC Statehood on Thurs., July 4 at 10:30 AM at 4755 Whitehaven Pkwy. NW. Join the DC Statehood Coalition and other statehood supporters at DC's famous Palisades Parade. They would like to have every DC neighborhood represented to show the strong momentum behind statehood. After marching for statehood, enjoy free food and drink, courtesy of the Palisades Citizens Association. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/377183659048103/?fref=ts.



52] – Join the Defending Dissent Foundation on Thurs., July 4 from noon to 2 PM in McPherson Square in Washington, D.C. Protesters in over 100 cities across the USA America will gather to demand that the government of the United States of America adhere to its constitutionally dictated limits and respect the Fourth Amendment.



Restore the Fourth maintains that justification of the Fourth Amendment beyond the original text need not be given; the legitimacy of which is self-evident. "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." The Fourth Amendment of the Bill of Rights clearly protects all citizens’ assets, both digital and physical, against searches and seizures without warrant; they aim to assert those rights. They insist that the proper channels of government work to ensure that all policy complies with the supreme laws of the United States of America in their entirety.



The Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition is proud to endorse a “Restore The Fourth” rally. The speakers are NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake, Bill of Rights Defense Committee’s Shahid Buttar, Defending Dissent’s Sue Udry, Libertarian Party president Carla Howell, Free Press CEO Craig Aaron, Demand Progress’ Charlie Fuhrman, MCCRC's Thomas Nephew and others. Go to www.mococivilrights.wordpress.com.

53] – Get on the NSA Mixtape Bike Ride on Thurs., July 4 at 5 PM at 1918 MLK Ave. SE. This ride is part flash mob, part street theatre and part march in the form of a massive bike ride in opposition to "Big Brother" and in support of whistleblowers who rock! Riders will gather at D.C.'s only independent radio station We Act Radio in Anacostia to prepare to launch the mobile rally on a highly visible route through the streets of the city. Blasting a W.A.R. produced NSA Mixtape featuring relevant songs and speeches against surveillance to provide the soundtrack to a movement. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/381259578651490/.

54] – Max is seeking a place to live. Let him know of any possibilities. He can be reached at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.dot net.



55] – You can support the Transform Now Plowshares resisters by writing the judge and the prisoners. Greg Boertje-Obed, Michael Walli and Megan Rice are currently in the Irwin County Detention Facility in Ocilla, GA, awaiting their sentencing on September 23, 2013. The three were found guilty by a jury in Tennessee in May on two counts. Judge Amul Thapar revoked their pre-trial release saying they were technically guilty of a crime of violence and must be held.



Here are the addresses: Gregory Boertje-Obed 22090 Irwin County Detention Center 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774 ***Michael Walli 4444, Irwin County Detention Center, 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774. Megan Rice 22100, Irwin County Detention Center, 132 Cotton Drive, Ocilla, GA 31774. You must make sure to include your entire return address on the outside of the envelope. No staples or paperclips can be included in your mail; no oversized envelopes. Magazines and books must be sent directly from the publisher or bookstore/Amazon. Photocopies of brief articles are likely to be permitted (based on our past experience). If you include inappropriate material or fail to comply with these rules, your mail will not get through—it will be returned to you.



The second thing you can do is send a letter to Judge Thapar. We have suggested guidelines for your letter, and we are asking people to send their letter to Bill Quigley, lawyer for Mike Walli (address below), so they can be collected and delivered to the judge. If you want to send a copy of your letter to us, that would be great—our address is also below. Invite Judge Thapar to think about sentencing in light of the fact that this was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience intended to awaken the conscience of the nation, and no evidence was presented that it was an act of terrorism meant to harm anyone. You could write that you share the court's concern that Congress would write a law that wouldn’t allow a judge to distinguish between peace activists and terrorists, and are disturbed that the government defines the crime they stand convicted of as a violent "crime of terrorism.” As testimony of the defendants showed during trial, they carried out their action in a spirit of nonviolence and hope. Without making it the focus of the letter, you could mention that the action was carried out with the clear understanding of the illegality and immorality of nuclear weapons, and intent to uphold higher laws. Encourage him to consider downward departures from the high guidelines for the charges, and to use his discretion at sentencing to bring more justice into the situation by recognizing that the defendants are NOT violent terrorists as the government has implied through its interpretation of the crime; and remind him of the intentions of the three nonviolent activists: to follow the words of the prophet Isaiah to beat swords into plowshares, and build a safer and more secure world for all. Our purpose with these letters is not to reargue the case, nor is it to condemn nuclear weapons production—the judge is not engaging those issues at this time. Our purpose is to address the legal system’s distortion of the nonviolent action of the TNP resisters and to provide support to the judge for a sentencing decision that takes into account the nature of their action and their nonviolent behavior throughout their action.



Letters should be sent to US District Judge Amul R Thapar, c/o Professor Bill Quigley, Loyola Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, 7214 St. Charles Ave., Campus Box 902, New Orleans, LA 70118. If you care to send a copy to OREPA that would also be appreciated--orep@earthlink.net or OREPA, PO Box 5743, Oak Ridge, TN 37831.



56] – The launch of the website to support the U.S. version of the Drones Quilt Project was developed to memorialize the victims of U.S. combat drone strikes. Leah Bolger has about 185 names, and at present there are over 40 completed blocks. Soon the blocks will be sown together to create panels of quilt blocks. She will create educational information about killer drones to accompany the quilts as part of a traveling exhibit. To support the project visit www.dronesquiltproject.wordpress.com. The completed blocks are shown on the web site. The web site also contains information about creating a block, anti-drone resources and endorsing organizations. Follow the project on Twitter: @dronesproject.



57] – Red Emma's has closed the location at 800 St. Paul St., and is reopening in a much larger new space on North Avenue in the fall. The collective is seeking your help. It's time to reinvent the project started in 2004 to build a self-sustaining progressive space in Baltimore, committed to providing a daily reminder that another world was possible and that there were people working in the city to build it. Here's how you can help: donate money, provide skilled help, and share these needs. Email john@redemmas.org or go to http://indiegogo.com/redemmas2.



58] – The Washington Peace Center has a progressive calendar & activist alert! Consider signing up to receive its weekly email: info@washingtonpeacecenter.org.



59] – Fund Our Communities campaign is a grass roots movement to get support from local organizations and communities to work together with their local and state elected officials to pressure Congresspersons and senators to join with Congresspersons Barney Frank and Ron Paul, who have endorsed a 25% cut to the federal military budget. Bring home the savings to state and county governments to meet the local needs which are under tremendous budget pressures. Go to www.OurFunds.org.



60] – MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Baltimore's Indypendent Reader is looking for individuals interested in creating media - written, photo, audio, or video - that relates to issues like...economic justice, race, prisons & policing, environment, gender & sexuality, war & peace and more! If you would like to create social justice media, then email indypendentreader@gmail.com. Visit http://www.indyreader.org.



61] – If you would like to get rid of books, videos, DVDs or records, contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.



62] – Can you use any book shelves? Can you use any file cabinets? Contact Max at 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net.



63] – Join an extraordinary global campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons: http://www.globalzero.org/sign-declaration. A growing group of leaders around the world is calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and a majority of the global public agrees. This is an historic window of opportunity. With momentum already building in favor of Zero, a major show of support from people around the world could tip the balance. When it comes to nuclear weapons, one is one too many.



64] – WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER signs from Friends Committee on National Legislation are again for sale at $5. To purchase a sign, call Max at 410-366-1637.



65] – Go online for FIRE AND FAITH: The Catonsville Nine File. On May 17, 1968, nine people entered the Selective Service Offices in Catonsville, Maryland, and burned draft records in protest against the war in Vietnam. View http://www.prattlibrary.org/digital/.



66] – Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil takes place every day in Lafayette Park, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 24 hours a day, since June 3, 1981. Go to http://prop1.org; call 202-682-4282.



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/.



"One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the US around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better" - Daniel Berrigan

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