Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Baltimore Activist Alert - March 10 - 12, 2015

39] Support police reform -- Mar. 10
40] No JHU Drone Research -- Mar. 10
41] "Beyond the ACA: The Future of Healthcare after Obamacare" -- Mar. 10
42] Privacy workshop – Mar. 10
43] The undocumented – Mar. 10
44] IWW meeting – Mar. 10
45] Anti-racism gathering – Mar. 11
46] Zapatista Women's Stories – Mar. 11
47] Foreign Affairs Symposium: ISIS panel – Mar. 11
48] Appeal hearing for the Transform Now Plowshares – Mar. 12
49] Rally and hearing to reform the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) – Mar. 12
50] Book talk AGE OF DIGNITY – Mar. 12
51] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
52] Join Fund Our Communities
53] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
54] Do you need any book shelves?
55] Join Global Zero campaign
56] War Is Not the Answer signs for sale
57] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
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39] – Go to the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., WDC on Tues., Mar. 10 at 10 AM for a City Council Hearing on the Metropolitan Police Department's practices, including the controversial "jump outs." Support the work of DCFerguson and other grassroots organizations for demanding that MPD end its use of "Jump Outs" and demand justice for Ralphael Briscoe. Email dcfergusonmovement@gmail.com. Follow #StopJumpOuts and #DCFerguson. Go to https://www.facebook.com/dcfergusonmoves?ref=br_tf.

40] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. Join this ongoing vigil on Mar. 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Call Max at 410-366-1637.

41] – On Tues., Mar. 10 at 7 PM, enjoy a talk "Beyond the ACA: The Future of Healthcare after Obamacare" by Dr. Robert Zarr, president, Physicians for a National Health Program, at the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, 4 E. University Pkwy, Baltimore, The event is sponsored by Healthcare-Now of Maryland, and it is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:40 PM. Email info@mdsinglepayer.org.

42] – There is a privacy workshop at the Emergence Community Arts Collective, 733 Euclid St. NW, WDC, on Tues., Mar. 10 from 7 to 9 PM. This course will be a hands-on workshop which will teach people how to use various Open Source Software (OSS) programs and apps that provide secure and private communication and information (file) sharing via the Internet. Participants will bring their laptops, tablets, and smart phones, and leave with working software and practices to communicate and share data securely (encrypted) and anonymously (privately). Many of the applications covered are listed on the website https://prism-break.org. Contact Jabari Zakiya at 202-390-6398 or jzakiya@gmail.com. The cost is a $10 donation.

43] – Beyond the Classroom: University of Maryland, 1104 South Campus Commons, Building 1, College Park, on Tues., Mar. 10 at 7 to 9 PM, hear the stories of the undocumented. Jose came to the United States at a young age, graduated from UT-Austin, and then felt stuck. Jose was undocumented and began to organize. In 2010, he was arrested in the Senate Hart Building demanding the passage of the DREAM Act. After the failure of the DREAM Act he took the fight local, organizing undocumented youth, petitioning for in-state tuition in North Carolina, and stopping deportations and keeping families together across the country.

Blanca came to the United States at a young age and grew up in California. She, too, was undocumented and began to organize to find relief for her and her family. This past fall, she was attending a gala where President Obama was speaking on the need for immigration reform when she interrupted him by yelling, "We need relief now!" Blanca was escorted out of the building by the Secret Service, but President Obama may have listened. Not long after, he announced his administrative relief for millions of undocumented immigrants and Blanca was named one of the Top 10 Latinos Who Made a Difference by Latino Magazine.

Jose and Blanca are just two of countless undocumented youth who have put themselves at risk to fight for immigrant justice, for themselves, for their families, and for their communities. They will talk about what allowed them to drop the fear and take the lead. Undocumented. Unafraid. Unapologetic. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/352507328268148/.

44] – On Tues., Mar. 10 at 7:30 PM in the Free School Classroom, Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, there is a Monthly IWW GMB Meeting. Just sign up for the OBU (One Big Union)! The Baltimore Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World urge you to come and pay your dues, sign up for a red card, and find out what the Wobblies are doing to support workplace justice & dignity around the city. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

45] – On Wed., Mar. 11 from 6 to 8 PM, there is a social gathering hosted by Service to Justice and Bread for the City at Bread for the City, 1525 7th St. NW, WDC. This gathering is for anyone interested in working together on undoing structural racism. Brainstorm what kinds of events would energize, connect, and support efforts to build an anti-racist community. If you are able, bring food or drink from your family or community. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/346967128830617/?ref=6&ref_notif_type=plan_user_invited.

46] – On Wed., Mar. 11 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, Hilary Klein presents "CompaƱeras: Zapatista Women's Stories." “CompaƱeras” is the untold story of women’s involvement in the Zapatista movement, the indigenous rebellion that has inspired grassroots activists around the world for over two decades. Gathered here are the stories of grandmothers, mothers, and daughters who became guerrilla insurgents and political leaders, educators and healers—who worked collectively to construct a new society of dignity and justice. The book shows us how, after centuries of oppression, a few voices of dissent became a force of thousands, how a woman once confined to her kitchen rose to conduct peace negotiations with the Mexican government, and how hundreds of women overcame engrained hardships to strengthen their communities from within. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

47] – There is a Foreign Affairs Symposium: ISIS panel on Wed., Mar. 11 at 8 PM in Shriver Hall on the Homewood Campus, 3400 North Charles St., Baltimore 21218. The panel will consist of Robert Ford, former U.S. ambassador to Algeria and Syria, Hadi al-Bahra, president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, and journalist Robin Wright, who has covered the Middle East extensively for The Washington Post. The moderator will be David Faris, a professor at Roosevelt University. Ambassador Ford, who earned a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins in 1980 and a master's from the university's School of Advanced International Studies in 1988, served as ambassador to Algeria for two years and as ambassador to Syria for more than three years. The Foreign Affairs Symposium was founded in 1998 as a forum for discourse on current issues. The event is free and open to the public though reserved seats are available for $25 and can be purchased through jhutickets.com.

48] – On Thurs., Mar. 12 at 9 AM, oral arguments will be presented on the appeal on behalf of the three Transform Now Plowshares protesters, Sister Megan Rice, Michael Walli and Greg Boertje-Obed, convicted of sabotage for the Aug. 2012 break-in at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge, TN. The appeal will be heard by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, 842, Eighth Floor Courtroom, Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 E. Fifth St., Cincinnati.

49] – On Thurs., Mar. 12 go to Annapolis for a rally & hearings on police reform. Support police reform bills in Maryland, especially HB968, reforming the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights (LEOBOR). The RALLY is at 11 Am is in Lawyers Mall, Annapolis, while the HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARINGS start at 1 PM in the House Office Building, Room 101, 6 Bladen St. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/947603745264298/. Briefly, HB968 authorizes civilian appointments to review boards, prevents officer access to investigative results before his/her own questioning, ends the 90 day time limit on filing complaints, and ends a 10 day window to obtain counsel for interrogation. More details about the Senate version, SB566, and its text is available https://mococivilrights.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/sb0566-and-leobor-reform-in-maryland-what-is-it-why-is-it-needed/.

The hearing begins at 1 PM, but many bills related to police officer accountability will be heard that day and the order will not be known until the hearing starts. Follow @hashtagMDCJE or @mococivilrights on Twitter to keep up with developments. If you would like to offer rides to others to Annapolis on the 12th, or seek one yourself, visit http://bit.ly/carpool312. LOBBY STATE SENATORS FOR SB566: State Senators Jamie Raskin (D20, Silver Spring/Takoma Park) and Susan Lee (D16, Bethesda/Glen Echo) are on the committee considering the Senate version of LEOBOR reform. Contact them at https://mococivilrights.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/district-16-20-call-email-sen-lee-and-raskin-support-sb566/. After the rally and before the hearings, Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III will lead a freedom school style seminar in Room 150 of the House Building about police and justice reform bills, and the legislative process. The Montgomery County Civil Rights Committee is joining the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Equality (MCJE), including the Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, the ACLU of Maryland, and other groups in efforts for police reform.

50] – On Thurs., Mar. 12 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, Ai-jen Poo presents "The Age of Dignity." In the USA, people are living longer than ever. By 2035, the number of people over age 85 will more than double. In the face of this coming “age wave,” how can we build a culture that values our elders, and makes caring for them a priority? In her new book, Caring Across Generations co-director, National Domestic Workers Alliance director, and 2014 MacArthur “Genius” fellow Poo points to bold solutions that can help us better care for our loved ones as they age —and create millions of good jobs in the process. RSVP at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/caring-across-america-red-emmas-tickets-15702011138?aff=Emma. Call 443-602-7585. Go to http://www.redemmas.org.

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

52] -- 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.

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

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

55] -- 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.

56] -- 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.

57] – A 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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