Friday, June 26, 2015

Baltimore Activist Alert - June 26-27, 2015

50] Peace Vigil at the White House – June 26
51] Prosecute torturers – June 26
52] Silent Quaker vigil – June 26
53] See the film AWAKE – June 26 & 27
54] Iftar at the White House -- June 26
55] The case of Tyrone West – June 26
56] Ballroom Dancing – June 26
57] Que Viva Cuba – June 26 – 27
58] Call for an end to torture -- June 27
59] West Chester, PA demo – June 27
60] Interdependence Day at the NSA – July 4
61] Commemorate Hiroshima & Nagasaki – August 6 & 9
62] Climate chaos, poverty & war actions – Sept. 22
63] Sign up with Washington Peace Center
64] Join Fund Our Communities
65] Donate books, videos, DVDs and records
66] Do you need any book shelves?
67] Join Global Zero campaign
68] Join Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
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50] – On Fri., June 26 from noon to 1 PM, join the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in a vigil urging the powers that be to abolish war and torture, to disarm all weapons, to end indefinite detention, to close Guantanamo, to establish justice for all and help create the Beloved Community! The vigil takes place at the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. NW.  Contact Art @ artlaffin@hotmail.com or at 202-360-6416.

51] – Many anti-torture activists are fasting today. You can stay at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.  Contact Helen Schietinger at h.schietinger@verizon.net.

Be at the United States Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, WDC on Fri., June 26 from 4 to 5 PM and join Amnesty International USA, Witness Against Torture, CODEPINK: Women For Peace, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, National Coalition To Protect Civil Freedoms (NCPCF), Center for Constitutional Rights and more outside the Justice Department on Fri., June 26 at 4 PM in commemoration of the International Day in Support of Survivors of Torture. Rally outside the Justice Department because of its repeated failure to investigate and prosecute torture by the United States.  The Justice Department has refused to act on the serious human rights violations enclosed within the Senate Report on CIA Torture and is keeping over 6,700 pages of this report secret. From waterboarding to harsh beatings, forced feeding, deaths in custody and other horrific stories that have been documented, it is truly shameful that the so-called "Justice" Department has allegedly not even read the report.  Go to www.witnesstorture.org.

52] – There is usually a silent peace vigil on Fridays, from 5 to 6 PM, sponsored by Homewood Friends and Stony Run Meetings, outside the Homewood Friends Meetinghouse, 3107 N. Charles St.  The next vigil is on June 26. Black Lives Matter.  In front of White House on Pennsylvania Ave., WDC.

53] – As a special treat and spiritual renewal, see the film AWAKE! On Fri., June 26 or Sat., June 27 at 7 PM at Shanti Yoga Ashram,  Center for Harmony, 4217 East-West Highway, Bethesda 20814. Paramahansa Yogananda has helped people by turning their lives around for the better with the power of his being and his writings. His most famous work, "Autobiography of a Yogi.” is available at the ashram. Email shantiyoga2@schooloflife.org.

54] – At 7:30 PM on Fri., June 26 celebrate Iftar (breaking of the Ramadan fast) at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This is part of Witness Against Torture (WAT) in Washington, D.C.'s Torture Awareness Week. 

55] – On Fri., June 26 at 7:30 PM at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, join a dialogue with Tyrone West's sister, Tawanda Jones, and other members of the West family. Hear updates on the struggle to gain justice for Tyrone, find out more about the weekly West Wednesdays gathering, and discuss next steps towards putting an end to police brutality.

On July 18, 2013, Tyrone West died in police custody following a routine traffic stop. West was 44 years old, unarmed, and black -- and died as a result of the brutality of the officers who stopped him. Since 2013, West's family has continually amplified the call to put an end to police brutality in Baltimore and around the world, and asked for answers about what, exactly happened to West that day, and why the officers who killed him are still at large. See https://www.facebook.com/events/1591006231168307/. Call 443-602-7585.  Go to http://www.redemmas.org

56] – There is an opportunity to participate in ballroom dancing, usually every Friday of the month, in the JHU ROTC Bldg. at  8 PM.  Turn south on San Martin Dr. from the intersection of Univ. Parkway and 39th St.  Drive on campus by taking the third left turn. The next dance will be June 26. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.

57] – The Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore 21224,  is honored to welcome museum specialist from the Cuban National Ceramic Museum, Ana Rivero, as part of Que Viva Cuba! The weekend kicks off on Fri., June 26 at 9:30 PM with as a free Latino acoustic concert in Creative Alliance’s Marquee Lounge, where original Cuban ceramics will be sold. Cash only please! On Sat., June 27 from noon to 3 PM attend KERPLUNK, a free, hands-on ceramics workshop for kids and families. Cuban sculptures and artwork will be displayed to inspire young artists, with bilingual instruction provided.

   At 4:30 PM, Ana Yvis Rivero shares her expertise on Cuban art and its impact on old and new Havana through a lecture and visual presentation in the theater. Lecture is in Spanish with English interpretation. Then, the evening transitions to an all-out visual arts extravaganza with Annual Residents Open House, as well as the openings for The Big Show 2015 and Ruth Channing: Faunette and Her World. The night continues with the red hot Latino band, Bachata Plus+ in the theater!  Email info@creativealliance.org or call 410/276-1651.

58] – On Sat., June 27 from 10 AM to 5 PM, the annual Torture Abolition and Survivor Support Coalition Vigil will be happening in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C. This is part of Torture Awareness Week. Commemorate victims of torture by keeping vigil, celebrating life, remembering lost friends and family, and renewing our commitment to a world where peace rules and torture is banned forever.

59] –  Each Saturday, 11 AM – 1 PM, Chester County Peace Movement holds a peace vigil in West Chester in front of the Chester County Courthouse, High & Market Sts. Go to www.ccpeace.org. Email ccpeacemovement@aol.com

60] -- The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore will do its annual Interdependence Day visit to the National Security Agency.  We will depart at 10:15 AM on July 4 for Fort Meade, and then vigil at the NSA from 11 AM to noon.  We will then have a 6 PM potluck picnic. Call 410-366-1637 or email mobuszewski at verizon.net.
 
61] – The annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration will begin on Thurs., Aug. 6 with a 5:30 PM demonstration at 33rd & North Charles Streets to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a ban on killer drone strikes and research.  Visitors from Japan will speak, and then we would eat dinner at a Japanese restaurant.

On Sun., Aug. 9, we will enjoy a potluck dinner at 6 PM.  Then Ralph Moore, a long-time Baltimore activist, will address the problems facing Baltimore.  If you are in a social change organization, you would be welcome to inform the gathering about your accomplishments. We are seeking performers.  Let Max know if you have any suggestions. 

62] -- The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance is planning an action on September 21 or 22 in the D.C. area. We will gather at 10 AM in the office of a member of the House of Representatives to challenge him/her that the wars must end, that Mother Earth must be saved and that we must eliminate income inequality. We will occupy Rep. Paul Ryan’s office.

After delivering a letter and speaking with staff members, we will next gather at 1 PM at the White House.  There we will try to deliver a letter to the White House, raise the same issues and risk arrest. Let Max know if you can join us in D.C. for this action.

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

64] -- 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

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

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

67] -- 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.

68] – 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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