Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Baltimore Activist Alert - July 22 - 23, 2015

28] Film “Groundswell Rising: Protecting our Children's Air & Water” – July 21
29] $15 & a Union – July 22
30] Military spending – July 22
31] Lobby John Sarbanes – July 22
32] Crisis in Yemen – July 22
33] Enjoy “Story of My Name” readings – July 22
34] Green Party meeting – July 22
35] Pray for Peace – July 22
36] Protesters on trial – July 23
37] Save Tunisia – July 23
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28] – See a screening of “Groundswell Rising: Protecting our Children's Air & Water” on Tues., July 21 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's.  In neighboring states and across the nation, evidence is mounting that drilling and fracking for natural gas leads to polluted air and water, serious health problems, earthquakes and economic losses for local communities. Citing significant risks and unknown long-term health effects, New York State recently banned fracking.  In Maryland, a growing grassroots movement has kept fracking at bay — for now. In the 2015 Maryland General Assembly, CCAN worked with over 100 groups in the Don’t Frack Maryland Coalition to put a 2.5 year moratorium on fracking. Thanks to thousands of email and calls, lobby, meetings, actions and more, Governor Larry Hogan let HB 449 become law on May 29th, 2015. This bill puts a hold on drilling in Maryland until October 2017.

29] – Be at 2nd and Massachusetts Aves. NE, WDC on Wed., July 22 at 10 AM as U.S. contract workers will walk off their jobs for the 13th time to call on this President – or the next – to sign a “$15 and a Union” Executive Order.  Senator Bernie Sanders will be joining them and will make an important announcement for this movement.

Importantly, the strikers will include workers who cook and clean for 9 Presidential candidates who are current and former US Senators. Remember Charles Gladden, the homeless Senate worker, he and his coworkers need our help in sharing their stories.  Email Ben O'Donnell at odonneb@gmail.com.

30] – On Wed., July 22 from 3:30 to 5 PM,  Matthew Leatherman, Stimson Center; Amy Belasco, Congressional Research Service; and Marcus Weisgerber, DefenseOne, will address "The Cost of Wars: Overseas Contingency Operations and Future Defense Spending" at the Stimson Center, Eighth Floor, 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, W. RSVP online at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZW4dD4jZJjxOGt0vX5imfTNOHqxDvUbOFF7y0enYLH4/viewform.

31] – As part of the national "Educate Congress" Campaign Letter Drops, on Wed., July 22 at 4:30 PM, the Pledge of Resistance will go to Rep. John Sarbanes’ office, 600 Baltimore Ave., Suite 303, Towson, MD 21204, to deliver a letter.  The letter urges him to cosponsor the Inclusive Prosperity Act (H.R. 1464); H.J.Res.22, proposing an amendment to the Constitution to authorize "Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money...to influence elections," including preventing corporations and other artificial entities from spending money to influence elections; the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act;  the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (H.R. 1439); the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1786); H.Res.54, "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to restore service standards in effect as of July 1, 2012;" H.J.Res.51 to remove the time limit from the Equal Rights Amendment; and the New Columbia Admissions Act (H.R.317).

Finally, we will express our concern about killer drone strikes.  Let Max know if you can sign on to the letter and go to Sarbanes’ office--410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net. Are you a constituent?

32] – On Wed., July 22 from 5 to 7 PM, join Partners for Democratic Change for a discussion on the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen. Hear it at BUSBOYS & P0ETS @ 5TH & K Sts., 1025 5th St. NW, WDC.  Experts in the field will provide details on the crisis in Yemen. Go to
http://www.busboysandpoets.com/events/event/acoustic-reflections-and-the-humanitarian-crisis-in-yemen

33] – On Wed., July 22 at 7 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201s, enjoy “Story of My Name” readings. The Story of My Name Project is an exciting opportunity for Maryland-based transgender and gender non-conforming folks who have gone through the name change process. Call 443-602-7585.  Go to http://www.redemmas.org

34] – There is a Baltimore Green Party Meeting on Wed., July 22 at 7 PM at 218 East Lexington Ave., Suite #203 (a block and a half from City Hall – KNICKERBOXER Bldg.)  To gain access to the building, dial #203 on the box. The suite is on the 2nd floor at the top of the stairs. Join the Baltimore Green Party at its monthly, General Business meeting.

Plans are underway to reinvigorate the Party with a Baltimore Green Assembly this coming fall, with plans to elect a full-term Steering Committee. Candidates are needed for a vigorous primary season in the spring of 2016. Your support, expertise, organizing skills and activists are needed. Go to http://www.baltimoregp.org/.

35] –  Pray for Peace at St. Francis Academy Community Center, between the Fallsway and Greenmount Ave., 501 East Chase St., Baltimore on Wed., July  22 at 7:30 PM.  This will be led by the center’s Peace Camp.  Contact Charles Cloughen, Jr., Interfaith Peace Partners, coordinator, at ccloughen@episcopalmaryland.org  or call 410-321-4545.

36] – Come to District Court, 700 E Patapsco Ave., Baltimore on Thurs., July 23 from 8 AM to 11 AM to attend the trial of two members of the Philly Coalition for Real Justice, Morgan Malachi and Key Marcus.  Support for the Freddie Gray protesters is being organized by the Baltimore People’s Power Assembly. The State has been actually adding charges for many of the protesters who are coming to trial. Pack the court room to demand justice. Meet outside to get stickers. See https://www.facebook.com/events/1636682359951382/.

37] – Tunisia's nascent democracy is under direct assault by extremists bent on derailing its institutions, its political progress, and its fragile economy. Beginning with the assassinations of leftist members of the National Constituent Assembly in 2013 and continuing with violent skirmishes in the Chaambi mountains in 2014 and two headline-grabbing terrorist attacks on tourists at the Bardo national museum and at a Sousse area beach hotel in 2015, violent extremists are doing everything they can to shake the foundations of Tunisian state and society. Four years after its historic Jasmine revolution, Tunisia has continued to surprise the skeptics, becoming the Arab world's most profound democratic experiment as well as a regional rampart against extremism. This has included several rounds of successful democratic elections--with over 9,000 candidates in the latest parliamentary elections--and a landmark constitution.

To discuss the various threats to Tunisia and how the international community must deepen and broaden its response beyond current levels, come to the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, 1st Amendment Lounge, WDC on Thurs., July 23 from 10 to 11:30 AM. 

 CSID has assembled several of the leading proponents of assistance to Tunisia to make the case for shoring up Tunisia's defenses in every sector, including security, political and economic reform and investment. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/protecting-tunisian-democracy-from-the-islamic-state-and-other-challenges-tickets-17836394135?utm_source=CSID+EVENT+-+Protecting+Tunisian+Democracy+-+Thursday%2C+July+23%2C+2015%2C+NPC%2C+10+am&utm_campaign=Tunisia%27s+Presidential+Elections&utm_medium=email.

 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  

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