Saturday, September 19, 2015

Baltimore Activist Alert - September 18 -19, 2015


43] Fast for the environment – Sept. 18

44] Witness Against Torture Fast – Sept. 18

45] Peace vigil at the White House – Sept. 18

46] Black Lives Matter Vigil – Sept. 18

47] Syrian Advocacy Night – Sept. 18

48] Film THE BLACK PANTHERS – Sept. 18

49] Stamping Party – Sept. 18

50] Come Together – Sept. 18

51] Ballroom Dancing – Sept. 18

52] Clean Out Your Garage for Good – Sept. 19

53] West Chester peace vigil – Sept. 19



43] – From Sept. 14 through Sept. 23, there is a Public Fast for the Environment- including daily evening interfaith services around 5 PM in McPherson Square in D.C.  If you would like to fast from food, meat or carbon usage for any part of this time, go to https://franciscanaction.org/article/sign-fast-climate. This is sponsored by the Franciscan Action Network and others.



33] – Keeping in mind the powerful witness fasting can be, Witness Against Torture is once again putting out an emergency call to action and solidarity fast this Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 in support of the Center for Constitutional Rights’ appeal on behalf of Yemeni prisoner, Tariq Ba Odah.  He has been detained at Gitmo since 2002 and cleared for release in 2009.  According to his attorneys, Tariq, at 74 pounds—56% of his ideal body weight-- is on the brink of death according to three health officials.   If you plan to fast, send an email to witnesstorture@gmail.com.  Please include in the email where you live and a brief statement as to why you are fasting.  If you cannot fast on Friday, feel free to choose another day this week to fast.  Witness Against Torture will report the numbers of those fasting and convey, through attorneys, your messages to Tariq and others at Guantánamo.

 If you plan to fast, send an email to witnesstorture@gmail.com.  Please include in the email where you live and a brief statement as to why you are fasting.  If you cannot fast on Friday, feel free to choose another day this week to fast.  Witness Against Torture will report the numbers of those fasting and convey, through attorneys, your messages to Tariq and others at Guantánamo.

Please make THREE phone calls:

Department of Justice (202-353-1555) to urge the DOJ not to stand in the way of Tariq’s request to the court for release on humanitarian grounds and efforts by other low-risk inmates at Guantánamo who are actively seeking their release through habeas corpus petitions.

U.S. Southern Command (305-437-1213) to decry the conditions at Guantánamo, especially the force feeding of Tariq Ba Odah, and others.

202-456-1111 or tweeting @BarackObama to urge him to advise the Department of Justice to stand down in Tariq Ba Odah’s case and pave the way for his immediate release.  Additionally, President Obama and his administration the need to use its existing authority to work more quickly to shut the doors and empty the cells of the prison.

Example script: I am fasting for 24 hours in solidarity with the prisoners at Guantánamo, especially for those who are on hunger strike and being force-fed.  I am particularly mindful today of Tariq Ba Odah, a prisoner who is being represented by attorneys at the Center for Constitutional Rights.  He has been held without charge since 2002, and cleared for release since 2009.  His attorneys are asking for his immediate release as he, at 74 pounds, is gravely ill according to at least three medical experts. I am calling today out of concern for him and for the rest of the prisoners, who remain unjustly detained. I am asking that your office help facilitate the release of Tariq Ba Odah, to end the inhumane practice of force feeding, and the immediate release of the remaining prisoners at Guantánamo, especially those cleared for release.

45] – On Fri., Sept. 18 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.



46] – 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 scheduled vigil is on Sept. 18. Black Lives Matter. 



47] – On Fri., Sept. 18 from 6:30 to 9 PM, come together for a SYRIAN ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS NIGHT at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Main Center, 46903 Sugarland Road, Sterling, VA 20164.  For directions go to http://www.mapquest.com/.  JOIN THE ADAMS COMMUNITY IN INCREASING OUR KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ABOUT THE CURRENT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SYRIA, THE REFUGEE CRISISAROUND THE WORLD, AND HOW WE, AS INDIVIDUALS, CAN DO OUR PART. Go to http://www.adamscenter.org.



48] – Stanley Nelson's THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE EVOLUTION is open at The Charles Theatre on Fri., Sept. 18.  It will be there at least through Thurs., Sept. 24!  Nelson will be there to host a screening of his documentary, and will do a Q&A session. This is the first feature length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails. Stanley Nelson goes straight to the source, weaving a treasure trove of rare archival footage with the voices of the people who were there: police, FBI informants, journalists, white supporters and detractors, and Black Panthers who remained loyal to the party and those who left it.



49] –  In 2015, Get Money Out of Maryland had an encouraging victory in the Maryland Senate and made great progress in winning support in the House of Delegates. In 2016, it hopes to complete the campaign to win Maryland's application to Congress for an Article V convention to overturn Citizens United v. FEC and strengthen the Constitutional guarantee of voting rights for all citizens. There is a winning strategy, an unbelievably strong corps of volunteer citizen activists, the proven language of The Democracy Amendment Resolution, strong sponsorship, and a detailed plan to work with the General Assembly.



Join Maryland Committee to Amend at a STAMPING PARTY on Fri., Sept. 18 at 7 PM at 7328 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, 20912. The Article V approach has exciting advantages over other methods of pursuing the 28th Amendment.  Visit http://www.getmoneyoutmd.org/.



50] – On Fri., Sept. 18 at 7:30 PM @ Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 30 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21201, Come Together: A Social Justice Gathering.  This is a monthly social justice networking event that will allow for the community building that so many of us look to achieve. Mix, mingle, and network with other local activists and nation builder. Each month a different organization representing a variety of areas of social justice will come and present who they are, what they do, and how you can get involved. Optional donations will be collected each month for presenting organizations to show the strength that we have with our own resources! Come and finally meet your social media community face to face! Bring cards, flyers, a friend, and a smile! Hosted by Qiara Butler, qiarabutler -at - gmail.com for more information.  Call 443-602-7585.  Go to http://www.redemmas.org



51] – 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 Sept. 18. Call Dave Greene at 410-599-3725.



52] – WANTED are items you no longer use which can be distributed to the needy in Africa, Latin America and inner-city Baltimore: Eyeglasses, Cell Phones, Hearing Aids, Musical Instruments, Portable Sewing Machines, Adult and Children’s Bikes, Women’s Purses/Pocketbooks and Baseball and Golf Equipment.  The sewing machines and musical instruments need to be in working condition; the other items need not be. The collection will be on Sat., Sept. 19 from 9 AM to 1 PM in the parking lot of the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., Columbia, MD. Tax receipts will be given. Call Tom McCarthy at 301-774-7069.



53] –  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



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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