Baltimore Activist Alert Sept. 2 to 4, 2018

Baltimore Activist Alert Sept. 2 to 4, 2018

"I speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop it must be ours." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Friends, this list and other email documents which I send out are done under the auspices of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center.  Go to www.baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com.  If you appreciate this information and would like to make a donation, send contributions to BNC, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.  Max Obuszewski can be reached at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net.

1] Books, buttons and stickers

2] Web site for info on federal legislation

3] Join Nonviolent Resistance lists  

4] Write Reality Winner

5] Pat Elder for Congress

6] Support the Duncan & Porter Hospitality House  

7] Buy an Anti-War Veteran hat

8] Unity Peace Prayer Day – Sept. 2

9] Canvass for Ben Jealous – Sept. 2

10] “Ethical Culture 101” – Sept. 2

11] Democratic Day of Action – Sept. 2

12] Syria Fest 2018 – Sept. 2

13] Work Session – Sept. 2

14] Pass the ERA – Sept. 2

15] Discussion on Reconstruction – Sept. 2

16] Protest at the Pentagon – Sept. 3

17] Join the Pat Elder for Congress contingent in Labor Day Parade – Sept. 3

18] Food Rescue Baltimore – Sept. 3

19] Protest Lockheed Martin – Sept. 3

20] Phone Bank for Johnny O – Sept. 3

21] Get Money Out of Maryland conference call – Sept. 3

22] The NSA and the Road to 9/11 – Sept. 4

23] Peace Vigil – Sept. 4

24] No Drone Research DEMO – Sept. 4

25] “Fail State:” A Documentary on American Higher Education – Sept. 4

26] Phone bank for Ben Jealous – Sept. 4 & 6

27] Film “My Small Steps from Hiroshima” – Sept. 4

28] Stop Gov. Hogan's dangerous proposal to expand I-270 – Sept. 4

29] April Ryan book talk – Sept. 4

30] Film REINVENTING POWER – Sept. 4

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1] – Buttons, bumperstickers and books are available.  “God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions” stickers are in stock. Call Max at 410-323-1607.

2] – To obtain information how your federal legislators voted on particular bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/.  Congressional toll-free numbers are 888-818-6641, 888-355-3588 or 800-426-8073. The White House Comment Email is accessible at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.

3] – THE ORGANIZING LIST will be the primary decision-making mechanism of the National Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR].  It will be augmented by conference calls and possibly in-person meetings as needed.  It will consist of 1 or 2 representatives from each local, regional, or national organization (not coalitions) that wishes to actively work to carry out the NCNR campaign of facilitating and organizing nonviolent resistance to the war in Iraq.

To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email 6address to mobuszewski at Verizon.net.  Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.  

THE NOTICES LIST will include only notices of NCNR actions and related information and is open to any interested person to subscribe.  It will be moderated to maintain focus & will include periodic notices about getting involved in NCNR national organizing.  To join the NOTICES List, send an email message to ncnrnotices-subscribe@lists.riseup.net. You will get a confirmation message once subscribed.  If you have problems, please write to the list manager at ncnrnotices-admin@lists.riseup.net.

4] – Green Candidate Pat Elder is Running against Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer -- www.elderforcongress.org/elderforcongress@gmail.com/301-997-3963. Elder is a life-long peace and justice activist, who will be on the ballot in November. He is a great progressive.  Elder calls for shutting down the Chalk Point and Morgantown coal-fired stations in the 5th district. Pat is opposed to Dominion Energy’s terminal at Cove Point and other projects in the 5th. He also demands a cessation of weapons testing in the Potomac and an immediate cleanup of Superfund sites at the Indian Head Naval Warfare Center and Patuxent River Naval Air Station. He calls for subjecting the military’s ongoing environmental degradation to state oversight. 

Pat supports Medicare for all, public financing of elections, free community college. Elder supports a living wage; strong measures to correct racial injustice; eliminating the Social Security taxable maximum of $128,400; He advocates for meaningful cuts in military spending and increasing the top tax for folks making more than $2 million to 50%. That’ll pay for everything. Pat supports non-violent, multilateral solutions to the problems facing our country.

Pat plans to capture 5% of the vote and expects to open the political debate. Pat expects to run the most successful Green Party congressional campaign ever. It shouldn’t be too tough. Hoyer is awful. Spread the message on social media. Send in a dollar or two if you can.

5] – Support the Duncan & Porter Hospitality House. What's a house of hospitality without a working kitchen? Donate at https://www.gofundme.com/v2s3h8.

More than 25 years ago Vincent Eirene, of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, opened up his doors to those in need. Vince, now 65, will always put others first and has given back to the community continuously. Avoiding the regulations of official shelters, he maintains an open door policy, working with a few men at a time that usually come from the local food pantry. He helps them with everything from medical care to social services. Vince has been running his open door home on his own disability check and the miracle of generosity. I personally have been helping him secure funding for purchasing the home and keeping it livable, from small touches to large ones. It is currently in need of a new stove. Please help us raise this modest amount before harvest, so the cooking can continue at the Duncan and Porter House of Hospitality.

6] – The labor chorus is ACTIVELY RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS as it begins preparing its 10-Year Anniversary Spring 2019 show. All are welcome (no experience needed), but the chorus is especially interested in augmenting the TENOR, BARITONE, BASS sections. Rehearsals are each Tuesday, 7-9 PM, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Cathedral at Read in Mt. Vernon. Please help spread the word to anyone you know who likes to sing and is committed to social justice! Check out the web page: charmcitylaborchorus.org. The ability to read music is strongly encouraged but it is not

necessary.

7] – Get a good-looking black hat which says Anti-War Veteran in the front and Viva House 50^th in the back.  The cost is $10. Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

8] – On Sun., Sept. 2 from 10 AM to 5 PM, get with the Unity Peace Prayer Day 2018 at the Lincoln Memorial, WDC 20037.  Register at www.unitypeaceprayer.com. A global peace and unity rally - https://www.unitypeaceprayer.com - to create a climate of tolerance, inclusivity and kindness is announced. Speakers include leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and the Baha’i faith as well as nondenominational spiritual traditions. The event promotes peacebuilding amongst diverse communities as well as inspiration and joy. Keynote speaker David T. Ives, Executive Director Emeritus of the Albert Schweitzer Institute and 2016 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, states “I am pleased to represent the ideas and thoughts of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Albert Schweitzer at this day of Unity, Peace and Prayer, especially his desire to see all human beings everywhere viewed as an absolutely awesome human being. To have that sense of amazement towards all humans is something for which we all must strive.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1790190051050208/.

9] – The Baltimore City Canvasses for Ben Jealous, hosted by Baltimore City Democratic Party, will continue until Oct. 28.  Canvass on Sun., Sept. 2 at 10 AM at 1023 Cathedral St., Baltimore 21201-5403. Tell voters why Ben Jealous is the best gubernatorial candidate for our City! Canvass every Saturday and Sunday with launches at 10 AM and 1 PM! 

If you've never canvassed before, it's easy! You'll have talking points on hand, and plenty of seasoned volunteers to support you as you engage with our neighbors across Baltimore. Volunteering is the most important thing we can do to make sure our state has the leadership it needs in Annapolis, and with your help, we'll get that new leadership in November!  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2179351552348279/.

10] – Usually, the Baltimore Ethical Society, 2521 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218, meets on Sundays, and generally there is a speaker and discussion at 10:30 AM.  On Sun., Sept. 2, the topic is “Ethical Culture 101.”  Highlights of the history of Ethical Culture from its founding in 1876 by Felix Adler up to the present time will be discussed with particular attention to our relationships with similar movements, such as Humanism. Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

11] – On Sun., Sept. 2 at 11 AM, join in a Democratic Day of Action! Get with Door Knocking in West Baltimore County, hosted by Baltimore County Young Democrats at the 5740 Executive Drive, suite 108, Catonsville.  This is a Coordinated Campaign, also including the Baltimore County Progressive Democrats, and other local Democratic groups and candidates to promote Ben Jealous, Johnny Olszewski, Jr, and the rest of the Democratic ticket in Western Baltimore County!  IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND ONE OR BOTH DAYS, RSVP to Sheila Ruth at sheila@sheilaruth.com.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/521399668314875/?event_time_id=521399674981541.

12] – On Sun. Sept. 2 from 11 AM to 7 PM, attend the Syria Fest 2018, hosted by Syrian American Medical Society- SAMS in Freedom Plaza, 14th St. NW and Pennsylvania Ave., WDC 20004.  Visit www.syriafest.com.  This event will feature Syrian food, music, art, dance and culture. Stop by SAMS booth to learn about our life-saving medical relief efforts. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/288455311946283/.

13] – Get over to an ANSWER Coalition Work Session on Sun., Sept.  2 @ 2 PM at 617 Florida Ave. NW.  Use the Shaw/Howard Metro (Yellow/Green Lines).  Join volunteers to help paint a new anti-racist banner for rallies, protests and marches! This will replace one that was featured during the successful August 12 demonstration against "Unite the Right 2" at Lafayette Park and sustained rain damage.  RSVP at jordanwoll@gmail.com.

14] – On Sun., Sept. 2 at 4 PM, join The CALL - ERA Education Program, hosted by One Rural Woman at Katrina's Dream, PO Box 32003, WDC 20007.  Get tickets at www.katrinasdream.org.  Help build the groundswell. The collaboration of grassroots organizers, lobbyists, and professionals is dedicated to promoting and educating folks across the United States of America to empowering women around the world.  PASS THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

There is a NATIONAL WEEKLY SUNDAY CALL at 4 PM with E.R.A. ADVOCATES -- CALL IN NO: 563.999.2090 CONFERENCE NO: 898879#.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1710130249022424/.

15] – On Sun., Sept. 2 from 5 to 7 PM, check out A Continuing Talk on Race with Dr. Greg Carr hosted by Teaching for Change and Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, WDC 20009. The A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) open discussion series is hosted by Busboys and Poets as a community service. It provides the opportunity for people to come together and speak openly and honestly about issues of race. The intent is that each person walks away from the discussion feeling something: challenged, educated, uncomfortable, enlightened, refreshed, reassured and hopefully inspired and moved to action! Each month there is a new topic for discussion. This month's topic: Dr. Greg Carr Discusses Reconstruction.

Busboys and Poets and Teaching For Change present this special Back to School edition of A.C.T.O.R. led by renowned Professor, Historian and Scholar Dr. Greg Carr! The complex history of this country is rarely represented in today's curricula. The Reconstruction Era laid many of the foundations of what we know to be the United States of America but the masses who actually built this country still go underrepresented in our understanding of America and our education. Dr. Carr will lead us on a journey of this epoch in his inimitable way and bring life to this important history! 

Dr. Greg Carr is Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University and Adjunct Faculty at the Howard School of Law. He holds a Ph.D. in African American Studies from Temple University and a JD from the Ohio State University College of Law. About Teaching For Change: TFC provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write and change the world.

Teaching for Change operates from the belief that schools can provide students the skills, knowledge and inspiration to be citizens and architects of a better world — or they can fortify the status quo. By drawing direct connections to real world issues, Teaching for Change encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms, build a more equitable, multicultural society, and become active global citizens.  A.C.T.O.R. is held on the first Sunday of every month at Busboys and Poets, 14th & V Sts.  Get over to https://www.facebook.com/events/1323753011091391/.

16] – There is a weekly Pentagon Peace Vigil from 7 to 8 AM on Mondays, since 1987, outside the Pentagon Metro stop.  The next vigil is Sept. 3, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker.  Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649.  The vigil will be outside the Pentagon's south Metro entrance and in the designated "protest zone" behind bicycle fences across from the entrance to the Metro.  By Metro, take Yellow Line and get out at the "Pentagon" stop. Do not go to the Pentagon City stop! Go up south escalators and turn left and walk across to protest area. By car from D.C. area, take 395 South and get off at Exit 8A-Pentagon South Parking. Take slight right onto S. Rotary Rd. at end of ramp and right on S. Fern St. Then take left onto Army Navy Dr. You can "pay to park" on Army Navy Dr.,  and there is meter parking one block on right on Eads St. Payment for both of these spots begin at 8 AM.  No cameras are allowed on Pentagon grounds. Restrooms are located inside Marriott Residence Inn on corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr.

17] –  Join the Pat Elder for Congress contingent in the Greenbelt’s Labor Day Parade on Mon., Sept. 3 which runs from 10 AM to noon. Meet at the Greenbelt Lake parking area by 8:30 AM to insure a parking space. Shuttle service will be provided from the Greenbelt Metro. Go to https://www.elderforcongress.org/greenbelt-parade.html.

18] – On Mon., Sept. 3, and every Monday until Feb. 4, 2019, at noon, there will be a Food Rescue at Land of Kush, 840 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201. Food Rescue Baltimore is honored to partner with The Land of Kush each and every Monday to bring access to free vegan/plant-based food in the community. Bring a bag. Take what you want from noon to 1PM or while supplies last. No purchase is necessary to take advantage of the Food Rescue Baltimore give away. Items from The Land of Kush's menu are not included in the give-away but will be available for sale. See https://www.facebook.com/events/415842178868197/.

19] – Protest U.S. bombs for Saudi Arabia’s massacres in Yemen on Mon., Sept. 3 at 2 PM at Lockheed Martin offices, 6801 Rockledge Dr. or 6560 Rock Spring Dr., Bethesda. An MK-82 bomb, jointly manufactured by U.S. weapons companies Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics hit a school bus on Aug. 9 and killed 50 and wounded 60.  Go to https://www.mintpressnews.com/bomb-yemen-school-bus-lockheed-martin/247536/. The protest is sponsored by Baltimore Nonviolence Center, Peace Action Montgomery County, Prince George's Peace and Justice Coalition and Peace Action Baltimore.  Protesters will include Pat Elder, a Green Party candidate opposing “Democratic Whip” Steny Hoyer.  Also, some of the “Hoyer Yemen Seven” who were arrested in Hoyer’s office and will stand trial next month, will be there.  They protested “The Whip’s” inaction on U.S. complicity with Saudi Arabia in Yemen and his pro-war mis-leadership in the Democratic Party.  Supporters are invited to join Pat’s contingent in the annual Greenbelt parade from 9 AM to noon before the Lockheed protest.  Approach 555 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt MD from Kenilworth Ave. Call 443-846-6638.

20] – On Mon., Sept. 3 at 5:30 PM and continuing until November 5, do phone banking with Team O!, hosted by Johnny Olszewski for Baltimore County Executive, 4050 North Point Blvd., Dundalk 21222.  Join a people-powered campaign to build a better Baltimore County!  Contact Team O's Brad at 410-371-9731 or at brad@gojohnnyo.com.  Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/929372493937041/.

21] – Join the Get Money Out of Maryland Teleconference on Monday, Aug. 20 from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.  Call 605-475-6711, code 1136243#.  Work only on brainstorming ideas for participation in the upcoming General Election. Early voting goes from Thurs., Oct. 25 through Thurs., Nov. 1 (8 days), and Election Day is Tues., Nov. 6. 

22] – On Tues., Sept. 4 from 10 AM to noon, hear The NSA and the Road to 9/11: Lessons Learned and Unlearned, hosted by The Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, WDC 20001.  Get tickets at www.cato.org.  Almost 17 years after al Qaeda’s attacks on America, many key questions remain unanswered. Chief among them: why did America’s National Security Agency (NSA) fail to detect and thwart the attacks?

Has the NSA as an institution learned the right lessons from this national tragedy and changed accordingly? What has Congress done — or failed to do — since the attacks to improve intelligence collection while still protecting American’s constitutional rights?

“The NSA and the Road to 9/11: Lessons Learned and Unlearned” brings together five former federal officials who were key players in the effort inside the NSA and on Capitol Hill to prevent the 9/11 disaster and to reform NSA’s approach to surveillance in the years after: William Binney (Former Crypto-Mathematician, NSA); Kirk Wiebe (Former Senior Analyst, NSA); Edward Loomis (Former Computer Systems Analyst, NSA); Thomas Drake (Former Senior Executive Service Member, NSA); and Diane Roark (Former Professional Staff Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence).  REGISTER at https://www.cato.org/events/nsa-road-911-lessons-learned-unlearned.  You can watch it live online at www.cato.org/live and join the conversation on Twitter using #CatoNSA. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1905280096444169/.

23] –  Each Tuesday from 4:30 - 5:30 PM, the Catholic Peace Fellowship-Philadelphia for peace in Afghanistan and Iraq gathers at the Suburban Station, 16th St. & JFK Blvd., at the entrance to Tracks 3 and 4 on the mezzanine.  The next vigil is Sept. 4.  Call 215-426-0364.

24] – Vigil to say "No Drone Research at JHU" each Tuesday at 33rd & North Charles Sts. Join this ongoing vigil on Sept. 4 from 5  to 6 PM. Contact Max at mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net or 410-323-1607. 

25] – On Tues., Sept. 4 from 5:30 to 9 PM, get over to the Reception, Panel, and Film Screening of “Fail State:” A Documentary on American Higher Education at the Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P St. NW, WDC 20005, hosted by the National Student Legal Defense Network.  Go to www.nsldn.org.  The event will include a reception, followed by a panel discussion regarding predatory practices in higher education and a screening of the award-winning new documentary “Fail State.” The discussion will feature former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr., Rep. Maxine Waters (who is featured in the film), Prof. Wade Henderson (former president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights), Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom (professor and author of Lower Ed), Alex Shebanow (director and writer of the film), and others. The documentary, executive produced by Dan Rather, presents a compelling chronicle of how policy decisions have given rise to a powerful and highly-predatory for-profit college industry.

For tickets and to RSVP, click here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-student-legal-defense-network-annual-reception-and-film-screening-tickets-47654354457.  Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/736553953342981/.

26] – On Tues., Sept. 4 and Thurs., Sept. 6 at 6 PM, and continuing until Sept. 27, get involved with Baltimore City Phone Banks for Ben Jealous, hosted by the Baltimore City Democratic Party at the 1199 SEIU Maryland/DC, 611 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore 21201.  Call voters across Baltimore, and tell them why Ben Jealous is the best candidate for our City! Phone bank every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 PM.  You'll have talking points on hand, and plenty of seasoned volunteers to support you as you engage with neighbors across Baltimore. Just bring a cell phone and a charger! Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/2105898316403812/.

27] – Yoshinobu Shiota <yshiota@terryalexllc.com> wrote that the Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee will screen “My Small Steps from Hiroshima” at the Parkway Theater, 5 W. North Ave., Baltimore on Tues., Sept. 4 at 7 PM.  This documentary was made by NHK in 2016 when a box full of diaries was discovered, written in English by Kaoru Ogura, a Japanese American, who was the director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in the 60’s. His collection of manuscripts contains a large amount of interviews of “Hibakusha”, victims who survived the Atomic bomb. He was instrumental in helping a number of foreign journalists and researchers work with the Hibakusha in order to publicize their findings following the atomic bomb attack. Junichiro (Jay) Ike, the producer of the program and the Research Fellow at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University, Wayne McWilliams, Professor Emeritus of History at Towson University and Peter Kuznick, Professor of History at American University and the director of its Nuclear Studies Institute, will participate in a discussion after the film. This last May, Mrs. Keiko Ogura, the widow of Kaoru Ogura who is featured in the film, visited the Kennedy School at Harvard to share her story as a hibakusha: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/5/23/ogura-hks-nuclear-reform-event/.  RSVP if you intend to come. The number of the seats are limited, and seating will be on a first come/first serve basis.

28] – Join a Sierra Club workgroup meeting to plug into efforts to stop Governor Hogan's dangerous proposal to expand I-270 and the Beltway! It’s happening on Tues., Sept. 4 at 7 PM, organized by the Maryland Chapter at 7338 Baltimore Ave., Suite 102, College Park 20740.  Contact Lindsey Mendelson at lindsey.mendelson@mdsierra.org or 240-706-7901.  If you want to call in, the number is 301-478-4996. 

Follow the slideshow at https://www.uberconference.com/mdsierra2.   Email Lindsey at transportation@mdsierra.org if you’d like to learn more about this transportation workgroup and fill out our survey to identify how you’d like to be involved in transportation issues across the Maryland chapter! 

29] – On Tues., Sept. 4 from 7 to 8 PM, hear from April Ryan talk about her book “Under Fire,” hosted by Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, WDC 20008.  Ryan has been a White House correspondent for the American Urban Radio Networks since the Clinton administration, but with Trump’s arrival she has become part of the story she’s covering. Her new book is both a reporter’s inside view of the unconventional protocol in the Trump White House, with all the Tweets, policy reversals, and sudden personnel changes, and an intimate look at what it’s like to be targeted by Trump, who has repeatedly responded to Ryan’s serious questions about urgent issues with shaming and insults. Ryan is also the author of “The Presidency in Black and White” and “At Mama’s Knee,” and in 2017 she was named the National Association of Black Journalists Journalist of the Year.  Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. See https://www.facebook.com/events/534518113674634/.

30] –   On Tues., Sept. 4 from 7:30 to 9 PM, get involved with “Reinventing Power” - Silver Spring Film Screening, hosted by Sierra Club Maryland Chapter at 8800 Garland Ave., Silver Spring MD 20901-3834. Get tickets at act.sierraclub.org. The new documentary “Reinventing Power: America’s Renewable Energy Boom” will be shown in the large meeting room at Long Branch Library. See https://www.sierraclub.org/reinventing-power.

The film will take the viewer across the country to hear directly from the people making our clean energy future achievable. These individuals are working to rebuild what’s broken, rethink what’s possible, and revitalize communities. Critically, Reinventing Power underscores the notion that jobs, economic growth and innovation don’t have to be sacrificed for a clean environment. Over the film’s 50 minutes, it focuses on people in eight states whose lives were changed by the renewable energy industry while exploring various aspects of clean energy from innovation to installation. The film will be followed by a brief discussion of community solar with a representative of Solar United Neighbors.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/253271145526386/.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.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