Baltimore Activist Alert October 7 & 8, 2018

Baltimore Activist Alert October 7 & 8, 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] Pat Elder for Congress

5] Buy an Anti-War Veteran hat  

6] Canvass in Waldorf – Oct. 7

7] Canvass Baltimore City – Oct. 7

8] Canvass for Ben Jealous – Oct. 7

9] Solar Open House – Oct. 7

10] Fog of War – Oct.

11] Canvass Baltimore County – Oct. 7

12] Film "Burkinabè Rising: the art of resistance in Burkina Faso" – Oct. 7

13] Film OPEN BETHEHEM – Oct. 7

14] Pass the ERA – Oct. 7

15] Black Lives Matter demo – Oct. 7

16] Protest at the Pentagon – Oct. 8

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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] – 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.

6] – On Sun., Oct. 7 from 9 AM to 3 PM, Canvass Charles County (Waldorf).  Meet at Middleton Hall, 4045 Renner Rd., Waldorf 20601.  Contact Vontasha Sims · 240-300-6237. Visit http://www.progressivemaryland.org/charlescountywaldorfcanvass10_7.

7] – On Sun., Oct. 7 from 10 AM to 2 PM, Canvass Baltimore City for the general election with Progressive Maryland Baltimore. Mobilizing the vote in Baltimore City is one of the most crucial steps to getting Ben Jealous elected in November. Support other local progressive candidates in the districts we canvass! Come help make the blue wave happen and meet your fellow voters! CONTACT Michael Feldman · michael@progressivemaryland.org.

8] – The Baltimore City Canvasses for Ben Jealous, hosted by Baltimore City Democratic Party, will continue until Oct. 28.  Canvass on Sun., Oct. 7 at 10 AM and 1 PM 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/.

9] – Come to a Solar Open House on Sun., Oct. 7 from 10 AM to 5 PM at 1621 Comanche Rd., Arnold 21012.  See solar panels up close, ask questions about how solar works, learn about why homeowners in your community have made the choice to go solar, and connect with other people in your community who support solar energy. This event is free and open to the public - everyone is welcome to attend. Whether you are a solar owner, completely new to solar, or somewhere in between – this event is for you. Stop by for a few minutes or stay for a while! RSVP at https://secure.everyaction.com/2BYkP4hYEEePkxx0soPC1Q2.

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. 30, the topic is “Remembering the ‘fog’ of the Vietnam War.” Director Errol Morris won an Academy Award for his 2003 documentary “The Fog of War,” in which Robert McNamara, the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War, recalls that conflict within the larger context of the decisions that leaders must make. By all accounts, McNamara was a brilliant bureaucrat. Deemed by many to be the architect of the Vietnam War, McNamara made decisions during the war that he examines many years later in this feature-length documentary. We will watch the opening section of the film and then discuss it both as filmmaking and in terms of its political content.

Mike Giuliano is a Professor of Film at Howard Community College. He writes about the arts on a weekly basis for the Baltimore Sun Media Group’s publications in Howard County. He served as the film critic for the Baltimore City Paper, Baltimore News American and Howard County Times/Columbia Flier, and has written about film for other publications including Variety.  Call 410-581-2322 or email ask@bmorethical.org.

11] – On Sun., Oct. 7 from 11 AM to 3 PM, Canvass Baltimore County.  The location is to be announced. CONTACT Michael Feldman · michael@progressivemaryland.org, RSVP at https://www.pmdbaltimore.org/10-7-canvass?utm_campaign=wkmemoct12018&utm_medium=email&utm_source=progressivemaryland https://www.pmdbaltimore.org/10-7-canvass-county?utm_campaign=wkmemoct12018&utm_medium=email&utm_source=progressivemaryland.

12] – There is a special screening of the film "Burkinabè Rising: the art of resistance in Burkina Faso" at the Baltimore International Black Film Festival on Sun., Oct. 7 @ 12:15 PM at the University of Baltimore Learning Commons, 1415 Maryland Ave., Baltimore 21201.Get tickets at http://myevolutiontix.com/event/BURKINADE.  Admission is $10.  The Baltimore International Black Film Festival (BIBFF) promotes and celebrates culturally significant films directed, produced, and staring African American and members of the African Diaspora. They also prominently feature and celebrate films with content of interest to the Same Gender Loving – Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (SGL-LGBT) community. Their mission is to couple the film festival with education, health and exhibition programs that enrich the life of Baltimore City and the greater Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia communities.

A small landlocked country in West Africa, Burkina Faso is home to a vibrant community of artists, musicians, engaged citizens.  They carry on the revolutionary spirit of Thomas Sankara, killed in a coup d'état led by his best friend and advisor Blaise Compaoré, who then ruled the country as an autocrat for 27 years.  A massive popular insurrection led to his removal. Today, the spirit of resistance and political change is mightier than ever and it permeates every aspect of the Burkinabe life. It is an inspiration, not only to Africa, but to the rest of the world. Meet Iara Lee, the Cultures Of Resistance Network founder. Contact voters in a pivotal race near you on Sun,, Sept. 30 at noon at Janet Winter's House, 87 Cemetery Ave., Stewartstown, PA 17363. Every vote matters if we’re going to win PA-11 in November. We've seen red districts across the country flip this past year because campaigns start talking to voters early & mobilize thousands of people to the polls. That's why there is door knocking in the new 11th district. Sign-up at https://events.mobilizeamerica.io/moveon/event/23576/.

13] – The Holy Land, i.e. Israel and Palestine, is now in the news on a weekly basis: “U.S. Moves Embassy to Jerusalem.” “Israel Passes Controversial ‘Jewish Nation-State Law.’” “Casualties in Gaza Surpass 155 Dead and Over 17,000 Wounded” ….. How do we understand these headlines? How do we understand issues of justice, human-rights, and peace in the Holy Land? How do we understand the role of U.S. policies and mainstream media on the lives of the people living in the Holy Land?

To explore these complex, difficult, and emotional questions, a coalition of nineteen interfaith and interdenominational faith organizations have joined together to offer a five-week film series and discussions exploring issues of justice, human rights, and peace in Israel and Palestine. This first ever Baltimore Voices from the Holy Land 2018 Film Series began on September 23rd and continues every Sunday afternoon through October 21st at three different locations. This series is hosted by St. Ignatius Catholic Community, Hinenu: Baltimore Justice Shteibl, Homewood Friends Meeting, and First and St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ. Moderated Q&A Discussions led by knowledgeable experts follow the film screenings. All events are free and open to the public. No reservations required.

  The next film to be screened is “Open Bethlehem,” which can be seen on Sun., Oct. 7 at 1:30 PM at St. Ignatius Catholic Community, 740 N. Calvert St. See the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aivDpXxMhaA . Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/554874658278183/?notif_t=plan_user_invited&notif_id=1535372106462881.

14] – On Sun., Sept. 30 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. 30 from 4 to 5 PM, attend a Black Lives Matter monthly vigil at Governor Warfield Parkway and Windstream Drive in Howard County. The vigil will continue until Dec. 9. Join in on the second Sunday of each month for a public witness to remind the community that all lives will matter when black lives matter. Show up to tell the world that injustice will not be ignored in Howard County or anywhere else. Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/408704056256085/.

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 Oct. 8, 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.

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