Baltimore Activist Alert -- September 16, 2020

39] Send letters to key voters – Sept. 16

40] Gardening to Feed our Neighbors – Sept. 16

41] Food Rescue – Sept. 16

42] How to Win in November – Sept. 16

43] “Armageddon Election" – Sept. 16

44] Anti-Semitism and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment – Sept. 16

45] What the pandemic has imposed on the education system – Sept. 16

46] Demand the Maryland General Assembly reconvene -- Sept. 16

47] End Citizens United -- Sept. 16

48] Sounds Like Hate – Sept. 16

49] YORK ROAD FOOD DAY – Sept. 16

50] Commemorating the Women's Suffrage Centennial – Sept. 16

51] Global Cooperation or New Cold War? – Sept. 16

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39] –  The Chesapeake Climate Action Network has a goal of sending 20,000 letters to key voters in critical states in this most important election.  It is looking for 19 people in Maryland to commit to writing 100 letters to meet this goal. If you spend fifteen minutes a day, you can get to 100 letters in 20 days.  Sign up to write letters to voters in critical states: https://votefwd.org/ccanactionfund.

40] – On Wed., Sept. 16 from 10 AM to 3 PM, be at Farming Hope: Gardening to Feed our Neighbors, hosted by Maryland Presbyterian Church and North Baltimore Presbyterians - Ministry Group. This is happening at Rockrose City Farm, 3800 Clipper Road, Baltimore 21211. You’re invited to garden this summer to help feed people experiencing food insecurity. Derrick Weston from the Mission team at Ashland Presbyterian Church, and staff member at Hope Springs, will be gardening at the Rockrose City Farm, located at 3999 Clipper Road, Baltimore, MD, 21211. Folks will gather each Wednesday through Sept. 30. All of the food grown will be donated to various food pantries in our area. Please be in contact if you would like to volunteer. This is a great socially distanced, outside activity, but please bring a mask, and water. Derrick can be reached at Dweston@HopeSprings.org or 410-443-5867.  Look at https://www.facebook.com/events/261101788435840/?event_time_id=261101811769171.

41] – On Wednesdays, at noon, get with a Food Rescue at Umar Boxing, 1217 W. North Ave., Baltimore 21217-3535.  This will continue through Nov. 11. Bring a bag, take delicious, high quality, and nutritious free food! Check out https://www.facebook.com/events/446288255935427/?event_time_id=446288312602088.

42] – On Wed., Sept. 16 at noon EDT, join a Nation Conversation with Sochie Nnaemeka: How to Win in November.  Nnaemeka is the director of the Working Families Party in New York, and will converse about how and why progressive insurgents can win in November. She’ll discuss the party’s agenda and what she sees as the most critical progressive priorities ahead of the most important election of our lives. The daughter of Nigerian immigrant parents, Nnaemeka was born and raised in New York and attended Yale University, where she began to organize with a local union of cafeteria and custodial workers. Visit https://secure.everyaction.com/X0pqTQyM3ESvdwCYGEyhug2?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_campaign=nation-event-nnaemeka&sourceid=1063231&ms=EMM090820202A&utm_content=EMM090820202AA.

Tickets are $10 for this crucial discussion about organizing, politics, and a new consensus of what is possible ahead of the most important election of our lives.  All proceeds directly support The Nation's journalism. If you have any questions, email fundraising@thenation.com.

43] – Jim Zogby wrote his Washington Watch column on why the consequences of the 2020 Election mean that this is truly the "Armageddon Election" of our lifetime. Read this week's article, "The Armageddon Election," at http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/872067?emci=70f468d4-98f6-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&emdi=2294a223-64f7-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&ceid=389907. Register to receive the dial-in information for Coffee & a Column on Wed., Sept. 16 from 2 to 2:30 PM ET at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJErcuqhrDIvH9aWPA6V1H3GP71n4xyfXKhs?emci=70f468d4-98f6-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&emdi=2294a223-64f7-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&ceid=389907.

44] – HIAS is hosting Uncertain Times, Certain Fear: Anti-Semitism and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment in the COVID-19 Era on Wed., Sept. 16 from 3 to 4 PM ET.  Echoing history, the fears and anxieties over the current global health pandemic have fed an increase in xenophobia—including anti-Semitism, and anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiment. Join HIAS for a dynamic conversation about the historic and contemporary intersections of anti-Semitism and anti-immigrant rhetoric, and how the current pandemic is impacting refugees and asylum seekers in particular.  Advanced registration is required. Register at https://www.hias.org/get-involved/events/uncertain-times-certain-fear-anti-semitism-and-anti-immigrant-sentiment-covid-19.

45] – As students return to school, whether virtual or in class, there is more we need to understand and think through if we are to meet the COVID-19 crisis head on and deal with the consequences of the interruption and disruptions to learning that the pandemic has imposed on the education system. Hear from Randi Weingarten, the president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, about the state of COVID-19 and education and what needs to be done now to support educators and mitigate the damage to student performance, especially for the most vulnerable children. Also hear from Ivey Welshans, a teacher in Philadelphia, for a reality check on the challenges on the ground.  This is happening on Wed., Sept. 16 from 4 to 5 PM ET, hosted by the Economic Policy Institute.  Register at  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cLSJPSoySfeTKy2e8lcO_g?utm_source=Economic+Policy+Institute&utm_campaign=b029c63a11-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_10_02_06_32_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e7c5826c50-b029c63a11-59830565&mc_cid=b029c63a11&mc_eid=72ea77dbdd.

46] – On Wed., Sept. 16 at 5:30 to 7:30 PM, come to the State Capitol Building, 100 State Circle, Annapolis 21401to demand that the Maryland General Assembly reconvene for a Special Session to support the people. Our representatives simply cannot sit on the sidelines while hundreds of thousands of Marylanders are losing their jobs, unable to pay rent and are being evicted from their home. Our representatives must get back to work now. The goal of this action is to gather in unity to show the legislature that it is possible for them to reconvene and that our families can’t wait any longer for relief. See a mock assembly, an action you won’t want to miss! Safety is of utmost concern and masks are REQUIRED to participate. Register at https://secure.everyaction.com/KxFpqyZIJUi_vfGQ6h1RAw2?emci=085ae25b-daf6-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&emdi=a340d4fd-4af7-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&ceid=136680.

47] –   From the moment Citizens United was ruled upon, it has felt like one attack on our democracy after another. Too many people are left asking who's actually looking out for each of Us? We must come together and demand a government that is of, by and for the people. Join in a Grassroots Town Hall on Wed., Sept. 16 at 5 PM ET on how we all can play our part to fight back corruption in our politics! Rep. John Sarbanes founded the Us Campaign to support reform champions who are fighting back against the influence of Big Money in our politics — leaders who put the interests of Us, the people, ahead of the interests of big corporations and special interests. Amy Kennedy , a candidate for Congress, and Tiffany Muller of End Citizens Unite will join Sarbanes to discuss key steps each of us can take, big and small, to make our politics as representative as possible. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/amykennedyforcongress/event/322092/.

48] – Register for an online panel discussion about the new chapter of Sounds Like Hate, the Southern Poverty Law Center’s new podcast on Wed., Sept. 16 at 5 PM ET.  You can register for this Zoom Webinar at https://splcenter-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/1515996046255/WN_uhvEYZTJTnay89InSTbJpg.  This panel discussion is for SPLC supporters, and will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Sounds Like Hate and feature a thought-provoking conversation about the important issues discussed in the podcast’s second chapter, “Not Okay.” Moderated by SPLC Senior Fellow Eric K. Ward, the panel will include T. Elijah Hawkes, principal of the high school featured in “Not Okay,” Cory Collins, senior writer for Teaching Tolerance, and Jamila Paksima, co-host and co-producer of the podcast.

49] – On Wed., Sept. 16 from 1 to 3 PM, get over to BACFAD YORK ROAD FOOD DAY at the Alameda Shopping Center, hosted by Be a Chef for a Day and Italian Cultural Center of Maryland.  Go to forms.gle/q8MG4NoZi6KUFegz7. 4000 gallons of milk and 2500 boxes of produce will be distributed. Organizations must pre-register here: https://forms.gle/q8MG4NoZi6KUFegz7. 

50] – On Wed., Sept.  16 from 6:30 to 8 PM ET, Value the Vote: Commemorating the Women's Suffrage Centennial as part of Odyssey at Johns Hopkins University. Odyssey’s perspective lectures feature multiple instructors giving insight on one topic. This perspective, coordinated by M. Bess Vincent, explores Johns Hopkins University’s ties to women’s suffrage and shares research and archival collections curated to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Experts will discuss key women in Hopkins history such as Mary Elizabeth Garrett, postcards and games used to propagate ideas about suffrage, Johns Hopkins medical ties to suffrage, and the role of music within the movement. These lectures will occur each Wednesdays through Oct. - 7 via Zoom.  Register at https://aapnoncredit.jhu.edu/CourseStatus.awp?&course=21F91085501.  Members of the JHU community may be eligible for a discount. Email odyssey@jhu.edu. 

51] – On Wed., Sept.  16 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET, check out Global Cooperation or New Cold War? The People’s Foreign Policy with Max Elbaum and Tobita Chow. "If Trump loses in November and can be forced out of office, building opposition to U.S. militarism and the foreign policies of a Biden administration will likely be the social justice movement’s biggest challenge," writes Max Elbaum in Organizing Upgrade.   Meanwhile, both the Trump Administration and the Biden-led Democratic Party are moving on a path of confrontation with China, writes Tobita Chow in The Nation. Register to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rdu6uqj4tHtTnlUsj8nzy2owIlrWoD-WU. Elbaum has been active in peace, anti-racist and radical movements since joining SDS in Madison, Wisconsin in the 1960s. Chow is the director of Justice Is Global, a special project of People’s Action that is building a movement to create a more just and sustainable global economy and defeat right-wing nationalism around the world.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Baltimore, MD 21212.  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