Saturday, October 16, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – October 18 to 19, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert – October 18 to 19, 2021

"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 Max Obuszewski, BNC, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212.  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] Get involved with NCNR   

4] Volunteer with a Catholic Worker house  

5] Max is looking for tips on a garage or a storage suggestion.

6] Welcome an Afghan Family to Baltimore!

7] Letting the Past Inform the Present -- Oct. 17

8] Black Lives Matter rally -- Oct. 17

9] Ohio's Death Penalty Abolition lobby week -- Oct. 17

10] Statewide Legislative Kickoff -- Oct. 17

11] Make these remote phone calls to Virginia voters – Oct. 17

12] Want to text with Fair Fight? -- Oct. 17 & 19

13] Freedom to Vote Relay – Oct. 17 & 18

14] Medical Town Hall -- Oct. 17

15] Make calls for the Freedom to Vote Act.  – Oct. 17 - 19

16] Honor Peter Grimes – Oct. 17

17] The Boys Who Said No – Oct. 17

18] Protest at the Pentagon – Oct. 18

19] Nuclear Risk Reduction – Oct. 18

20] Emergency Election Protection Coalition -- Oct. 18

-------

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 U.S. wars.

  To join the ORGANIZING List, please send your name, group affiliation, city and email address to mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.  Different local chapters of a national organization are encouraged to subscribe.  

4] - Suzanne Fontanesi and Jeff Ross are in the beginning stages of renovating the basement of their house for purposes of bringing in a volunteer (targeting young adults in discernment mode), starting next fall. They are trying to grow a Catholic Worker House in Irvington (West Baltimore). In a nutshell, there is a lot that a volunteer could do in that neighborhood/Baltimore, in addition to prayer and daily community living and in addition to plugging into all the good work that people are already doing in and around Baltimore (and beyond).  If you think you might know of anyone who might be interested in starting a conversation with them about becoming such a volunteer/community member, please contact Jeff/Suzanne at 443-690-6872.

5] – Max is in need of a garage or a storage space.  Any suggestions would be welcome.  Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

6] – St. Matthew, Blessed Sacrament, and the IOSC are partnering to welcome an Afghan Family to Baltimore! Are you interested in serving our new immigrant family? If you are interested, you will be trained in how you may serve, you will be guided and scheduled at your convenience by the Lead volunteer coordinator, you may also make donations through the IOSC to assist the family in the transition process in order to: Purchase food & Purchase clothes for winter and other necessities. Contact the IOSC at info@IOSCbaltimore.org, call the office at 410-323-8564 and leave a message for Nathalie.

7] – 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., Oct. 17, the subject is “Letting the Past Inform the Present: One Professor’s Journey.” Christine Adams is professor of European history at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a 2020-21 American Council of Learned Societies fellow and a 2021 Andrew W. Mellon fellow at the Newberry Library. In 2015, she taught a new class on Nazi Germany against the background of the presidential primary campaign. More so than ever before, she was aware of the echoes of the past in the present; her students were as well. Since then, it has been impossible to ignore the intrusion of current events into her classes. As both a history professor and as an opinion writer, she has grappled with a responsibility to welcome a variety of viewpoints while still stressing the importance of intellectual honesty and the rigorous analysis of evidence. But at this moment in history, the concept of “balance” in the traditional sense has ceased to be useful when it serves to obscure present dangers. The Zoom link and more info can be obtained at PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG.

8] – Baltimore’s Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition, or BLMIC, will resume its monthly sidewalk rallies, now taking place on the third Sunday of the month.  Attend the rally on Sun., Oct. 17 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM ET.  Note donations of disposable diapers for Project PLASE (People Lacking Ample Shelter and Employment) will be collected.  Gather between the 4100 and 4200 block of Edmondson Avenue in Baltimore, Edmondson West High School.  Parking is available in the area. RSVP to Ryan Sattler -- ryansattler@comcast.net / 717-891-6156. Be in touch with Project PLASE: https://projectplase.org/.

9] – On Sun., Oct. 17 at 2 PM EDT, join #NoDeathPenaltyOhio in a worship service in advance of Ohio's Death Penalty Abolition lobby week sponsored by Death Penalty Action, Journey of Hope ...From Violence to Healing and the Ohio Council of Churches. The service will feature Death Penalty Action Board Member Rev. Sharon Risher, whose mother was killed in the 2015 church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ycc6kLGBSlaWay39tPCWTg?link_id=8&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-report-from-the-road-the-row-3&email_referrer=email_1324237&email_subject=results.

10] –Abby Becker [absbecker@gmail.com] is inviting you to join Jews United for Justice’s Statewide Legislative Kickoff on Sun., Oct. 17 from 2 to 5 PM ET.

The idea is to connect participants to legislators to help advance our legislative priorities. Join in this advocacy for social, racial, and economic justice in Maryland! Decide together how the community wants to engage with legislators in what continues to be unusual times. Register for the event here: https://jufj.org/event/kickoff/.

11] – Volunteer on Sun., Oct. 17 from 2 to 5 PM ET to make calls in Virginia. Early voting has started in Virginia—and the numbers are not where they need to be. There are three weekends to win this thing.  Make these remote phone calls to Virginia voters with Sister District, New Virginia Majority, the Democratic National Committee or Grassroots Dems. Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/dailykos/event/417365.

12] – Want to text with Fair Fight? Join a texting training to see what texting with Fair Fight looks like, the texting platform, how to set up your account on it and get you all the information you need to text with Fair Fight in the future!  This is a training, NOT a text bank. No texting during this training.  To text with Fair Fight you will need either a smartphone OR a computer (you ca7 set up the texting system on either or both). The next texting trainings are on Sun., Oct. 17 from 4 to 4:45 PM ET and Tues., Oct. 19 from 8:30 to 9:15 PM ET.  Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/fairfight/event/380601/?emci=1ec65536-76f5-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=9099f5e0-77f5-eb11-b563-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=1234726.

13] –For the People – Maryland is honored to be a partner in the Freedom to Vote Relay. Check out https://bit.ly/DetailedRelayGuide.  There is a Zoom training call for all those who are walking, running, wheeling, or biking in the Relay on Sun., Oct. 17 from 4 to 5 PM ET. Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tdemsrDkjGtUCwV7HY-QZ-vyU6HP0ar8P.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. There is a need for volunteers for a few different roles – https://bit.ly/FreedomRelayVols.

  There is a separate training Zoom on Mon., Oct. 18 at 7:30 P for members of the support teams. Here is the link for that call: https://zoom.us/j/93130662622?pwd=OE15SURJUWdXNHFicW94SDI3c2x3UT09#success.  Call Charlie at 410-578-8291.

14] – Dr. Bill Honigman for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] is inviting you on Sun., Oct. 17 at 4 PM ET to the PDA Healthcare Emergency Online Town Hall. At PDA, its very reason to exist is epitomized in the current struggle taking place in Congress to promote the advances put forward by President Biden in his Build Back Better Act. In particular, when it comes to the existential threats of climate, health, poverty, racism, war, and political corruption, It is fighting alongside its many coalition partners, as if our lives depend on it, to support those who are at this moment trying their best to #HoldTheLine.

And the national tragedy and disgrace that is the response of commercial healthcare to #COVID19 in America, makes us all the more resolved to fight to improve and #ExpandMedicare in the short term, and in the long term, to enact and implement a #SinglePayer #MedicareForAll system that we know will save lives, lots of lives, and save money, lots of money. This Sunday hear from PDA National Advisory Board Member and progressive talk show icon and historian Thom Hartmann.  He has a new book The Hidden History of American Healthcare, and pieces he has had published recently on the undue influence of Big Insurance and Big Pharma on the political process, and how that’s keeping us from getting what the vast majority of Americans really want: Single Payer expanded and improved Medicare for All.  Sign up at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

 15] – Join activists around the country at a virtual phonebank to urge voters in key states to demand their senators’ support the Freedom to Vote Act.  Work together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Call on voters in targeted states and connect them to their Senators to support the Freedom to Vote Act, and to eliminate the filibuster. These phone banks are subject to change based on variables. Our democracy is in crisis: with redistricting around the corner and hundreds of voter suppression laws being introduced in states across the country, we do not have time to wait. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/pfaw/event/376178/?utm_source=PFAW to call on Sun., Oct. 17 from 6 to 8 PM ET, Mon., Oct. 18 from 4 to 6 PM & 6 to 8 PM ET and Tues., Oct. 19 from 4 to 6 PM ET.

16] – Honor Peter Grimes, and celebrate his life on Sun., Oct. 17 from 7 to 8:30 PM ET.  Think about stories/ memories you want to share during the informal portion of the event. Join ten minutes early for the music/ photo gathering time. The event will also be recorded for posterity and for your later review and enjoyment.  Go to this Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89349141842?pwd=ZHR0WGtra0hVZzhDWGlKampwbmIwUT09.  The Meeting ID is 893-4914-1842, and the Passcode is 653893.

17] – On Sun., Oct. 17,  after viewing The Boys Who Said No, at 8 PM ET you can join an online event featuring Joan Baez, David Harris, Daniel Ellsberg, film director Judith Ehrlich, and others. Learn more and sign up here: http://masspeaceaction.org/event/the-boys-who-said-no-draft-resistance-and-the-vietnam-war/?emci=45d2fd14-5e24-ec11-981f-501ac510a405&emdi=98b7ae3f-9524-ec11-981f-501ac510a405&ceid=269591. Tickets are $12. Go to tinyurl.com/boysfilmgala.

18] – 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. 18 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.  

19] – On Mon., Oct. 18 at 1:30 PM, tune in to Nuclear Risk Reduction: Friction Points [Online], sponsored by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research with Anna Peczeli, Center for Global Security Research; and Polina Sinovets, Odessa Center for Nonproliferation. Sign up at https://www.unidir.org/events/nuclear-risk-reduction-friction-points.  Competitive dynamics between the United States and the Russian Federation, and the United States and China, colors interpretations of each other’s national security strategies and nuclear doctrines. The intent that each projects onto the other (for instance, around lowered thresholds of nuclear use, or the pursuit of escalation dominance) then filters into their readings of specific capabilities. Consequently, the “friction points” between them – the issues of contention that can spark potential conflict and escalation, including to nuclear use – are unfortunately numerous. This side event to the UN First Committee will contribute to informed discussion on nuclear weapon risk reduction, considering ways that the ‘great powers’ can bridge strategic perception gaps (including through the ongoing Russia-US bilateral strategic stability dialogue).  Panelists will also discuss technological developments – including in other domains – that are increasing the risks of nuclear weapon use, as well as means to address these.

20] – .The Emergency Election Protection Coalition is hosting a meeting on Mon., Oct. 18 at 5 PM ET. Please submit any questions to: Solartopia@gmail.com. Go to https://us06web.zoom.us/w/92810509856?tk=_ORbWw8OeJhb9v6DVAmz9dDNl94EaZZ8MgaLLgcu2s4.DQMAAAAVm-_-IBYycUpXRV9sMFQxcVRoWVhFMlloYnFRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA#success.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, 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

No comments: