Baltimore Activist Alert –January 16 – 18, 2021

Baltimore Activist Alert –January 16 – 18, 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] House cleaner needed

7] Welcome an Afghan Family to Baltimore!

8] A friend needs a house or an apartment to rent

9] MLK’s Dream – Jan. 16  

10] Martin Luther King, Jr action -- Jan. 16

11] “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” – Jan. 16

12] Black Lives Matter Interfaith rally – Jan. 16

13] Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Action – Jan. 16

14] Knock on Doors for Brooke – Jan. 16

15] PDA Town Hall – Jan. 16

16] Make calls for the Freedom to Vote Act. – Jan. 16, 17 & 18

17] End the death penalty -- Jan. 16

18] Protest at the Pentagon – Jan. 17

19] Abolish Legal Slavery – Jan. 17

20] Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Action – Jan. 17  

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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 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] – Is there a woman in the Baltimore area who does house cleaning?  This assignment would be on an irregular basis with several hours per week.  Contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

7] – 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.

8] – A friend, Brendan Walls, has to move out of a rented home on March 1.  So he is looking for housing and wants to live south of the Baltimore beltway, east of US 95 and north of Route 214.  Do you know of a house or apartment in the Annapolis area with as much peace and quiet as I can get for no more than $1800 a month? He does not mind pet sitting, house sitting, keeping someone company or community living.  Let me know if you have a lead on a home or apartment for Brendan to rent.  Thanks for giving this your consideration.

9] – 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., Jan. 16, the subject is “The Dream and the Reality.”  Martin Luther King was a dreamer. What are the experiences that led to the development of his philosophy? It is interesting to note the events in his early life that may have changed the destiny ordained for him. We wonder if this dream is still alive after 60 years. Martin saw the worth in every human being and spent fourteen years using peaceful persuasion to try to break down the wall of hatred that had existed for far too long. Roberta Sharper is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a Bachelor’s degree from Coppin University, a Master’s degree from Morgan University and pursued post graduate studies from University of Maryland College Park. She was an educator for 30 years. The Zoom link and more info can be obtained at PRESIDENT@BMORETHICAL.ORG.

10] – On Mon., Jan. 17 at noon, there will be a Martin Luther King, Jr., Time of Nonviolent Action at Lockheed Martin, 230 Mall Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA (behind the King of Prussia Mall). There will be readings from Dr. King and a Martin Luther King Day litany.  Go to www.brandywinepeace.com.

11] – Molly Amster, JUFJ [info@jufj.org] wants you to get involved on Sun., Jan. 16  at 1 PM in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday at a dynamic, interactive exploration of the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Students from the Baltimore School for the Arts will deliver portions of the Letter as dramatic readings. Then Pulitzer-prize winning author and King scholar Taylor Branch, pastor Tara Huffman, and community organizer Tre’ Murphy will discuss the relevance of the Letter today - including its religious and organizing implications.  Get involved at https://jufj.org/event/mlk-22/?sourceid=1020680&utm_campaign=bmore_b&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=newsletter&emci=00a4e7f7-5a58-ec11-94f6-0050f2e65e9b&emdi=fe8f0842-5d58-ec11-94f6-0050f2e65e9b&ceid=3403859.

12] – The Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition [BLMInterfaithCoalition AT gmail.com] is hosting a rally on Sun., Jan. 16 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM ET at 200 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (near Mother Mary Lange Catholic School), Baltimore 21201. Rev. Grey Maggiano, Memorial Episcopal Church, will offer closing prayers.  Please bring warm scarves, hats, socks, etc. for the homeless on MLK Blvd. and for the Helping up Mission. Visit https://blmic.org/

13] – Join a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Action, hosted the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition on Sun., Jan. 16 from 2 to 3 PM ET. Visit https://www.mobilize.us/pfaw/event/436478/?followup_modal_context=newsletter.

14] – There is a Literature Drop for Brooke in Montgomery County on Sundays from 2 to 4 PM EST starting at Panera Bread, 8541 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring 20910. Join a canvass and share Brooke's vision to transform the Comptroller's office to work for every Marylander. Once you sign up the team will follow up with everything you will need to knock on doors! This will continue through Fe. 27.  Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/brookeliermanforcomptroller/event/397526/?followup_modal_context=email_post_shift_future_timeslots_other_events.

15] – Alan Minsky for Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] is urging you to participate on Sun., Jan. 16 at 4 PM ET for a Town Hall with candidate Jessica Cisneros and historian Harvey J Kaye. No More Manchins and Sinemas! Now is the Time to Transform the Democratic Party by Returning to the Best of its FDR Roots and Winning Primary Elections Across the Country. PDA was founded to transform the Democratic Party into a truly progressive institution, supporting the interests of the people and the planet, not the powerful elite. This past week was a tough one for Democrats. Two stalwarts of the "centrist" wing of the Party refused to support the right of every American to vote, handing the President another defeat at the hands of his own Party. There's no getting around how terrible a moment this is, and how dire the consequences. But the situation is only made worse, if we don't speak up and propose solutions, even if they upset people in high places. After all, there is a simple solution to this crisis - stop electing right-wing Democrats beholden to big money donors and start electing true Progressives.

Jessica Cisneros is running in a South Texas Congressional district against Henry Cuellar, perhaps the most corrupt and right-wing Democrat in the US House of Representatives. As terrible as Cuellar is, Jessica is great - an across-the-board progressive fully committed to the people of her district. Jessica barely lost to Cuellar in 2020, and a victory by Jessica in the first primary of the year (March 1) will reverberate across the country. The message will be unmistakable: no more Manchins, Sinemas, and Cuellars; now is the time to elect progressives like Jessica Cisneros and transform the Democratic Party into what we want, and need, it to be.

Historian Harvey J Kaye, an FDR scholar, stars in and wrote a new video by the Gravel Institute called "The Most Radical Speech in Presidential History." It's about FDR's 1944 State of the Union Speech, in which he calls for a Second Bill of Rights.  Of course, Prof. Kaye is not bringing attention to the speech as a historic curiosity, rather to suggest FDR's proposal as a cornerstone for contemporary progressive politics.  Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4.

16] – Join the Freedom to Vote Act Phonebank with Common Cause. Work together to demand bold changes to our alleged democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Call voters in targeted states and connect them to their Senators to support the Freedom to Vote Act and eliminate the filibuster. These phone banks are subject to change based on variables outside of our control (i.e. a Senator's mailbox is full). On Sun., Jan. 16 from 6 to 8 PM ET, connect WV voters to Sen. Manchin to ask that he does everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster.  On Mon., Jan. 17 from 4 to 6 PM and 6 to 8 PM EST, connect AZ voters to Sen. Sinema to ask that she does everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster. On Tues., Jan. 18 from 4 to 6 PM ET, connect WV voters to Sen. Manchin to ask that he does everything possible to pass the Freedom to Vote Act including fixing the filibuster.

 Register at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/376178/?followup_modal_context=newsletter.

17] – Death Penalty Action [info@deathpenaltyaction.org] wants you to know that on Sun., Jan. 16 at 6 PM ET and Mon., Jan. 17 at 9 AM ET the world will be watching on livestream events from Washington DC around MLK Day and the 45th Anniversary of the first modern-era execution in the United States. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AXFBl0oDRnihfuSBEPF46Q?link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-save-the-date-next-sundaymonday-3&email_referrer=email_1410133&email_subject=mlkday2022-sunday-monday-action-tools for Sunday's event. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3jEzbqXuSPi90pNOLWvd8g?link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-save-the-date-next-sundaymonday-3&email_referrer=email_1410133&email_subject=mlkday2022-sunday-monday-action-tools for Monday's event. 

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 Jan. 17 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 begins 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] – The Century Foundation [events@tcf.org] wants to inform you about an Abolishing Legal Slavery in New York event on Mon., Jan. 17 from noon to 1 PM ET. Join Next100 and the #FixThe13thNY campaign on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to launch a campaign to abolish forced labor and improve wages and working conditions for the incarcerated in New York State. Hear from Next100 Policy Entrepreneur Vidal Guzman, Grace Ortez, Darren Mack, Tyrrell Muhammad, Donna Hylton, and others. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/abolishing-legal-slavery-in-new-york-fixthe13thny-campaign-launch-tickets-228999943997?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=bbfe62cfcf&mc_eid=0f57b5a0fa.

20] – The Indivisible Team has partnered with the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition to hold a weekend of action to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. Indivisibles across the country are attending events now through Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to show their elected officials that they demand voting rights, and they demand them now.  On Mon., Jan. 17 from 3 to 4:30 PM EST, gather at the Wicomico County Government Plaza, 125 N. Division St., Salisbury 21801. Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/?utm_source=Indivisible.

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