Baltimore Nonviolence Center organizes Peace with Russia demonstration

Baltimore Nonviolence Center organizes Peace with Russia demonstration

  The renowned peace group CODEPINK called for a Global Day of Action - Stop the War with Russia.  Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of CODEPINK, promoted this day of action on February 5 on Democracy Now.  So Max Obuszewski and Janice Sevre-Duszynska of the Baltimore Nonviolence Center contacted CODEPINK’s Justina Poskeviciute that we would organize an event at 1 PM at 33rd & North Charles Streets in Baltimore.  It was posted on the group’s web site. Janice made two posters: “Peace with Russia” and Yes” to Peace, “No” to War.  

 At the vigil, we gathered with members of Women in Black, Veterans for Peace, CPUSA--Baltimore club, students from Johns Hopkins University and others with signs, flags and banners. It was a brisk 32 degrees with significant wind, but the weather did not prevent peace advocates from chastising our government for sending more US troops and weapons to countries in Europe.  The Biden administration is beating the war drums on behalf of the weapons contractors and claiming Russia intends to invade Ukraine.  Even the president of Ukraine had to tell Biden to stop talking about an imminent invasion. According to CODEPINK, there were more than 75 demonstrations planned in the USA.  I later saw on FACEBOOK photographs of demonstrations in Iowa and Maine.

  In an unscientific study of vehicle and foot traffic, I believe we were loudly supported.  Only drivers in two vehicles expressed a vulgar response to the demonstration. 

  The Peoples Power Assembly also gathered on February 5 at North Avenue and Charles Street in Baltimore at noon.  Maryland Peace Action and other organizations endorsed that protest along with a small car caravan.  Eventually, some ten to fifteen of the advocates who gathered at North Avenue joined the protest across from Johns Hopkins University.  Let us hope that the voices for peace across the country will drown out the Biden administration’s hardline perspective regarding Ukraine.  Sadly Maryland’s two senators have co-sponsored legislation aimed at selling more weapons to Ukraine authored by Bob Menendez, a hawkish corporate Democrat, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  Besides Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, 36 Senate Democratic colleagues co-sponsored the Defending [sic] Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022, legislation aimed at imposing steep costs in the event of a renewed Kremlin invasion of Ukraine. The proposal is prepared to impose devastating consequences for Putin and the Russian economy if he goes down the path of re-invading Ukraine. It will also transfer weapons and authorize $500 million in supplemental emergency security assistance.

 Unfortunately, many in the mainstream media have failed to challenge the Biden administration’s hardline stance on Russia.  Are you aware, for example, that U.S. nuclear weapons have been placed in five European countries?  I am of the opinion that this violates the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which calls for the nuclear powers to slowly diminish their nuclear arsenals. 

  Kudos to one reporter, Matt Lee of the Associated Press, for challenging Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department.  Price, formerly with the CIA, claimed Russia is organizing a false-flag operation prior to invading Ukraine.  Who would believe someone from the CIA?  Matt Lee was persistent in demanding of Price to show the media some evidence.  Lee was well aware of the US government lying about Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction.  And the New York Times has exposed the perfidy of the Pentagon denying the numbers of noncombatants killed  by the US military.

 It is imperative that we keep speaking out, and like Matt Lee, demand of our government and our legislators that war is not the answer, that diplomacy can lead to peace and that we will not allow the weapons contractors to profit from a crisis.

  After the demo, four of us shared a community meal and conversation at a nearby restaurant.  We believe we must keep up the pressure for peace and talked about getting together once a month at a local restaurant.  Join us in demonstrating for peace, and consider engaging in a monthly community meal. Let me know if you would like to see photographs of today’s Peace with Russia demonstration.

 Kagiso, Max

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