Baltimore Activist Alert – March 2 – 3, 2025

Baltimore Activist Alert – March 2 – 3, 2025

"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 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] Need help in archiving activist material

4] Get the book A Bag of Snakes

5] Get the book Male Supremacy in the Catholic Church: An Insider’s View by Roy Bourgeois

6] Baltimore activist selling her home

7] Playing God – March 2

8] Canvass for a socialist – March 2

9] Doctors against Genocide webinar – March 2

10] Divest Philly meeting -- March 2

11] Talk to Brian Willson – March 2

12] PDA Town Hall – March 2

13] Electoral Working Group meeting -- March 2

14] Federal Workers Rights Training -- March 2

15] Vigil at the Pentagon – March 3

16] Text voters – March 3

17] Election Protection – March 3

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1] – Buttons, bumper stickers 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] –  Janice Sevre-Duszynska needs some assistance in archiving her activist material.  If you are interested in this project, contact Max at 410-323-1607 or mobuszewski2001 at Comcast dot net.

4] – Barry Lee Burnside, a gaggle of great writers and copy editors are making available “A Bag of Snakes: Selected Writings on Prisons and the Death Penalty by Murphy Davis and Eduard Loring. Edited by Barry Lee Burnside.” Ed indicates the book will be available for sale on April 13, and is asking you to pre-order your copy. Your donation will provide a needed financial boost for the printing costs. The suggested donation is $20 for one copy; and $30 for your copy and an additional copy for a prisoner or someone in need. Any donation is appreciated. More or less you will receive the book.  Barry and the team have spent over two years putting this book together. It begins with outlines and notes found in the boxes of materials Murphy left when she ascended. The work is a work of love, and all involved are proud of the fruit borne by seeds nourished in good soil.

To order by postal mail, make your check to Open Door Community.  Send it to Open Door Community, PO Box 10980, Baltimore 21234.  For any questions, contact David Payne at 404-290-2047 or davidpayne@opendoorcommunity.org.

5] – Another book to consider purchasing is Male Supremacy in the Catholic Church: An Insider’s View by Roy Bourgeois. His new book is both memoir and position-paper, and it makes the case that the Roman Catholic Church is a corrupt system that spits out truth-tellers. The crime he was excommunicated for was attending the ordination ceremony of Janice Sevre-Duszynska in Lexington, Kentucky, in August 2008. The ordination was under the auspices of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests.  The Vatican’s response has been to excommunicate any woman who has the audacity to see herself as a priest equal to a male priest. You can purchase a copy from Amazon or by Kindle.

Here are two quotes to contemplate: “I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men. She is to keep silent.” – Timothy 1, 2:12-13.  “If the patriarchy that dominates the church is not dismantled and women are not treated as equals, the church will continue to diminish and, eventually, die.” – Roy Bourgeois.

6] – A home in Baltimore is for sale on a dead-end street in the Lauraville neighborhood, with three bedrooms, and one bath. The yard backs into a field and then a forest. There is a serene and quiet setting with an abundance of wildlife. The owner will be asking a reasonable amount for the property but it will not be overpriced. Contact her by text only at 443 500 6733. On the text, leave your name and phone number, and she will get back to anyone that reaches out. 

7] – The Baltimore Ethical Society invites you on Sundays at 10:30 AM for a platform presentation. On March 2, the Zoom presentation will be “Playing God: An Evolutionary History of World Religion.” Recently scholars around the world have made some fascinating and jaw-dropping discoveries in the field of global religious history—including ones that overturn so much of what we think we know about the founders and origins of our major world religions. Author David Fitzgerald is an award-winning writer, historical researcher and an atheist activist who lectures internationally at universities and secular events, and is a frequent guest on many podcasts. He has been a passionate advocate for atheism, civil rights, counter-apologetics and secular humanism his entire adult life. Starting in the 1990’s, he was called one of the busiest atheist activists in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving on the board of San Francisco Atheists and CFI-SF for over a decade. He was the Director and Co-Founder of both the world’s first Atheist Film Festival and Evolutionpalooza! San Francisco’s oldest annual Darwin Day celebration.  He is the star of his own podcast, The Myth of Jesus with David Fitzgerald. More information about David can be found on his website at davidfitzgerald.org.

 As a historical researcher, he has been actively investigating the Historical Jesus question for over twenty-five years, and was an associate member of CSER (the former Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion). To receive a Zoom invitation, please email president@bmorethical.org.

8] – Metro DC DSA [info@mdcdsa.org] endorsed Shayla Adams-Stafford, and socialists are organizing to elect a people’s champion to the Prince George’s County Council District 5 seat. Comrades will do the last canvass for Shayla on Sun., March 2 from 11 AM to 2 PM ET, starting from the Progressive Maryland Office, 4500 Forbes Blvd., Lanham 20706. Knock on doors until about 2 PM and meet up afterward to debrief. Chapter members and allies are invited to participate: hand warmers will be provided, and warm dress is strongly encouraged. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/feb-16-canvass-for-shayla-adams-stafford?link_id=17&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-january-24-2025-5&email_referrer=email_2619065&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-february-14-2025

 Shayla is a former Teachers Union shop steward, has led the fight on the school board for care not policing in our schools, and fought back against developers to get strong project labor agreements on public school projects. This race will decide the balance of power on a County Council split 5 – 5 between corporate developer interests and progressives. Establishment Democrats are opposing Shayla with everything they have.

9] –Doctors against Genocide [info@doctorsagainstgenocide.org] is doing its weekly webinar on Sun., March 2 at noon ET. RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jE2bgsvsQHCi29nIq8AUAQ

Check out Voices from Gaza with a first-hand account from Dr. Khaled Alser, Co-founder of Healthcare Workers Watch. Dr. Alser spent 7 months in Israeli Detention Camps. Get with Amnesty International landmark report on the Crime of Genocide in Gaza: – Alicia Koutsoulieris, Amnesty International Country Specialist for Israel/OPT/State of Palestine.

10] – Divest Philly [greta@worldbeyondwar.org] meets monthly on the first Sunday of the month from 2:30 to 3:30 PM ET on Zoom. The next meeting is Sun., March 2 at 2:30 PM ET. If you are interested in attending, email greta@worldbeyondwar.org to get the Zoom link.

11] – On Sun., March 2 at 3 PM ET, there is a webinar with Brian Willson: Veteran, Peace Activist, Nicaraguan Citizen.  Brian started life in a conservative small town in upstate New York, but changed his political outlook as a result of life events including military experience in Vietnam. On September 1, 1987, he and other veterans blocked railroad tracks at the Concord, CA, naval station, to protest shipping US weapons to Central America. An approaching train did not stop, and Brian barely survived the impact, losing both legs below the knee as well as his right frontal lobe. After this attack, his activism only intensified. As a trained lawyer and writer, he has also documented US policy in over 20 countries including Nicaragua, which he made his permanent home several years ago.  REGISTER at bit.ly/NicaMarch2.  

Brian is ready to answer your questions, as well as the following queries:  What were the most important factors that changed your political viewpoint and impelled you to take action?  Why did you decide to move to Nicaragua, and what have you experienced and observed while living there?  What message do you have for other activists and potential activists?

12] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to know on Sun., March 2 at 4 PM ET there will be a Town Hall. Hear from Jamaal Bowman—one of the most brilliant, dynamic, and truthful politicians in America. Discuss PDA's strategy to defeat MAGA and launch a new Progressive era.  As we all know, imbalanced redistricting, plus an avalanche of right-wing money arrayed against him and in support of his conservative Democratic opponent, led to Bowman's defeat in last year's primary. No one understands the imbalances that plague the American political system better than Jamaal Bowman—and no one tells it like it is any better. Less than two months since he left Congress, Bowman will give the lowdown on how Congress really operates and what Democrats must do to fight back effectively against Trump and Musk.

Then, there will be a PDA strategy session. Executive Director Alan Minsky has written a series of articles on Common Dreams, about how progressives can and must take over the Democratic Party for the good of the country and the world. The articles have created quite a buzz on social media. A presentation of their central ideas, followed by an open discussion, is overdue on one of our Town Halls.  Register here and the machine will email you your secure codes: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4#/registration

13] – The Northern Virginia DSA Electoral Working Group meeting will be on Sun., March 2 from 7 to 8 PM.  Join #nova-electoral on slack, and fill out the interest form. Also, feel free to reach out to @Alex Yarkosky on slack with any questions about electoral work. A link to attend this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/nova-electoral-monthly-working-group-meeting-0302?link_id=74&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-february-21-2025&email_referrer=email_2636553&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-february-28-2025

Join us in #nova-electoral on slack, and fill out our interest form. Also, feel free to reach out to @Alex Yarkosky on slack with any questions about electoral work.

14] – Trump, Musk, and DOGE want to take away federal employees’ rights and economic security, but federal laws and union contracts still protect workers in critical ways. Are you worried about being illegally fired, transferred, placed on unpaid leave, or furloughed? The DSA Labor Working Group will do a Federal Workers Rights Training from 2 to 4 PM ET on Sun., March 2 ET at the at Shaw Neighborhood Library, 1630 7th St. NW, WDC 20001. This federal labor rights workshop will cover the key protections that you have to fight back with your coworkers. This is part of a continuing series of “Know Your Labor Rights” workshops hosted by experienced labor lawyers and veteran organizers across the DC area. Contact Zachary T. at 914-357-0696.  RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/federal-workers-rights-training?link_id=73&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-february-21-2025&email_referrer=email_2636553&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-february-28-2025

15] – 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 March 3, 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. The restrooms are located inside Marriot Providence Inn on corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr.

16] – Join the virtual Distributed Texting Team, hosted by Chesapeake Climate Action Network / Action Fund on Mon., March 3 from noon to 8 PM ET. Send texts to CCAN members and voters to help support critical climate legislation like the RENEW Act. The next texting date is Mon., March 10- from noon to 8 PM ET. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/746881/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_more_events_from_org

17] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to participate with the Grassroots Election Protection Coalition/ALLIANCE 4 GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY Zoom on Mon., March 3 at 5 PM ET. Hear from leading activists, elected officials, and others committed to union organizing as well as cleaning up our elections and the environment, and other critically important issues. RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqfuygpjIiHtc20uIOxdeqYRiAicjSLWUc#/registration

To be continued

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, and 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212.  Ph.: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/.