Baltimore Activist Alert -- May 21 - June 8, 2025

45] WorldPride 2025 – through June 8

46] Power Half-Hour for Gaza – May 21, 22, 26 & 27

47] Rally at the Capitol for Mother Earth – May 21

48] Baltimore sign waving – May 21

49] Informational Picket at Le Diplomate – May 21

50] Stop the MVP Southgate – May 21

51] Legislative debrief – May 21 

52] Discuss your direct action – May 21

53] Join DSA – May 21

54] Fast for Gaza – forty days

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45] – Takoma Park Mobilization [info@tpmobilization.org] on Wed., May 21 through June 8 for WorldPride 2025. 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC! The Capital Pride Alliance is excited for Washington, DC to host WorldPride 2025 and share this momentous and exciting milestone with our international community.  Be a part of The Fabric of Freedom through in Washington, DC! Register at https://worldpridedc.org/

46] – Jewish Voice for Peace is doing a Power Half-Hour for Gaza: Channel grief & outrage into action to stop a genocide.  A year into the genocide in Gaza, we are overwhelmed with sorrow and rage. There are no words to describe the devastating pain of the past year in which the Israeli military has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including more than 17,000 children. The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court have both declared that Israel must stop the genocidal acts being committed on the Palestinian people. And the U.S. government is actively supporting the Israeli military as it wreaks devastation on the over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. JVP continues to come together as a political community in its daily half-hour to take action. Join in and take collective action to demand an arms embargo to Israel, immediate end to the genocide, a lasting ceasefire and an end to Israeli siege, apartheid, occupation, and oppression of Palestinians and Lebanon. All are welcome. All are needed. Get involved at 3 PM ET on Wed., May 21, Thurs., May 22, Mon., May 26 & Tues., May 27. Visit https://jvp-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Un0Lupy1SFObVVXJaZO5UQ?_x_zm_rtaid=8L0JUS3pQkenMGtx9ha3mQ.1732760660364.03949df73aedc7035fc618f76c52fc75&_x_zm_rhtaid=249#/registration

47] – On Wed., May 21 from 4 to 6 PM, rally at the Capitol to Stop Clean Energy Bans and Polluter Giveaways! Watch the House closely as Republicans kick off voting on their budget reconciliation bill, which is chock-full of handouts to polluters and billionaires and is on track to be one of the most harmful, costly, and sweeping pieces of legislation in recent history. The League of Conservation Voters is rallying at the U.S. Capitol steps to fight back against Republicans’ attempts to pass massive cuts to essential programs to provide handouts to billionaires and polluters. After you RSVP, we'll follow up with the exact meeting spot and timing: https://www.mobilize.us/lcv/event/785495/

48] – On Wed., May 21 from 4:30 to 5 PM join Baltimore Sign Waves at West 40th St. & Roland Ave., Baltimore 21211. The sign waves will continue on April 30. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/763996/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest

The Wednesday Movement launched on March 12, 2025 when disgruntled seniors took to the streets in Baltimore to make their feelings known. The Movement, a weekly Pro-Democracy, Anti-Trump, Anti-Putin vigil, gathers on a heavily trafficked Baltimore street corner. We invite others who feel the same way to join the Movement. You do not need to be old to join this movement. This event will continue through June 25.

49] – On Wed., May 21 from 5 to 8 PM, UNITE HERE Local 25 is holding informational pickets outside of Starr’s Le Diplomate, 1601 14^th St. NW, WDC 20009  to let the public know the workers there do not have a union contract! Metro DC DSA's Labor Working Group is mobilizing the community and its members to come out for ongoing pickets in support of the restaurant workers leading up to May Day. RSVP at  https://actionnetwork.org/events/informational-picket-at-le-diplomate-521?link_id=86&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-april-25-2025-2&email_referrer=email_2728931&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-9-2025&&

50] – CCAN [info@chesapeakeclimate.org] on Wed., May 21 at 6:30 PM is calling out to STOP the MVP Southgate! RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jzHfxYbHRBS7Px6JlgYhRA#/registration

 Donald Trump’s so-called “energy emergency” executive order means the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) developers could fast-track permitting for a terrible extension. Yes, now MVP developers want to construct 30 more miles of polluting pipeline under special regulations in the executive order. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will decide whether or not to issue a key water permit for the MVP Southgate proposal. You can comment until May 30, so focus on MVP’s documented instances of pollution violations and push back on Trump’s energy emergency.  In 2019 MVP paid over $2 million for environmental violations. Now this same company thinks they can convince us that there will be no issues as they build close to 30 miles more pipe through our communities? 

51] – Catch a Legislative Debrief on Wed., May 21 at 6 PM.  Get the scoop what really went down behind the scenes, talk about the bills Progressive Maryland championed, and get a break down about the Governor’s final decisions. RSVP at https://discord.com/invite/jBevd3aP?emci=a40af8e0-e634-f011-a5f1-6045bda9d96b&emdi=0bd6df52-f834-f011-a5f1-6045bda9d96b&ceid=136680&event=1370085733762601120

52] – The Peace Alliance invites you to share your experiences and knowledge about direct actions on May 21 at 8 PM ET.  RSVP athttps://zoom.us/j/464735321#success

 There are so many experiences with direct actions that we can all benefit from a group discussion of what has been effective, how we've changed from taking an action, and what risks do we consider before taking action.  You will also get an update on the Department of Peacebuilding Campaign.

 53] – Get over to a virtual Why You Should Join DSA: New Member Orientation on Wed., May 21 from 8 to 9 PM ET. This is a new member orientation. Curious about DSA? Thinking about joining but want to hear more info first? Attended a few of the events and ready become a member? Already a member and want to get more involved?  You'll learn about DSA, what is done, and how you can get involved in the fight for a brighter future. Get an outline of the chapter's structure and campaigns, working groups, and branches. This chapter covers the DMV area, including the district, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland. This event is open to both DSA members and supporters. RSVP at  https://actionnetwork.org/events/informational-picket-at-le-diplomate-522?link_id=88&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-april-25-2025-2&email_referrer=email_2728931&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-9-2025&&oin DSA/New Member Orientation

 54] – Friends of Sabeel North America [friends@fosna.org] is inviting you to a 40-day fast for Gaza, organized by Veterans for Peace at https://www.veteransforpeace.org/. On May 22, fasting will occur across the country while demanding: 1) a resumption of humanitarian aid, under UN authority, to Gaza; and 2) that the U.S. stop arming Israel NOW! There are two fasting options: a centralized fasting location in NYC where fasters will commit to 250 calories a day, in line with the general caloric intake of Gazans under the ongoing Israeli military blockade, and a dispersed fasting option for folks to join the work from their own locale. This action is open to all Gaza allies and people of good conscience who want an end to the genocide in Gaza, veteran or not.

 Dispersed fasters can select a meaningful method of fasting like water-only, a time-based fast (like Ramadan), or 250 calories/day. You decide what is most meaningful for your participation in this action from your local positionality and your own body. If the demands are not met by the end of the 40 days, fasters will commit to escalating in a meaningful way in their own community once the action is complete. For more details on the fast and to sign up as a faster, register here: https://www.fosna.org/2025gazafast https://fosna.nationbuilder.com/r?u=O9eB5WnG1qly85yekFey4JEHCalNhvg4Z9JIZcXFJR6iuMlwmaBlqVVQSnFAvYHx&e=63c44389e32dff42840fd946fb089e7d&utm_source=fosna&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=forced_displacement_40_days_an&n=6

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/.

"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