Baltimore Activist Alert – June 15 – 16, 2025

Baltimore Activist Alert – June 15 – 16, 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] Antidote to Despair – June 15

7] Informational picket – June 15

8] Doctors against genocide – June 15

9] DSA Internationalism Working Group meeting – June 15

10] What to Do When They Speak Israel- – June 15

11] Celebrate the People Defending Democracy – June 15

12] International finance and empire – June 15

13] Rapid Response for Our Freedoms – June 15

14] Vigil at the Pentagon – June 16

15] Grassroots protection for the vote – June 16

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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] – The Baltimore Ethical Society invites you on Sundays at 10:30 AM for a platform presentation on Zoom or at the Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 E. North Ave., Baltimore 21202.  On Sun., June 15 gather for Action is the Antidote to Despair with Senator Mary Washington, Ph.D. This platform will be delivered in hybrid format. Senator Washington is an advocate for Maryland’s 43rd District as a legislator, professor, ally, public policy leader and trail-blazer. Born in Philadelphia, Mary Washington came to Baltimore due to her scholarly interests and dedication to serving at-risk populations. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from The Johns Hopkins University and became an assistant professor at Lehigh University. She is currently a member of the part-time faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). In 2010, she made history becoming the first openly LGBT African-American elected official in Maryland – and only the second such state legislator in the country. She has passed landmark legislation that bars the inhumane practice of shackling female prisoners during labor and delivery; sponsored and passed the nation’s first law protecting social media (Facebook) password privacy; secured stronger safeguards from electronic harassment via text or direct messaging; won new restrictions on price-gouging and abusive treatment of consumers by rent-to-own stores targeting low-income and minority communities; and passed the state’s first legislation establishing the community schools model as the statewide strategy for addressing concentrated poverty. To receive the Zoom link, email president@bmorethical.org

7] – Join an Informational Picket at Le Diplomate on Sun., June 15 from 11 AM to 2 PM located at 1601 14th St. NW, WDC 20009. UNITE HERE Local 25 is holding informational pickets outside of STARR's Le Diplomate 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 organizing to join UNITE HERE Local 25. You don't have to be a member of DSA to join these pickets or participate in solidarity actions, as anyone who wants to help grow the labor movement is welcome! RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/informational-picket-at-le-diplomate-615?link_id=70&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-june-6-2025&email_referrer=email_2774033&email_subject=metro-dc-

8] – Doctors against Genocide [info@doctorsagainstgenocide.org] on Sun., June 15 at noon ET wants you to check out updates from Gaza. Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aUUzycRDSwaem750Nc6iFg

Words are not enough to end genocide in Gaza, action is needed.  Get live updates from Gaza doctors.

9] – The MDC-DSA Internationalism Working Group Monthly Meeting is on Sun., June 15 at 2 PM at Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, WDC 20008. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/mdc-dsa-internationalism-working-group-monthly-meeting-june-2025?link_id=85&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-16-2025&email_referrer=email_2747438&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-23-2025&& Email internationalism@mdcdsa.org. This meeting will be hybrid.

10] – Voices from the Holy Land presents What to Do When They Speak Israel--a Practical Workshop on Sun., June 15 at 3 PM ET. We are in a time when standing up for the human rights of Palestinians can get students disciplined or even expelled, and visa holders deported, or faculty disciplined or dismissed.  Public and political discourse is polarized to “us against them.” How do we have conversations without falling into traps of misunderstood words, incomplete historical understanding, or purely emotional opinions?  Join this unique Salon – a workshop – covering tips for building skills and confidence in having difficult conversations.  Hear approaches to responding to many claims like “Israel has a right to defend itself” to rationalize the genocide in Gaza or “the war started on October 7.” Watch the curated videos for free at your convenience, and then join the Q&A discussion with Thomas Suárez, an author; lecturer; former faculty and Palestine’s National Conservatory of Music: Miko Peled, author; human rights activist; founder and president - Palestine House of Freedom; and Alex McDonald (workshop leader), author; activist and educational material developer. Register https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xCQZPsCJT7iq5g3ALEcnSg#/registration

 You can also register here for the Voices from the Holy Land Online Film Salon: Tinyurl.com/VFHL-June-2025 Once you register, you will get a confirmation email from Zoom with a link to the meeting and a link with to watch the film.  (Save this confirmation letter as the meeting link is unique to your email and you must have this to participate.) Watch the film at your convenience before the event.  Then join in with your thoughts and questions for the speakers at the Q&A. 

11] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] on Sun., June 15 at 4 PM ET indicates that the weekly Town Hall will Celebrate the People Defending Democracy from Coast to Coast. Join in for a Special Father's Day Town Hall in which hosts Hartzell Gray and Donna Smith will celebrate the nationwide demonstrations against tyranny held on Saturday. RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4?emci=46444cff-0c43-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=ab51fccc-1243-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=2907617#/registration

With each passing day the news can seem dire. U.S. Senators are bullied, handcuffed and then arrested for trying to ask the Administration a question about their rampant disregard for both the Constitution and the truth. The U.S. military has been deployed inside the country, in defiance of the Posse Comitatus Act to suppress dissent and free speech; and to facilitate Gestapo-type raids against working-class communities of color. The GOP continues to steamroll the most damaging piece of legislation possible in all of U.S. history, through Congress. And to top it off, Israel is doing its damnedest to start World War III. Yet, there's great news too because we the people are resisting!  And when people stand up, the words of Woody Guthrie from the middle of last century ring true once again: “Those Fascists are Bound to Lose!”

12] –On Sun., June 15 from 4 to 6 PM ET at the Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Road NW, WDC 20009  or by Zoom, join the monthly meeting of the MDC-DSA Internationalism Working Group.  Participate in the Anti-Imperialist Summer School Week 3: International Finance and Empire.  Email internationalism@mdcdsa.org, Sign up at https://actionnetwork.org/events/session-3-beyond-the-bombs-anti-imperialist-summer-school?link_id=84&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-16-2025&email_referrer=email_2747438&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-23-2025&&

This ‘Anti-Imperialist Summer School’ will consist of a series of teach-ins, held over the course of 6 weeks continuing in June, which will provide a crash course in the shape and functioning of contemporary global imperialism. In the third session of MDC DSA’s Beyond the Bombs: Anti-Imperialist Summer School teach-in series, examine the role of international financial institutions—namely, the IMF and the World Bank, as well as private financial institutions on Wall Street—in upholding global imperialism. Specifically, focus on the predatory lending practices that trap Global South countries in unsustainable debt, as well as the deeply harmful ‘structural adjustment’ policies that coercively impose neoliberal ‘reforms’ and austerity measures that harm the most vulnerable populations in these countries. Trace the history of these institutions and how their role in upholding imperialism has evolved over time, as well as how actors in the Global South have responded to and resisted against them.

13] – On Sundays, June 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM ET, join for a virtual "Rapid Response for Our Freedoms," a crucial event where we stand as one to defend democracy, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard the rights and freedoms we all hold dear. This is our moment to rise up for an America that includes everyone when we say "liberty and justice for all," not just the wealthy and powerful.  At People Power United, we believe in progress and the strength of collective action. Together, we can push back against extremism and build a brighter future. Join us in the fight for Freedom over Fascism and help amplify the power of people to shape our democracy! This event will continue through August 31. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/747339/

14] – 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 June 16, 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.

15] – Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] wants you to participate with the Grassroots Election Protection Coalition/ALLIANCE 4 GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY Zoom on Mon., June 16 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/.

"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