Baltimore Activist Alert – May 17 – 18, 2026

Baltimore Activist Alert – May 17 – 18, 2026

"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] Contact the White House

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] Labor History Project

7] Friends meeting – May 17

8] Ethics for an age of distraction – May 17

9] Canvass for Aparna Raj – May 17

10] Distribute mutual aid – May 17

11] Celebrate Ukraine -- May 17

12] Canvass for Imara Crooms – May 17

13] Canvass for Gabe Acevero -- May 17

14] Canvass for Zola Shaw – May 17

15] Weekly] See Amy Goodman documentary – May 17 – 21

16] Canvass for Josie Caballero – May 17

17] Voices from the Holy Land – May 17

18] Weekly PDA Town Hall – May 17

19] Catonsville Nine vigil – May 17

20] Vigil at the Pentagon – May 18

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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] –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.” 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] – William Barry [billbarry21214@gmail.com] has a request. As the country begins to celebrate our 250th anniversary, our history is complicated but one thing is certain--labor history is always deleted. So he created the MD250 Labor History Project, and hopes you will participate by sending in labor history materials, and by sharing it with your friends, as part of creating a union movement. Go to https://www.md250laborhistory.org/

"We are either part of the solution or part of the problem." "The only reason an organization has dead wood is that management either hired dead wood or it hired live wood and killed it."   - W. Edwards Deming

7] – Homewood Friends Meeting [homewoodfriends@gmail.com] gathers for worship on Sundays at 10:30 AM at 3107 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21218 and on Zoom.  A simple lunch will take place after the 10:30 AM worship. Call 410-235-4438. To join by Zoom, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/255867065?pwd=UDNxVnlVSkZQOHlXWlc3NHpHeHdhZz09#success

8] – The Baltimore Ethical Society on Sun., May 17 at 10:30 AM will do a virtual platform "Ethics for an Age of Distraction" by Louise Jett. In today’s attention economy, where people focus shapes daily life and the wider culture. This talk will examine how Humanists can treat attention as a sacred resource. American Ethical Union-Certified Ethical Culture Leader Louise Jett will pair reflection with practice. Participants will be invited to turn scattered attention into deliberate care, because what we look at, shapes us; and what we tend together, we can shape.

Jett is an artist, and storyteller dedicated to building connection through creativity, ethics, and empathy. She serves as Creative Director at the Ethical Society of St. Louis and as Statewide Branding Manager for the State of Illinois, where she leads initiatives to strengthen belonging, communication, and purpose. With a background spanning design, education, and public service, Louise has taught social media marketing, graphic and web design, and news writing at Lewis and Clark Community College and created branding strategies that unite mission with meaning. She integrates Humanist values into every project, whether mentoring new leaders, developing inclusive campaigns, or crafting experiences that invite reflection and collective action. Her talks and workshops explore the intersections of creativity, ethics, and community, inviting participants to imagine a kinder world and to create it together. RSVP https://www.meetup.com/bmorethical/events/314486595/?eventOrigin=group_events_list

9] – On Sun., May 17 at 11 AM, Aparna Raj will be canvassing with the Labor Working Group starting at Triangle Park, Mount Pleasant, 1733 Park Road NW, WDC 20010. Join Metro DC DSA’s Labor Working Group in knocking on doors for Aparna Raj in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. If you can't make it to the launch right at 11AM, feel free to come at 1PM. Training will be provided — bring water, a portable charger, and good walking shoes! RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/517-aparna-raj-canvassing-with-the-labor-working-group?link_id=4&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-8-2026&email_referrer=email_3240349&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-15-2026&&

10] – On Sun., May 17 from 11 AM to 2 PM at Court House Metro, 2100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201, the Northern Virginia mutual aid working group will do a distribution.  Email novamutualaid@mdcdsa.org.Feel free to bring any packaged food, water, hygienic supplies, clothes, etc. that you'd like to donate. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/nova-mawg-monthly-distribution-court-house-edition-3/?link_id=4&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-05072026-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events&email_referrer=email_3238585&email_subject=05142026-nova-branch-dsa-upcoming-actions-and-events&&

11] – On Sun., May 17 at noon ET, bring your favorite Ukrainian snacks, pour a cup of compote (or something stronger!), and connect in a celebration of Ukrainian culture, community, and spring and summer traditions—no matter where you are. Expect good conversation, the latest updates on how Returned Peace Corps volunteers and allies are strengthening Ukraine’s resilience, and tangible ways to take action and support Ukraine. Share a little piece of Ukraine together. After registering here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yNyFZvoYR_G3MfSOCh91BQ#/registration

12] – On Sun., May 17 from 1 to 4 PM, join Imara Crooms for District 9 in a Community Canvass starting at the Branch Ave. Metro, 4707 Old Soper Road, Suitland 20746. Call 240-238-5842. As Election Day approaches we're stepping up canvasses to talk to neighbors about electing Imara Crooms to the Prince George's County Council. As the only Publicly Financed candidate in this race, Imara is refusing every cent of developer and corporate money to ensure the Council finally prioritizes people over profits. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/crooms-for-district-9-community-canvass-2026-05-17?link_id=14&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-8-2026&email_referrer=email_3240349&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-15-2026&&

13] – The opposition slate is out in force knocking doors. They are not united by policy, but by the desire to unseat the most left-wing candidate in the Maryland General Assembly, Metro DC DSA cadre candidate Gabe Acevero. A canvass for Gabe will be held on Sun., May 17 from 1 to 5 PM at Clopper Mill Elementary, 18501 Cinnamon Dr., Germantown 20874. All are welcome, including anyone new to electoral organizing as training will be provided for those who need it. Gabe will be on hand to meet volunteers and discuss his policy on data centers in Maryland. You do not need to show up for the entire duration. There will be two launches, one at 1 PM and another at 3 PM.  RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/sun-517-gabe-acevero-canvass/?link_id=20&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-8-2026&email_referrer=email_3240349&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-15-2026&&

14] – MDC DSA endorsed candidate Zola Shaw will be on hand at the canvass launch on Sun., May 17 at 1 PM to talk to volunteers from DSA and allied organizations about protecting and expanding tenant rights in Montgomery County. With real estate organizations, developers, and landlords going all in on the opposition to Zola, renter protections are on the line. The rally/canvass will start at the MoCo Board of Education Office (across the street from MC Rockville), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville 20850. Training and buddies will be provided to all who need them. Shaw has been a steadfast advocate for tenant rights, organizing for rent stabilization in Montgomery County and then spearheading a movement to pass rent stabilization in Rockville, which was exempted from the county law. Join Zola's campaign for a mini rally in support of tenant rights and then knock on tenants' doors to talk to them about Zola's candidacy for Montgomery County Council. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/tenant-power-rally-and-canvass-with-zola-shaw/?link_id=17&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-8-2026&email_referrer=email_3240349&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-15-2026&&

15] – On Sun., May 17 through Thurs., May 21 at 1 PM, you can see a documentary about Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now Steal This Story, Please! See it at the Charles Theatre, 1711 N. Charles St., Baltimore 21201.  

16] – In Montgomery County, Josie Caballero is in one of the most crowded races the county has ever seen. A canvass will be held on Sun., May 17 from 2 to 6 PM at the Sligo-Bennington Neighborhood Park, 599 Bennington Dr., Silver Spring 20910. Training, rides to doors, and buddies will be provided to all who need them. In addition, Metro DC DSA and coalition partners are holding a special Tenant Power Rally and Canvass. It is around a 20 minute walk and bus ride from the Silver Spring Metro stop. Get a brief training before the canvass. RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/sun-517-josie-caballero-canvas-in-silver-spring/?link_id=16&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-8-2026&email_referrer=email_3240349&email_subject=metro-dc-dsa-weekly-newsletter-for-may-15-2026&&

17] – Voices from the Holy Land [vfhlonlinefilmsalon@144271541.mailchimpapp.com] on Sun., May 17 at 3 PM want you to attend Enduring Palestine: Erasure and Cultural Resistance for an online Film Salon.  Since its founding in 1948, Israel has engaged in a long-term erasure of the indigenous Palestinian presence, from home demolitions to attacking centuries-old olive groves, destroying antiquities, and reframing archaeological evidence. Israel has redrawn regional maps to exclude Palestinian names and landmarks, renamed streets, and outlawed the Palestinian flag to deny the very existence of Palestine through physical, spatial, and linguistic erasure. Alongside erasure is cultural appropriation of Palestinian regional cuisine, music, and dance. Stem this process by celebrating this ethnically unique culture, from dabke to tatreez, from music, to libraries to poems and images. These are carriers of a resilient cultural identity that refuses erasure. What can you do to resist and celebrate? Watch the curated videos included in the registration confirmation email at your convenience ahead of the discussion.  Register at Tinyurl.com/VFHL-May2026. 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. 

18] – The Progressive Democrats of America [info@pdamerica.org] on Sun., May 17 at 4 PM ET will hold its weekly Town Hall and host Randy Villegas who will discuss the fight for a Democratic Party that puts working people first — not corporate donors. Randy is running a people-powered campaign for California’s 22nd District focused on progressive policies: Medicare for All, Defending Medicaid & Social Security, Climate & environmental justice, Workers’ rights and Taking on corporate PAC money. This race is bigger than one district — it’s about the future direction of the Democratic Party and whether progressives will have a seat at the table. RSVP at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tceuhrzsvHdymeeZRwb-i7X50FJa-HMR4?emci=2384672c-2851-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&emdi=709181e1-2f51-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=2907617#/registration

19] – The Baltimore Phil Berrigan Memorial Veterans For Peace will commemorate the Catonsville 9 Viet Nam draft file-burning action on 17 May, Sunday, at the Catonsville Knights of Columbus Hall at 1010 Frederick Road at 4 PM, and all are certainly invited. Friends of the Cville 9 will gather on the K of C parking lot where the action happened, sharing memories and readings, and then cross the side street to the Cville Library where the historical marker about the Cville 9 is. We'll have VFP flags and banners. Bring readings and other banners. Email Ellen Barfield [mailto:ellene4pj@yahoo.com].

20] – There is a weekly Pentagon Peace Vigil from 7 to 8 AM on Mondays, since 1987, outside the Pentagon Metro stop.  However, the Pentagon police, presumably on the orders of President Trump, have made it impossible to protest on the reservation. Now it will take place on the corner of S. Fern and Army Navy Dr. in Arlington, VA.  The next vigil is Mat 18, and it is sponsored by the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker.  Email artlaffin@hotmail.com or call 202-882-9649. 

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.

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