Two radical history tours of Baltimore in May

Apr 30, 2008

First up, check out the IWW's May Day Roll: The Baltimore Labor History Bike Tour. Starting May 1st at 9:30 AM (don't worry, you can hook up with the tour at Red Emma's at 10:30 if that sounds a little early). More info over at Baltimore Indymedia.

If that's too short notice, or you can't get off work, or don't bike, don't worry! On May 18th there'll be a Baltimore People's Bus Tour: Commemorating the Catonsville Nine Anniversary, which will be touring sites of struggle from the 60's in the area, with a focus on anti-war activism and the Black Panthers. $10 tickets are available at Red Emma's, click through for the full details.

 Baltimore People's Bus Tour -- May 18, 2008

   Commemorating the Catonsville Nine Anniversary

  For over twenty years there have been many Baltimore People's Bus
   Tours. This tour will commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the
   Catonsville Nine protest of May 17, 1968.

   It will also celebrate that era's legacy of struggle, when many of
   Baltimore's citizens -- women and men , black and white--worked
   together to protest against the Viet Nam War and against racism,
   sexism and poverty. Join the bus to hear some of the original
   organizers describe how they built a movement and alternative
   institutions.

   Sunday, May 18, 2008

   10:00-1:00

   (rain or shine)

   The bus will depart from St. John's United Methodist Church at 2640
   St. Paul Street at 10:00 and return at 1:00. There is ample on-street
   parking. .

   Tickets: $10

   Tickets may be purchased in advance at Red Emmas, 800 St.Paul Street
   (St. Paul at West Madison) or reserved and paid by credit card at
   <info@redemmas.org>

   Highlights of the Tour:

   1) People's Free Medical Clinic -Learn about collaboration among Black
   Panthers, Baltimore Women's Liberation and Baltimore Defense Committee
   to house the clinic, Women: A Journal of Liberation and Baltimore
   Women's Liberation.

   2) Former site of the Customs House -- Learn about GI opposition to
   the war in Vietnam and parallels with the war in Iraq.

   3) Viva House - Learn about feeding the poor at a Catholic Workers
  Soup Kitchen.

   4)Former site of the Peace Action Center -Learn about Baltimore's
   widespread anti-Viet Nam protests.

   5)Edmondson Village/Route 40/ -- learn about the Black Panther Party
   in Baltimore and about Westside development (the Road to Nowhere).

   6) former site of the Catonsville Draft Board -Learn about the
   legendary burning of draft records and ensuing trial.

   Plus additional commentary en route.

   Presenters and an historical link include:

   * Jim Baldridge (Veterans for Peace)

   *Willa Bickham and Brendan Walsh (Viva House)

   *Herman Heyn (Peace Action Center)

   * R.B. Jones (Black Panthers)

   * Donna Poggi Keck (Women, A Journal of Liberation)

   *Dean Pappas (Peace Action Center)

   *Barbara Staton (teenaged witness to Baltimore's 1968 urban rebellion)

   Sponsors: Ric Pfeffer Lecture Committee/Research Associates Foundation