Protest

I was recently shown a picture from one of the Occupy protests taking place across the country. It featured a young woman surrounded by police. She was the only protester in the picture, but she didn't seem intimidated. All by herself, up against the police barricade, she held a handwritten sign saying simply, "I am a born again American. " I've never met this woman, but I think I know exactly what she's feeling. I had my first "born again American" moment 30 years ago, when I was moved to outrage and action by a group of hate-preaching televangelists who were trying to claim sole ownership of patriotism, faith and flag for the far right.

— A high-profile meeting of world leaders at Camp David drew only sparse protests Friday despite extensive security preparations by local officials. Frederick County closed public schools Friday and police said they felt obligated to "prepare for the worst," but ultimately only about 50 Occupy movement participants showed at a "People's Summit" held in a library in advance of the Group of Eight industrialized nations meeting. By midday, fewer than half a dozen people picketed sidewalks in nearby Thurmont.

The NBA has denied the Mavericks' protest of their 116-108 overtime loss to the Rockets last month. The Mavericks argued that the referees had improperly called a technical foul on center Erick Dampier following an instant replay review with 1 minute, 1 second left in overtime of the Dec. 18 game. Because it was Dampier's second technical foul, he was ejected. Commissioner David Stern , however, ruled Tuesday that the decision to give Dampier a technical was a judgment call.

In a standoff that might require delicate diplomacy to resolve, officials in Western Maryland are pressing the federal government to reconsider its refusal to help pay for local security costs for this week's G-8 summit at Camp David. Local police say they are ready for expected protests of the Group of Eight industrialized nations gathering that begins Friday and ends Saturday night — the highest-profile event held at the presidential retreat in years — but they are not eager to pick up the tab. They say overtime and equipment could cost tens of thousands of dollars — a big hit to small-town budgets.

To all who have misconceptions about the protest at the Ed Block Award Foundation's banquet, I was there. I helped with the protest. I know why were there and what happened. We were not protesting Michael Vick's existence with our peaceful protest of approximately 100 people. We were protesting his receiving the courage award. And we did not need a dozen policemen to control us. Four to six stood along the barrier and watched us. I spoke with all of them and assured them that we would not be any trouble.

I feel The Sun and its readers need to know that the rally planned by former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is sponsored by corporate special interests. Americans for Prosperity is a corporate funded "hit squad" whose purpose is to fund millions of dollars towards preserving profit margins for insurance companies and other corporate interests. They also run Patients United Now. Their agenda is to keep the status quo for corporations. They appeal to the ignorance and fears of the so-called tea baggers.

I am impressed by Jabriera Handy's story of her experience in jail and her work today as a youth organizer ("Occupy right to question youth jail plan," Jan. 23). Remarkably, she does not sound bitter, but rather, at a young age, has turned her experience into fuel for activism. Baltimore does not need a youth jail. My only bone to pick with what she writes is her reluctance to approve of civil disobedience as a form of protest against the planned jail. I don't know the details of how the Occupy folks conducted themselves, but civil disobedience is a time-honored, dignified form of speech.

My only reaction in response to today's article about the protest at Café Hon ( "Demonstrators protest 'Hon' trademark," Dec. 20) is wondering where are these protestors and their outrage over real issues of life and death, such as standing up to child abuse, which ends over 2,500 lives a year? Where is their outrage over that? I respect their constitutional right to assemble, but get angry over something of real importance. You protestors are welcome to join us anytime you are ready to make your voices heard about keeping children safe.

As hundreds of Baltimore firefighters marched on City Hall Thursday afternoon to protest service cutbacks, Mayor Sheila Dixon announced plans to postpone the closure of any more companies until the end of the fiscal year on July 1. One company had been scheduled to close on New Year's Day. Dixon also said that the number of companies closed for a day on a rotating basis will be reduced from five to four, and that the Fire Department had applied for...

Near City Hall, 5-year-old Shalyn Lloyd stood wearing a green hoodie and carrying a sign that read: "Are we next?" His sign expressed the outrage felt by hundreds who marched in downtown Baltimore on Monday night — and thousands more who have rallied in cities around the nation in recent days — to protest the failure of Florida authorities to arrest George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who killed teenager Trayvon Martin on...

Republican lawmakers opened Monday's special session with a roar of protest, denouncing Gov. Martin O'Malley as a liar and vowing to fight the majority Democrats' plans to raise income taxes and shift part of the cost of teacher pensions to the counties. Several dozen GOP senators and delegates held a news conference on the first floor of the State House and directed much of their fire at the occupant of the office on the floor above. House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell, a Calvert County Republican, told of hearing on the radio on the way  to Annapolis that lawmakers were coming into session to cut an additional $600 million in spending -- an interpretation he said had come from the governor's office.

Thank you for writing the article shining a light on anti-choice people who harass and humiliate people and their families who are not breaking any laws ("Abortion fight widens," May 11). To think that these people would go to a man's middle-school aged daughter's school to defame the girl and her family because the girl's dad rents space to abortion providers is deplorable. These anti-choice fanatics should get a taste of their own medicine by receiving calls and visits to their neighborhoods and schools.

Almost 500 Emory University faculty and students have expressed their dismay that their commencement speaker on Monday does not toe the ideological line when it comes to evolutionary biology. Yes - gasp - the renowned Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon Ben Carson does not believe in evolutionary theory. Not only that, but biology professors at Emory and their supporters also accuse Dr. Carson of committing a thought crime because he allegedly "equates acceptance of evolution with a lack of ethics and morality.

The Germantown clinic featured in today's story, “ Maryland abortion protest target takes fight to protesters ,” has been a focal point of the abortion debate over the past few years. Dr. LeRoy Carhartarrived there in late 2010. That year, Nebraska had banned abortions after 20 weeks. Carhart, who performs both early- and late-term abortions, still lives in Nebraska and travels to Maryland to work at the Germantown clinic. Michael Martelli, director of the Maryland Coalition for Life, said Carhart's arrival in Maryland was a “catalyst for the … rising up and unity” of many groups that oppose abortion.

The fliers first showed up in March, dropped on doorsteps of the big homes in Todd Stave's quiet cul-de-sac. They compared him to a Nazi. Two months later and 50 miles away, new anti-abortion leaflets appeared in another peaceful suburban subdivision, this time in Baltimore County. They had the same bloody images. But now, they targeted Stave's in-laws, asking neighbors to pray for the family and to call or visit their home. Protesters had also showed up at his daughter's middle school.

In the little town of Thurmont (population not quite 6,200), the recession has taken a heavy toll on Main Street, but things are picking up as residents prepare for next month's G8 Summit at nearby Camp David. The Cozy Country Inn has been busy booking reservations, and Rocky's New York Pizza is scheduling extra employee shifts to prep more dough and sauce. The county sheriff's department is preparing contingency plans for large-scale protests and telling deputies to expect hours of overtime.

The blaring horns of a dozen construction trucks echoed off the facade of City Hall and surrounding buildings Monday, a cacophonous protest against a jobs bill that opponents claim could put small contractors out of business. The bill, introduced at Monday evening's Baltimore City Council meeting, would require city building projects worth $5 million or more to pay prevailing wages and benefits and to give hiring preference to workers in city union halls. Opponents say its intent is to force smaller businesses to unionize, which they insist they cannot afford.

The anemic mainstream media coverage of Occupy Baltimore's demonstrations against corporate greed is not surprising when one considers that the giant corporations own the media. Paul Edgar, Sparks

A trio of Maryland colleges students were arrested today after sitting down by the State House entrance to protest lawmakers' failure so far to pass legislation boosting offshore wind development. The students, two from St. Mary's College and one from theUniversity of Maryland, College Park,  sat atop the steps with signs saying "Wind Works" for 20 minutes while police gathered and warned them they'd be arrested if they didn't move. Johanna Galat, a St. Mary's senior and the group's leader, said they chose civil disobedience as prospects for the bill fade.