Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR) Committee Chair Sen. Will Smith (D20) has announced three days of virtual hearings on September 22, 23 and 24 from 1-5 pm to address 15 police reform bills that Sens. Jill Carter (D41), Charles Sydnor (D44) and Chairman Smith have introduced. WDC President Conway will speak for two minutes between 4:30-5 pm on Tuesday, September 22, regarding JPR 1—Use of Force Standards, sponsored by Sen. Carter.
Update On WDC’s Actions to Repeal Our Confederate State Song
WDC’s advocacy in reaching out to our legislators and asking them to act to repeal our Confederate State Song, "Maryland, My Maryland", is having results. Thank you to all of our members who contacted their elected representatives.
On July 14, the Montgomery Democratic Party passed a Resolution that strongly supports the efforts to repeal "Maryland, My Maryland" as our State Song and urges the Maryland General Assembly to repeal this song in the 2021 legislative session.
2020 Legislative Accomplishments
WDC Members Attend Our 2020 Annapolis Day
During the 2020 Maryland State Legislative session, the Senate introduced 1,081 bills and theHouse introduced 1,663 bills for consideration. Of that total, 636 bills were passed by the legislature. Unfortunately, due to the economic fallout from the pandemic, Governor Hogan aggressively vetoed legislation requiring significant levels of new or increased spending. WDC advocated for 19 unique bills, including 18 House bills (most of which were cross-filed with
Senate bills) and one Senate bill that was not cross-filed. Many of these bills were sponsored or co-sponsored by our Montgomery County Senators or Delegates. Ten bills that WDC supported were passed by the state legislature and presented to the Governor. The Governor vetoed 3 of the 10 bills, leaving 7 fully enacted. WDC also supported the bill priorities of its partner, the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW).
GOVERNOR HOGAN SHOULD REVERSE HIS DECISION TO HOLD A TRADITIONAL ELECTION AND ORDER BALLOTS MAILED TO ALL MARYLAND VOTERS!
The Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club is Concerned that Governor Hogan’s Decision to Hold a Regular Election in November During an Active Pandemic will be Detrimental to the Health and Welfare of Maryland Women and their Families and is a Form of Voter Suppression. We encourage Governor Hogan to modify his decision to mail ballots directly to ALL registered voters.
If you believe this issue is important to you and for Maryland, reach out to Governor Hogan's office and make your voice heard.
WDC Creates Racial Equity and Public Safety Task Force (REPS)
Photo by Janavi Dhyani. Image was taken at Black Lives Matter Plaza during DC Freedom Fighters March on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
WDC President Diana Conway recently appointed a Task Force on Racial Equity in Public Safety (REPS) to lead WDC’s work in supporting greater racial justice in law enforcement. As a first measure of reform, WDC is supporting the immediate implementation of the policing reforms known as #8CANTWAIT (#8CW) as a first step in an overall re-imagining and re-structuring of law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County. Lisa Henderson, Co-Chair of the Partnerships and Outreach Committee, is heading the REPS Task Force. Dr. Angela Davis of American University, a recent WDC speaker, has agreed to serve as an informal adviser to REPS.
Read moreWDC Annapolis Day Rocks the Maryland General Assembly
An energetic team led by Advocacy Chair Leslie Milano hosted a lively, activity-packed Annapolis Day for WDC members and state legislators on February 26 at the House Office Building in Annapolis. The day began with a pre-event (optional) visit to the weekly Women’s Caucus meeting, where newly elected House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped by to greet WDC members, sharing their support for several WDC priority bills and applauding our legislative activism.
WDC President Diana Conway launched the official program, with a welcome to members and guests and a quick outline of the day’s events. Advocacy Committee issue captains then briefed …
Read moreWDC Takes a Stand - Retire Our Confederate State Song This Session!
WDC members Ginger Macomber and Fran Rothstein visit the State Capitol to testify for HB0181.
Did you know that our State Song - "Maryland, My Maryland" - glorifies the Confederacy and honors our State's slave-holding and segregationist past? Did you know that the Southern Poverty Law Center includes Maryland's State Song on its list of shame as a public symbol of the Confederacy that distorts history by honoring a secessionist government that waged war to preserve white supremacy and the enslavement of millions of people, including the ancestors of our fellow citizens?
Marylanders deserve a State song that makes us all proud and reflects who we are in 2020! Our WDC Advocacy Committee has been working hard to convince our legislators that, after nine failed attempts since 1974, it is long past time to retire "Maryland, My Maryland" - and you can help.
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