Join us on Dec 12th for our next meeting. We are hosting our next full chapter meeting from 7 - 9 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Center. The chapter meeting will also include an update on ACLU of Maryland's actions in response to ongoing civil rights issues including immigration, criminal justice and police accountability issues in the county. Hope you can join us on Wednesday! And if you know others who are interested in joining, please bring them along.
Agenda Summary:
- Voting rights update: New info was released at the end of November about shortcomings in Maryland election administration that disproportionately affects voters who work. At this meeting, we will discuss, who, where and when -- but most importantly WHAT -- we can do about it.
- People Power and Montgomery County ACLU! Starting in 2019, the Chapter will publish monthly updates on County and State legislative agendas relevant to our county in the context of the ACLU mission. Sign up at the December 12th meeting to be on the "urgent action list" of people who are ready and eager to attend meetings, testify at hearings, and call legislators about time sensitive issues within the ACLU mission.
- People Power Immigration Rights Group (multi-county group): The US Constitution guarantees liberty and due process to everyone. Hear about why immigrants are being excluded from these most fundamental rights - and how you can be part of the solution. Also, get the working group's update on how the "caravan" is already impacting Montgomery County.
- Criminal Justice and Police Accountability & Transparency work groups have compiled a "wish list" for 2019. Work group members recently drafted a list of actions they hope the county will consider and already brought these issues to the attention of the new County Executive at the end of November. Come to the meeting to hear more about that meeting and about an incident just last week that is causing renewed demands for police accountability in Montgomery County - among other updates.
- Racial Justice. Many ACLU of Montgomery County members object to the county paving or building on top of Moses Cemetery at the Macedonia Baptist Church, an African-American church located at River Road and Little Falls in Bethesda. You too can support the conversion of this cemetery into a protected historic landmark to memorialize, with respect and dignity, the final burial place of some of our ancestors whose lives were devastated by slavery.
