Hey Marylanders United we are having some tech difficulties getting the 5:30 statewide meeting under way but should be set to go soon.

America's health care system is what's creating wide disparities in the outcomes of COVID-19 infections. The virus hits everybody the same way -- so if everybody had great health care, all their lives, the differences in misery and death wouldn't be showing up.

Because we don't all have great health care -- many have none at all -- the differences are stark Here's a refresher from Progressive Breakfast summarizing what we learned at last week's statewide Marylanders United virtual meeting on health care.

How much more can we learn TODAY (Thursday, May 28) at our 5:30 meeting on the June 2 election and the importance of electing Strong Schools advocates in Maryland. Sign up here to join the conversation, take action, have impact!

Join us tomorrow -- Thursday, May 28 -- at 5:30 PM for a statewide discussion of critical educational needs in these tough times, and how to elect leaders who will listen. The pandemic is straining all of our  institutions and systems, especially our public school system. Once we begin to rebuild our economy and communities, our public schools will be central to how well we recover. That’s why  the fate of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which was passed by the General Assembly and vetoed by Governor Hogan, is so important. Be active -- have impact!

Marylanders United and Progressive Maryland continue to work in tandem to trace the pathways out of our pandemic dilemmas. Sure, we want to get back to work -- but not with sacrifice zones that somehow seem to include our most vulnerable people. Find out RIGHT HERE what we are doing on health care, equitable legislation to strengthen our communities and justified demands of our public officials.

It's all in the Memo.

As President Trump opportunistically encourages religious organizations to violate legitimate state limits on the size of assembled groups, Mathew Goldstein reminds us that there is no constitutional right to endanger the lives of others.

When Circuit Judges on the primary ballot -- usually open and shut, check the boxes and move on -- get the attention of powerful movers and shakers in state politics, what is going on? Activist LaTasha Ward offers a window on challengers to sitting judges -- and unusual pressure placed on local Prince George's officials in this usually sedate game.

As our Progressive Maryland/Marylanders United statewide call focuses on health care this afternoon -- a MoCo student activist reminds us here why health disparities play such a part in the uneven effects of COVID-19 in our diverse communities.

This pandemic, and our ability to respond, has laid bare the many inadequacies and the terrible inequities in our healthcare system, as well as the failures of the Trump Administration. The death toll and rate of infection has fallen disproportionately hard on communities of color and low income communities.

Please join usTODAY --  Thursday, May 21 -- as we talk about the COVID-19 health crisis. The problems are heart wrenching and staggering but there are solutions! Solutions and plans that will help workers, at-risk groups in our population, and all of us as we battle against the coronavirus and its impact. 

Learn how to become part of the solution for the health care we need.  Click here to RSVP.

You will:

• Meet healthcare heroes like Kristy Fogle from the Maryland Progressive Healthcare Coalition from Ricarra Jones from SEIU 1199; and hear from them on the need for PPE, testing and improved working conditions.
• Hear from Delegate Gabe Acevero (D-39) about some of the ways Maryland’s Black and Brown residents are being impacted and ways in which the state can and should respond.
• Get an update from People’s Action on federal healthcare legislation.
• Have an opportunity to ask questions and take action! 

This is a meeting you won’t want to miss! Marylanders United Virtual Organizing Meeting  Thursday, May 14, 2020  5:30-7:00PM

As of May 11, 2020, there have been approximately 300 confirmed COVID-19 cases within Maryland’s Correctional System. Nationally, over 70% of tested inmates in federal prisons have COVID-19/Coronavirus.

 At this very moment, thousands of people are sitting in cages -- alone, anxious, and terrified of contracting the coronavirus. 

We can, we should, we must reverse this trend and decarcerate for the safety of the  vulnerable in prison AND the society that surrounds them.

This week in the Memo -- save our Fight For Fifteen minimum wage from the Board of Public Works loophole! Keep the state safe, resist the selfish astroturf effort to open up prematurely. Sign up for Thursday's statewide conversation on healthcare and the coronavirus. And read our blog posts. All here in the Memo.

Find out how many prisoners are still endangered by COVID-19 and lax health policies in Maryland's prisons.

Progressive Maryland/Marylanders United explore the legislative aspects and concerns with a Prince George's delegate, examine the relationship with the long-standing opoid addiction that has plagued the state for years and hear from advocates across the state -- including some with relatives in the system -- about how far short the prison system is falling in protecting inmates and employees. Follow this link to catch up on yesterday's (Thursday, May 14) weekly statewide meeting: and plan to join us next Thursday for our next statewide meeting, a discussion of health care organizing in the urgent context of the COVID-19 emergency. Register here.

The danger the COVID-19 virus brings to those trapped in Maryland’s prisons is acute.

Please join our Marylanders United community later today as we gather again to talk about our statewide COVID-19 response work. The focus this afternoon at 5:30 is on our incarcerated population and what is being done --  and what more can be done to reduce the number of folks being detained in order to stop the spread of COVID19.