Broad coalition celebrates historic leadership moment while calling for action on redistricting to protect democracy 

Annapolis, Maryland –   Marylanders gathered Tuesday morning at Lawyer’s Mall for a high-energy pep rally hosted by the Meet the Moment Maryland Coalition, a broad alliance of more than 25 labor and community organizations. The rally uplifted a historic moment in Maryland politics, ahead of the first Afro Latina speaker of the house Del. Peña-Melnyk’s, while calling on state leaders to redistrict now to protect democracy, strengthen fair representation, and advance policies that support working families.

The rally comes as redistricting battles intensify nationwide, with Republican-led states aggressively redrawing congressional maps in ways that threaten to silence Black and working-class voters. Advocates warned that Maryland cannot afford to stand still while political power is reshaped around it.

“We’re proud to come together to celebrate Delegate Peña-Melnyk and the significance of this moment for Maryland,” said Larry Stafford Jr., Executive Director of Progressive Maryland. “Her leadership and commitment to redistricting matters, and this rally is about showing that our communities are paying attention, engaged, and ready to work with leaders who are committed to fairness, inclusion, and meeting this moment head-on. As maps are being redrawn across the country and communities are at risk of being silenced, Maryland needs leaders who are willing to meet the moment, protect fair representation, and stand with  working-class families.”

Speakers at the rally represented a wide cross-section of Maryland, including progressive and labor leaders, immigrant rights and healthcare advocates, Chair of the state Democratic party Steuart Pittman, local and state elected officials. Together, they emphasized that fair maps are not an abstract political issue, but one that directly impacts funding for schools, access to healthcare, transportation investments, and protections for vulnerable communities.

Advocates closed the rally with a clear message: Maryland must act decisively to protect fair maps, defend democracy, and ensure that working families and communities of color are not left behind as national political lines are redrawn.

The livestream of the rally can be found here

###