As Frederick Douglass pointed out going on two centuries ago, the “high freedoms” celebrated on the Fourth were and are much discounted by the uneven distribution of freedoms among ALL of our people. Proceeding from the comforts of a partially renormalized holiday, we have many rocks to push uphill, just a little more every day, from Statehood for DC to a federal standard for fair elections that will pre-empt right-wing state repression to getting big corporate money out of our politics. Just a few checkmarks on a long list for real democracy. We can do it. Get started every week in the Memo.

 

As Frederick Douglass pointed out going on two centuries ago, the “high freedoms” celebrated on the Fourth were and are much discounted by the uneven distribution of freedoms among ALL of our people. Proceeding from the comforts of a partially renormalized holiday, we have many rocks to push uphill, a little more every day, from Statehood for DC to a federal standard for fair elections that will pre-empt right-wing state repression to getting big corporate money out of our politics. Just a few checkmarks on a long list for real democracy. We can do it. Get started every week in the Memo.

 

Quick Actions:

Statewide Updates:

The New Era Project

Join progressives from Anne Arundel County for our first in-person grassroots gathering to support Progressive Maryland New Era Project happening this Saturday, July 10th at 3:00 PM in Truxton Park! RSVP Here.

At our successful project launch just eight weeks ago, we brought together progressive champions, both former and current elected officials and candidates, from all across the state to tout the critical need for change in Maryland politics and the importance of our mission, but now it’s time to hear from you! We’re meeting progressive activists where they are, in the communities they serve, to hear what is important to them as we gear up for the 2022 election. Your input is critical as we build our movement and raise grassroot dollars to help support progressive candidates running for all levels of office so join us at Truxton Park for an engaging discussion this Saturday, July 10th - RSVP here!


Healthcare Justice Campaign 

Medicare For All: 

We’re  building our teach-in schedule and starting to sketch out plans for deep canvassing on the  Medicare for All issue. Please contact Malcolm or Josh to get involved in these important efforts. Josh or Malcolm. We can get more of our Congressional Delegation signed on to support the Improved Medicare For All Act of 2021, HB 1976 with your help.

If you live in Montgomery County: the County Council will take up a local resolution for Medicare For All this month. Please sign our petition and share widely.

Global Vaccine Equity

There is an urgent need for vaccinations  in low income  countries across the world, particularly in the global south. Cases are rising and the death toll is mounting in many  parts of the world,  due mostly to lack of vaccine availability. What’s  getting in the way of production and distribution of shots? What can we do to help save lives, to make sure vaccines are reaching all parts of the word, to help end the pandemic? Find out tonight! Emergency National Teach-In 6-8 pm - RSVP here.


Want to get more involved?  Please sign up to help with outreach on this issue in July and August, we’re getting postcards to the Biden Administration. Contact Patty for details.

 

Local Chapter Updates:

Progressive Montgomery

Help us get our County Council to pass a Medicare For All local resolution. Please sign the petition and share. Want to help with outreach to Councilmembers and to other residents to build support for the campaign? Please contact Josh this week!

 

 

State and National News:  

An Economic Justice Moment (from Tuesday’s Union City, Metropolitan Council AFL-CIO)

Courts block Hogan’s attempt to cut off UI

“Unemployed workers across Maryland breathed a sigh of relief last weekend when courts blocked the state from cutting off enhanced federal unemployment benefits. ‘Now I can look for a job without my family having to starve,’ tweeted one worker. ‘Finally a win for the people,’ tweeted another. Maryland governor Larry Hogan had issued the order cutting off UI, but worker advocates – including UNITE HERE Local 7 and the Unemployed Workers Union -- had filed two lawsuits challenging the order and on Saturday a Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking Hogan’s order, which had been scheduled to take effect the same day. Hogan’s appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals was rejected Saturday night. ‘This is great news,’ tweeted Metro Washington Council president Dyana Forester, congratulating UNITE HERE.“... More in this roundup from Maryland Reporter: “On Monday, the Maryland Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest court, rebuffed Gov. Larry Hogan’s attempts to halt an emergency order that keeps the state enrolled in enhanced federal unemployment programs, Pamela Wood reports in the Sun. This is the third court to do so over the weekend.” So, third time no charm for Hogan.

School daze -- the wreckage left by the Hogan version of state education policy shows up in findings from a States Newsroom report that appeared in Maryland Matters -- Maryland was among three states showing the lowest amount of in-person classroom education as a result of the pandemic despite the state’s previous high K-12 quality rankings. The new state superintendent of schools will have a heavy lift.

 

NATIONAL PRIORITIES FROM PEOPLE’S ACTION: 

Sign on in support of drug decriminalization: Reps. Bonnie Watson-Coleman & Cori Bush recently introduced the Drug Policy Reform Act of 2021 - the first federal drug decriminalization bill. Check this summary of the contents of the bill here.  

 

Preserving Democracy: A controversial 6-3 decision by the Supreme Court on Thursday upholding Republican-backed voting restrictions in Arizona has upped the ante for this year’s voting rights debate in Congress. The Congressional Black Caucus is laying out the expedited timeline they want for the advancement of the voting rights bill named for the late Rep. John Lewis — they want the Judiciary Committee to hold its hearings on it in mid-July, with final passage as early as September. 

Maryland’s Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MoCo 8th Dist.) has both feet in the democracy preservation corner, on the Judiciary Committee for voting rights and on Speaker Pelosi’s special committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Let him know the whole state has his back on preserving our democracy at 202-225-5341.

 

“No Climate, No Deal” Priorities. The Green New Deal Network is working with key members of Congress to advance the “No Climate, No Deal” pledge; here are the “red lines” we are trying to advance; no deal unless it includes: >$1T in tax credits for renewables; >$500B to electrify mass transit; >$600B to retrofit public buildings, including schools and public housing; >Oversight to ensure adherence to labor, equity, climate standards. AND: National climate adviser GINA MCCARTHY and senior White House adviser ANITA DUNN have sent out a memo outlining the administration’s climate commitments. It noted — as Biden has in the past — that the bipartisan deal left out “critical initiatives on climate change that he proposed,” and that the reconciliation bill is where real investment will happen. Read the full memo

 

Housing: Biden CDC’s Eviction moratorium has been extended one more month. Here is the official CDC statement. People’s Action reports “The White House convened a Summit for Immediate Eviction Prevention Plans. “Effective prevention of unnecessary evictions through deployment of ERA funds requires local strategies that strongly encourage alternatives to evictions.” Here is the White House statement.

And the long-term solution: Homes Guarantee National Tenants Bill of Rights: -- This explainer from the social media kit for the People’s Action NTBOR campaign has the scoop: “We as tenants don't have the power we need, especially compared to the people who own our homes. That’s why we’re launching a campaign for a National Tenants’ Bill of Rights, a critical stepping stone on the path to our North Star vision, a Homes Guarantee to build the power of the tenant movement, establish tenants as a political class of citizens, and ultimately transform the conditions for tenant organizing.” 

 

Events from Our Allies:

 

Thursday, July 8th | 4-5:30pm | Community Clean-Up In Baltimore City

The BRIDGES Coalition for Overdose Prevention Sites is hosting a Community Clean-Up in Sandtown on July 8th (this Thurs) from 4pm-5:30pm. Address is 1012 N Carrollton Ave Baltimore, MD 21217.

*RSVP to Harriet ([email protected] or text 443-418-6614)*

-What to expect: We'll be picking up trash with tongs! We will have basic supplies. We will also have sharps containers in case we see any. If you want to join but do not have the physical ability to do the trash clean up portion you can welcome late comers or answer questions of any passersby.

 

Wednesday, July 14 | 5-7pm | Happy Hour in Harford County!

Join Progressive Harford County and the Young Democrats of Harford County during their upcoming happy hour. The event will be on July 14 from 5-7 p.m. at TB3 Bar & Grill, 705 S. Philadelphia Blvd., Aberdeen, MD 21001. This happy hour is free to attend and meant to help recruit people who want to get involved with either organization. There will also be a presentation mid-way through outlining what the organizations plan to accomplish. RSVP today to let us know that you’ll be there.

 

 

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:

We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator, Woody, at [email protected].  

--Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, June 28, 2021

As Pride Month comes to an end, we want to acknowledge that the fight for LGBTQ freedoms and visibility goes on. As many brands and corporations are taking down their rainbow flags after collecting their profits from colourful capitalism, we are proud to say that ours will be here for a while. We have been and will always be committed to Queer and Trans liberation. If you’d like to join us in this commitment, please contribute to our New Era PAC to support our efforts of electing LGBTQ candidates into office across the state. Also, we are officially one year away from the June 28, 2022 Primary!!! This and much more in the Memo.

June 25, 2021 Unfinished business in the Assembly: where is the progressive impulse?

A former progressive member of the Maryland General Assembly asks: Why doesn’t more progressive legislation get passed in the General Assembly? Year after year, there are overwhelming Democratic majorities in the House of Delegates and the state Senate, but critical legislation does not get passed by the General Assembly.

June 23, 2021 How the War on Drugs has warped priorities and ruined lives for 50 years

We're passing the post on the 50th Anniversary of the start of the War on Drugs. After enduring 50 years of the War on Drugs and witnessing its devastating effects on our communities, we feel it is important to change this policy now and pursue a public health and harm reduction approach. Join us to make change in this crucial area.

-Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Tuesday, June 22, 2021

June 21, 2021 Solidifying the past, looking to the future

New research finds the general well-being of children here in Maryland has fallen from 21st among the states to 24th, with 157,000 children living in households with income below the poverty line. And that was before the pandemic. Access to the full report is included in the article from Maryland Matters.

June 18, 2021 JTF Statement on Juneteenth 2021

More than 150 years after abolishing chattel slavery in the Confederate States, we join the United States of America as it celebrates what has always been an important tradition for Black Americans. As we celebrate, we understand that being 150 years removed from a 400 year institution of depravity means that the fight for the real liberation of Black Americans is not over.

 

woody woodruff

About

M.A. and Ph.d. from University of Maryland Merrill College of Journalism, would-be radical, sci-fi fan... retired to a life of keyboard radicalism...