THE ORMD MONTHLY 11THEDITION JANUARY2020 - OUR REVOLUTION MARYLAND
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The ORMD Monthly
11th Edition January 2020
In this our 11th monthly newsletter, we’ll take a look back at 2019 and then forward to 2020.
2019 Highlights (just a few)
● Growth – 2019 was a year of solid growth for Our Revolution Maryland. We
welcomed our 7th chapter – Our Revolution Anne Arundel – and many great new
activists there and across the state. We experienced year-over-year increases in both
the number of our recurring donors and total monthly revenues. We are excited to build
on this growth.
● Medicare-for-All – Always a strong supporter of universal single-payer healthcare,
Medicare-for-All was one of our signature issues throughout 2019 and will continue to
be in 2020.
● Endorsements – Way back last April, we were one of the first organizations anywhere
to endorse Bernie Sanders for President 2020. In December, we endorsed progressive
State Senator Jill Carter for Congress in the District 7 race to succeed late
Congressmember Elijah Cummings. We also just endorsed (okay in 2020) exciting
newcomer Mckayla Wilkes to replace stale old-timer Steny Hoyer.
● Rallies – Our Chapters were remarkably active throughout the year rallying in their
counties and joining together throughout the region to promote progressive change and
against backsliding and regression.
● Success
1) Awesome ORMD-endorsed leaders like Baltimore County Executive Johnny
Olszewski, Jr, and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich have signed exciting
new progressive legislation which will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of
Marylanders.
2) In 2020, we anticipate legislative wins with fresh ORMD-endorsed delegates Gabe
Acevero and Vaughn Stewart sponsoring progressive healthcare and
environmental laws.
Growth and Power
Montgomery
A growing base of committed activists and revenues
affords Our Revolution Maryland a greater ability to take
on organized corporate power. This is how we helped
elect Marc Elrich County Executive in Montgomery
County, in 2018 despite the virulent opposition of the
Washington Post and the county’s wealthiest residents
and most powerful business business operators.
The benefit of having a truly progressive leader
became clear when Marc helped shepherd
through the County Council the Racial Equity
and Social Justice Act this past fall. It became
law in November.
Baltimore County
In Baltimore County, progressive Executive Johnny
Olszewski, Jr., who was elected in 2018 with Our
Revolution Maryland’s endorsement, oversaw the passage
in late 2019 of important pro-tenant legislation.
The Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act
prohibits housing discrimination based on the source of a
potential renter’s income, including housing vouchers.
Without Olszewski’s enthusiastic backing (he introduced
the bill), it would never have become law.
The lesson is clear. When progressives organize
together, we win!
Lower Shore Progressive Caucus
The Lower Shore Progressive Caucus’s former
Communications Chair Michelle Gregory was elected
to the Salisbury City Council on November 5. Taking
legislative seats is taking power!
We are thrilled at the prospect of electing more Our
Revolution leaders and activists to public office in 2020.
ORMD Monthly
p. 2
Medicare-for-All - All Year
As befits an organization that arose from Bernie’s
remarkable 2016 Presidential campaign, Our
Revolution Maryland is unabashedly progressive.
We recognize the existential threat posed by the
climate crisis and are all in on the Green New Deal.
We do not believe democracy can long co-exist in a
society where the majority are economically exploited
by a handful of elites nor when there is obvious racial
and gender inequity, nor when power is seized by a
candidate who did not get the most votes. There are
many societal pathologies that we believe must be
Feb 10 - Silver Spring Med4All Barnstorm
addressed.
Intersectional - Collectively, we focused on
Medicare-for-All as much as on any other issue in
2019. In part, this is because Democrats in
Congress are finally taking up this life and death
issue. In part, it is because the issue is
intersectional. In other words, it unifies poor,
struggling, and working-class Americans across
identity lines.
May 30 - College Park - National Medical
Emergency Medicare for All Tour Kickoff
Alliances - We joined forces with lots of great groups
like National Nurses United, Maryland Progressive
Healthcare Coalition, Public Citizen, and many others.
We also led Our Revolution’s Emergency Medicare
for All Tour across Maryland as we rallied in the
districts of unsupportive Democrats - Steny Hoyer,
David Trone, and Dutch Ruppersberger. We confronted
Hoyer and arranged cordial but ultimately unavailing
meetings with the latter two.
We organized three very well-attended and well-
received Town Halls in Prince George’s County,
June 12 - Capitol Hill - Our Revolution Montgomery County, and Howard County.
Howard’s Roxana Segovia-Beltran with Rep.
Pramila Jayapal
2020 - Our next Medicare-for-All Town Hall is Sunday
January 26 in Annapolis. We plan to continue the fight
for a federal guarantee of healthcare is a human right.
The healthcare focus in Maryland’s General Assembly
is likely to be on accessibility and affordability. We are
prepared to push for an end to medical bankruptcies
and unaffordable medications in the Free State and to
pivot to education as the Kirwan Commission’s December 8 - Howard County Town Hall
funding recommendations take center stage.
ORMD Monthly
p. 3
Rallies & Summits & Parades (Oh my!)
Throughout 2019, we gathered for important causes in addition to Medicare for All.
Here are just a few highlights: Climate Crisis
Progressive Elected Officials - We kicked off
the year (Jan 5) with a celebration for
Montgomery’s new progressive County Executive
Marc Elrich. Special guest was Representative
Jamie Raskin.
Immigrant rights
Rebuild America Climate Summit - Dec 14 - OR Prince
George’s Chair Suchitra Balachandran far left
Howard County May 17
Gender Justice
Catonsville June 30 - Courtesy Balt. Sun
Pride
Gov Parris Glendening @Annapolis Pride - June 29 Frederick Women’s March Jan 31
ORMD Monthly
p. 4
Bernie Sanders
Under the leadership of Our Revolution
Maryland’s Organizing Director Keanuu Smith-
Brown (bottom left with Bernie), Maryland for
Bernie Sanders has been canvassing throughout
the state on Bernie’s behalf - holding debate watch
parties, marching in parades, Christmas caroling,
and phonebanking.
Annapolis Debate Watch - October 15
Baltimore - December 21
Thanksgiving Silver Spring
Howard Phonebank - December 19 Bernie Sanders Delegates
Thanks to their tireless advocacy, a number of Our
Revolution Maryland activists were selected to be on the
ballot as potential delegates at July’s Democratic
National Convention in Milwaukee.
We congratulate: Clayton Northcraft
Gabe Acevero Stefani Olsen
Suchitra Balachandran Sheila Ruth
Jake Burdett Roxana Segovia-Beltran
Zach Conron Jared Schablein
Devonie Doles Keanuu Smith-Brown
Kristy Fogle Vaughn Stewart
Sydney Jacobs Jimmy Tarlau
ORMD Monthly
p. 5
Endorsements 2020
Bernie Sanders
Our Revolution Maryland has issued three high-profile
endorsements in 2020 races. We were one of the first
groups anywhere to come out in support of Bernie
Sanders for President way back in April.
As Maryland for Bernie Sanders noted in its
comprehensive Collective Endorsement, Bernie Sanders
is “the most consistent candidate...the candidate with the
best vision for the future...the candidate who gets
results...[and] the most electable candidate.”
Jill Carter
When Maryland lost Representative Elijah Cummings
last year, our Congressional delegation lost its heart and
conscience. Rep. Cummings championed Maryland’s poor,
struggling, and working-class.
When District 7 residents vote in the February 4 special
election, the question they’ll be asking themselves is:
“Which candidate shares Elijah Cummings’ commitment to
the millions of Marylanders who are not thriving in this
Trump/Hogan winner-take-all economy.”
State Senator Jill Carter is the answer. As we noted in
our December 16 endorsement: “We are particularly
impressed by Senator Carter’s commitment to Medicare-for-All, a Green New Deal, an end
to endless wars, and fighting corruption in government.
Mckayla Wilkes
Mckayla Wilkes (District 5) and Jill Carter share some
similarities. Both are highly accomplished progressive women
who will bring much needed diversity to Maryland’s current all-
male Congressional delegation. Both are running to replace long-
time House fixtures.
But there are important differences as well. Senator Carter, an
experienced lawmaker, is hoping to continue the legacy of one of
the most progressive legislators in Maryland history. By contrast,
Ms. Wilkes is trying to unseat a powerful corporate Democrat -
Steny Hoyer - backed by business interests and a reliable bulwark against much-needed
reform.
Ms. Wilkes is a political newcomer whose fresh voice rings out clearly for Maryland’s poor,
workers, victims ofsocial injustice. From our Press Release: “Mckayla Wilkes...stands
squarely in support of” medicare-for-all, the Green New Deal, criminal justice and other
progressive priorities. Maryland needs Jill Carter and Mckayla Wilkes!
ORMD Monthly
p. 6
Upcoming Events*
January 11 - Prince George’s - 2 to 4 February 6 - Lower Shore - 6 to 8pm
Chapter Meeting Chapter Meeting
New Deal Cafe Wicomico Public Libraries -
113 Centerway
Downtown Branch
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Contact: Suchitra Balachandran 122 S Division St
Salisbury, MD 21801
January 12 - Montgomery - 2 to 4 Contact: Jared Schablein
Planning Meeting February 12 - Howard - 7 to 8:45pm
Rockville Public Library
21 Maryland Avenue Chapter Meeting
Rockville, MD 20850 Howard County Library – East Branch
Contact: Stefani Olsen 6600 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, Maryland 21045
January 18 - Baltimore - 2:30 to 4:30 Contact: Paul Baicich
Chapter Meeting
Waverly Library, 400 East 33rd Street
Baltimore, MD 21218 United States + Google Map
Topic: Criminal justice reform
Contacts: Jacob Kravetz and Sheila Ruth
January 19 - Western Maryland - 1:30 to 3:30
Chapter Meeting
C. Burr Artz Public Library
110 East Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Contact: Vanessa Gress
January 26 - Anne Arundel - 2 to 4
Medicare for All Town Hall
Stanton Community Center
92 West Washington Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Contact: Chrissy Holt
*Additional details and events as they are scheduled will be posted at
www.ourrevolutionmd.com and on Chapter Facebook pages. We will also remind
subscribers of these events and announce new ones by email throughout the month.
ORMD Monthly
p. 7
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