MEDIA STATEMENT
The following statement can be attributed to Dana Vickers Shelley, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland:
“We condemn Governor Larry Hogan’s decision to send Maryland’s National Guard to the District of Columbia. Emboldening President Trump’s incendiary response to public demands for Justice for George Floyd and an end to police brutality, is not only dangerous, but done over the objection of Mayor Muriel Bowser, the District’s elected leader. This action is especially egregious the day after Attorney General William Barr had police remove peaceful protestors from a park – violating their constitutional rights - so that Trump could stage a photo opportunity.
“Despite increased public demand for racial justice and greater police accountability, law enforcement and some state National Guard forces continue to abuse local residents all across the country. Hogan’s endorsement of the Trump-Barr militarized agenda serves only to escalate the risks to Black people and other community members. Repeatedly using the same broken system is the wrong approach to ending racism and police brutality anywhere.
“The practice of using military-style measures to intimidate and silence Black and allied voices for racial justice must stop. Too many lives have been lost. Maryland residents and leaders should oppose Governor Hogan’s embrace of President Trump’s tactics that endanger the lives of Black people. Those who protest should not be treated as the enemy.”
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