Grassroots Organizations Say: “Keep Maryland Safe”
Anne Arundel County Community Leaders Make Appeal to MD Governor and Citizens
Our coalition of grassroots organizations is deeply concerned about the demonstrations that are occurring in Annapolis, pressuring the State government to lift the stay-at-home order and reopen Maryland. The coalition, which includes the Anne Arundel County NAACP, the Caucus of African American Leaders, Connecting the Dots, March On Maryland, and W.I.S.E., request that Governor Larry Hogan’s office continue to keep Maryland safe by maintaining the stay-at-home order and the state of emergency it enacted in March 2020. We also request that the Governor allow scientists and medical experts to determine when and how Maryland will be re-opened.
Continuing the practice of physical distancing is essential to contain the rapid and unchecked rise in COVID-19 cases. This virus spreads rapidly and has a high death rate. Currently, Maryland has 12,830 confirmed cases with 486 deaths. The first three cases of COVID-19 in Maryland were only confirmed on March 5, 2020, and the current death rate for the United States is 4.9% (compare this to the death rate of seasonal flu, which is only about 0.1%). This virus is also disproportionately affecting communities of color, particularly African Americans.
We have some of the most renowned hospitals in the world, including the Johns Hopkins Hospital. All personnel at these hospitals are exposing and re-exposing themselves every day to COVID-19 patients, and they are already overwhelmed. Reopening Maryland now would expose more people to the virus and cause our hospitals to be completely overrun.
All of us would like to see Maryland return to normalcy, but it is simply not safe at this time. We must continue to self-isolate for the wellbeing of our community and our most vulnerable populations. Maryland cannot be reopened until the medical experts deem it to be wise to do so. We are asking citizens to join us in this position by calling Governor Hogan’s office at (410) 974-3901 and passing on one simple message: “Keep Maryland Safe.”
We commend Governor Hogan for stepping up and making this sacrifice for all residents of Maryland. We ask that the Governor continue to protect residents by keeping the State of Maryland shut down for as long as necessary. We also thank the efforts of our first responders, healthcare professionals, scientists, janitors, delivery drivers, food service employees, grocery store clerks, and others who are serving on the front lines of this pandemic. We are all in this together.
Jacqueline Boone Allsup, President
Anne Arundel County Branch NAACP
Carl Snowden, Convener
Caucus of African American Leaders
Monica Lindsey, Founder
Connecting the Dots
Emma Buchman, Deputy Director
March On Maryland
Jennifer Haber, Co-Founder
W.I.S.E.
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