Thread by @LBSBaltimore

THREAD: Let's talk about who the power players are in Maryland when it comes to police reform legislation.

Before #MDGA2021 begins, we need to get clear about who we need to put pressure on to make sure that REAL police reform is passed. /1

Around the country, there are conversations about legislative approaches to police reform.

We're going to explain to you who the players are and how to pressure them to support real police reform. /2

Our primary goal is to pressure Maryland state legislators to supportive transformative legislation that will empower the community to have more control over the institutions that govern policing. /3

The tactic that is the most successful in having an impact is contacting the leaders of the MD General Assembly, along with your senator/delegates, and pressure them to support legislation that accomplishes the goal. /4

So lets talk about the main players in police reform legislation in MD... /5

FIRST - Maryland's General Assembly has two chambers - the Senate and the House of Delegates.

Each chamber selects its leader - they are Senate President and the Speaker of the House. /6

Maryland Senate President is Senator Bill Ferguson

District: 46 (Baltimore City)

Year Elected: 2011

Email: [e-mail]

Phone Number: 410-841-3600

Twitter: @SenBillFerg

Instagram: instagram.com/SenBillFerg

Facebook: facebook.com/Billforsenate

/7

Senator Ferguson has been the President of the MD State Senate since 2019. He succeeded former Senate President Mike Miller. /8

The Speaker of the House is Delegate Adrienne Jones.

District: 10th (Baltimore County)

Year Elected: 1997

Email: [e-mail]

Phone Number: 410-655-3090

Twitter: @SpeakerAJones

Facebook: facebook.com/SpeakerAdrienn…

/9

Speaker Jones has been the Speaker of the House of Delegates since 2019. She succeeded the late Speaker Michael Busch.

She is also the first Black person and first woman ever elected Speaker. /10

In their roles as leaders of their chambers, they have tremendous influence over what legislation is heard and taken up for a vote.

Pressuring them to support real police reform is extremely important. Call/email/tweet them! /11

So now lets talk about the two committees in the Senate & House that all police reform legislation goes through..../12

In the Senate and the House - there are committees that police reform legislation must go through:

House - Judiciary Committee
Senate - Judicial Proceedings Committee

The leadership in both chambers select a Chairman who leads that committee. /13

Sen. Will Smith is the Chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee

District: 20th (Mont. County)

Year Elected: 2015

Email: [e-mail]

Phone Number: 410-841-3634

Twitter: @WillCSmithJr
Instagram: instagram.com/WillCSmithJr
Facebook: facebook.com/WillSmithForMa…

Delegate Luke Clippinger Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

District: 46th (Baltimore City)

Year Elected: 2011

Email: [e-mail]

Phone Number: 410-841-3488

Twitter: @LukeClippinger

Facebook: facebook.com/DelLukeClippin…

Anytime there is legislation concerning criminal justice reform or police reform in either chamber - it comes through his committee.

In order for transformative legislation to be considered, it must go through the necessary hearings in both committees. /16

In 2020, there was a special workgroup created by the leadership to study police reform legislation.

They appointed a Chairman of that committee that is currently studying issues relating to police reform. They will have a lot of influence going into #MDGA2021. /17

Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary is the Chairman of the Workgroup to Address Police Reform and Accountability in Maryland

District: 13th (Howard County)

Year Elected: 2015

Email: [e-mail]

Phone Number:
410-841-3471

Twitter: @VAtterbeary

/18

We must apply pressure to her office to ensure that the workgroup supports real police accountability legislation. /19

It is not enough to put out demands. We have to apply pressure - especially in the important moments and to the right people.

There's lots of misinformation and agendas out there. /20

At the end of the day - the goal is simple:

Empower the community to have control over police so that they stop assaulting and killing Black people in our communities. /21

Read more about what legislation we're supporting in 2021:

lbsbaltimore.com/protest-to-pol…