The Montgomery County, Maryland PDA chapter grew out of MeetUps on several
topics, Montgomery County for Kerry, and others groups. We adopted the name The
Montgomery County Progress Alliance to promote progressive values, policies, and
candidates in our county, state, and nation. We've met each month and fostered
cooperation between progressives and concerned citizens.
We've worked with Democracy for America, the After Downing Street Coalition,
the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Code Pink, Goldstar Families for Peace,
Progressive Maryland, Free State PAC, the Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club,
People for the American Way, Leisure World Democrats, Teach the Facts, TrueVote
Maryland, Montgomery County Coalition for Alternatives to War, the Campaign for
America's Future, United for Peace and Justice, State Democratic Party Chairman
Terry Lierman, the State Democratic Party, Democratic Party precinct leaders,
and many others.
We've promoted and organized events and meetings with candidates for offices.
We supported lobbying days on Capital Hill and in Annapolis, organized rallies,
hearings, teach-ins, and marches. Our members helped make two National PDA
Conferences and "Take Back America" Conference successful. We worked with PFAW
to protect voting rights and protest bad judicial nominees. We joined PDA Board
Members Steve Cobble, Cindy Sheehan and Rev. Yearwood and friends like Medea
Benjamin of Code Pink/Global Exchange, and Gene Bruskin of US Labor against the
War at their Iraq Teach In and supported the Conyers Downing Street Minutes
Hearings and the rally in Lafayette Park afterward.
We helped with the DFA Community Cookout featuring a National Conference Call
with Rep. Conyers, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, and talk show divas Randy Rhodes
and Stephanie Miller. We joined United for Peace and Justice and others planning
and participating in the massive march, lobbying training and, and one of the
largest ever lobbying efforts in September.
We traveled into Virginia and other parts of Maryland to help candidates win
elections. We protested Chalabi, rallied with Cindy Sheehan, and supported the
Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Out of Iraq Caucus and the House and
Senate Democratic leadership on the Hill. We've fought for voter verifiable
paper ballots, the Fair Share Health Care Law, and higher minimum wage in
Maryland and efforts in Congress demanding investigations and accountability,
and ending the war.
As we enter this decisive election year, we're not slowing down. We supported
the Progressive State of the Union events sponsored by the Congressional
Progressive Caucus, Nation Magazine, Code Pink and IPS at the DNC. We helped
organize the rally against Bush's State of the Union with World Can't Wait, and
led the protest when the police arrested Cindy Sheehan for wearing a
T-shirt.
We'll continue sponsoring events, informing ourselves and the public,
lobbying elected officials, and supporting progressive candidates in our county,
state, and nation. We've welcomed more candidates to meet with us, held Out of
Iraq events in DC and Maryland, and rallied in Annapolis to override vetoes of
important legislation. Help us by attending and working on our events,
contributing your ideas and financial support, and volunteering with MCPA in
2006. Please visit www.mc-progressivealliance.com. For more information about PDA
organizing in Maryland, contact me at mikehersh@mikehersh.com. In other
states, see: http://pdamerica.org/orgs/findstate.php
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