By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO
The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, with the support of the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation, hosted one of the largest state gatherings during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 53rd Annual Legislative Conference from Sept. 11 through Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C.
The weekend’s Friday night is reserved for states throughout the country to host their congressional, state and local constituents, civic and business leaders and guests.
Maryland has the largest Black state legislative body in the country with 66 members.
The event titled, “Maryland Black Excellence,” showcased Gov. Wes Moore who reminded the audience: “We have to elect Angela Alsobrooks to the United States Senate to maintain control of the country’s future agenda.”
Alsobrooks, county executive for Prince George’s County, is the Democratic nominee for the Maryland Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin. Alsobrooks appeared on the stage with a number of Maryland elected officials, including Moore, Congressman Kweisi Mfume, who represents Maryland’s 7th congressional district, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. The diverse group also included U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th district), Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and Democratic candidate for Congress state Sen. Sara Elfreth (D-Dist. 30), who is running to replace Congressman John Sarbanes, who did not seek re-election. Congressman Glen Ivey (4th District) was also in attendance but had to leave for another event.
The waiting list to attend the Maryland celebration exceeded 3,000 with over a thousand people in the room of the Salamander Hotel, which is owned by a Black entrepreneur Sheila Johnson and Henderson Park.
“The excitement and interest in the event with attendees from across Maryland reflects the energy and progress we are making in the state under the leadership of Governor Wes Moore and Speaker Adrienne Jones,” said Chairwoman of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus Jheanelle Wilkins, who has represented District 20 in the House of Delegates since 2017.
“With the only Black governor in the country, and the first Black and female speaker of the House, Maryland stands as a model for Black political leadership with deep impact, “ continued Del. Wilkins.
“This was a night of celebration,” said the Rev. Dr. Zina Pierre, president of the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation. “We put in a lot of work to showcase our Black leadership at the federal level and to showcase the excellence of Maryland and its delegation. In Maryland we all work together. That is why you saw the chair of the (national) Democratic Party, Ken Ulman, along with congressional leader Steny Hoyer in attendance. Maryland is a state that is truly moving forward.”
Pierre said 34 members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus will head to the White House and Capitol Hill on Sept. 18 to lobby on behalf of the state of Maryland.
“We were so proud to come together during the nation’s foremost Black political week,” said Wilkins.