ANNAPOLIS, Md. — It was just a snapshot of many male Black elected officials in Maryland. Wes Moore, the governor, was prominently featured.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott was in a strong position, backed by senators and delegates. They were not smiling as they looked at the lens. They weren’t speaking, but they demanded to be heard.
“The president should get a very clear message from this picture that we are on the front lines fighting unintimidated and unbossed,” said Prince George’s County Delegate Jeff Long.
He had the idea and gathered as many Black men in government as he could in the Virginia State House for the photo as a way to protest President Trump’s efforts to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and programs.
“We’re doing this to show that no matter what President Trump does, he doesn’t speak for us. We promote policies of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
With 65 members, Maryland’s legislative Black Caucus is the largest in the country, and while President Trump claims that separating groups and allocating funds based on race or identity is unconstitutional discrimination, Long believes his gathering was appropriate.
“If you’re marginalized, that picture is for you,’ he said. “Not all groups right now are being targeted more than just a picture it is a statement of strength a statement of solidarity a statement of unity that we’ve got their back.”
