The same activist group whose lobbying efforts led the Montgomery County Council to introduce a resolution urging Congress to slash military spending plans to host a rally Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. in front of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.
Hosted by Peace Action Montgomery, the rally aims to get the council to vote on the resolution after Council President Valerie Ervin took it off Tuesday’s agenda. Speakers will include Municipal and County Government Employees Organization Executive Director Bob Stewart, Montgomery County NAACP Vice President and Progressive Maryland Advisory Board President Elbridge James, Progressive Democrats of America Maryland coordinator Mike Hersh and Peace Action Montgomery head Jean Athey.
“It’s rather outrageous that corporations in our community can determine what it is that the council has to say,” said Athey, referencing defense contractor Lockheed Martin’s influence in getting the council to drop the resolution. “We are very disappointed with the actions of Lockheed Martin.”
Because Congress oversees the Pentagon’s budget, the resolution would not have had any tangible impact. Still, some county lawmakers said it sent the wrong message to some of the county’s largest employers, such as Lockheed Martin and other defense contractors.
