A group of about three dozen peace activists gathered in front of the Montgomery County Council building Tuesday morning to protest the council’s decision not to vote on a resolution urging Congress to slash military spending.
Organized by Peace Action Montgomery, the rally’s speakers urged listeners to campaign against elected officials, like U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who urged the council not to pass the resolution and lamented the fact that lobbyists from defense contractor Lockheed Martin, which is based in Bethesda, had managed to sway the council’s vote.
“Lockheed had us between a rock and a hard place,” said Patrick McCann, board member of the D.C. chapter of Veterans for Peace. He pointed to the fact that Lockheed Martin has 5,200 employees in Montgomery County.
McCann urged the group to campaign against Van Hollen and the council members opposed to the resolution. Citing Councilman Craig Rice, D-Germantown, as a supporter of their cause, he reminded those present not to target the council as a whole.
The resolution “represents the majority opinion of the people in this country and in this community,” said Peace Action Montgomery head and rally organizer Jean Athey. She organized the group in chanting, “Vote for peace!”
Members of the county employees union Montgomery County Municipal and Government Employees Organization were also present to show their support for the cause.
“Bloated” defense spending detracts from funding for local infrastructure, MCGEO Executive Director Bob Stewart told The Washington Examiner. “You’ve got bridges crumbling, roads that need repairing.”
Though attendance was modest, Athey was not discouraged. She said the group is planning its next move.
