Calling it “divisive” and “disrespectful,” challengers offered emotional testimony Wednesday against proposals to make English the official language of Maryland and Baltimore County.
Del. Pat McDonough, R-District 7, is proposing the legislation at the state and county level, but said he is considering withdrawing the local bill in favor of a countywide referendum during the next election. Met with harsh criticism, he said the bills, which call for governments to write all official documents and conduct all meetings in English, promote patriotism.
“The United States has one culture,” McDonough said. “We are not a multicultural salad bowl. We are a multiethnic melting pot. We always have been.”
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In November 2006, Carroll County?s Taneytown City Council became the first Maryland jurisdiction to approve English as its official language. But McDonough, who has unsuccessfully introduced the bill three times beforethis, cited polls he said indicate other Marylanders overwhelmingly back the measure.
English is the official language in 28 states, which are bound by federal antidiscrimination laws that require states to take reasonable steps to provide equal access to public services. McDonough said the state would still translate some documents and provide interpreters for services such as 911.
But challengers Wednesday said the law would create a barrier to social services, and some lawmakers including Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk, D-Prince George?s, seemed to agree.
“People will feel they are unable to speak any other language,” said Pena-Melnyk, who was born in the Dominican Republic. “They may feel they will get reprimanded.”
Several immigration and civil rights groups, including CASA of Maryland and the American Civil Liberties Union, submitted testimony against the bill.
Members of U.S. English, a group dedicated to establishing English as the nation?s official language, spoke in favor of the measure.
“We immigrants do not come for the drinking water or the weather,” said Mauro Mujica, chairman and CEO of the group. “We come here to make money and we make more money speaking English. Every immigrant knows that.”
