[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"72339","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 480px; height: 270px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px; float: right;"}}]]

AFT-Maryland is happy to share with you a new series from our state federation president. Marietta's Monthly Message is an opportunity for public employees across the state of Maryland to hear an important word from President English. These messages may at times be informative or uplifting but always timely and relevant. Here's President English's message for February 2021.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"72168","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 30%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px; float: right;"}}]]Every year we undertake the solemn task of honoring and remembering the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year feels like there’s an urgency to his words and memory. The spirit of national unity has been stretched thin by those seeking to support white supremacy.

Thankfully there are many more of us who heed and believe the words of Dr. King than there are of those who would divide us and promote racist, sexist fascism. The challenge for us is to not only remember Dr. King’s words, but to practice them. ...

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[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"72161","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 30%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px; float: right;"}}]]Thomas V. "Mike" Miller's passing deeply saddened all of us at AFT-Maryland. His contributions to Maryland politics over the last 33 years are well documented but what we remember most about him was the ways he continued to push Maryland forward with a personal touch that each person he encountered felt.

Senate President Emeritus Miller, as his colleagues named him, was a steadfast leader who was a friend to working people and particularly public employees, seeing they got their fair share. In particular, he worked with the state federation to advance education, and protections for the public employees that make Maryland the state that it is. He was a lion of the state senate and will be sorely missed.

AFT-Maryland extends our deepest condolences to his wife Patti, their five children, 15 grandchildren, and the countless people across Maryland he's touched and will feel his loss. 

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"69000","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","style":"width: 150px; height: 101px; float: right; margin: 5px;"}}]]The violence that took place yesterday was absolutely disgusting. Our country is one that operates on the rule of law and belief in that law. When elected leaders threaten to undermine the rule and overturn the will of the American voters, and go on to incite others to violently attempt to overturn the will of the people, our democracy loses all moral standing. The President and his allies in Congress should be ashamed of themselves. The rambunctious MAGA supporters who operated in rebellion to the United States should be ashamed of themselves and most importantly, we as a country should be ashamed of ourselves.

The country has a dark history of meeting every effort to expand democracy and...

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