Unquestioned Rumor Mill Over Abortion Rights Issue Cost Candidate

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Was it mere speculation or deliberate intent, either way has there been a rush to judgment? Did this local candidate loss a National endorsement over alleged politically motivated calls to endorsers to deliberately abase local support for her campaign?

On July 2, 2022 via email and after completing an online survey, Marguerite Morris a Democratic candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates District 33A, received notification of an endorsement by the National Organization of Women (NOW). NOW “ is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. ..has contributing members and chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.”[1] In the survey one question stated “Abortion Rights: Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones wants to enshrine in the Maryland Constitution the right for a person to make their reproductive health care choices without restriction.. Will you support a bill that will push this forward and work to get it passed at the ballot box?” to which Morris replied, “Yes. I believe in freedom of choice, as the opposite will disproportionately affect marginalized persons.”

For the record, Morris has never stated that she did not believe in a women’s right to choose. She further adds that “I unequivocally support a woman’s right to choose. If I were a part of the House of Delegates in 2022 I would have voted “yes” for HB937 sponsored by Del. Ariana Kelly’s. HB937 is the Abortion Care Access Act. This Act established an Abortion Care Clinical Training Program in the Maryland Department of Health “ensuring that there are a sufficient number of health professionals to provide abortion care; establishing the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program Fund; establishing certain requirements regarding abortion services, including provision and coverage requirements, for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.. requiring the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $3,500,000 to the Program..”[2] In addition, Morris adds that if she is a member of the House of Delegates in 2023 she will vote a resoundingly “yes” for the Constitutional Amendment that would enshrine a woman’s right to choose.

Morris has spent more than two decades protecting and defending women’s rights, including marching alongside women in Maryland and Washington D.C,. She, without personal compensation, oversaw programs that responded to the needs of survivors of domestic violence, including victims of human trafficking from around the world. Her two decades old track record includes being a recipient of numerous awards like the prestigious Fannie Lou Hamer, where she joined an alumni of other recipients like Senator Sarah Elfreth, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Delegate Sandy Bartlett, Delegate Shaneka Henson and league of other astoundingly talented and powerful women. Morris is also the recipient of the YWCA Twin Trailblazer Award which “..recognizes the exceptional vision, contributions, and accomplishments of women in both the workplace and community.”[3] Last but not least, Morris is honored to be a recipient of The George H. Phelps Distinguished Service award, was nominated as Woman of The Year and comes with an endorsement by Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of the National Congress of Black Women and a former Board Member of the NOW organization..

On July 6, 2022, the NOW endorsement was withdrawn. Reason cited. They’d received several calls from women concerned about the endorsement because of Morris’s alleged views on Roe vs Wade. In the email notification the NOW representative stated that “To allow our initial decision to stand would be an affront to the many abortion rights candidates and elected representatives who work tirelessly on this issue.”

Again, and for the record, Morris firmly believes in a woman’s right to choose. During a Democratic Central Committee Political Forum when asked about Roe Vs Wade, Morris stated that she believes in a women’s right to choose, but also expressed concern about the toughness of the issue for all involved.

Nonetheless, unknown persons made calls, there was a rush to judgment, and never an opportunity to respond. Concerned about the misrepresentation, Morris contacted several currently elected officials one of which was Senator Pam Beidle. According to Morris, Senator Beidle stated that she knew about the calls being made, but did not personally call herself. To this, Morris wondered if this was truly an affront to women, then why wouldn’t Senator Beidle have called herself. She also wishes that as a seasoned leader, Senator Beidle would have reached out for clarification over such a delicate and important matter. In addition, Morris also questioned Delegate Heather Bagnall (a strong supporter of Andrew Pruski, who is running for the same elected seat as Morris) and discovered that Bagnall had been telling persons Morris said she was pro-life, something, that Morris did not say. According to Morris, Bagnall finally acknowledged her error and stated that it was what she perceived. Well while perception may be unique to the perceiver, allegedly calling a company or possibly encouraging others to do so, to cause the removal of an endorsement is problematic. Especially if you falsely stated something as a fact, to effect the action of others. Therefore, Morris is formally requesting a public apology from Delegate Heather Bagnall, to whom she had previously looked to as a source of inspiration.

It is Morris’ personal opinion that these rumors were most likely politically motivated, to undermine her campaign and perhaps unknowingly persons were encouraged to call because of the agenda of others. Morris ask voters to stay the course. She is the right candidate for the 33A Democratic seat. She also adds that if you weren’t going to come out and vote, let this be the motivation to vote on July 19th.. It’s a sign of the winds of good change, when persons move to silence your voice, before you speak. So come out, and vote now!

Morris closes with, “As always, I welcome questions and dialogue from my constituents. In addition, and in spite of, I have been graced to have received a second National endorsement. This is from “The Collective” who are described as being “the nation’s largest political action committee” https://collectivepac.org/the-collective-pac-endorses-a-slate-of-candidates-for-state-local-races-in-maryland/

Meet Marguerite Morris by clicking https://youtu.be/ut55Ou2yTnE Click here to hear about challenges experienced by community families. https://youtu.be/0TFB1HbS37Y If you would like to make a much needed donation to her campaign visit www.thepeopleformarguerite.com

[1] https://marylandnow.org/about/

[2] https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0937

[3] https://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2019/09/ywca-announces-twin-award-honorees-and-sponsors/

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