Author Archives: Thomas Nephew

Activists weigh in on Takoma Park police chief selection process — join us online and next Thursday!

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

MCCRC, ACLU-Montgomery County, and other activists joined the discussion of the Takoma Park Police Chief selection process during a Takoma Park City Council meeting (video forthcoming) held Wednesday evening in the Recreation Center on New Hampshire Avenue. Why is this … Continue reading →

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Youth-police panel: student arrest rates in MoCo schools much higher than in MD or US

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

On Monday night I was honored to be part of a panel, convened by the remarkable Montgomery Blair High School student activist Alix Swann, on the topic of “Youth Police Interactions.” Panelists included: Eddie Ellis (One By 1, Inc) Minister … Continue reading →

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Maryland-wide SWAT data files obtained by MCCRC show need for standards *and* reporting

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition (MCCRC) has obtained the detailed data files compiled by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) used to generate annual reports on SWAT team deployments throughout the Maryland between 2010 and 2014. The … Continue reading →

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Analysis touting prototype MoCo “Countering Violent Extremism” program flawed, expert says

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

“To call [the “Montgomery County Model”] effective in the way they have would lead the average citizen to believe it reduces actual violence which is distinctly not the case. […To] say that it is an evidence based program after a … Continue reading →

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Introducing MCCRC’s Progressive Montgomery Calendar

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

Part of what makes the Montgomery County area great is its vibrant progressive community, from Takoma Park Mobilization to UpCounty Alliance, from Peace Action Montgomery to Progressive Neighbors, from CASA to SURJ MoCo.  (And hey, us too.) So we’re very … Continue reading →

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We stand with our neighbors! Rockville turns out for sanctuary hearing

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

Scores of  local residents testified about a proposed City of Rockville sanctuary ordinance at Monday night’s Rockville City Council hearing. While not all speakers favored the ordinance 11-3, “Fostering Community Trust,”  (sponsored by Councilmember Julie Palakovich Carr), a majority did … Continue reading →

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MCCRC lobbies Annapolis for “3 S’s” – sanctuary, SWAT reform, Stingray regulation

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

MCCRC’s Sue Udry and Thomas Nephew joined scores of activists participating in CASA’s Immigrant Lobby Night on Monday evening. Sanctuary Our number one priority was asking our respective delegations (Districts 18, 20) to support the Maryland TRUST Act (HB1362/SB0835) —  … Continue reading →

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MCCRC delegation visits Muslim Community Center & Clinic

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

There’s a jewel of community medicine right here in our county: the Muslim Community Center (MCC) Clinic — the largest multi-function, faith-based, safety net clinic in the country. On Monday, a delegation of Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition supporters from … Continue reading →

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Meaningful SWAT reform at risk in Annapolis — here’s how to help

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

Action alert: Help enact meaningful SWAT reform in Maryland! Visit this state web site: SWAT Team Reporting – SB 447. Then click and download the last SWAT statistical report to be issued, FY 2014 SWAT Data Report.(Please do both.) Believe it … Continue reading →

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Muslim Community Center Town Hall speakers report on #MuslimBan executive order, offer toolkit to resist

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Thomas Nephew

An emergency town hall convened at the Muslim Community Center this Sunday at noon gave two speakers — Abed Ayoub of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), and Khaled Bhartoum, a law professor at  University of Detroit Mercy School of Law … Continue reading →

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