Montgomery County council proclaims support for peaceful protest; organizers urge protective measures
April 29, 2026 | Montgomery County, Maryland
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Council Member Evan Glass presented a proclamation at the April 28 Montgomery County Council session recognizing the right to peacefully assemble and urging protection for demonstrators.
The proclamation, read into the record by Glass, referenced local civil‑rights history, including student-led civil disobedience to integrate Glen Echo Amusement Park, and said the county “recognizes peaceful protests” and encourages residents — including county employees — to exercise their First Amendment rights. The proclamation was signed by the presenting council member and by Council President Fana Gonzalez.
Organizers who joined the council said the county should prepare targeted policies to protect protesters from new surveillance technologies. Ariana Yang of the Montgomery County Progressive Asian American Network urged interjurisdictional alliances and legal safeguards, saying the county will need “alliances across Maryland with the AG’s office, with civil‑rights organizations” to address “facial recognition, political surveillance tools and crowd control tools.”
Lisa Fuller of Indivisible MOCO Women described the planning and safety measures used at the No Kings demonstrations, including coordination with county police and volunteer safety marshals, and said the events drew large community participation: “It was a true community effort,” she said, praising volunteers and organizers for keeping events peaceful and organized.
Felicia Kimmel of Empowered framed peaceful protest as a combination of service, mutual aid and emotional support for new activists who “get comfortable” through community work and then join larger actions. Ellis Leach, identified in the record as a No Kings organizer, also introduced himself earlier during the roll call of participants.
The council president thanked organizers and moved on to general business. No formal policy votes on civil‑liberties protections were taken at the session; speakers urged the council to consider concrete policy steps and intergovernmental coordination in future work.
What happens next: Council members did not vote on new protest‑protection policies at the April 28 session; organizers requested follow‑up and staff were invited to coordinate with proponents about possible policy language and interjurisdictional outreach.
The proclamation, read into the record by Glass, referenced local civil‑rights history, including student-led civil disobedience to integrate Glen Echo Amusement Park, and said the county “recognizes peaceful protests” and encourages residents — including county employees — to exercise their First Amendment rights. The proclamation was signed by the presenting council member and by Council President Fana Gonzalez.
Organizers who joined the council said the county should prepare targeted policies to protect protesters from new surveillance technologies. Ariana Yang of the Montgomery County Progressive Asian American Network urged interjurisdictional alliances and legal safeguards, saying the county will need “alliances across Maryland with the AG’s office, with civil‑rights organizations” to address “facial recognition, political surveillance tools and crowd control tools.”
Lisa Fuller of Indivisible MOCO Women described the planning and safety measures used at the No Kings demonstrations, including coordination with county police and volunteer safety marshals, and said the events drew large community participation: “It was a true community effort,” she said, praising volunteers and organizers for keeping events peaceful and organized.
Felicia Kimmel of Empowered framed peaceful protest as a combination of service, mutual aid and emotional support for new activists who “get comfortable” through community work and then join larger actions. Ellis Leach, identified in the record as a No Kings organizer, also introduced himself earlier during the roll call of participants.
The council president thanked organizers and moved on to general business. No formal policy votes on civil‑liberties protections were taken at the session; speakers urged the council to consider concrete policy steps and intergovernmental coordination in future work.
What happens next: Council members did not vote on new protest‑protection policies at the April 28 session; organizers requested follow‑up and staff were invited to coordinate with proponents about possible policy language and interjurisdictional outreach.
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