Inaugural Rally and Run to End Rampant Gerrymandering in Maryland (Sept. 19-21)

Join fellow Marylanders September 19-21 for the “Gerrymander Meander,” a 225-mile relay by runners, bicyclists, and boaters that stretches from Owing Mills to Towson to Ft. McHenry to Columbia to Olney while reaching into portions of Baltimore and Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery and Baltimore counties.  The event is being sponsored by the Tame the Gerrymander Coalition in in Maryland’s Third Congressional District, one of the most gerrymandered in the country.

Members of the Tame the Gerrymander Coalition include Common Cause Maryland, League of Women Voters of Maryland and Jewish Council of Jewish Women Annapolis Section, which have a combined membership of more than 5,200 members.

This three-day exercise for democracy, which features about two dozen runners and bikers, along with support crews, will begin with a rally in Baltimore. Participants will run around the clock from Friday morning through late Saturday night; the final leg will be run Sunday morning and end with a news conference in Annapolis.  At that conference, Maryland legislators will be urged to end gerrymandering and create a new system that draws district lines in a fair and open manner.

Race Kick-Off:

When:            September 19, 2014, 9:30AM

Where:           Roosevelt Park, 1221 West 36th St., Baltimore 21211

                       Event will be held along the Falls Road side of the park; follow event signs to specific location. On-street parking available along Falls Road.

Race Route:

Reporters are encouraged to find the runners anywhere along the course. Suggested locations are included on the back of the flyer and detailed maps of the course are available by request.  Reporters are welcome to ride along in the trail car for any portion of the route.

Race Conclusion and Rally:

When:            September 21, 2014, 2:00PM (time is approximate)

Where:           Annapolis Lawyers Mall (100 State Circle, Annapolis)

Who:              Speakers include representatives from Tame the Gerrymander (Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, Susan Cochran, Carol Ann Hecht)

                      Delegates Ron George and Aisha Braveboy are invited

                      Tame the Gerrymander members, runners

Visuals:          Crowd with signs and banners, runners concluding their race

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Bevan- Dangel, 410-303-7954, jbd@CommonCause.org.

Additional materials available online at http://bit.ly/1qcLxPJ.