Above photo: Members of the Anti-Racist Bethesda Coalition and the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition stand in protest of Moses African Cemetery’s demolition. Ari Gutman.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich orders the removal of Mr. Paul Pumphrey, Veteran Fighter for Civil and Human Rights, from the Executive Office Building.
On Thursday October 31, 2024, Paul Pumphrey, a highly respected community elder and organizer was refused permission to attend a meeting on racial justice and later escorted out of the Executive floor by orders of Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Mr. Pumphrey is a giant among civil rights leaders in Montgomery County,” said Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, President of BACC. “This is unacceptable and the community demands an independent investigation and a public apology. Ironically, this behavior by Mr Elrich represents a continuation of Jim Crow policies. In 1969, Mr. Pumphrey made history as one of the first African-Americans, after desegregation, to speak before the Montgomery County Council.”
Mr. Paul Pumphrey suffered the violence of Jim Crow and segregation policies in Montgomery County. The school system, health care, restaurants, housing, cemeteries, and communities in Montgomery County were segregated. The Executive Office Building was segregated. Ironically, in 2024, Mr. Pumphrey found himself in the same situation. Mr. Pumphrey was not expecting to face the humiliation and inhumane treatment from the County Executive when he agreed to participate in a discussion on anti-blackness and white supremacist policies, under the Elrich administration.
Not only was Mr. Pumphrey not allowed to attend the meeting but when he repeated his request to attend the meeting, a member of Mr. Elrich’s staff approached Mr. Pumphrey and told him “that he had to leave the office and go down stairs.” What was clear was that Mr. Pumphrey was being asked to leave the County Executive’s office and the floor where his office is located. The staff member walked Mr. Pumphrey to the elevator, pushed the button and stayed with him until the elevator door closed. Had Mr. Pumphrey decided to protest this insulting and degrading treatment, there is little doubt that police would have been called.
Mr. Pumphrey’s role in the meeting was to represent the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC) at the initial invitation of Racial Justice NOW! The BACC has waged a valiant fight to stop the on-going desecration of Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda, Maryland. Recently, the BACC won an historic decision by the Maryland Supreme Court and a favorable editorial by the Washington Post.
Mr. Pumphrey stated, “I was there to represent BACC along with other activists to discuss with Marc Elrich the concerns of the Black community regarding his administration’s anti-black policies. As the only Black male invited to the meeting, I was singled out. Initially, I was told that I wasn’t allowed in the meeting and when I insisted on attending the meeting, that I was invited to, I was escorted out of the County Executive’s office and floor. The actions of the County Executive are reminiscent of the 1950’s and 60’s Jim Crow era of Montgomery County where County officials did not feel obligated to respect the rights of African-Americans.”
Rabitah Moses of Housing Justice Montgomery stated: “ What Marc Elrich did to Mr. Pumphrey was unacceptable. Mr. Pumphrey is a respectable member of our community. Not only has he been a part of the history of Montgomery County he is also well respected globally. The County Executive must be held accountable for his action.”
“The anti black and racist policies of this County are essentially using the same old playbook of divide and conquer to keep the black community and black organizations separate and fighting amongst ourselves,” said Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, the Co-Executive and Co-Founder of Racial Justice NOW! “We stand with the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition. We say that we will no longer let anybody not only abuse our elders but tear our community apart,” Sankara-Jabar continued.
Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, added, “If Mr. Elrich is unable to represent all of his constituents, we believe, he should resign.”