LANGLEY PARK, Md (FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018) — The board of CASA in Action this week endorsed Ben Jealous for the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor. Jealous, the a former national President & CEO of the NAACP president, is a superb candidate who has a strong background and commitment to social justice and history of support for immigrant rights.
“Ben Jealous has stood side by side with CASA in Action members and backed issues that are important to this organization,” said Teresa Casertano, a board member who voted for the endorsement Sunday. “In a field of great candidates, our members believe that Ben Jealous is the strongest to win in November and will do so without compromising true progressive values.”
In 2012, Jealous co-chaired the effort to garner voter support for the Maryland DREAM Act, a successful voter referendum campaign to provide access to immigrant youth to attend Maryland colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates. In August, Ben was arrested with CASA activists and others outside the White House to protest the President’s statements attacking immigrant communities.
“Ben Jealous has a great platform from police accountability to healthcare to education to immigration,” said CASA in Action’s Director Yaheiry Mora. “He and his running mate are the team that are going to ignite enthusiasm among voters of color and Maryland working families.”
“Now more than ever, immigrant communities need a governor with the courage to stand up for their rights and a proven track record of prioritizing their needs,” Jealous said. “We can do more at the state level to protect our fellow Marylanders, that includes passing the TRUST Act, giving the Attorney General the leeway to stop or slow the actions of the Federal Government, and providing necessary services to immigrant communities that the Federal Government refuses to. I’m incredibly proud to have earned the endorsement of CASA in Action as we build a broad, diverse coalition committed to making sure that working families once again govern the priorities of our state.”
As the election inches closer, the CASA in Action team will be engaged in a multi-faceted voter outreach program to ensure that Ben Jealous and other endorsed candidates are successful at the polls.
Interviews for candidates were held Sunday at CASA in Action’s headquarters in Langley Park.