Friends of the Earth Action Endorses Ben Jealous for Maryland Governor
SILVER SPRING, MD. – Friends of the Earth Action today endorsed Ben Jealous for governor of Maryland. The endorsement was announced as part of a Facebook live conversation at the Maryland home of Friends of the Earth Action President Erich Pica.
“Ben Jealous is the Governor Maryland needs to protect our environment,” said Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth Action. “Governor Hogan’s rejection of smart growth and his unwillingness to push back against Chesapeake Bay funding cuts have shown that Maryland needs a new direction. Ben Jealous’ dedication to social justice and the environment makes him the right choice for Maryland and that is why Friends of the Earth Action enthusiastically endorses his bid for Governor of Maryland.”
Jealous is the former President of the NAACP, where he took on climate change because he recognized it is a civil rights issue and that environmental degradation yields disparate impacts on communities of color. Throughout his campaign, he has made building a green economy a key focus of his candidacy for Governor.
“Ben would provide strong leadership as Governor of Maryland and pave the way for clean water and clean energy in the state,” said Brent Blackwelder, chairman of Friends of the Earth Action.
The endorsement comes as Jealous continues his Courage To Lead tour of Maryland, where he is highlighting his initiatives aimed at addressing the opioid crisis, improving education and reducing violent crime.
“I am proud to have earned the endorsement from Friends of the Earth Action,” said Ben Jealous. “As a civil rights leader, community organizer and businessman, I have long argued that our environment is a public health issue, an economic issue, and a moral issue that we must act courageously to protect. As Governor, I’ll do what I’ve done my entire life and build broad diverse coalitions to pass policies that will make Maryland a global leader in protecting the environment and growing our green economy.”
Expert contact: Ben Schreiber, (202) 222-0752, bschreiber@foe.org
Communications contact: Patrick Davis, (202) 222-0744, pdavis@foe.org