When we launched this petition, our demand was simple: transparency.

We asked basic questions about the proposed ICE warehouse in Washington County. We asked when our elected officials first knew about it. We asked what agreements were made. We asked why the community was kept in the dark while decisions that could define Hagerstown for generations were moving forward behind closed doors.

Instead of answers, we were met with silence, deflection, being thrown out of public meetings, and rushed agendas.

And now, Washington County Commissioner Derek Harvey has resigned.

Let’s be clear: resignations don’t happen in a vacuum.

Over the past several weeks:

• Residents organized protests in record time.
• Our Change.org petition surged with thousands of signatures.
• Community members packed meetings demanding clarity.
• The Maryland Attorney General filed a lawsuit that explicitly referenced our research and the public outcry here in Hagerstown.

We did not stay quiet. We did not let this slide. We forced this issue into the open.

Transparency matters. Accountability matters. And when public officials refuse to provide either, public pressure works.

But this is not the end of the story.

One resignation does not answer the outstanding questions:

• When did county leadership first know about the DHS purchase?
• What conversations happened before the public announcement?
• What commitments were made on behalf of our community?
• What is the long-term plan for this facility?

We are demanding full transparency - documents, timelines, communications, and public disclosure of every step that led us here.

Washington County residents deserve leadership that represents the people, not backroom deals. We deserve open governance, not rushed approvals and vague statements.

This moment proves something important: organized residents can shift the balance of power.

Now we keep going.
Show up.
Demand answers.
Sign the petition if you haven’t.

Transparency shouldn’t require a resignation to achieve - but if that’s what it takes, we’re not done yet.

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