This Tuesday morning in Hagerstown, we are gathering again outside the Washington County Commissioners meeting, but this time with a sharper focus. The protest is centered on one question that officials continue to avoid: what do the non disclosure agreements signed by Washington County, Maryland Commissioners actually cover?
Those agreements were signed in connection with a land deal that came just before the proposed ICE detention facility in Williamsport, Maryland was revealed. Since then, commissioners have refused to explain whether the agreements are related to the project or what they restrict them from saying publicly. If there is no connection, that could be stated clearly. The refusal to do so has made the agreements impossible to ignore.
That is why this Tuesday’s protest matters.
Led by Hagerstown Rapid Response and Washington County Indivisible, the demonstration is part of an ongoing weekly presence, but the focus now is squarely on transparency and accountability surrounding the NDAs. We are responding to a timeline that raises serious questions and a pattern of silence that continues to deepen them.
Instead of addressing those questions directly, commissioners recently voted to approve $118,000 in riot gear to prepare for civil unrest. That choice underscores the moment. Rather than communicate with the public about a project of enormous consequence, they are preparing for the reaction to not communicating at all.
So we will be there again on Tuesday, making clear that the question is not going away.
Event Details:
What: Weekly protest opposing a proposed 1,500-bed ICE detention facility that the Department of Homeland Security plans to build near Hagerstown in Williamsport, Maryland and also demanding transparency from Washington County Commissioners surrounding the project.
When: Tuesday, 8:45 AM
Where: 100 W Washington St, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Read our latest blog post about the Tuesday blog post 👉 https://blog.hagerstownrapidresponse.com/p/the-silence-around-hagerstowns-ice-facility-facility-is-the-story