​

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC) calls on community members, descendants, allies, social justice advocates, organizations, activists and media to gather at the Rockville Courthouse as Montgomery County’s historic African American burial grounds face critical court hearings Monday in Room 6 (A) and Tuesday in Room 5 (I) i at 9:30 a.m. This is more than a legal proceeding; it is a moment to honor our ancestors, defend their legacy and protect the future of our community.

Parking is available at 50 Maryland Ave., Rockville, 20850. 

Confirmed speakers include:                    

 Monday: BACC v. 1784 Holdings

  • MC: Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, BACC President

  • Libation: Mama Yaa, Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

  • Former D.C. Superior Judge Curtis von Kann – written statement

  • The Rev. (Dr.) Segun Adebayo, Macedonia Baptist Church

  • David Mott, Poor People’s Campaign

  • Robert Stubblefield, Black United Front 

  • John Steinbach, Coalition to Save Thoroughfare Cemetery

  • Sheila Hanson, Descendants, Tribes of the Shenandoah 

 

Tuesday: BACC v. HOC

  • MC: Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, BACC President

  • Libation: Mama Yaa, Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

  • Attorney Steve Lieberman, Rothwell Figg Law Firm 

  • Pastor (Dr.) Segun Adebayo, Macedonia Baptist Church

  • Harvey Matthews, descendant, River Road

  • Paul Pumphrey, descendant, Sandy Springs

  • Nanette Hunter (Cora Botts, descendant, lies under HOC parking lot)

  • Montani Wallace (Geneva Mason, lies under HOC parking lot)

BACC will hold a press conference immediately after each hearing to announce outcomes, outline next steps and mobilize continued community support. Journalists, media outlets and all allies are encouraged to attend and help amplify this historic moment.

“Our community is gathering at the Circuit Court to defend our history, the rights of our ancestors, and to demand an end to the erasure of Moses African Cemetery,” Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, BACC president, said. “What Montgomery County is doing is no different than the Trump government, which aims to erase and cover up the enslavement and racism our ancestors face and our community continues to confront.”

These sacred grounds carry the weight of our ancestors’ struggles, courage and hope. As a Coalition, we frequently honor freedom fighters like Harriet Tubman, who fought for the rights of Black people to live in freedom and dignity. Today, Montgomery County is attempting to erase the legacy of Black people like her who lived and died on River Road. Protecting these grounds is a continuation of their fight, ensuring that the dignity and memory of those who came before us are never erased.