Logo
Print

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Christina Autin
(240) 528-4887
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HOC RELEASES CLARIFICATION & SUPPORT DOCUMENT FOR MEMORIALIZATION OF MOSES AFRICAN CEMETERY AHEAD OF JANUARY MEETING AND COMMUNITY FORUM

 

Kensington, MD. Wednesday, January 9, 2019. On Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) will hold its monthly Commission meeting. As an ongoing component of those meetings HOC will again provide space for a public community forum.

On January 2, 2019, HOC was notified by the Montgomery County Police Department that members of the Macedonia Baptist Church and their supporters will attend HOC’s monthly Commission meeting and resume their protest activities. These individuals expressed their intent and made a direct request to be arrested and removed from the meeting by County Police. HOC respects the importance of peaceful protest in the public discourse and as a form of civil disobedience and will continue to provide a community forum at Commission meetings.

Over the course of the past year, members of the Macedonia Baptist Church, supporters, and members of the descendant community have voiced their support for memorialization of the former Moses cemetery located in the Westbard neighborhood. Furthermore, HOC staff has met with the church and other stakeholders, including descendants, on several occasions to discuss memorialization.

We recognize that many in the community have outstanding questions about the history of the property, cemetery, and HOC’s future plans for Westwood Tower. In order to clarify some of the misunderstandings around HOC’s involvement and intent, we have provided a document, “HOC Staff Report: HOC’s Support For Westbard Memorialization” on our website.

Key clarifications in the document include:

  1. HOC supports memorialization of the Moses Cemetery and the African American history of Westbard.
  2. HOC has held two meetings with members of the Macedonia Baptist Church and their supporters on this issue.
  3. HOC did not use taxpayer funds to purchase Westwood Tower.

HOC is supportive of efforts to honor and memorialize the site of the former Moses Cemetery. We look forward to continuing the discussion with all community stakeholders and to taking meaningful strides toward memorialization and honoring the rich history of the Westbard neighborhood.

###

About the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC)
The mission of the Housing Opportunities Commission is to provide affordable housing and supportive housing services that enhance the lives of low- and moderate-income families and individuals throughout Montgomery County, Maryland so that:

  • No one in Montgomery County lives in substandard housing;
  • We strengthen families and communities as good neighbors;
  • We establish an efficient and productive environment that fosters trust, open communication and mutual respect; and
  • We work with advocates, providers and community members to maintain support for all the work of the Commission.