Saturday's Candidate Forum to Revolve around Reparations as Precursor to 2025 City Vote
The Coalition for Atonement & Repair (CAR) is hosting a public forum on reparative justice in Annapolis, scheduled for August 2, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church.
This event aims to provide a platform for community members, especially those most impacted by historical and ongoing harms, to engage directly with the candidates on key reparative justice issues. Confirmed attendees include mayoral candidates Jared Littmann and Rhonda Pindell-Charles, as well as city council candidates Ben Bramsen and Harry Huntley (Ward 1), Karma O’Neill (Ward 2), Debbie Odum and Keeanu Smith-Brown (Ward 3), Janice Allsup-Johnson and Coren Mackell (Ward 4), Brooks Schandelmeier (Ward 5), Rob Savidge (Ward 7), and Frank Thorp (Ward 8).
The forum will focus on key reparative justice issues including affordable housing and displacement, economic equity and job access, criminal justice reform, cannabis justice, community safety, and repair efforts. The event will feature a panel of reparative justice advocates and community leaders, moderated by Reverend Dr. Mark A. Wainwright, who emphasizes that placing justice at the heart of politics increases community engagement and accountability in governance.
The Coalition for Atonement & Repair (CAR) is a grassroots organization founded in 2023, with a mission to address the lasting impacts of discriminatory government policies. CAR focuses on actions including restitution, compensation, and public accountability, and their efforts highlight a continued commitment to addressing historical injustices, particularly those related to urban renewal efforts that displaced communities in Annapolis' Old Fourth Ward.
Voter registration will be available on-site, and a virtual option will be offered through Zoom with advance registration. For more information, visit www.CAR4Justice.info.
- The forum, hosted by The Coalition for Atonement & Repair (CAR), will delve into policy-and-legislation aspects relating to reparative justice, including but not limited to affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and economic equity.
- This upcoming public event in Annapolis' politics scene, held by CAR, aims to foster engagement between candidates and community members on key general-news issues, such as community safety, repair efforts, and cannabis justice.
