As part of its regular FIRST FRIDAY event series, the Talbot County Democratic Forum and the Talbot County Democratic Central Committee will hold a SignWaving Protest Rally in continued support of Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal and to denounce the cruel, inhumane practices of ICE under the Trump regime.

Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal was detained on July 21st and initially held in a Baltimore facility, where he spent several nights sleeping on a cold bench in a bare holding cell. He has since been moved to Louisiana, separating him even further from his Maryland family, friends and congregation. That suggests he has not received his Constitutional due process.

His fate remains uncertain. Advocates fear he could be sent to the U.S. government’s concentration camp in Florida—or even deported to a foreign country complicit in Trump’s blitzkrieg on immigration that’s driven by terror tactics rather than legislation and humane reform.

By all accounts, Pastor Daniel Espinal is an upstanding member of the Easton and Talbot County community. He overstayed his visa from Honduras 24 years ago, which is a civil violation, not a crime. He has no criminal record and is a tax-paying business owner, devoted pastor, husband and father of American citizens. His sudden arrest has created a profound emotional and financial crisis for his family. The President claims ICE is deporting the “worst of the worst,” but Pastor Daniel hardly fits that description. People like Pastor Daniel are apparently singled out to strike fear in our communities.

The Sign-Waving Protest Rally will take place on:

📅 Friday, August 1st
⏰ 5:30–6:30 PM
📍 Intersection of Dover Street and Route 50, Easton, MD

Following the rally, participants are invited to the Talbot Democratic Headquarters (316 E. Dover Street) for light refreshments, conversation, and solidarity as we gather strength to continue the fight for justice and human dignity.

In addition, a fund has been created to help the Fuentes Espinal family with mounting legal fees and to survive the sudden financial hardship caused by his arrest. Contribute here: https://gofund.me/d4853c46

All are welcome. Bring your signs, your voices, and your commitment to stand up for Justice for All! In addition to the Rally, everyone is encouraged to write, call and email their elected officials both in support of Pastor Fuentes Espinal and in opposition to current policies and tactics of ICE.

For more information, please contact: Talbot County Democratic Forum at [email protected], www.demforum.com and Facebook: Talbot Dems Club

What: The Talbot County Democratic Forum hosted its inaugural HOT TOPICS night at the Eastern Shore Conservation Center on July 8th. Presenters were Steve Kline, President & CEO of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Heather Grant, Executive Director of Talbot Thrive. Although sponsored by Talbot County Democratic Forum, the non-political info-social event was open to the public and attended by more than forty people. The Forum intends to have quarterly HOT TOPICS events to bring much needed awareness and information to concerned citizens. Subscribe to the Forum newsletter to get up to date information on future programs and events at https://conta.cc/4lxn720.

When: July 8, 2025

Where: Eastern Shore Land Conservancy 114 S Washington Street, Easton 

Details: Steve Kline shared the mission and work of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy that has saved thousands of acres through conservation easements, advocacy and championing public policy initiatives at local, state and national levels. HOT TOPICS included ongoing land preservation efforts, plans for a future additional and expanded Chesapeake Bay Bridge(s) and associated widening of roads, land use issues like solar farms and maintaining and protecting the natural wonders of Eastern Shore that generate $8 billion in annual revenue by those who come to hike, fish, hunt and enjoy the beauty of the Shore. Heather Grant shared a PowerPoint presentation and video that amplified the efforts of Talbot Thrive to promote safe cycling, walkable communities and better outdoor transportation infrastructure. Talbot Thrive serves the greater Talbot community through education, school-based cycling training, promoting rails to trails, hosting weekly run/walk events at Idlewild Park and assisting local jurisdictions to consider all users in their planning and design of public spaces and roadways. 

Rick Hughes, Talbot County Democratic Forum board member and organizer of the event, said “There’re many organizations doing great work in our community to protect and enhance our way of life here in Talbot County and throughout the Shore. The purpose of our HOT TOPICS events is to raise community awareness by bringing all kinds of people together to learn about these organizations and a wide range of issues. Information is critical to an informed and engaged citizenry”. 

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is a nonprofit with a Mission to Conserve, Steward and Advocate for the unique rural landscape of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. https://www.eslc.org/

Talbot Thrive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing safe, healthy, and equitable outdoor mobility for all who live, work, and visit Talbot County. Through advocacy, safety & education, and strategic partnerships, they promote safe cycling, walkable communities, and better active transportation infrastructure. Their mission is to build a more connected, resilient, and health-conscious community by fostering a culture of movement that benefits individuals and the broader public. https://talbotthrive.org/

ABOUT THE TALBOT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC FORUM: Started in the mid-nineties, the Talbot County Democratic Forum met a need for a community of Democrats to become involved in the local Party and to make a difference in local, state and national elections. Forum members are activists who believe change is possible with an educated electorate and they have built their base upon that premise. The Forum sponsors the monthly First Friday events at Democratic Headquarters in Easton, runs symposiums of candidates, sponsors a Fourth of July booth at the County Fair, brings in speakers on key hot topics, hosts social events, registers voters, and raises money to support candidates up and down the ballot. For more information on the Talbot County Democratic Forum, visit DemForum.com or call Jim Bruce, Communications Chair, 202-276-7552. 

Journalist David Henry to address our fake news concerns.

Fake news has always been around, but for the most part we could count on receiving accurate information. Objective journalism has been both an industry standard and a successful business model, but with the advent of cable news and the internet, things have changed. A timely forum, The Truth About Fake News, will be presented Thursday, June 15, at the Academy Art Museum in Easton. The program will begin at 7 pm.

What is fake news? Why do we have it, and how can we identify it? Award winning TV journalist David Henry has spent the past 30 years covering local news in Philadelphia, as well as international events such as our two gulf wars and the aftermath of 9/11. His Emmy Award winning investigative reporting included uncovering medical malpractice and political corruption in the city of Philadelphia.

He will define fake news, describe the factors contributing to it, and perhaps most importantly, help us identify fake news and suggest how we might return to a media marketplace that favors accountability. This presentation will be followed by a period of discussion, questions and answers.

This program is being presented by the Talbot County Democratic Forum and is free and open to the public. For more information, call Bonnie Morro, 410 690 3624.

Michael Hash

Now that our president has advised “letting Obamacare collapse,” we might remind our representatives that they were elected to govern. There is clearly work to be done as long as we see other nations delivering better outcomes to more of their citizens at less cost.

The Talbot County Democratic Forum and FamilyCare of Easton, Aesthetics are sponsoring a program on why the act was created, what it has done, how it can be improved, and what changes to it might mean for people on the Eastern Shore.

The program will be Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, 114 South Washington St. in Easton. It is free and open to the public.

The featured speaker will be Michael Hash, who served as director of the Office of Health Reform at the Department of Health and Human Services from 2011 to 2014. Before that, he was deputy director of the White House Office for Health Reform. He has a long history of involvement with health care policy at the highest levels in Washington and has taught at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown.

“Before passage of the Affordable Care Act,” Hash said recently, “people with preexisting health conditions were denied coverage, denied benefits, or charged exorbitant rates. The uninsured rate in the U.S. stood at 16 percent. Today that rate is below 9 percent and more than 22 million Americans, who were previously uninsured, now have health insurance.”

He said that the ACA, also known as Obamacare, has also improved the quality and outcomes of care. “Hospital re-admission rates and infection rates have significantly declined and electronic medical records have made patient records more accessible,” he said. “But more progress needs to be made. In some places consumers don’t have an adequate choice of health plans, premiums may be unaffordable, and the cost of prescription drugs is out of reach.”
He said that a constructive, bipartisan effort is needed to strengthen the ACA or else the progress that has been made and the health and well being of millions of Americans are at risk.

Susan Delean-Botkin, a nurse-practitioner in Talbot County, will discuss what the ACA has meant for individuals in the Mid-Shore.

The program will end with a question-and-answer session.