By EMAUN KASHFIPOUR
ANNAPOLIS (October 19, 2011)—Tea Party and conservative groups held a rally in Annapolis Tuesday to protest a proposed redistricting plan and possible tax hikes.
More than 150 people attended the "Rally for Good Government" in Lawyer's Mall in front of the State House. Protesters complained that Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed redistricting map was drawn in order to oust Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Frederick, from his congressional seat.
In the process of targeting Bartlett, they said O'Malley shortchanged the state's minority residents.
"[O'Malley] has told our friends, no you don't deserve fair representation in Congress by one of your peers. No you have to wait another decade for the majority-minority district you deserve. I'm going to slice and dice all your communities up for the sake of targeting a single Republican," said Mark Newgent, a Republican activist. "He's put party above the rights of Marylanders."
The Senate voted to pass O'Malley's proposed redistricting map while the rally was still ongoing.