A local advocate for the disability community is describing, in her own words, the fear and disrespect she alleges she felt at the 2024 Tawes Crab and Clam Bake. Dominique Sessa, a prominent figure in disability advocacy, relies on a power wheelchair to get around. She says that the incident not only caused her medical issues but also led to elevated stress levels, making the event particularly difficult for her.
Disability Advocate "Felt Violated" by Protestors
While Sessa was taking a photo with Maryland’s former Governor Larry Hogan, she says uninvited individuals quickly surrounded the two. Some of the individuals were wearing t-shirts from the AFSCME Maryland union, while others donned Supreme Court justice costumes. Several held signs above Sessa’s head, one of which read, “Larry Hogan stole my wages.”
“I didn’t realize at first that there were people with signs behind me because a lot of the time people with disabilities don’t have the dexterity or sometimes the acuity to see,” Sessa tells WMDT. “I became very overwhelmed, but I also felt violated because I didn’t consent to the signs. And, there was nowhere for me to go because the terrain was wet from flooding that day, and all of the asphalt was crowded.”
Sessa describes the physical and emotional toll the incident took on her. It wasn’t until later that day, after returning to her home in Salisbury, that she realized just how serious the situation had been for her health.
“My medical device got powered off. The button is very sensitive. It delivers me nutrition. I should never have been in the middle of a political commotion, but the fact that this endangered me—I went almost all day without nutrition,” Sessa said. “As I started to feel more tense [during the incident], I was afraid of a convulsion, but there was nothing I could do.”
"Thoughtless… Chaotic Behavior"
Sessa characterizes the actions of the individuals involved as “thoughtless.” Her account reflects the physical and emotional difficulties she endured during the incident.
“Most of the people surrounding me were able-bodied men. I’m in a power wheelchair. There’s not much I could do physically. It was a very dangerous and reckless situation,” Sessa explained. “There’s nothing more terrifying than being circled by people who don’t know your care, they don’t know your disability, and you can’t escape.”
Given the “chaotic behavior,” the flooded conditions at the event, and her heightened sense of illness, Sessa says she was unable to meet with Angela Alsobrooks, who was running for one of Maryland’s U.S. Senate seats against Hogan. Meeting with candidates and lawmakers is a critical aspect of Sessa’s advocacy work, and this missed opportunity deeply frustrated her.
Missed Chance for Advocacy
Sessa, who does not affiliate with any political party, felt disappointed by how the event unfolded. Advocacy is central to her mission, and she had hoped to discuss important issues with figures like Hogan and Alsobrooks. Sessa, appointed to three state positions under Hogan’s leadership, is currently serving on the Maryland Commission on Disabilities and as Chair of the state’s Assistive Technology Loan Program. She was also crowned Ms. Wheelchair Maryland in 2024, a title she holds with great pride.
She feels that she was robbed of the chance to address crucial disability-related issues with two key figures in Maryland’s political scene.
“A lot of issues pertaining to the disability community often don’t get discussed,” Sessa said. “We go to the ballot box, we have rights, and we are unique, intricate beings. It is vital for all people—not just those involved in politics—to respect us. The situation could have gone much worse, and that’s a terrifying thought.”
Union Responds to WMDT
AFSCME Maryland officials initially canceled an interview with WMDT but later issued a statement defending their actions. The statement explained that the union members were protesting the alleged wage theft by Hogan’s administration, which they say amounted to nearly $23 million stolen from 6,000 state employees who were forced to work overtime.
AFSCME’s statement emphasized that the protestors were exercising their constitutional rights, adding that they stood by their peaceful demonstration.
“AFSCME members were at the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake to peacefully protest the wage theft former Governor Larry Hogan’s administration committed… He has still not apologized or taken accountability for the nearly $23 million in wages that were stolen from nearly 6,000 state employees who were forced to work overtime. Under his watch, his administration hollowed out our state services and left agencies with dangerously low levels of staffing, unmanageable caseloads, and record wait times. It’s clear that Hogan would rather boost his image for political gain than admit to the harm done to our state under his leadership.”
WMDT followed up, asking for AFSCME to address Sessa’s specific allegations of harassment and to clarify whether the union had plans to reach out to her to resolve the situation. In response, AFSCME issued a second statement, which reiterated their stance on the protest while expressing concern about the larger context of Hogan’s legacy.
“Under Governor Larry Hogan’s watch, nearly $23 million and counting were stolen from nearly 6,000 state employees during his tenure. And let’s be clear – these are hardworking Marylanders who were forced to work overtime and then had their wages stolen. This was money that could have been used at the time to feed their families or pay the bills. This was what AFSCME members were peacefully protesting, and we stand by the fact that members were exercising their constitutional rights to do so… It pains us to see former Governor Larry Hogan, who decimated many of the state services that Marylanders rely on, exploiting this situation for his own political gain.”
Looking Ahead
Sessa says that, to date, she has not heard directly from union officials or any of the individuals involved in the incident. Despite this, she remains hopeful that the situation can be addressed.
“I hope that the union and others involved will reach out to me because I think it’s imperative and pivotal that we realize that language matters, just like access matters,” Sessa said.
Though the incident was troubling, Sessa is determined to turn the negative experience into a positive mission. She feels strongly that it allows her to advocate for other disabled individuals who may have faced similar circumstances but have not had the platform to speak out.
“I regret that this happened, but I’m happy for this experience because it allows me to advocate for other disabled people who have been in the same circumstance, and they haven’t been able to say anything,” Sessa concluded.
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