Attendees at our June 15, 2022 membership meeting

MMPCDC Calls for Equitable Sequencing of Democratic Presidential Primaries

A RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE SUPPORTING AND ENDORSING THE ADOPTION OF AN EQUITABLE METHOD FOR AWARDING THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF HOLDING THE EARLIEST PRIMARIES IN FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

WHEREAS, The Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee is dedicated to the goal of helping to elect Democratic candidates at all levels of government – and to promoting the ideals of democracy and equality.

WHEREAS, The Democratic party is committed to free and fair elections, and that should include fairly deciding which States will hold the first primaries in Presidential elections.

WHEREAS, For many years, Iowa has held the first caucus and New Hampshire has held the first primary–simply because they have insisted that it be them-–a practice that was both grossly unfair to the citizens of other states and tended (and continues) to foster resentment and distrust in the primary process.

WHEREAS, Neither Iowa nor New Hampshire are representative of the Democratic electorate or of the country as a whole.

WHEREAS, We believe that democracy functions best when more people are vested in the democratic process, and therefore we want to encourage turnout in elections, and that this change would help build trust in the democratic process and in the Democratic party, promote turnout and engagement in future elections; and encourage more voters to vote for Democrats, as the party that has included them in the decision-making process in this way.

WHEREAS, The Democratic Party is, even now, trying to decide which states will hold the first primaries in 2028, and is trying to come up with an equitable means for making that decision.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee hereby supports the adoption of a process of choosing which state shall hold the first primary in future elections, by having this honor go to the state that has the highest Democratic turnout, as a percent of registered voters, in the two preceding Federal elections.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that because the first Federal election since the 2024 primaries has already been held, and it would not be reasonable to make such a rule be retroactive, the honor of holding the first Presidential primary or caucus in 2028 should go to the state with the highest percentage Democratic turnout in the 2026 Federal elections (as a percent of registered voters).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the Republican party chooses to hold joint primaries with us, then the first Presidential primary should be awarded to the state with the highest total percentage turnout, rather than the state with the highest Democratic turnout.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the order of primaries after the first one should be likewise determined, with the second and third primaries being held by the states with the second and third highest percentage turnouts – and that the order of the regional primaries should be likewise determined. The region with the highest percentage turnout in the preceding election(s) should have the privilege and honor of going first, and so on.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be disseminated to as many other Democratic committees as possible, and that it be forwarded to the Democratic National Committee, along with our endorsement.

WE BELIEVE that this change will help to build trust in the democratic process and in the Democratic party, that it will encourage higher turnout and engagement in future elections, and that it will encourage more voters to vote for Democrats.

Adopted by the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on October 15, 2025.

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MMPCDC Supports Banning Firearms in Manassas Park Public Buildings

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE SUPPORTING AND ENDORSING THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO BAN FIREARMS IN CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS IN MANASSAS PARK 

WHEREAS, the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee is committed to promoting the safety, health, and well-being of all residents of Manassas Park, including youth, children, seniors, and vulnerable populations;

WHEREAS, Manassas Park City-owned buildings, such as City Hall, the City Library, the MAP Clinic, and the Community Center, serve as vital public spaces where residents gather for civic engagement, education, healthcare, and community activities;

WHEREAS, the presence of firearms in public spaces has been linked to increased risks of accidental injury, violence, and intimidation, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as children, youth, and seniors;

WHEREAS, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that firearms are a leading cause of injury-related deaths among children and adolescents in the United States, with unintentional shootings and gun violence posing significant threats to public safety;[i]

WHEREAS, studies have shown that banning firearms in sensitive public spaces reduces the likelihood of gun-related incidents, enhances the sense of security among community members, and supports a safer environment for all;

WHEREAS, other municipalities that have implemented firearm bans on locality-owned properties have reported positive outcomes in reducing gun-related threats and fostering inclusive, secure public environments;

WHEREAS, Code of Virginia §15.2-915, Subsection E, allows Virginia localities to regulate firearms in public buildings they own or lease, and local ordinances implementing such bans have already been enacted in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, and Virginia Beach and in Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee hereby supports and endorses the proposed policy in Manassas Park to ban firearms in City-owned buildings, including City Hall, the City Library, the MAP Clinic, and the Community Center;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Committee urges the Manassas Park City Council and relevant authorities to adopt and enforce this policy promptly, to protect the safety and well-being of all residents, especially youth, children, and seniors.

Endnotes: [i] According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS (Web-based injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) data (2022) (*WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, 2020*, retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/LeadingCauses.html), firearms are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents aged 1 – 19 in the United States. The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) reports that firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US.  Children’s Defense Fund. (2021). *Children’s Health and Gun Violence*, retrieved from https://www.childrensdefense.org/policy/resources/health-and-gun-violence/ .

Adopted unanimously except for one abstention by the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on August 20, 2025.

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MMPCDC Calls for Stronger Democratic Leadership in the United States Senate

At its May 21, 2025 meeting, the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee adopted the following resolution that was proposed by its member Martin Crim:

WHEREAS, Senator Charles (Chuck) Schumer (D-NY), the Democratic Party Leader in the United States Senate, has only just recently and reluctantly begun to acknowledge the threat to democracy posed by Trump and his cabinet,

NOW, THEREFORE, the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee calls on Virginia Senators Warner and Kaine to seek new leadership for the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus who will fight for democracy, prosperity for all, and the rule of law.

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MMPCDC Calls for a May Day General Strike on May 1, 2025

MMPCDC’s May Day Declaration

The members of the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee voted, during our April 16, 2025 general meeting, to urge the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Democratic National Committee to organize a nationwide general strike on May 1 to involve no school, no work, and no commercial activity, in order to pressure our federal government into backing down from its fascist and authoritarian actions. We demand the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, government compliance with court orders, and the restoration of constitutional rule.

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MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, Calling on Virginia’s Governor to Affirm that Transgender Troops May Serve Openly in the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force, on July 17, 2019

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CALLING ON VIRGINIA’S GOVERNOR TO AFFIRM THAT TRANSGENDER TROOPS MAY SERVE OPENLY IN THE VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD, VIRGINIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD, AND VIRGINIA DEFENSE FORCE

MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, Supporting Ratification by the Commonwealth of Virginia of the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution, on January 16, 2019

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF RATIFICATION BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution does not explicitly guarantee equal rights and equal protection for the sexes; and

WHEREAS, for 47 years, the Commonwealth of Virginia State Constitution has protected Virginians from discrimination by the Commonwealth on the basis of sex; and

WHEREAS, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and state constitutional statements of equality generally do not provide the strict scrutiny for sex-based classifications that is provided for classifications based on race, religion and national origin; and

WHEREAS, state laws are not uniform and federal laws are not comprehensive, and these laws can be repealed or reduced; and

WHEREAS, the people of the United States continue to experience the negative effects of lack of political parity between men and women, workplace discrimination, health care inequities, disparate rates of poverty, rape, and domestic violence assaults; and

WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment would provide the “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex” and the Amendment would help ensure women and men have the same constitutional protections; and

WHEREAS, without the Equal Rights Amendment, the statutes and judicial decisions that have led to major advances in women’s rights are vulnerable to being ignored, weakened, or even repealed or reversed; and

WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment would help ensure that women and men have the same constitutional protections; and

WHEREAS, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress in 1972, and has been ratified by 37 states, the most recent being Nevada in 2017 and Illinois in 2018 and the time limit for the ERA appears only in the preamble and Congress presently is considering a bill that removes the time limit for ratification of the ERA; and

WHEREAS, constitutional equality for women and men continues to be a timely issue in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the United States and worldwide, and 134 other nations have achieved constitutional equality for their women and men;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee hereby supports the passage, ratification, and implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment so that women are guaranteed equal rights under the law and so that these rights shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee urges the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution, as proposed by Congress in 1972, during the 2019 Virginia legislative session.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on January 16, 2019

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MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, Supporting the Rights of All Eligible Workers to Unionize and Bargain for Fair Contracts, on August 15, 2018

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS & MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CALLING ALL TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS

WHEREAS, the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee believes strongly in the dignity of all people–regardless of racial or ethnic heritage, national origin, immigration history, religious creed, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, income or wealth, or disability–and supports the rights and freedom of workers; and

WHEREAS, in 2016 the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee adopted a resolution opposing the statewide ballot measure to enshrine Virginia’s anti-worker “right-to-work” laws in the Virginia Constitution and then prominently noted that opposition on our sample ballots for the November 8, 2016 election, thus helping to defeat that proposed constitutional amendment; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee calls upon all to respect the rights of all eligible workers to unionize and bargain for fair contracts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee fully supports the following statement, found in the beginning of the Democratic National Committee’s Party Platform:  “We will fight to pass laws that direct the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union if a simple majority of eligible workers sign valid authorization cards, as well as laws that bring companies to the negotiating table.  We support binding arbitration to help workers who have voted to join a union reach a first contract.”

Adopted overwhelmingly, with one vote in opposition, by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on August 15, 2018

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MMPCDC Adopts Resolution, to Preserve PRTC’s Manassas Omnilink Bus Service, on April 3, 2017

RESOLUTION OF THE
MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
MANASSAS OMNILINK BUS SERVICE

WHEREAS, half of all Manassas Omnilink trips, according to PRTC data, are commutes to work; whereas bus transit benefits and attracts the businesses that employ these bus commuters by helping to ensure a stable, reliable work force; whereas the Omnilink service brings more customers to our local businesses; and whereas many jobs in our area–and especially in greater Manassas–are not accessible by VRE;

WHEREAS, it is honorable and desirable to promote the dignity and full participation of individuals and families throughout our community who because of special needs, disability or advanced years require assistance in mobility, considering that the cost of paratransit is a much more expensive option for those populations;

WHEREAS, it is necessary and desirable that the Manassas-area residents who utilize the bus to attend college or technical school be supported in pursuing gainful employment, further education, and skill development to strengthen their self sufficiency, and standard of living;

WHEREAS, the City of Manassas has allocated some of the PRTC funds for city improvements and used some of the gas tax revenue to afford the debt service for the parking garage and surface lots in addition to VRE and bus service;

WHEREAS, prioritizing the VRE over the bus system would be disproportionately harmful to those of limited means, including senior citizens and veterans;

WHEREAS, Omnilink riders utilize the bus service for medical visits, including hospital lab procedures, pediatric care, immunizations, substance abuse treatment, mental health and counseling appointments required for health, safety and well-being;

WHEREAS, one of the four Manassas Omnilink buses was eliminated in July 2016 to cut costs, leading to reduced ridership, partly because of the infrequency of buses throughout an unchanged geographical area;

WHEREAS, two-thirds of these affected bus riders have no driver’s license for myriad reasons, and face ongoing challenges in attending to the business of their lives, including employment, schooling, shopping, education and social activities in order to be productive, motivated, and contributing citizens; and

WHEREAS, further reductions in the availability of bus transit would have adverse unintended consequences by reducing workforce stability, discouraging college and technical school attendance, reducing physical and mental health care and treatment compliance;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee:

1.     calls upon the City Councils of Manassas and Manassas Park to not approve any further cuts in the Manassas Omnilink bus service; and

2.     urges the City Councils of Manassas and Manassas Park to aggressively seek additional funds to support increased operating and capital expenditures for public transportation from our state and federal governments.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on April 3, 2017

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MMPCDC Opposes Anti-Worker Virginia Constitutional Amendment

On May 2, 2016, the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee unanimously adopted the following resolution against a November 8, 2016 ballot measure–instigated by the Republican-dominated Virginia General Assembly–to enshrine Virginia’s nearly 70-year-old “right to work” laws in Virginia’s Constitution.

On Election Day and during in-person absentee voting on the preceding two Saturdays, MMPCDC distributed Democratic sample ballots to arriving voters that prominently noted our opposition to this proposed constitution amendment.  As a result, the proposed anti-union “right-to-work” state constitutional amendment was opposed 53.49% to 46.51% within the City of Manassas and 55.95% to 44.05% within the City of Manassas Park.  The statewide totals were 53.62% opposed and 46.38% in favor.

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE OPPOSITION OF THE MANASSAS & MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE TO THE PROPOSED VIRGINIA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON “RIGHT TO WORK”

WHEREAS, Virginia’s Constitution is the supreme governing document of this Commonwealth; and amendments and alterations should be made judiciously, prudently, and for the betterment of the citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has had a set of statewide “right to work” statutes (Code of Virginia §§ 40.1-58 through 40.1-69) in continuous effect since 1947;

WHEREAS, this “right to work” amendment is misleading and is the latest move in an on-going trend of attacking the middle class and stifling workers’ voices on the job; and

WHEREAS, “right to work” laws have proven to give multi-national corporations more power to outsource jobs, cut wages, and reduce benefits at the expense of our workers, small businesses, and the local economy; and

WHEREAS, this amendment is one of many that ignores the public good by unnecessarily depleting  public resources, including more than $130,000 of taxpayer funds to be expended, that would be better spent addressing real issues throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, state legislators should focus on policies that support vital services in our communities, fund our schools, create good jobs, fix our crumbling infrastructure, raise wages, promote equal access, and protect hardworking Virginians; and

WHEREAS, business and labor should work together to create good jobs, improve the economy, and shun interference by special interest groups that seek to minimize the ability of Virginia workers to improve their economic status or deny economic opportunities to the middle class; and

WHEREAS, the collective bargaining rights of workers should be protected; now, therefore

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, on this the 2nd day of May, 2016, that the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee expresses its opposition to amending the State Constitution of Virginia to include the “right to work” statute, because it is unnecessary, wastes taxpayer dollars, undermines the promotion of fair labor practices, and detracts attention and resources away from policies designed to support working families and our local communities.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on May 2, 2016