Maryland Library Event Rolls Back Scheme Charging White People More

An event being held at a public library in Maryland is no longer charging different rates for white men and others after backlash from county officials

The event was charging white male vendors $275 or $325 and businesses owned by women or minorities $225 or $250, according to a vendor application reviewed by the Washington Times.

The event, MoComCon 2024, is slated to be held at Germantown Library and BlackRock Center for the Arts.

County officials initially defended the decision and promoted the event widely on social media.

The vendor pricing scheme is “a specific push to especially attract that type of vendor so that attendees who were also focused on trying to reach minority, black and brown communities, that they have vendors as well,” Mary Anderson, a spokesperson for Montgomery County, told the Washington Times. “Many minority vendors and younger startups and that sort of thing. They generally are in a financial position that it may benefit them if there is a reduction in price.”

The event is being organized by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, a nonprofit.

“The vendor pricing reflects our joint commitment to promote inclusivity in library programming and expand opportunities for groups who have been underrepresented in this industry,” Ari Brooks, executive director of the group, said in a statement.

But the county is now saying the scheme is not allowed.

“The disparate pricing on vendors that has occurred between the Friends of the Library Montgomery County, Inc. (FOLMC) and BlackRock Center for the Arts is not permitted,” Scott Peterson, another county spokesperson, told The Epoch Times via email on Jan. 23. “The County did not approve nor condoned this decision. FOLMC corrected the situation as soon as they were made aware by the Montgomery County Public Libraries.”

The vendor application listing the different rates is no longer on the FOLMC website. The current version lists rates of $125 or $175, depending on whether vendors need access to electricity. There is no mention of race or gender.

Mr. Peterson did not respond when asked whether Ms. Anderson was misquoted and, if not, how her comments were not in support of the scheme.

County Executive Marc Erlich, a Democrat, was among the officials who promoted the event in press releases and social media posts. Laurie White, another county spokeswoman, also posted a promotion of the event that included the different vendor rates, according to a screenshot captured by the Montgomery County Republican Party.

Mr. Erlich told reporters in a press conference he did not know about the scheme.

“If they’re doing it, I can’t see how that’s not illegal. We’re pretty clear that we don’t have different rates for different races,” he said.

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