Federal, State, County Reps Kick Off Maryland VegWeek on April 24

Congresswoman Edwards, Md. Senators Raskin & Harrington, Md. Del. Hucker, Mont. Co. Council Vice Pres. Ervin pledge to go vegetarian for one week

TAKOMA PARK, Md., April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Sat. April 24, in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, several elected officials representing Marylanders on a federal, state, and local level will gather in Takoma Park to kick off Maryland VegWeek, a week-long celebration organized by Compassion Over Killing that highlights the many benefits of choosing vegetarian foods.

Special guests at Saturday's Maryland VegWeek Kick-Off Party include Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD-4), Senator Jamie Raskin (D-20), Senator David Harrington (D-47), Delegate Tom Hucker (D-20), and Montgomery County Council Vice President Valerie Ervin who will all share their plans to pledge to go vegetarian for one week, from April 24-30.

"I support VegWeek because it encourages healthy living, promotes environmental stewardship, and supports our small businesses and local growers," says Congresswoman Edwards in her statement posted on MarylandVegWeek.com.  

Councilmember Ervin stated, in a press release issued by her office earlier this week, "We have to model the behavior that we want to promote, especially when we are dealing with issues related to healthy lifestyles, animal welfare and environmental stewardship." At the event, she will also be presenting a Montgomery County Proclamation officially declaring Maryland VegWeek 2010.

On Monday night, Takoma Park Mayor Bruce Williams signed a Proclamation declaring Maryland VegWeek, which additionally encourages "residents to participate by choosing vegetarian foods as way to help protect the planet, their health, and animals and to explore the wide variety of vegetarian cuisine offered in the community."

WHAT: Maryland VegWeek Kick-Off Party with special guests

WHEN: Sat., April 24, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: 310 Tulip Ave., Takoma Park, MD (Takoma Park Presbyterian Church)

"Every time we choose vegetarian foods, we're helping build a kinder, cleaner, and healthier world," says Compassion Over Killing Executive Director Erica Meier. "And Maryland VegWeek highlights these benefits as well as the increasing availability of meat-free foods in restaurants and grocery stores in and around Maryland."

Maryland VegWeek includes free events daily, including a cooking demo and nutrition lecture. For details, visit www.MarylandVegWeek.com.  

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is a nonprofit animal advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Since 1995, COK has worked to end the abuse of animals in agriculture through undercover investigations, public outreach, litigation, and other advocacy programs. On the web at COK.net.

SOURCE Compassion Over Killing