Joe Vogel, a rookie Democratic lawmaker and 6th Congressional District candidate, has come under scrutiny for accepting a $3300 donation from Shalomyah Bowers, a radical, far-left ‘Defund the Police’ activist.
But Mr. Vogel remains silent.
When questioned, Vogel’s congressional campaign refuses to comment on Bowers’ hefty donation, raising eyebrows and fueling speculation about Vogel’s stance on policing.
A donation from a Defund the Police activist begs the question: Can law enforcement officers and police departments across the district trust Joe Vogel to stand up for them?
Prominent Defund the Police Activist Funds Joe Vogel’s Congressional Campaign
According to filings with the Federal Election Commission, ‘Vogel for Congress’— Joe Vogel’s federal campaign finance account — recorded a $3300 donation from Shalomyah Bowers on May 5, 2023.
Bowers, a figure deeply entrenched in the ‘Defund the Police’ movement, heads a progressive consulting firm in California and is a leader in the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation.
The donation to Mr. Vogel’s campaign has sparked controversy with voters, particularly in the conservative regions of Maryland’s 6th District, including Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties.
These areas, known for their conservative leanings, often view the ‘Defund the Police’ ideology with skepticism and disapproval.
The political climate makes Vogel’s acceptance of the donation a potential liability.
6th District Law Enforcement Officers Respond to Bowers’ $3300 Donation to Joe Vogel
“A $3300 donation from a Defund the Police political activist doesn’t just raise eyebrows; it raises serious concerns,” said a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy, who spoke to A Miner Detail on the condition of anonymity.
“In these challenging times, the last thing we need is uncertainty about whether our potential representatives will stand with law enforcement. With Mr. Vogel accepting such donations and then remaining silent, it forces us to question: will he really stand up for us in Congress when it matters most?”
A Frederick County Sheriff’s deputy who requested to speak on background due to the matter’s sensitivity said, “This isn’t just a donation; it’s a declaration of where Vogel stands — or doesn’t stand — with law enforcement.
If Vogel can’t openly reject support from Defund the Police extremists who want to undermine our work, then how can he be trusted to defend the safety and security that every one of our communities relies on?
Mr. Vogel’s silence speaks volumes, but we’re sharing this information with LEOs [law enforcement officers] within the 6th District and beyond.”
Vogel Campaign Silent on Defund the Police Activist Campaign Donation
Despite A Miner Detail’s multiple attempts to seek comment, Joe Vogel and his campaign staff have consistently refrained from acknowledging Shalomyah Bowers’ $3300 campaign donation.
The lack of response from Vogel’s campaign has fueled speculation and concern among voters and opponents alike, who question Vogel’s stance and intentions regarding police funding and public safety.
This donation and Vogel’s subsequent silence could adversely impact his congressional bid, particularly among voters who view police defunding unfavorably.
Should Vogel make it through the Democratic primary, his future Republican opponent will likely seize on the Defund the Police activist’s donation, painting Vogel and his campaign as anti-police and heavily out of touch with the District’s core safety concerns.
Moreover, a campaign donation from a high-profile Defund the Police activist like Bowers is a double-edged sword for Mr. Vogel, a first-time congressional candidate.
While a Defund the Police activist’s financial backing and support could galvanize the District’s progressive base to Vogel’s camp, it could alienate moderate Democrats in a congressional race that’s somewhat vulnerable to flip to the Republicans in the November general election.
In June 2023, BLM Released Defund the Police Ad
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLM GNF) issued a press release on July 10, 2023, announcing a significant campaign — “Defund the Police Week of Action” – that marked the beginning of its “Week of Action.”
The group launched a controversial advertisement titled “Defund the Police.”
Shalomyah Bowers, a prominent board member of BLM GNF and donor to Vogel’s congressional campaign, emphasized the significance of this milestone:
“This week we are doing more than celebrating ten years as a movement — we are taking action toward reaching our goal of Black liberation and showcasing what Black Lives Matter means.
Defund The Police Week is meant to answer the question, What has Black Lives Matter accomplished?
Our intention is to answer the question simply: this week we are demonstrating that one of the main pillars of progress in our short ten years as a modern-day civil rights movement is that we have made our demand, to defund the police, politically popular and achievable, and a mainstream demand.
The new global center court is a core abolitionist policy articulation: divest from police and invest in us.”
Shalomyah Bowers Praises Squad Member Rep. Cori Bush in 2023
On July 20, 2023, Shalomyah Bowers publicly endorsed Representative Cori Bush (D-Mo.), lauding her legislative efforts to shift crisis response from police to unarmed social workers.
At a press conference, Mr. Bowers praised Bush as a “brilliant and strategic leader” for advocating and reintroducing the People’s Response Act.
Bush supports defunding the police.
Her proposed legislation aims to replace traditional law enforcement responses to mental health emergencies with interventions by trained social workers, addressing the systemic issues Bowers describes as detrimental to black communities and families.
Bush reportedly spent over $680,000 on private security since 2019, including services from individuals known for their anti-Semitic statements and unconventional claims, such as the ability to summon tornadoes.
The Justice Department is investigating Bush over accusations that she improperly used funds designated for Congress members and candidates to pay for private security.
Moreover, the financial backdrop of the Black Lives Matter organization adds another layer of controversy.
Despite recent financial scandals, including significant losses in investment accounts and operational funds, the organization continued to spend heavily on security services for its leaders and make substantial payments to Bowers’s consulting firm.
About Joe Vogel’s Donor: Shalomyah Bowers
Vogel’s donor, Shalomyah Bowers, also known by the name Christman Bowers, is a central figure in the Black Lives Matter movement and the business world of progressive politics.
He spoke at a rally for former President Barack Obama in 2012 and has held significant roles within the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF).
As the founder and leader of Bowers Consulting Firm, his company specializes in advising left-leaning organizations and campaigns.
Mr. Bowers has served as a board member and chief financial officer of Dignity and Power Now and the treasurer of the Black Lives Matter PAC and Reform L.A. Jails, the latter of which notably compensated him generously alongside its founder, Patrisse Cullors.
He has been involved in directing funds to his consulting firm from various organizations he has been a part of.
Notably, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF), a nonprofit linked to the Black Lives Matter movement, paid more than $2 million to Bowers Consulting Firm from July 2020 to June 2021.
During that time, Bowers was a key official in the nonprofit.
Melina Abdullah, a former activist with BLMGNF, filed a lawsuit against the foundation in 2022.
She claimed that Bowers was using the nonprofit as his source of income, channeling millions of dollars to his business.
Abdullah argued that her newly established group deserved a share of BLMGNF’s funds, accusing Bowers of essentially turning the nonprofit into his personal “piggy bank” and damaging its reputation by misleading donors.
However, in July 2023, a judge dismissed her lawsuit, ruling that Abdullah’s group did not have a rightful claim to BLMGNF’s funds.
A Litmus Test for Joe Vogel
As the primary election approaches, Mr. Vogel’s handling of this issue could serve as a litmus test for his political acumen and ability to navigate complex and divisive issues.
This scenario encapsulates a local election issue and the larger, ongoing dialogue about the role of policing and community investment in American politics.
How Joe Vogel manages this situation could define his political future in Maryland and perhaps beyond.
Mr. Vogel will face off against April McClain Delaney, Del. Lesley J. Lopez (Montgomery), Hagerstown Mayor Tekesha Martinez, Montgomery County Council member Laurie-Anne Sayles (At Large), Peter Choharis, George Gluck, Ashwani Jain, Stephen R. McDow, Mohammad S. Mozumder, Adrian Petrus, Destiny Drake West, Kiambo “Bo” White, and Altimont Mark Wilks.
