WMDT Exclusive: Ms. Wheelchair Maryland alleges harassment, reckless behavior by protestors at Tawes celebration
SALISBURY, Md. – A local advocate for the disability community is describing, in her own words, the fear and disrespect she says she felt at the 2024 Tawes Crab and Clam Bake. Dominique Sessa relies on a power wheelchair to get around. She says she suffered medical issues and high stress levels in the incident.
Disability Advocate “Felt Violated” by Protestors
While Sessa was snapping a photo with Maryland’s former Governor Larry Hogan, she says uninvited individuals surrounded the two. Some in the group wore t-shirts from union AFSCME Maryland. Others wore Supreme Court justice costumes, and some held signs over Sessa’s head, reading “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.”
It wasn’t until Sessa arrived home in Salisbury later that day that she realized something extremely alarming:
“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”
“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 said. “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.”
Because of the “chaotic behavior”, the flooded conditions at the event, and Sessa’s feeling ill, she says she was not able to meet with Angela Alsobrooks. Alsobrooks is Hogan’s Democratic challenger for one of Maryland’s seats in the United States Senate.
Missed Chance for Advocacy
Sessa does not affiliate herself with any political party. She’s left feeling disappointed by how everything unfolded; meeting with candidates and lawmakers is a large part of her advocacy work.
Under Hogan’s governorship, Sessa was appointed to three state positions. She currently serves on the Maryland Commission on Disabilities and as the Chair of the state’s Assistive Technology Loan Program. Sessa was also crowned Ms. Wheelchair Maryland in 2024—a title that she takes very seriously.
Sessa says she feels cheated out of the chance to advocate for issues that disabled people face with two important figures in Maryland’s political landscape.
“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 canceled a planned interview with WMDT on Monday morning. Instead, the union issued a statement, reading:
“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 pressed back, asking for AFSCME to respond to Sessa’s specific allegations, and reveal more information about whether the union had plans to reach out to her and remedy the situation. Union officials issued a second statement, reading:
“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 she has not heard directly from union officials or any other individuals involved in the incident.
“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.
However, Sessa is taking this negative memory and turning it into a positive mission.
“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 said.
