ACTION: ‘Big Chicken’ to Donate Giant Check to Governor Hogan Prior to Maryland State of the State Address

On Wednesday, January 31st at 11:30am, among the attendees of the State of the State address, concerned citizens will dress up as ‘Big Chicken’ and travel to Annapolis to deliver a large, false check to Governor Hogan.  This action will call out Governor Hogan, whose 2014 campaign received considerable donations from the poultry industry. The governor subsequently weakened and delayed poultry manure and pollution regulations. Industrial poultry operations have been releasing unknown contaminants and pollutants leading to serious health, economic and environmental threats on surrounding Eastern Shore communities.

Governor Hogan has the opportunity to support legislation this year to create an air emissions monitoring study at poultry factory farm sites in Maryland. We hope he will support the Community Healthy Air Act (SB 133/HB 026) to protect Eastern Shore residents from the poultry industry and assess industrial poultry operations public health impacts.  

What: Stunt outside the State of the State address featuring an advocate dressed in a big chicken suit alongside another advocate dressed as a poultry industry lobbyist. The two characters will act out Hogan accepting “big money” from “big chicken.” They will be handing out flyers explaining the action that includes a quote from Governor Hogan.

When: Wednesday, January 31 at 11:30am

Where: Lawyers Mall, 100 State Circle, Annapolis MD

Visuals: Big chicken costume, lobbyist costume, giant check, flyers

Speaker: Meg Robbins, Maryland Organizer, Food & Water Watch will be available for comment