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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'>Many thanks to the 25 members of various chapters from the NFBMD plus all of our Center staff who were planning to go to the Amazon protest in New York City. Read our National President’s message below to see why the protest was cancelled for the time being. We look forward to progress on making sure that blind students will have equal access to education. We stand ready to do whatever is needed to reach this goal. Thanks again. Here is the message:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'>Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'>Based on information we have received from the New York City schools, I have decided to postpone our planned protest for tomorrow. Therefore, everybody can plan on the usual work schedule for Wednesday. We can celebrate the fact that we have gotten the district’s attention although much more work is needed on this issue and our public demonstration may become necessary in the future. Finally we will have an official public statement regarding this matter, but feel free to share this news with members and friends who were planning to attend the protest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#244061'>Mark A. Riccobono, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Sharon Maneki, </b>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>