BACC fights to stop the desecration of Moses African Cemetery, honor our ancestors’ memory, and carry forward the River Road community’s legacy of resistance for future generations.

The Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition (BACC) is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, and interdisciplinary social justice organization based in Bethesda, MD, that grew out of the social justice ministry of Macedonia Baptist Church.

MISSION: The Coalition seeks to stop the desecration of Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda, Maryland and honor the ancestors whose resting place has been disturbed and whose history has been erased. BACC seeks to preserve the rich history of the resistance movement organized by the African maroon community on River Road, Graysville, and its survival strategies that provide important road maps for future generations.

BACC does this by rigorously engaging in public education, legal strategies, community organizing and advocacy. Our long term goal is to create a living memorial, museum and community organizing center, a space in which historical struggles will inform the strategies of future generations on how to fight domination.

BACC logo

WHY WE FIGHT

Community members are already protesting, organizing, and showing up. Watch the video to see our fight against Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the continued lack of action from county leaders to save Moses Cemetery.

WATCH VIDEO
WATCH VIDEO

TAKE ACTION

JUNETEENTH 2026

Thank you for joining us at this year's Juneteenth at Glen Echo! Your participation made this year's Juneteenth so moving and memorable! This Juneteenth we honored and celebrated the two major civil war veterans desecrated in Moses African Cemetery in Bethesda, Maryland: Private William H. H. Brown from the 30th U.S. Colored Infantry, Company H which fought bravely at the Battle of the Crater and in campaigns throughout North Carolina; and Private Charles Henry Brown, enlisted in the 37th Colored Infantry Regiment that fought in major engagements including the Siege of Petersburg, which lasted until March 25, 1865, the capture of Fort Fisher, and the campaign of the Carolinas.