May 1st, DC Statehood Day
May 1st is now DC Statehood day. I’ve been reflecting on the best part of ANC Commission work which is meeting all the fascinating neighbors that fill our neighborhood and city. We are lucky to live in a place with so many dedicated citizens of all sorts of backgrounds and experiences. Artists, lawyers, bartenders, business people, educators, human rights advocates, musicians, doctors, nurses, diplomats, authors, and more fill our community and hail from every corner of the globe as well as born and raised Washingtonians. None of us, however, have the representation afforded to Americans who live in the 50 states.
Choose any issue you care about: crime, civil rights, the economy, the environment, education, foreign affairs, gun safety, housing, health care, or reproductive rights —our lack of statehood weakens or silences the voice of around 700,000 of us on these matters. We are larger by population than two states, comparable to two more, and pay more federal taxes than 21 states. We seek no special designation, only our equal share of rights and responsibilities.
Without Statehood, members of Congress from far flung states have the authority to interfere in the affairs of our city and the will of our elected leaders. They’ve done it this year by blocking the revised criminal code and will continue to meddle and attempt to deny our rights under Home Rule.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, our lone non voting representative in Congress, has tirelessly worked to defend our rights. A native Washingtonian, her great grandfather escaped slavery and found refuge in the District. Congresswoman Norton helped organize the March on Washington as a young member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and has an accomplished career as a civil rights attorney defending women’s rights. I hope we have her back, stand up for ourselves, and stand up for DC Statehood.
There are plenty of groups and people working to achieve the 51st State:
-DC Statehood PAC (Check out their latest petition)
-Neighbors United for DC Statehood
-NOPE
These are just some of the organizations rallying around Statehood. Check them out, get involved, think about starting your own efforts, or get in touch. I have window and yard signs if you want to simply start there. Having met so many wonderful people over the course of my time on the ANC, I am only more committed to the idea that none of us deserve to be disenfranchised a day longer. Let’s all work together to realize DC Statehood.
(Published in the ANC 3/4G Newsletter)