Juneteenth celebrates freedom. But what is freedom to an American without the full rights of citizenship? The +700,000 residents of DC are still waiting for an answer.

• Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on S. 475, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, June 16, 2021
  • “Today’s bill making Juneteenth, when the last slaves got word that slavery had ended, a federal holiday has unique meaning for the District of Columbia because the slaves here were the first, not the last, to be freed.  The reason, of course, is that the District was and is a federally controlled jurisdiction.  The District celebrates the emancipation of slaves here on April 16 every year.
  • Juneteenth should remind Congress that it’s time for the first to be freed to finally become equal to other Americans.  The House understands that with its passage of the D.C. statehood bill.  So does the Senate, with a hearing on our D.C. statehood bill scheduled for next Tuesday, June 22.
  • With the President, the House, and the Senate all believing that the residents of their nation’s capital should in every way be equal to other Americans, we rejoice this Juneteenth knowing that we are close to adding the 51st star to the flag.”
• From Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office – Emancipation.dc.gov
  • “One result of the intense struggle over slavery was the DC Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, passed by the Congress and signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The act ended slavery in Washington, DC, freed 3,100 individuals, reimbursed those who had legally owned them and offered the newly freed women and men money to emigrate. It is this legislation, and the courage and struggle of those who fought to make it a reality that we commemorate every April 16, DC Emancipation Day.
  • Though the Compensated Emancipation Act was an important legal and symbolic victory, it was part of a larger struggle over the meaning and practice of freedom and citizenship. These two words continue to be central to what it means to be a participating member of society. We invite you to think about what these concepts have meant in the past and what they mean to you today...”
• Statement by then-Rep. Mike Pence in 2007:
  • “The fact that more than half a million Americans live in the District of Columbia and are denied a single voting representative in Congress is clearly a historic wrong, and justice demands that it be addressed.”

On Tuesday, June 22, the issue of DC statehood will appear before the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. During the House Oversight Committee hearing in April, GOP representatives presented such bizarre requirements for statehood on live TV, we despaired for the teaching of American civics. Assuming a repeat from the Senate’s own GOP fabulists, you may want to create your BINGO cards now with the help of “6 collossally Stupid Arguments against DC Statehood” and or other resources provided below. Or use ours.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] to [thank Rep./Sen. [___] for being/ask Rep./Sen. [___] to become] a cosponsor of Sen. – S.51 – Washington, D.C. Admission Act and ending this example of racial injustice in the very heart of our nation. Freedom without full rights, including taxation without representation, is not true citizenship. I’m joining Rep. Holmes, Mayor Bowser and 2007’s version of Mike Pence in recommending the immediate correction of this historic wrong.

Continue reading “D.C. statehood is in the Senate on Tuesday, 6/22! Pile on! YES on S.51!” →

The GOP’s racist and blatantly partisan refusal to vote for DC statehood last year put its residents in danger during the insurrection.

Activate your resistance PHONE TREE – contact every friend or relative you know in a RED state, and ask them to not just call their legislators, but to ask their local friends to do it too!

Action: Thank or Spank your legislators

Continue reading “Who really believes in “No taxation without representation?” We’ll find out soon! CALL on H.R.51/S.51! (Manchin update!)” →

The GOP’s racist and blatantly partisan refusal to vote for DC statehood last year put its residents in danger during the insurrection.

Now you can listen to racist dogwhistles from the GOP legislators here.

Before watching today’s hearing, take a moment to create your own BINGO cards with the help of “6 collossally Stupid Arguments against DC Statehood.” (More resources below.) Seriously… at today’s hearing, a GOP legislator was actually recorded saying that wealth is only created by “manufacturing, agriculture and mining,” a huge surprise for our last president, Mark Zuckerberg, or Jeff Bezos. (Also, there are 2 mines recorded in DC.) Another went on the record stating that DC can’t be a state because it doesn’t have an airport, and that states have to be admitted in pairs, without once mentioning those pairs consisted of “free states” vs. “slave states.”

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] to [thank Rep./Sen. [___] for being/ask Rep./Sen. [___] to become] a cosponsor of [Rep. – HR.51/ Sen. – S.51] – Washington, D.C. Admission Act and ending this example of racial injustice in the very heart of our nation.

Additional script for Senators: I’m also requesting that Sen. [___] drop the filibuster for this bill, as there is no legitimate reason to deny full citizenship to 700,000 Americans citizens other than racism and partisanship, which we the people will no longer stand for.

More Actions to do!

• Get DC-Statehood postcards to send to legislators: here.
• Tweet at your members of Congress and demand they support D.C. statehood.
• Record a video and let your members of Congress know why D.C. statehood is important to you.
• Write a letter to the editor on why D.C. statehood is important for democracy reform.
• Listen to and share our ‘51 Songs for the 51st State’ Spotify playlist to get you ready for today’s hearing!

Continue reading “D.C. statehood is in the HOUSE! Pile on! YES on H.R.51/S.51!” →

Updated: 2/12/21 – New postcard resources!

The recent insurrection clarified a serious issue…GOP refusal to vote for DC statehood last year put its residents in danger.

Phone/email and postcard scripts! Join in! LET’S COMMIT TO REVERSING THIS INJUSTICE NOW!
(Very enlightening interview with the D.C.’s shadow legislator – Sen. Paul Strauss. )

The residents of what is now the District of Columbia lost their full democratic rights to self-government and a government of, by and for the people over 221 years ago.  Ever since then, they have been demanding that Congress restore the full rights of American citizenship. Now, with future insurrectionists planning their next attacks, being without full rights is not just unjust. It’s also dangerous.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said, “We must get statehood on the President’s desk within the first 100 days of the 117th Congress. Congress must immediately transfer command of the District of Columbia National Guard from the President of the United States and put it squarely under the command and control of the District of Columbia.”

Asked how she would have responded to the riot had she been a governor instead of a mayor, Bowser said, “We would not be restricted in any way for how to deploy the Guard, so we wouldn’t have to clear a deployment plan with the secretary of the Army.”

Call your legislators! – The Senate just introduced their own statehood bill – S.51

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] to thank Rep./Sen. [___] for being an original cosponsor for the [Rep. – HR.51/ Sen. – S.51] – Washington, D.C. Admission Act. I’m also requesting the Rep./Sen.[___] cosponsor [Rep. – H.R.1/Sen. S.1] – For the People Act of 2021, which includes support for DC statehood.

Continue reading “There is no more time to wait! D.C. statehood NOW! YES on H.R.51/S.51 and H.R.1/S.1.” →