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

When DC statehood was last seen in the House, GOP legislators and their lawyers actually went on camera with ludicrous requirements for statehood: mines were suddenly required (DC has them!), so were auto dealerships and an airport (just like in the original 13 colonies!), that there was an implied “balancing” rule, straight from our ugly “free state/slave state” history, and that the yard signs of DC landowners were equal to actual votes of all the city’s residents. Seriously, we were driven to creating BINGO cards.

The House Oversight Committee just passed the D.C. statehood bill today — bringing it one step closer to the House floor for a vote later this month, and D.C.’s 700,000 residents one step closer to true representation in government. Activists and Indivisibles all across the country will be mobilizing today to let their members of Congress (MoCs) know that the 50 states support the addition of the 51st state. This isn’t some radical idea: calling for D.C. statehood is the same basic principle of representation that our country is founded on.

4/16 is the 159th anniversary of Emancipation Day in DC. Let’s get this done!

If you already have called on this, call again. If you have friends or family that are unsure or confused about the issue of D.C. statehood, share any one (or more!) of these resources with them and then ask them to make a call: 

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.

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

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.” →