Dear friend,
Right now, nearly 1 million Americans don't have any representation in the
U.S. Senate. They live in Washington, D.C. and it's time they were able to
fully govern themselves -- and send two new Senators to take on Mitch
McConnell.
This is a critical moment for the D.C. statehood movement, which is
challenging one of the most egregious acts of voter suppression and racism
in our country today. H.R. 51, which would grant statehood to the District
of Columbia, is closer than ever to passing one house of Congress for the
first time. But right-wing extremists are fighting back and going all out
to try and stop its passage. We need your help right now.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Tell Congress to pass the DC statehood bill!
The majority of the population of the District of Columbia is black and
brown. Denying full voting rights and self-government to DC is a
fundamentally racist act. It's time for that to change, but Republican
allies of Mitch McConnell are resisting.
When the House Oversight and Reform Committee met in February to markup
and vote out a bill that would grant full representation and
self-governance to the people who call DC home, they hoped for a
discussion on how to address this injustice and expand voting rights.
Instead, right-wingers in Congress raised numerous objections and
unacceptable conditions.
Representatives from Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia demanded that if DC
becomes a state, no one should have to pay registration fees for gun
ownership. But, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia all charge these
fees. Representatives from West Virginia and Ohio demanded that DC place
restrictions on abortion care before becoming a state. A Congressperson
from SC wanted to mandate that DC be a right to work state.
A strong vote in the House for DC statehood can help make it clear to the
Senate that there is no support for any of these conditions, which weren't
imposed on any other state when they were admitted to the Union. More
importantly, it creates major new momentum for DC statehood -- and could
well enable final passage in 2021.
Now is the time to tell your representative that people across America
want DC to become a state. Will you help?
[ [link removed] ]Add your name: Tell Congress to make DC the 51st state!
Thank you for taking action for equal rights.
Robert and the team at Demand Progress
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
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