As Californians, we have a direct stake in winning DC statehood. The Constitution grants disproportionate political power in the Senate and Electoral College to Republican-leaning, low-population rural states. This disadvantages states with big urban populations like ours, which tend to favor Democratic candidates and policies. The District of Columbia is a densely populated multi-racial area like San Francisco; promoting DC to statehood will be a step towards restoring the political balance in both the Senate and Electoral College.
Washington, DC residents pay more taxes than residents in twenty-two states and pay more per capita to the federal government than any state—yet they have no votes in Congress. Like their counterparts in all fifty states, DC residents pay federal taxes, serve in the military and on juries, start businesses and families, and contribute to our national economy, but don’t have the same rights, which makes them second-class citizens.
In addition to being a critical democracy reform, DC statehood is also a racial justice issue. Historically, racist politicians have prevented DC from becoming a state to prevent DC’s Black residents from building political power. From the days of the Emancipation Proclamation to the present, DC has long been a majority Black city, and the current population is still made up by a majority of Black people and people of color. If DC is granted statehood, it will be the only state in the nation to have a plurality of Black residents, and the second state after Hawaii where nonwhite citizens are in the majority.
Congress can right this historic injustice now, with the passage of H.R.51, Washington, D.C. Admission Act, introduced as S.51 in the Senate on January 4, 2021.
Call your Senators and tell them to pass the Washington, DC Admission Act.
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All are welcome to join our events!
TODAY! Indivisible Marin & Common Cause For the People Phone Bank for HR1/S1: Wednesday, April 14, 3–5 PM. Join Indivisible Marin every Wednesday and Sunday to phone bank in support of the For The People Act and to oppose the filibuster! Sign up for a shift here.
ISF State and Local Working Group meeting: Friday, April 16, 7:30–8:30 PM. Register here to help us plan to propose legislation to our state legislators and support progressive initiatives on the state and local level.
ISF General Meeting: Wednesday, April 21, 7–9 PM. Register here for our general meeting, where we will focus on the Senate filibuster and the For the People Act. It will include a presentation, discussion, and an Action Hour.
ISF Federal Working Group meeting: Thursday, April 22, 7–9 PM. Register here to help us develop strategies to influence our Members of Congress and the Biden administration to enact a progressive agenda. Zoom room opens at 7 PM for discussion and orientation, and the meeting agenda starts promptly at 7:30 PM.
Indivisible Marin & Common Cause For the People Phone Bank for HR1/S1: Sunday, April 18, 12–2 PM. Join Indivisible Marin every Wednesday and Sunday to phone bank in support of For The People Act and to oppose the filibuster! Sign up for a shift here.
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Keep Fighting,
The Indivisible SF Team
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