Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would make Washington, D.C., a state.

This means we are closer than ever to at last remedying one of the more outrageous injustices in the ongoing experiment in democracy that is the United States of America.

But the fate of the more than 700,000 Americans who live in D.C. (including me, for what it’s worth, along with many Public Citizen employees and members) is now in the hands of the Senate.

And Senate Republicans are dead set on blocking statehood for D.C., which — not at all coincidental to the Republican agenda — has a majority of residents who are people of color.

Remember what we all learned in school about the American Revolution?

“No taxation without representation.”

We fought for, and won, our independence from Great Britain over this exact issue of not having a voice in a government that ruled over us.

Almost 250 years later, that same thing is still happening — and in the very place where our government operates!

Tell the Senate:

It has been almost 250 years. To continue denying the people of Washington, D.C., the representation they deserve is to deny the very essence of democracy that is supposed to be at the heart of our country. To deny statehood to D.C. — which has more residents than either Vermont or Wyoming, and where a majority of those residents are Black and brown — is to perpetuate our nation’s shameful, extensive, and ongoing history of denying democracy to people of color. Join the House in passing statehood for Washington, D.C., without delay.

Add your name.

Thanks for taking action.

For democracy,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

P.S. For half a century, Public Citizen has been advancing policies that put the needs of everyday Americans before the greed of billionaires and Big Business. That legacy of progress and that ongoing work could not matter more right now, as our nation transitions to a Joe Biden presidency that will be as progressive as we — you and Public Citizen, together — make it. We’re also busy undoing all the damage Trump did. And, like so many nonprofits and small businesses, we continue to experience financial strain related to the coronavirus pandemic. If you can, please make an emergency donation today to support the critical work we’re doing together or even join our popular Monthly Giving program. Thank you.
 
 
Public Citizen | 1600 20th Street NW | Washington DC 20009 | Unsubscribe