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John,
For too long, the residents of Washington, D.C. have been denied the most basic of democratic rights. They have no representation in Congress and their local laws can be overturned at any moment by Congress.
This is voter suppression plain and simple and it goes against the very principles that our nation was founded upon.
It is unacceptable that in a country that prides itself on being a beacon of democracy and equality, the residents of its own capital are being denied the right to vote.
Please read my message below then add your name to our petition as we fight to make sure that every resident of Washington, D.C. gets the same rights and representation as any other American citizen.
- Amanda
--- Original Message ---
John,
It's a fundamental issue of civil rights. There is no form of voter suppression worse than having no vote at all. Yet over 700,000 full citizens of the United States live in Washington DC, and have no vote in the U.S. Congress.
The citizens fulfill all the duties of citizenship, including paying taxes, serving on juries and Selective Service registration, but they have no vote in Congress.
The American Revolution was founded on the premise of “No taxation without representation.”
DC pays more in overall taxes than 22 states, and the most in federal taxes per capita, but they have no vote in Congress. Fix this injustice: Demand statehood for DC now!
The states of Vermont and Wyoming have smaller populations than DC, yet their rural white populations are represented by 3 congressional seats each, whereas the mostly Black and Brown urban population of DC, the only geographical entity in the United States with a plurality of Black citizens, has no vote in Congress.
Congress has overridden local initiatives voted for by the citizens of DC, including maintenance issues, legalization of marijuana, and even legal access to abortion, yet the citizens of DC have no vote in Congress.
11,000 DC citizens currently serve in the US military, and DC has sent 200,000 citizens to war since World War I, of whom 2,000 did not return, yet still, DC has no vote in Congress.
In a 2016 referendum, 86% of DC voters voted in favor of statehood for the District.
Now, after over 200 years of systemic injustice, legislation currently re-introduced by Senator Tom Carper would make Washington DC a state, finally giving DC residents voting representation in Congress. Add your name to Demand statehood for DC now!
This reform is essential to American democracy.
Thank you for taking action today.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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