DC Vote

Spring 2003

DC Voting Rights Day Rally - April 15, 2003

DC Vote Holds Third Annual Tax Day Event
DC Votes DC Voting Rights Day Rally offered an amazing showing of community support for bringing democracy and full congressional voting representation to the residents of the District of Columbia. The Rally was held on Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington at 5:00pm. The event was attended by hundreds of supporters and volunteers and was widely covered in local, national and international media. April 15, 2003 was declared DC Voting Rights Day by both a unanimous resolution of the D.C. City Council and also by proclamation of the Mayor. This marks the third year that DC Vote has held an event on April 15th to raise public awareness about the denial of full congressional voting representation to District residents. Holding this rally on tax day is important to highlight the message of Taxation Without Representation, said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of DC Vote. But this year the message is more poignant because we have hundreds of young men and women from the District who are putting their lives on the line to defend democracy, and when they return to Washington, they will be denied that democracy here in America. Mayor Anthony Williams was joined by D.C. Council Chairman Linda Cropp and eight D.C. Council Members to sign permanent legislation making DCs presidential primaries first-in-the-nation next year on January 13, 2004 (see inside this newsletter for more information). DC RABBLE launched a tax obstruction campaign with the help of Congresswoman Norton, Council Members Jack Evans and Senator (shadow) Paul Strauss to send the government the message that taxation without representation is wrong. Michelle Dollie Wright, Miss District of Columbia USA, 2003, was the emcee and the crowd was entertained with great performaces by the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, DC; the Voices of People Gospel Choir, Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ; and by poets Kenny Coombs and Migna Taveras. A very special thanks goes out to the dozens of hard-working DC Vote volunteers who spent countless hours helping to ensure that the DC Voting Rights Day Rally would be a success. Volunteers put posters up around the city, made hundreds of phone calls to remind supporters to attend, dropped off thousands of flyers and postcards all over town, helped write letters inviting community and civic organizations to the event, attended organizing meetings, made signs and helped out at Freedom Plaza. DC Vote thanks everyone who attended and supported the DC Voting Rights Day Rally. In addition to those already mentioned, the following individuals and groups helped make the Rally program such a success: D.C. City Council Members: David Catania, Adrian Fenty, Jim Graham, Phil Mendelson, Vincent Orange, Kathy Patterson, and Carol Schwartz; Senator (shadow) Florence Pendleton; Representative (shadow) Ray Browne; Reverend Matthew L. Watley; Kevin Horton, student; Kevin Moore and DC RABBLE; Chellie Pingree, President & CEO, Common Cause; Nancy Tate, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of the U.S.; and Sean Tenner, Executive Director, DC Democracy Fund. The following organizations helped make the Rally a great source of information for attendees by handing out literature and talking to concerned citizens: Common Cause, Committee for the Capital City, DC Democracy Fund, DC First, DC RABBLE, Get The Vote HFTCC (Healthy Families, Thriving Communities, Collaborative Council), Lets Free DC, NAACP of DC, Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition, and the United Nations Association for the National Capital Area.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Ilir Zherka, DC Vote Executive Director

Hundreds of supporters joined the 5:00 pm DC Voting Rights Day Rally on Freedom Plaza

D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams presents DC Voting Rights Day Proclamation to DC Vote

D.C. Council Chairman Linda Cropp and the Council present DC Voting Rights Day Resolution to DC Vote

-2DC Vote is active in the community! These are some of the summer and fall 2003 events we are planning to attend. Let us know about events in your community!

First-in-the-Nation Presidential Primaries to Be Held in D.C.

Community Events:
May 23-26 31 June 1 1 7-8 July 4 DC Vote Membership Program Launch D.C. Black Pride - Living Free in 2003 Unifest - Parade and Festival Unifest - Festival Mount Pleasant Festival Capital Pride Parade & Festival Palisades Parade

On Tuesday, April 1, 2003, the DC City Council unanimously approved permanent legislation that will move D.C.s presidential primary to first-in-the-nation on January 13, 2004. Mayor Anthony Williams signed the legislation at the DC Voting Rights Day Rally on April 15, 2003. This moves D.C.s primaries ahead of New Hampshires and Iowas, who have traditionally held their primaries first. As with all D.C. laws, Congress may strike down the law during their 30-day review period. Holding the nations first presidential primary was an idea that came up during a Team DC Democracy meeting in January 2003. Team DC Democracy is a loose coalition of organizations and individuals who share full voting representation for District residents as a common objective. DC Vote has been part of Team DC Democracy since its first meeting following the DC Vote Tax Day Protest and Bonfire in 2002. Tim Cooper, longtime advocate for D.C. voting representation and local governmental autonomy, and Sean Tenner, Executive Director of the DC Democracy Fund, developed and promoted the idea as a way to raise national public awareness. Hosting the first-inthe-nation presidential primaries will push candidates and parties to acknowledge and raise awareness about the disenfranchisement of District residents as the candidates campaign for D.C.s votes. The new date, January 13, 2004, is outside of the range of dates approved by both the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee. As a consequence, the DNC and RNC can penalize the Districts parties by denying a seat at the national conventions to many of the parties delegates. In order to avoid losing any national convention delegates, the D.C. Democratic State Committee is considering holding a caucus where delegates can be selected on a date that complies with current DNC rules. The D.C. GOP has already made plans to hold a caucus within the dates allowed under Party rules to pick their delegates. While the Parties may choose to move the dates of their delegate selection, the voters of D.C. will make their voices heard first. Tony Bullock, Communications Director for Anthony Willaims said of the mayor: He has been unequivocal and unwavering in his support for this initiative. We want the primary to be held on January 13... We have a point to make, and were making it.

August 30 Georgia Avenue Day TBD Minnesota Avenue Day September 6-7 Black Family Reunion 6-7 Adams Morgan Day October 14 DC Votes Champions of Democracy Awards

People You Should Know: U.S. Representative Tom Davis (R-VA)

Chairman, Government Reform Committee Working to Give DC More Local Control In his first weeks as Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Davis (R-VA) acted twice to help the citizens of the District. First, he eliminated the House D.C. Subcommittee. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), praised Davis decision stating, with no House oversight subcommittee, D.C. is one step closer to unobstructed home rule. Second, and as equally important, Reps. Davis and Norton introduced a bill to bring functional budget autonomy to the District. If passed, the citys budget would not rely on the status of other appropriation bills before Congress, and would automatically become law at the start of each fiscal year. This bill is an especially appropriate first bill for Representative Davis and me to co-sponsor as Tom becomes chair of the Government Reform Committee, said Norton. Tom cannot overcome all opposition to District issues on his side, but I believe that this bill is an indication of what we can seek to accomplish by working together in the bipartisan fashion that he and I have developed over the years. DC Vote welcomes Davis moves to recognize the disenfranchisement of the people of the District of Columbia and urges him to support legislation allowing for voting representation. Representative Davis address is 2348 Rayburn House Office Building and his office phone number is 202.225.1492. www.dcvote.org

For more on the DC primaries, visit www.dcfirst.org

NPRs the Morning Edition

From April 9th to April 29th, DC Vote sponsored NPRs the Morning Edition on WAMU 88.5 FM. Each morning during the sponsorship period, listeners heard, Support for WAMU is provided by DC Vote. Working to end taxation without representation for DC residents, including our soldiers from the District, who will be returning from war without a vote in Congress. On the web at dcvote.org. DC Vote supporters were asked to donate money to fund the sponsorship and the campaign was an overwhelming success.

DC Vote

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No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2003

D.C. Voting Rights Bill Introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives
On March 13, 2003, Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced S. 617 in the U.S. Senate with nine co-sponsors, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced H.R. 1285 in the House of Representatives - both entitled The No Taxation Without Representation Act of 2003. Congresswoman Norton asked former Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander; Commander Wesley Brown, USN (ret.), the first black graduate of a U.S. military academy and a native Washingtonian; and George Keyes, USAF (ret.), a third generation Washingtonian to help her introduce the legislation. Washingtonians have long had the opportunity to protect our democracy, but have been denied participation in it for over two hundred years, said Secretary Alexander, the first AfricanAmerican to hold such a post. We must bring democracy to our own backyard. Its time to show the world that we practice what we preach. Similar legislation unanimously passed the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on October 9, 2002. The landmark legislation is designed to give the people of the District of Columbia congressional voting representation equal to that of their fellow Americans living in the states. In the last Congress, the legislation passed 9-0 (no Republicans voted on that day as they were boycotting on an unrelated issue), and marked the first vote in Congress on D.C. voting rights in a quarter of a century.

2002 Champions of Democracy

Every year, DC Vote honors people in our community that have demonstrated a commitment to fighting for voting representation. The 2002 Champions of Democracy Awards were given to three outstanding community leaders: U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, Congresswoman Eleanor Holms Norton, and longtime DC Vote volunteer and activist Frank Rich, Sr. Originally scheduled for December 5, 2002, the Champions of Democracy 2002 Awards event was held on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol. It was a great success with over two hundred supporters coming out to honor the awardees. Senator Lieberman was unable to attend the rescheduled event but video taped his acceptance for the crowd. Congresswoman Norton, and Frank Rich Sr. spoke passionately about the voting rights movement and the roles they have played in pushing it forward. Also in attendence were D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, D.C. Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Jack Evans, Senator (shadow) Paul Strauss and Representative (shadow) Ray Browne. We congratulate our honorees and thank everyone for their continuous support of DC Vote. The 2003 Champions of Democracy Awards event is scheduled for October 2003 at the new City Museum.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, Ilir Zherka, Frank Rich, Sr. and Daniel Solomon

Volunteer Voice

DC Vote Membership | by Beth Slepian, Longtime DC Vote Volunteer

Ive never been one to rush into membership. In high school, I was never part of the in crowd; in college, I wouldnt have dared to think about joining a sorority. Even today, I receive countless solicitations from organizations hoping to add me to their member databasebut as a starving artist I just dont have the money to giveand most of these pleas get sent straight to the trash. But it is time for us all to face up to the facts: as D.C. residents, whether we like it or not, we are all members of a disenfranchised community. To the few District folks who are content with our lack of congressional representationfine, do nothing. For the rest of us, the majority of uswe cannot sit idly by. I cannot begin to recount the times I have tried to take action on a specific political issueregarding the environment, education, the war on Iraqonly to be told to Contact your Senators and let your voice be heard! Well, Ive been lookin for awhile, and I dont see any voting Senators in sight. My voice is aching to be heard. When I become a member of DC Vote, I will know that no elected official is going to say no to my insistence on representation. He or she may attempt to perpetually silence my voice, your voice, our voice, but so long as we remain a united community working towards changeso long as we keep DC Vote alive and kickinour membership will indeed have its privileges. To become a member of DC V o te, com ple te the f orm on the bac k of this ne wsle tt er and send it in t oda y! Vo comple plet form back newsle wslett tter toda oday!

DC Vote

www.dcvote.org

DC Vote - Membership Program

Join DC Vote Today!

Membership: $20 $35
You can support representative democracy for all Americans today by becoming a member of DC Vote. As we strengthen and grow our grassroots to assemble a massive force behind the message we are sending to Congress, our members will be a key part of the educational and advocacy campaign. Members receive a monthly e-mail bulletin from DC Vote about upcoming events and activities, a quarterly newsletter highlighting DC Vote accomplishments and giving important information about the voting rights movement, a DC Vote bumper sticker, special notices from DC Vote about seminars and educational programs, and the opportunity to be part of the movement to end this over two hundred year old injustice.

$50 $100 $250 Other Donation (Specify amount $_____________________) For donations of $500 or greater, please contact DC Vote at 202.462.6000 or send e-mail to donors@dcvote.org.
Become a member today by calling toll free 1.866.437.3332; faxing this completed form and your credit card information to 202.462.7001; filling out the membership form and credit card information online at www.dcvote.org; or by sending this completed form with a check made out to DC Vote or your credit card information to the address printed below.

Payment and Contact Information:

Enclosed is a check made payable to: DC Vote Charge my credit card: Visa MC American Express Card Number: ___________________________________ Expiration Date: ____/____/____ Id like to make a monthly donation on my credit card of $ ____________ to support DC Vote.
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Mail this information and your contribution to: DC Vote, 1500 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009 (Use the enclosed envelope for convenience!)
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Washington, DC 20009

1500 U Street, NW

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DC Vote is always looking for volunteers to help on a wide range of projects. Get involved by calling 202.462.6000. DC Vote is launching a membership campaign. Join DC Vote as a member today using the form inside and help us educate Congress and the American people about the denial of democracy in the nations capital.

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