Spread the Word!
Tell your friends about DC Vote on MySpace, Facebook and YouTube! You can also feature DC Voting Rights on your Facebook profile by adding the Cause Application and then joining the DC Voting Rights cause. The Cause Application also allows you to easily invite your friends to join with you in demanding the vote. The more people know about DC voting rights, the more people will support it. Take a minute to encourage your friends to be our friend!
DC residents pay federal income taxes, serve on juries and die in wars to defend American democracy but are denied a vote in Congress. As we work to extend democracy around the world, the time has come to bring democracy to our nation's capital.
We urge you to support the DC Voting Rights Act (S. 1257) by writing or calling your Senators, writing letters to your local papers and volunteering in DC Vote's upcoming events. Learn more at dcvote.org.
Strong Vote Sign of Victory to Come
Today, in a procedural vote on the DC House Voting Rights Act (S. 1257), a small group of Senators blocked the bill from being debated with a vote of 57 yeas - 42 neas. In order to overcome a filibuster, 60 votes are required.
While DC Vote is disappointed that these Senators are standing in the way of democracy for the nearly 600,000 tax-paying Americans living in Washington, DC, we remain encouraged that the Senate will pass this bill during this Congress. Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of DC Vote, released the following statement which may be quoted in part or in full:
"For the first time in 30 years, we secured the vote of a strong majority of Senators in favor of DC voting rights. We are outraged that a minority of Senators, led by Senators Mitch McConnell and Trent Lott, prevented the majority from voting on our bill. McConnell and Lott chose to filibuster a bill extending democracy at home at a time when they are pushing for democracy in the Iraq.
"Shame on them. Shame also on Senators Thad Cochran, John McCain and Gordon Smith, a group of Senators that did not have the courage to stand with us and against the outrageous tactics of their party leaders.
"This is the first filibuster of a voting rights bill since the era of segregation. Their opposition reminds us of a time when a minority of Senators blocked the door to democracy and freedom.
"We have not gotten this far by giving up. We have a majority of Senators who support voting rights for Americans living in Washington, DC. We will prevail in our cause because our cause is just. We will work closely with our allies in the Senate to get this bill up again in this Congress."
About Students for DC Vote
Students for DC Vote work to raise awareness about DC Vote and the issue of DC voting rights on college campuses across America. Students from around the country become ambassadors for DC voting rights by educating fellow students on DC's denial of democracy.
For more information on Students for DC Vote, contact us at students at dcvote.org or get in touch with our DC Vote Students Outreach Committee Chair:
Sarah Pokempner at spokempner at dcvote.org
Take Action Across the Country
Campus coordinators commit to organizing awareness campaigns at their schools. This can range from simply donning your DC Vote shirt to starting your own Students for DC Vote chapter. Students for DC Vote is already in 17 states around the country. Help us spread even further!
Find YOUR campus coordinator or learn how to become one by contacting our national coordinators:
Molly McArdle
by e-mail at mmcardle at dcvote.org
Margaret McCarthy
by e-mail at mjmcc at umich.edu
Emma Levine
by e-mail at eplevine at umich.edu
Activities, Resources and Information
