Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital

Voice
From the Executive Director

SUMMER 2011 www.dcvote.org

DC Spring Capped By Historic White House Rally and Protest

2011 has been a year of unprecedented congressional abuse and unprecedented civil disobedience in the District of Columbia. In a few short months, the DC democracy movement has shifted dramaticallyor at least thats how it may look from the outside. In fact, DC Vote has been laying the groundwork for last springs protests for over a year, launching our aggressive Demand Democracy Campaign in 2010, meeting with local elected leaders and our nationwide coalition to strategize and coordinate efforts. (For more on the DC Spring protests, please turn the page.) It was clear that we needed to create consequences for our allies as much as our opponents, and that includes President Obama. To send a clear, direct message, DC Vote and the DC Voting Rights Coalition organized our first White House rally on June 25. Nearly 700 people attended to demand the President stand up for DC. After the rally, 12 activists were arrested for civil disobedience in front of the White House. We got the Presidents attention: In response to the rally, White House spokeswoman Joanna Rosholm reaffirmed the Presidents unequivocal support of voting rights, home rule and budget autonomy for DC. A few weeks later, the White House issued an official Statement of Policy specifically objecting to a provision in the 2012 Appropriations bill which undermines the principle of states rights and of D.C. home rule. Most recently, the President sat down with NBC 4s Jim Vance, who pressed the President to champion DCs cause. Among his words of support, the President said, I will continue to stand by those in DC who believe that they should not be paying taxes like everybody else and serving in the military like everybody else and doing everything thats expected of citizens and yet not have the same voting rights as everybody else in America. The President has heard us. Together, we will keep the pressure on the White House and Congress to ensure DC residents win the fight to protect Home Rule. Change will only come when we all work together to demand it. Donate to DC Vote and strengthen a growing movement that will bring full democracy home to our nations capital.
Sincerely,
B. Jackson Caesar gives the National Anthem extra punch to open the White House rally

Voice
DC Vote Honored by Noyes Grant and First Bequest
In May DC Vote was honored to be the recipient of a final grant from the Noyes Trust Fund, which has funded the DC democracy movement for decades. In the 1950s, the Noyes Trust supported the fight for electoral votes that resulted in the 23rd Amendment, allowing DC residents to vote for president. DC Vote was also honored to receive its first bequest from longtime DC resident Hannah Kellogg Dowell, who inspired us to implement a planned giving campaign. It is humbling to be entrusted with the legacy of Ms. Dowell and Theodore Noyes, and DC Vote is committed to honoring them by continuing their fight for full democracy in DC. For more information on how you can make a bequest to DC Vote in your will, contact Abby Levine at 202.462.6000 x17.

SUMMER 2011 www.dcvote.org

Summer Festivals
The end of summer means lots of community festivals, including Adams Morgan Day and the Barracks Row Fall Festival. These are great opportunities to spread the word about congressional infringements on DC Home Rule and recruit support for our efforts in the fall. If you are interested in volunteering at festivals to help educate others about taxation without representation in DC, contact Public Affairs Manager Jennifer Matson at jmatson@dcvote.org.

The VoiceDC Votes Newsletter Editor: Leah Ramsay Photos: Antonette Russell, Matt Levine, Bradley Johnson, Leah Ramsay, Sam Harold Copyright 2011 DC Vote

Use the enclosed envelope or visit our website today at www.dcvote.org to make a contribution to DC Vote.

DC Vote is a 501 (c)(3) educational and advocacy organization whose mission is to secure full voting representation in Congress and full democracy for the residents of the District of Columbia.

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The League of Women Voters DC at the rally

Rally attendees link arms and chant in front of the White House

The DC faith community rally organizers

Ilir Zherka, Executive Director

The rally concludes with a sit-in protest in front of the White House

Voice

SUMMER 2011 www.dcvote.org

3 Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital

Voice

Denied Home Rule, DC Engages In Civil Disobedience Campaign

John, I will give you DC. According to the Washington Post, President Obama said these words to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to close a deal on the 2011 federal budget on Thursday, April 7, agreeing to Speaker Boehners wishes to restrict the Districts local funds. For DC, those words were the last straw. DC Vote acted swiftly to organize a response, working with the DC government and our coalition. On Monday, April 11, over 400 people participated in a historic protest on Capitol Hill. 41 protesters were arrested by the Capitol Police, including Mayor Vincent Gray, Council Chairman Kwame Brown, five DC Councilmembers, DC Vote co-founder Daniel Solomon, DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka and Public Affairs Director Eugene D. Kinlow, as well as several former and current DC Vote board members and other local leaders. This group quickly became known as the DC 41, leaders of a new civil disobedience movement in the District. Less than a week later on April 15, the youngest of the DC 41, Howard University student Corryn Freeman worked with DC Vote to organize a silent protest in front of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids Hart Senate office building. Three more protesters were arrested: DC Shadow Senator Michael D. Brown, Adam Eidinger and Bob Johnsen. The civil disobedience and arrests continued as more activists took up the torch and kept up momentum. International media coverage, from the BBC to Shanghaiist to the CNN Situation Room covered the story. On May 4, the House passed H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act, which would permanently prohibiting the DC government from using local funds for abortion and federalizing those funds for the first time. DC Vote and local women led a protest the same day. Eight women, including DC Councilmember Mary Cheh and DC Vote Development Manager Abby Levine, were arrested on Constitution Avenue in the shadow of the Capitol. Because of the efforts of DC Vote and others, the bill is not expected to pass the Senate. The following week on May 11, eight more activists were arrested while calling for local budget control and full Home Rule for DC. The names of all those arrested can be found on DC Votes website: www.dcvote.org. The fight continues, as the House leadership seeks to restrict DCs Home Rule through the 2012 budget. Meanwhile, DC Vote is also talking with members of Congress to leverage the media attention and awareness the protests have raised across the country. Look for emails and postings on our website about upcoming events.
Philanthropist Diane Bernstein (L) and Annalee Ash before their arrest on May 11

Champions of Democracy 2011

Join DC Vote on Wednesday, October 26 when we return to the Mayflower Hotel for Champions of Democracy 2011: Empowering the District. Our annual awards dinner will honor Maudine Cooper, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League, and Walter Smith, Executive Director of DC Appleseed. For more information on Champions of Democracy, visit www.dcvote.org/champions or email Abby Levine at alevine@dcvote.org.
Terri Lee Freeman, of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, speaks at a funders briefing

The Mayor, DC Council and DC Vote lead the protest on April 11

Taking Our Message to the Halls of Congress

DC Vote has organized three advocacy days on Capitol Hill this year. On January 4, we led a pro-active advocacy effort in anticipation of the new Congress revoking the DC Delegate vote in the Committee of the Whole, DCs only vote on the House floor. Our actions ensured that this denial of democratic participation on the first day of the 112th Congress made national news, including coverage in the New York Times and the National Journal, among others. In March, we visited Senate offices with our Dont Tread On DC message, working to rally Senate allies to stand firm against the House leaderships attempts to infringe on DC Home Rule. In July, we reached out to House Republicans to discuss potential riders on DCs local budget. DC residents met with staffers and asked them to encourage their member to remain true to the principle of small government and noninterference in local affairs. As our movement continues to apply pressure to Congress and the White House, in-person meetings like this will continue to be crucial, putting a personal face on what for many on the Hill is a matter of partisan politics.

Youth lead a protest outside the Hart Senate Office building

DC advocates prepare for a meeting on Capitol Hill

DC Vote Works With The Districts First Brewery To Open In 55 Years

This year, April 15 was not Tax Day. It was Tax Relief and Public Ale Launch Day, at least in the District, which for the first time in 55 years was blessed with a locally-crafted beer courtesy of new brewery DC Brau. Brewers Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock debuted their Public Ale in cans featuring facts on taxation without representation provided by DC Vote, as well as DC Votes web address. The launch party at Meridian Pint was only the beginning of this effort to put our message (literally) in front of countless new people. Since the launch, business has been booming for DC Brau and theyve debuted several more brews, all with DC statehood messaging on the cans. For more information on DC Brau and where to find the beer around town, visit www.dcbrau.com.

Volunteers and staff spread the word at Capital Pride Festival 2011

Looking for Interns!

DC Vote is seeking bright, energetic and hard-working interns to support the DC Vote team this fall. Candidates with an interest in politics, the District and DC voting rights should send a resume and cover letter to resume@dcvote.org. This unpaid internship provides excellent experience, connections and fun!
DC Councilmember Mary Cheh speaks before her arrest on May 4 Leader Boehner leaves his house to our Dont Tread on DC protest DC native and military spouse Tracey Loh before her arrest Delegate Norton gets a temporary tattoo at a Flag Day tattoo rally