Date:

Location:

Capitol's west steps in Washington, DC

Full Description:

WASHINGTON, DC -- Supporters of DC statehood will hold a rally and free concert on the west steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, April 1. Titled 'FREE CONCERT 4 DC STATEHOOD', the event begins at 6 pm and will continue until 8 pm.

The rally and concert are sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union, DC Statehood Green Party, DC Statehood Yes We Can Coalition, and Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition.  Reporters and photographers are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Performers:
Tabi Bonney
Rasi Caprice
Head-Roc
Kyonte
Kingpin Slim

Speakers:
Johnny Barnes, Executive Director, ACLU-NCA
Michael Brown, DC Statehood US Senator
Walter E. Fauntroy, Member of Congress, retired
Ann Loikow, DC Statehood Yes We Can Coalition
Anise Jenkins, Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition
Ron Hampton, 25 year DC Police veteran, retired
David Schwartzman, DC Statehood Green Party
Parisa Norouzi, Empower DC
EZ Street, WKYS FM


Background

While Congress has begun to consider 'DC voting rights' legislation in
bills that would grant the District a single voting seat in the US
House, the DC Statehood Green Party and many other District residents
assert that the real problem is DC's lack of democratic
self-determination and self-governance, which can only be solved by
gaining statehood.

Congress and the White House currently hold power over the District's
laws and finances.  When the US Senate voted for the DC voting rights
bill in February, it added an amendment repealing the District's
gun-control regulations -- a reminder that a voting seat in Congress
will not bring DC closer to democracy.

The DC Statehood Green Party, which holds major party status in
Washington, DC, has led the political movement for DC statehood since
the party was founded as the DC Statehood Party in 1970.  On February
5, 2009, the party held a "DC Statehood, Now Is The Time!" panel and
discussion at the University of the District of Columbia.

The DC Statehood Green Party calls the District's lack of
self-government and voting representation part of the unfinished
business of the civil rights struggle, and has challenged President
Obama and the Congress to enact DC statehood.

The DC Statehood Green Party has questioned the DC voting rights
bill's legality, since the Constitution affords voting seats in
Congress solely to states.  Statehood Greens have argued that DC
statehood can be achieved without passage of a constitutional
amendment.  The Green Party (http://www.gp.org) endorses DC statehood
in its national platform; the Democratic and Republican parties do
not.

For further reading:

"Something Rotten in Appleseed"
By Sam Smith, The Progressive Review (DC City Desk, January 29, 2009)
http://prorev.com/2009/01/something-rotten-in-appleseed.htm

"Free DC!  The Obama Inauguration and a New Chance for Democracy in
Our Nation's Capital"
By Scott McLarty, OpEdNews.com, January 17, 2009
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Free-DC--The-Obama-Inaugu-by-Scott-McLarty-090115-146.html

The DC Statehood Papers: Writings on DC Statehood & self-government,
by Sam Smith  http://prorev.com/dcsthdintro.htm

Petition to the United Nations for DC statehood, sponsored by the DC
Statehood Green Party and Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org/statehoodnow

DC Statehood Green Party press releases:

• "Statehood Greens to Congress: DC needs STATEHOOD, not the 'Voting
Rights' bill" (January 27, 2009)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=172

• "DC Statehood Greens to Democrats: Use your new power in Congress
and the White House to grant DC statehood" (November 6, 2008)
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org//press/press.php?annc_id=293§ion_id=2

• "Statehood Greens criticize Del. Norton and her fellow Democrats for
omitting DC statehood from the 2008 Democratic platform draft" (August
20, 2008)
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-state.php?ID=93

• "Talking Points, Quotes on DC Voting Rights Bill, DC Statehood, and
Democracy" (March 22, 2007)
http://www.gp.org/press/states/dc/dc_2007_03_22.shtml

Additional Information:

DC Statehood Green Party http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org

DC Statehood Green Party events: http://dcstatehoodgreen.org/events

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