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Rally and concert for DC STATEHOOD: Wednesday, April 1, 6 pm on the Capitol's west steps in Washington, DC

THE DC STATEHOOD GREEN PARTY
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org

For immediate release:
Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Contact:
Scott McLarty, DC Statehood Green Party Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org


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

DC Councilmembers Michael Brown and Harry Thomas have also been invited to speak.


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


MORE INFORMATION

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

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


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