Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital

Voice
DC Vote Gets Aggressive
Happy summer! DC Vote is taking advantage of the natural energy and enthusiasm of summer to educate, advocate and agitate for DC democracy. We recently launched our new campaign, Childers for DC Mayor?, which asks Representative Travis Childers (D-MS), one of DCs opponents in Congress, if he is running for Mayor since he is trying to control DCs gun laws. The ads, which ran in print and online news publications, sent the message to Childers Mississippi constituents that he is focusing on DCs affairs, not theirs. Weve said it before and well say it again: Members of Congress should focus on the issues affecting their states rather than interfering in DCs local politics. The Childers campaign follows aggressive actions weve taken on Capitol Hill, bringing the fight to politicians in person. We held a pray-in with local religious leaders at Senator Jon Testers (D-MT) office and a file-in at Rep. Childers office. Both demonstrations elicited strong responses. We forced Senator Tester to meet with us, while media watched, and he admitted he understands our argument. Rep. Childers, on the other hand, responded by calling us a radical anti-gun group in a campaign statement. Word of our actions got around the Hill quickly. We even received calls from sympathetic staffers who are rooting for us! We will continue this aggressive approach to creating consequences in DC and at home for members of Congress who are holding DCs democracy hostage. Washington, DC 20036
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SUMMER 2010 www.dcvote.org

Patrick Mara and John Capozzi telling Rep. Childers to Focus on Mississippi Not DC!

Voice
On the Summer Festival Scene
2010 has been an eventful year for DC Vote and our local friends: we joined in the city-wide Emancipation Day celebration, the Capital Pride Festival and the Palisades July 4 festivities. Upcoming events include Adams Morgan Day, Stone Soul Picnic, H Street Festival, Black L.U.V. Festival, Barracks Row Festival and Fiesta DC. Come join us! Know of an event were missing or want to volunteer? Contact Jennifer Matson at jmatson@dcvote.org or at 202.462.6000 x18.

SUMMER 2010 www.dcvote.org

Staff Update
DC Vote has welcomed two new faces to our team. Leah Ramsay joined the staff as Communications Manager in June, bringing a variety of multimedia experience and history of supporting DC voting rights. Jamie Phillips is working as a summer intern while on break from law school at North Carolina Central University, assisting with community outreach efforts. Both bring new energy and ingenuity to DC Votes work.

Save The Date! Annual Champions

of Democracy Awards Dinner
Mark your calendar for October 12, 2010 from 6:30-9:30 PM, when DC Vote will honor Champions of Democracy Smith Bagley (posthumously), Kathy Schmidt and Andy Shallal. Each will be honored for their contributions to a vibrant DC community and commitment to a true, full American democracy. The dinner will be held at Washingtons Mayflower Hotel. We hope to see you there!

Use the enclosed envelope or visit our Web site 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.

The VoiceDC Votes Newsletter Editor: Leah Ramsay Contributors: Abby Levine and Jennifer Matson Photos: Antonette Russell and Jamie Phillips Copyright 2010 DC Vote

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DC Vote supporter at the 2010 Capital Pride Festival

Ilir Zherka leading the line at the file-in action at Rep. Childers office

From the Executive Director

As you may know, the DC Voting Rights Act (DC VRA) moved toward a vote in the House this April. Due to many factors, including the interference of the gunrights lobby, divisions locally and opposition in Congress, we supported Delegate Eleanor Holmes Nortons decision to pull back the bill. The odious poison pill gun amendment attached to the DC VRA made it clear that we must increase the costs to members of Congress who oppose voting rights and full democracy for the District. Through work with our supporters and coalition partners to expand the aggressive campaign described above, we plan to do just that. I hope you will join us by signing up for our email list, reading our updates and taking action with us in person. Most importantly, I hope youll become a member of DC Vote. Your donation will help keep this aggressive movement strong.

Miriam Strauss presenting her signed petition to Rep. Childers staff

Ilir Zherka Executive Director

Rev. E. Gail Anderson Holness and Ilir Zherka confront Senator Jon Tester

Voice

SUMMER 2010 www.dcvote.org

3 Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital State of the Union Campaign
In January, we launched a campaign to ask President Obama to mention democracy for DC in his State of the Union address. For the first time, we centered our campaign around our Facebook page, asking supporters for suggestions on the statements language and opening up the final choice to an online vote. This resulted in a wonderful dialogue with our friends and attracted 300 new Facebook fans. On the anniversary of President Obamas inaugural, we announced the winning language and shipped it, along with 41,000 petitions for DC voting rights emblazoned with Taxation Without Representation bumper stickers, to the White House. Though the President did not mention DC voting rights in his speech, we successfully raised the visibility of our cause through this campaign votes for the language came in from 44 states, 300 more people are still getting our Facebook updates, and thousands of people were touched by the print, online and radio media the campaign garnered. Our campaign eventually succeeded when the President released a statement of support on April 16, 2010.

Voice

DC Emancipation Day 2010

Voting rights activists commemorated DC Emancipation Day by hitting the halls of Congress on Friday, April 16, 2010, the anniversary of President Lincoln freeing the 3,100 enslaved people living in DC. That act was a precursor to his nationwide Emancipation Proclamation. It is a bittersweet day, serving as a reminder that Washingtonians are still not fully emancipatedwe are denied full participation in our countrys democracy.
Ilir Zherka, Aviva Kempner and Don Dinan advocate on Capitol Hill

After inspirational words from DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Councilmember Yvette Alexander, and DC Shadow Representative Mike Panetta, participants wearing Taxation Without Representation t-shirts spread out to meet with congressional staff in 120 House offices. Their goals: to advocate for passage of the DC Voting Rights Act and raise awareness for DC Emancipation Day. Our efforts were given a boost from a powerful place: President Obama issued an official statement in honor of the holiday. He said, I urge Congress to finally pass legislation that provides DC residents with voting representation and to take steps to improve the Home Rule charter. Such clear support from the White House is evidence that DC Votes past efforts have made an impact.

DC Vote volunteers mail 41,000 petitions in support of DC voting rights to the White House

DC Vote License Plates in MD

DC Vote would like to give a shout out to one of our most dedicated supporters, Larry Ottinger. This spring, Larry designed a specialty Maryland license plate (right) in support of DC voting rights. He successfully organized Maryland residents to sign up for the new plates, meeting the states quota. His efforts helped to raise awareness about our cause nationwide. Thanks for all of your hard work, Larry! The tags will be available in the summer/fall of 2010. Interested in having one or creating a license plate for Virginia? Email Jennifer Matson at jmatson@dcvote.org for more information!
Ilir Zherka and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton put the boxes in the mail

Volunteers prepare to visit congressional offices at DC Emancipation Advocacy Day

Special Thanks to Jim Vance!

In April, NBC 4 reporter Jim Vance asked a DC voting rights question during his interview with First Lady Michelle Obama. She affirmed her and the Presidents support for the cause, which brought the issue additional media coverage. Later that month, the President made an official statement (see above). We thank Jim for putting DC voting rights in the spotlight!
University of the District of Columbia students at DC Emancipation Advocacy Day

Recognitions
DC Vote is honored to be the first recipient of the Arca Foundations Smith Bagley Memorial Grant, which supports organizations using bold, courageous and creative strategies to advance social change. The DC Democratic State Committee presented DC Vote with its Outstanding Community Organization award at their 25th Kennedys-King Awards Gala on June 7. DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka is featured in a new book, Dynamical Leadership: Building Adaptive Capacity for Uncertain Times. Ilir has also been nominated and selected for the 2011 Class of Leadership Greater Washington.

DC Vote founder Daniel Solomon with volunteer Larry Ottinger

A proud winner of a t-shirt at a Generation Obama event

Jim Vance anchors News 4 at 6 and 11.

DC Vote staffer Jen Matson with students from the Greater Washington Urban League

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton poses with staff and Juan Thompson at the July 4th Palisades Parade