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Childers Should Stop Interfering In D.C.
| Source: |
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Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal |
| Date: |
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Sunday, September 12, 2010 |
| Author: |
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Julian Bond, Chairman Emeritus, NAACP |
| Page/Section: |
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Letters to the Editor |
The quest for civil rights is far from over for Americans living in the District of Columbia, the place I call home.
What does this have to do with Mississippi? Surprisingly, quite a lot.
Earlier this summer, Mississippi Congressman Travis Childers introduced a bill that would wipe away D.C.'s gun laws. While many people have different opinions about guns, I believe most Americans agree that local communities ought to retain the local power to decide local issues. Congressman Childers would never allow the federal government to single out Mississippi and dictate what the local laws ought to be. Childers should show Washingtonians the same level of respect.
Even more importantly, by introducing and pushing a D.C. gun bill, Congressman Childers has helped stall the D.C. House Voting Rights Act (DC VRA). The DC VRA would have provided voting representation in Congress for the first time for the nearly 600,000 Americans who live in our nation's capital.
D.C. voting rights are forever linked to the issue of civil rights - they represent yet another step forward in the long struggle that started in Mississippi. D.C. residents pay more federal income taxes per capita than any other state. Like other Americans, we serve on federal juries and defend our democracy during times of war. And yet, we do not have a single vote in the Congress of the United States. To make matters worse, we also do not have full control over our local affairs.
Too often, members of Congress from other states seek to bolster their image by attacking the District of Columbia. This abuse must end.
The District of Columbia is not just the seat of government. It is a vibrant community, home to nurses, teachers, firefighters, police officers and other Americans who were born and raised here. We do not like being used as political pawns by Congressman Childers and others like him who try to curry favor at home by trampling on our rights in D.C.
We are Americans. We want the federal government to treat us equally. Rep. Childers should focus on his congressional district and the people who elected him.
Julian Bond,
Chairman Emeritus of the NAACP
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