Hypocrisy of Democracy: 12 Arrested in Rally for DC Voting Rights

Activists advocating congressional representation for the District of Columbia had a clear message at a rally Saturday in Washington: "President Obama, stand up for D.C." District leaders and activists rallied at the White House on Saturday afternoon to continue the push for statehood and full voting rights in Congress. Ilir Zherka, executive director for DC Vote says the event's purpose was to put pressure on Congress and President Obama to not only give the district full voting rights, but to pass legislation that gives the city control of its finances." I think the White House will have to respond to us today," Zherka said. "And I hope they will give us the sort of response today, and in the future, that is really worthy of the present."

Rally for D.C. voting rights was capped off by the arrest of 12 people, bringing to 73 the number of residents and advocates that have been arrested fighting for voting rights, self-determination and statehood since April. A dozen protesters went further, sitting on a restricted portion of Pennsylvania Avenue sidewalk until they were arrested by U.S. Park Police.

“What we have in the District of Columbia is a hypocrisy of democracy,” Mayor Vincent Gray (D) told the rally at Lafayette Square. “Frankly, it is time for that to end.” The rally was a response to legislative moves by the U.S. House of Representatives to restrict the city's use of local tax revenue, demanding the right for representation in Congress and fighting for the right to statehood.

The District's nonvoting delegate to Congress, Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Mayor Vincent Gray, a Democrat, spoke at the rally, firing up the crowd that gathered at Lafayette Park near the White House." We are forced to defend the simple right of every American and of every local jurisdiction to pass our own laws and especially to spend any funds we raise in this city in any darn way we choose," Norton said. Gray, who was arrested on April 11 near the U.S. Capitol at another protest, called for an end to congressional control of the nation's capital, urging people to stand up for their rights."It is time for it to be over, ladies and gentlemen," Gray said. "The question for us is, are we willing to stand up for our own rights? Are we willing to stand up for democracy in the District of Columbia?" Gray and several D.C. council members were among 41 people arrested at a voting rights rally in April after sitting down and blocking Constitution Avenue near the U.S. Capitol.District resident Tracy Loh, 29, was one of those arrested during rally. "I put my body and my life on the line," Loh said. "I would give up anything to bring statehood to the District of Columbia within my lifetime." The agenda for Saturday’s event — organized by DC Vote and other groups — went beyond preventing more abortion restrictions. The crowd chanted for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) to get a vote in the House, and several speakers called for the District to become the 51st state.

Some simply wanted Obama to put “Taxation without Representation” license plates on his limousine. “Put the plates on the car, Mr. President,” said Michael Brown, one of the District’s two shadow senators. “You know, stand up for us.”

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