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D.C. Rights Activists Protest Budget Deal
| Source: |
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WAMU Radio (DC) |
| Date: |
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Friday, December 16, 2011 |
| Author: |
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Markette Smith |
Activists for D.C. rights are out in front of the U.S. Capitol Friday afternoon, blocking traffic on Independence Ave. and chanting in protest of the federal budget deal struck Thursday night that would once again impose a social agenda on residents of the District. They were joined by D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and councilmember Tommy Wells, as well as supporters of Planned Parenthood.
A rider included in the last-minute deal crafted by lawmakers on the Capitol would restrict the District from using its own money to pay for abortions for low-income women.
They say the proposal is an assault on the District's right to govern its own affairs, and supporters of D.C. home rule rights are urging members of Congress to vote against it. As many as 108 representatives in the House said they would oppose any budget bill that included policy riders.
According to reports from the scene, as many as four have been arrested at the scene -- including Adrian Jones -- of the three Occupy DC hungerstrikers -- and Pete Ross, candidate for the D.C. shadow senator position.
A similar rider was added to a federal spending bill in April, which sparked protests wherein D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and several councilmembers were arrested.
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http://wamu.org/news/11/12/16/dc_rights_activists_protest_bu dget_deal
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