DC Vote Responds To President Biden’s Intention To Overturn DC Council’s Lawfully Passed Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 2nd, 2023

PRESS CONTACT:
Patrice Snow
[email protected]

Washington, DC – Earlier today, President Biden tweeted his support for DC Statehood yet indicated his intention to sign the disapproval resolution heading to the United States Senate on the Revised Criminal Code Act that DC Council lawfully passed. In light of this attack on the already small amount of democracy the 700,000 tax paying residents of DC has, DC Vote’s communications director Patrice Snow released the following statement:

“Last September, President Biden gave a speech in Philadelphia on the ongoing threats to our fragile democracy and the battle for the ‘soul of the nation.’ Watching our president who, going back to his Senate days, has been an ardent supporter of the DC Statehood movement give the speech from where the original DC deal ‘happened’ was a highlight for those who have fought for DC sovereignty and autonomy for years. In the speech, President Biden said, ‘This is where America made its Declaration of Independence to the world more than two centuries ago with an idea, unique among nations, that in America we’re all created equal. This is where the US Constitution was written. This is where we set in motion the most extraordinary experiment of self-government the world has ever known with three simple words: “We, the People.” These two documents and the idea that they embody – equality and democracy – are the rock upon which this nation is built. They are how we became the greatest nation on Earth. They are why, for more than two centuries, America has been a beacon to the world.’ While recalling this beautiful speech President Biden gave to the nation in a primetime address in Philadelphia just last September, reading his tweet earlier today on his intention to sign the disapproval resolution if passed by the Senate to overturn lawful legislation by the DC Council was shocking.”

Snow finished, “Last week, over 120 groups joined us in calling for autonomy and self-governance for the people of DC. These groups signed a letter addressed to Senate leadership and copied to all members of the United States Senate because the never-ending attacks on our self-determination continue even by those we consider to be friends of the DC Statehood movement. But, despite today’s setback, nothing will stop our progress in becoming the Union’s 51st state. As we say, it’s a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if.’ Only DC’s 700,000 tax paying residents and their locally-elected leadership should decide what is best for the District of Columbia.”

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