Introduction of S.51 Shows D.C. Statehood is a Crucial Democracy and Racial Justice Priority
Just Democracy Coalition Urges the Senate to Fast Track S.51
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Tom Carper introduced Senate Bill 51, which would admit the District of Columbia as the nation’s 51st state.
Justin “Yaddiya” Johnson, Founder of Long Live Go Go and Coalition Member of Just Democracy, issued the following statement in response:
“The introduction of S.51 within the first week of the Biden Administration reflects the necessity of D.C. statehood. The Just Democracy coalition celebrates Congress for recognizing that statehood is the most crucial civil rights fight of our lifetimes, and we urge them to fast track passage of this bill. With our nation facing many crises — COVID, impeachment, an insurrection — the voices of D.C. residents must be represented in how Congress solves these existential challenges.
D.C. statehood has gained incredible momentum in recent years as more Americans learn about the blatant racism of this injustice. More than 700,000 Americans, who are mostly Black and Brown, live in our nation’s capital without congressional representation — a structural vestige of the slaveholding era.
Congress must use every available course of action to reverse this stain on our democracy, and that means eliminating the filibuster. The filibuster is a Jim Crow relic that allows a minority of Senators to block bills that enjoy majority support, and this arcane rule has overwhelmingly been used to obstruct civil rights legislation. D.C. statehood is too important to wait any longer, and S.51 is a crucial step in the fight for a fair democracy.”
After the insurrection at the Capitol threatened D.C. residents, lawmakers, and the spirit and security of our democracy, Just Democracy joined forces with over 60 progressive organizations to urge President Biden to fast track D.C. statehood. Read our letter here.
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About Just Democracy
Just Democracy is an intersectional coalition with racial justice at its core — uplifting voices from all walks of American life that are too often left out of the conversation. The coalition is made up of over 40 Black and Brown-led organizations working across issue areas. It mobilizes thousands who know that advancing social and racial justice issues first requires bold structural democracy reform.
To speak with a Just Democracy spokesperson, please email press@justdemocracy.us.
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