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Voice SUMMER 2011 www.dcvote.org 4

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DC Vote Honored byNoyes Grant and First Bequest

In May DC Vote was honored to be the recipient of a

final grant from the Noyes Trust Fund, which has

funded the DC democracy movement for decades. In

the 1950s, the Noyes Trust supported the fight for

electoral votes that resulted in the 23rd Amendment,

allowing DC residents to vote for president. DC Vote

was also honored to receive its first bequest from

longtime DC resident Hannah Kellogg Dowell, who

inspired us to implement a planned giving campaign.

It is humbling to be entrusted with the legacy of

Ms. Dowell and Theodore Noyes, and DC Vote iscommitted to honoring them by continuing their fight

for full democracy in DC. For more information on

how you can make a bequest to DC Vote in your will,

contact Abby Levine at 202.462.6000 x17.

DC Vote is a 501 (c)(3) educational and advocacy organization

whose mission is to secure full voting representation in Congress

and full democracy for the residents of the District of Columbia.

The VoiceDC Votes Newsletter

Editor: Leah Ramsay

Photos: Antonette Russell, Matt Levine, Bradley Johnson,

Leah Ramsay, Sam Harold

Copyright 2011 DC Vote

Use the enclosed envelope or visit our website today at

www.dcvote.org to make a contributiontoDC Vote.

Voice

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Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the

From the Executive Director

DC Spring Capped By HistoricWhite House Rally and Protest

2011 has been a year of unprecedented congressional abuse andunprecedented civil disobedience in the District of Columbia. In a few short

months, the DC democracy movement has shifted dramaticallyor at least

thats how it may look from the outside.

In fact, DC Vote has been laying the groundwork for last springs protests

for over a year, launching our agg ressive Demand Democracy Campaign in

2010, meeting with local elected leaders and our nationwide coalition to

strategize and coordinate efforts. (For more on the DC Spring protests,

please turn the page.)

It was clear that we needed to create consequences for our allies as much

as our opponents, and that includes President Obama. To send a clear,

direct message, DC Vote and the DC Voting Rights Coalition organized our

first White House rally on June 25. Nearly 700 people attended to demand

the President stand up for DC. After the rally, 12 activists were arrested for

civil disobedience in front of the White House.

We got the Presidents attention: In response to the rally, White House

spokeswoman Joanna Rosholm reaffirmed the Presidents unequivocal

support of voting rights, home rule and budget autonomy for DC. A few

weeks later, the White House issued an official Statement of Policy

specifically objecting to a provision in the 2012 Appropriations bill which

undermines the principle of states rights and of D.C. home rule. Most

recently, the President sat down with NBC 4s Jim Vance, who pressed the

President to champion DCs cause. Among his words of support, the

President said, I will continue to stand by those in DC who believe that

they should not be paying taxes like everybody else and serving in the

military like everybody else and doing everything thats expected of citizens

and yet not have the same voting rights as everybody else in America.

The President has heard us. Together, we will keep the pressure on the White

House and Congress to ensure DC residents win the fight to protect Home

Rule. Change will only come when we all work together to demand it. Donate

to DC Vote and strengthen a growing movement that will bring full democracy

home to our nations capital.

Sincerely,

Ilir Zherka, Executive Director

Summer FestivalsThe end of summer means lots of communityfestivals, including Adams Morgan Day andthe Barracks Row Fall Festival. These aregreat opportunities to spread the word aboutcongressional infringements on DC Home Ruleand recruit support for our efforts in the fall.If you are interested in volunteering at festivalsto help educate others about taxation withoutrepresentation in DC, contact Public AffairsManager Jennifer Matson atjmatson@dcvote.org.

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3 Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital

Champions of Democracy 2011

Join DC Vote on Wednesday, October 26 when we return to the

Mayflower Hotel for Champions of Democracy 2011: Empowering the

District. Our annual awards dinner will honor Maudine Cooper,

President and CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League, and

Walter Smith, Executive Director of DC Appleseed. For more information

on Champions of Democracy, visit www.dcvote.org/championsor

email Abby Levine at alevine@dcvote.org.

Taking Our Message to the Halls of Congress

DC Vote has organized three advocacy days on Capitol Hill this year. On

January 4, we led a pro-active advocacy effort in anticipation of the new

Congress revoking the DC Delegate vote in the Committee of the Whole,

DCs only vote on the House floor. Our actions ensured that this denial of

democratic participation on the first day of the 112th Congress made

national news, including coverage in the New York Timesand the National

Journal, among others. In March, we visited Senate offices with our Dont

Tread On DCmessage, working to rally Senate allies to stand firm against

the House leaderships attempts to infringe on DC Home Rule. In July, we

reached out to House Republicans to discuss potential riders on DCs local

budget. DC residents met with staffers and asked them to encourage their

member to remain true to the principle of small government and non-

interference in local affairs. As our movement continues to apply pressure to

Congress and the White House, in-person meetings like this will continue to

be crucial, putting a personal face on what for many on the Hill is a matter of

partisan politics.

DC Vote Works With The DistrictsFirst Brewery To Open In 55 Years

This year, April 15 was not Tax Day. It was Tax Relief and Public Ale Launch

Day, at least in the District, which for the first time in 55 years was blessed

with a locally-crafted beer courtesy of new brewery DC Brau. Brewers Brandon

Skall and Jeff Hancock debuted their Public Alein cans featuring facts on

taxation without representation provided by DC Vote, as well as DC Votes

web address. The launch party at Meridian Pint was only the beginning of

this effort to put our message (literally) in front of countless new people.

Since the launch, business has been booming for DC Brau and theyve

debuted several more brews, all with DC statehood messaging on the cans.For more information on DC Brau and where to find the beer around town,

visit www.dcbrau.com.

Looking for Interns!

DC Vote is seeking bright, energetic and hard-working interns to support the

DC Vote team this fall. Candidates with an interest in politics, the District and

DC voting rights should send a resume and cover letter to resume@dcvote.org.

This unpaid internship provides excellent experience, connections and fun!

Voice SUMMER 2011 www.dcvote.org 2

The Mayor, DC Council and DC Vote

lead the protest on April 11

Youth lead a protest outside the

Hart Senate Office building

Philanthropist Diane Bernstein (L) and Annalee Ash

before their arrest on May 11

DC Councilmember Mary Cheh speaks

before her arrest on May 4

Denied Home Rule, DC Engages InCivil Disobedience Campaign

John, I will give you DC.According to the Washington Post, President Obama

said these words to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to close a deal on the

2011 federal budget on Thursday, April 7, agreeing to Speaker Boehners wishes

to restrict the Districts local funds. For DC, those words were the last straw.

DC Vote acted swiftly to organize a response, working with the DC government

and our coalition. On Monday, April 11, over 400 people participated in a

historic protest on Capitol Hill. 41 protesters were arrested by the Capitol

Police, including Mayor Vincent Gray, Council Chairman Kwame Brown, five

DC Councilmembers, DC Vote co-founder Daniel Solomon, DC Vote Executive

Director Ilir Zherka and Public Affairs Director Eugene D. Kinlow, as well as

several former and current DC Vote board members and other local leaders.

This group quickly became known as the DC 41, leaders of a new civil

disobedience movement in the District.

Less than a week later on April 15, the youngest of the DC 41, Howard University

student Corryn Freeman worked with DC Vote to organize a silent protest in front

of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids Hart Senate office building. Three more

protesters were arrested: DC Shadow Senator Michael D. Brown, Adam Eidinger

and Bob Johnsen.

The civil disobedience and arrests continued as more activists took up the

torch and kept up momentum. International media coverage, from the BBC to

Shanghaiistto the CNN Situation Roomcovered the story. On May 4 , the

House passed H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding For Abor tion Act, which would

permanently prohibiting the DC government from using local funds for abortion

and federalizing those funds for the first time. DC Vote and local women led a

protest the same day. Eight women, including DC Councilmember Mary Cheh

and DC Vote Development Manager Abby Levine, were arrested on Constitution

Avenue in the shadow of the Capitol. Because of the efforts of DC Vote and

others, the bill is not expected to pass the Senate. The following week on

May 11, eight more activists were arrested while calling for local budget control

and full Home Rule for DC.

The names of all those arrested can be found on DC Votes website:

www.dcvote.org. The fight continues, as the House leadership seeks to restrict

DCs Home Rule through the 2012 budget. Meanwhile, DC Vote is also talking

with members of Congress to leverage the media attention and awareness the

protests have raised across the country. Look for emails and postings on our

website about upcoming events.

DC native and military spouse Tracey Loh before her arrestLeader Boehner leaves his house

to our Dont Tread on DC protest

Terri Lee Freeman, of the

National Capital Region,

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