Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 24 December 1992 — Page 18

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 24 December, 1992, Page 18

Racism stymies attempts to make D.C. nation's 51st state

The fact that the District of Columbia remains a political colony is an insult to democracy in the United States. There are many who believe that because Washington, D.C., has a majority African American population of actual voting residents, there is an unstated fear by some in the U.S. Congress concerning any further increase in the political representation and empowerment of people of color in the legislative branch of the government. In other words, there are racial overtones on why the struggle for self-determina-tion and full statehood for the District of Columbia has taken so long toward being fulfilled. There is, however, some good news about this important issue. In direct response to the leadership of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). House Democrats voted to give

Civil Rights Journal

by Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

Norton the right to vote on the House fioor beginning in January 1993. House Democrats also voted to give the right to vote on the House floor to representatives of Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. We congratulate Congresswoman Norton for her initiatives and the present victory won on behalf of the thousands of persons who have not been fully represented, that is with voice and vote, in the Congress. As the nation prepares to go into 1993, there is indeed a national atmosphere of

“anticipation and yearning for change.” The political forces that were in control of the Administration in Washington for the last 12 years are on the way out of office. Yet, these are times that demand the vigilance of the civil rights community throughout the nation. Full voting rights and statehood for the District of Columbia would be a positive step forward that would help make our democracy more inclusive. Surely one day soon. Sister Norton may become Sen. Norton, representing New Columbia as the 51st state in the state in

the Union. Norton said, “This elevates the stature of the office of delegate and the respect it will receive in Congress. We need to get every inch of respect we can for the residents of the District of Columbia.” Certainly every inch of progress made toward statehood for D.C. will be a giant step forward for the entire nation. A denial of full democratic rights anywhere in this country is a threat to democracy everywhere. To be sure, there are still some rigid conservatives in Congress who intend to oppose the granting of the right to vote on the floor of the House to Congresswoman Norton and the other representatives. Congressman Gerald Solomon (RN.Y.) complained, “This further diminishes the rights of our minority, and we consider it unfair. We will fight it in every way we

can. We wonder who is the minority that Solomon is referring to being treated unfairly? How can the Republican Party, that has been in power in the White House for the last 12 years and has stacked the federal judiciary with conservative Republicans, many of whom with life-time appointments to the bench, now claim to be an “injured minority”?

What is unfair is to continue to deny the hundreds of thousands Of residents of the District of Columbia their full voting rights. Statehood for D.C. is not an unfair demand on anybody. The cause of justice is served when all citizens are treated equitably.

Let us keep the pressure on. Statehood and justice for D.C. should be now.

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