DCSGP Press Release
DC Statehood Green Party hosts forum: DC Statehood, Now Is The Time! on Feb. 5
For Immediate Release Friday, January 30, 2009
Contact: Scott McLarty, DC Statehood Green Party Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
The DC Statehood Green Party hosts "DC Statehood, Now Is The Time!" panel and open discussion
? WHEN: Thursday, February 5, 7pm to 9 pm
? WHERE: UDC School of Law, 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Building 39, Room 201 (near the Van Ness Metro Station on the Red Line)
? On the confirmed guest speaker list: WTOP radio host Mark Plotkin, DC Senator Michael Brown, DC Senator Paul Strauss, Councilmembers Harry Thomas and Michael Brown, journalist and long time DC statehood advocate Sam Smith and other DC statehood leaders
? Food and refreshments will be provided; musical entertainment will include Rasi Caprice performing his HipHop hit "STATEHOOD"
? Reporters are invited to attend
WASHINGTON, DC -- The DC Statehood Green Party is sponsoring a forum, with a panel and open discussion, on the growing demand for statehood for the District of Columbia on Thursday, February 5.
The forum, titled "DC Statehood, Now Is The Time!", begins at 7:00 pm and will take place at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) School of Law, 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, in Building 39, Room 201..
The forum will feature an array of guest speakers. The following have confirmed:
? DC Senator Michael Brown
? DC Senator Paul Strauss
? DC Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. (Ward 5)
? DC Councilmember Michael Brown (At-Large)
? Ann Loikow, DC Statehood -- Yes We Can Coalition
? Sam Smith, Progressive Review
? Anise Jenkins, Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition
? WTOP radio host Mark Plotkin
Background: The DC Statehood Green Party, which holds major party status in Washington, DC, has led the political movement for DC statehood since the party was founded as the DC Statehood Party in 1970.
The party calls the District's lack of self-government and voting representation part of the unfinished business of the civil rights struggle, and has challenged President Obama and Congress to enact DC statehood.
The DC Statehood Green Party has not supported 'DC voting rights' legislation granting the District a single voting seat in the US House, because of the plan's lack of constitutionality and because the DC voting rights will not change the District's status or end Congress's power over District laws, policies, and budgets. Statehood Greens have argued that DC statehood can be achieved without passage of a constitutional amendment.
For further reading:
DC Statehood Green Party press releases
? "Statehood Greens to Congress: DC needs STATEHOOD, not the 'Voting Rights' bill" (January 27, 2009)
? "DC Statehood Greens to Democrats: Use your new power in Congress and the White House to grant DC statehood" (November 6, 2008)
? "Statehood Greens criticize Del. Norton and her fellow Democrats for omitting DC statehood from the 2008 Democratic platform draft" (August 20, 2008)
? "Talking Points, Quotes on DC Voting Rights Bill, DC Statehood, and Democracy" (March 22, 2007)
"Something Rotten in Appleseed"
By Sam Smith, The Progressive Review (DC City Desk, January 29, 2009)
"Free DC! The Obama Inauguration and a New Chance for Democracy in Our Nation's Capital"
By Scott McLarty, OpEdNews.com, January 17, 2009
The DC Statehood Papers: Writings on DC Statehood & self-government, by Sam Smith
Petition to the United Nations for DC statehood, sponsored by the DC Statehood Green Party and Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition
MORE INFORMATION
DC Statehood Green Party events
