March for Voting Rights and DC Statehood

August 28 March On For Washington and Voting Rights Call for Passage of Key Legislation

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Demonstrators gather at the US Capitol Mar. 22, the day of the first mark-up of H.R. 51, to show support for DC Statehood. E.O'Gorek/CCN

Show up for DC Statehood!

On August 28th, March On For Washington and Voting Rights will call for a democracy that exists not only in name, but finally and fully enfranchises people in every corner of this country.

The event takes place on the 58th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Together, marchers will call for the passage of the For the People Act (H.R. 1/S. 1), the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4), and the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 – aka the D.C. Statehood Bill).

The march begins 8 a.m. at McPherson Square. At 9:45 a.m., it will depart the from square, going past Black Lives Matter Plaza, the White House and Washington Monument. The event concludes with a rally from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. near The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (15th Street and Constitution Ave NW).

Image: Neighbors United for DC Statehood

All three pieces of legislation supported by the rally address issues of voting rights. The For the People Act would expand voting rights, change campaign finance laws, ban partisan Gerrymandering and create new ethics guidelines for those in federal office. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is intended to restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was gutted by the Supreme Court Shelby County decision in 2013.

Finally, the DC Statehood Bill would admit most of the District of Columbia as the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, giving the 700,000 residents representation in Congress and so restoring their right to vote.

Organizers Neighbors United for DC Statehood are looking for participants to show up to March for D.C. Statehood and voting rights for all Americans. They are also looking for volunteers to help with duties such as planning, set-up, marshaling and clean-up.

RSVP now: Text MARCH to 89799. Find out more about the historic March On for Washington & Voting Rights and to sign-up for more information, go here: https://marchonforvotingrights.org/dc/