DC Voting Rights Blocked in House

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

A Republican move last Thursday to attach repeal of all DC gun laws derailed the bill to provide a vote in the House of Representatives to the 600,000 residents of the nation's capital. “This is a momentary pause in the push to bring civil rights to the residents of the District of Columbia,” said Ilir Zherka, DC Vote Executive Director. Democrats pulled the voting rights bill but vowed to bring it back for another vote later this year. This delay “makes the Voting Rights March on April 16th even more important," said Jos Williams, President of the Metro Washington Council, which voted last week to endorse the March.  "It is critical that we show all the members of Congress that DC residents and DC workers are serious about getting our rights now." Click here for more info on the Voting Rights March. DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks about the Voting Rights Bill on Thursday, photo by Katie Falkenberg/The Washington Times