Socially loud! Can you hear us?

NBJC

Leading Civil Rights Organization Applauds House Vote Advancing Statehood for the District of Columbia

National Black Justice Coalition Says Statehood for DC is a Key Civil Rights Issue

CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

WASHINGTON, DC — David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, a leading civil rights group that focuses on advancing the rights of Black LGBTQ+ and same gender loving people, issued the following statement applauding a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives advancing legislation to grant statehood to Washington, DC:

“The lack of representation for the people of Washington, D.C., including the more than 300,000 Black Washingtonians, is arguably the biggest example of voter suppression in the country. We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for recognizing this national travesty and advancing legislation to ensure that the more than 700,000 people who call D.C. home have a voice in our national government.

“Ensuring representation for Washington, D.C. is a critical civil rights issue as D.C. boasts one of the largest Black and LGBTQ+ communities in the country. We urge the Senate to swiftly take up legislation to grant statehood to D.C. and swift passage of the bill into law.”

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS.