1. Find a good moment to ask questions about their take on D.C. statehood.
If your friends and family visit D.C. or ask about your experiences here, it's the perfect time to bring up an essential issue: the need for D.C. Statehood. You can also bring up the topic if conversations touch on relevant issues like a bill before Congress or voting rights. Here are three questions you can ask to start a conversation about statehood: Did you know that D.C. is not a state? What do you think about D.C. not being a state? How do you think not being a state affects people in D.C. and around the country?
2. Share the facts.
What we want: The nearly 700,000 residents of D.C. want our full voting rights, control over our own tax dollars, and the ability to govern ourselves.
The context: D.C. is currently considered a “federal district.” And because D.C. is not a state, the federal government is legally allowed to intervene in our lives. Members of Congress can repeal our laws and dictate how we in D.C. spend our own tax dollars.
The problem: Denying full voting rights to the 700,000 residents of D.C., the majority of whom are Black and brown, is an egregious example of voter suppression happening in our country today. Congresspeople never elected by D.C. residents could ban abortion in D.C., crack down on protest rights, and enable police abuse, among other things. Federal lawmakers have already limited abortion care in D.C., overturned common-sense crime laws, and short-changed D.C. on COVID-19 relief.
Why it matters: The 700,000 people who live in D.C. are just like people who live in any other state. We are veterans, nurses, grocery store clerks, teachers, restaurant workers, volunteers, family members, and neighbors. And we deserve to govern ourselves. We also deserve to have a say in what happens in the country. Making D.C. a state would add two Senators and one Representative to Congress who could represent our values and advance our needs.
The solution: Statehood is constitutional, and granting D.C. statehood does not require any new constitutional amendments. It just requires Congress and the President to pass a law. District residents need our friends and family in other states to pressure their Congresspeople to make D.C. the 51st state. Congress and the President must pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act to make D.C. a state.
3. Share your D.C. story.
The person you are talking to cares about you, and how D.C. statehood could affect your life is important. Share some personal stories or examples that show why D.C. statehood matters to you. It's a great way to make the issue personal and maybe even inspire them to get involved!
4. Ask them what they think about D.C. Statehood.
Do they seem on board with statehood? Would they want to help us make statehood happen?
5. Ask them to take an action based on how they respond.
If they support statehood and are ready to act, ask them to go to acludc.org/statehoodsupport and send their Representatives and Senators a message.
If they're not sure, tell them they can learn more at dcstatehoodnow.org.
If they don’t support statehood, feel free to end the conversation or encourage them to learn more at dcstatehoodnow.org.
Learn more and join our fight for D.C. Statehood at dcstatehoodnow.org.