Resources Archive

Why it’s past time for Congress to make D.C. a state with full voting rights

As if that’s not enough, the District recently completed a long overdue overhaul of its criminal code to make it more consistent with 21st century legal practices (as many other states have done). But Republicans in Congress were successful in blocking that legislation, along with another D.C. bill that would allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.

opeds and blog posts

July 11, 2022 ACLU-D.C.

Here are 3 Ways the Lack of Statehood Deprives D.C. of Hundreds of Millions of Dollars

Depriving Washington, D.C. of statehood is immoral, unjust, and harms our democracy. And the problems don't stop there: Congressional control over D.C.’s budget and overreach into D.C.’s local policies has caused harm by depriving D.C. residents in many ways.

faqs

June 16, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is D.C. statehood a civil rights issue? Voting is among the most fundamental of civil rights. The ongoing denial of full voting rights to the 700,000 residents of…

explainer videos

May 19, 2022

D.C. Statehood IS Constitutional – explainer video

panel discussion videos

March 25, 2022

SHUT OUT: Voter Suppression, Racial Injustice, and the Fight for D.C. Statehood, Sep 3, 2021

The people of D.C. have been denied full voting rights for more than 200 years. Watch this panel discussion with experts on the racist roots and impact of the ongoing…

panel discussion videos

March 25, 2022

LIVE TALK: Why D.C. Statehood Matters to Our Region, June 2, 2021

“Why D.C. Statehood Matters to Our Region,” was a live conversation with and for residents of Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., hosted live on June 2, 2021. Our Executive…

congressional testimony

June 21, 2021

ACLU WRITTEN STATEMENT FOR S.51 FOR 6.21.2021 HEARING “Examining D.C. Statehood”

The ACLU submitted this written statement in support of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (S. 51) to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for its June 22,…

congressional testimony

March 22, 2021

ACLU WRITTEN STATEMENT FOR 3.22.2021 HEARING ON “H.R. 51: MAKING D.C. THE 51ST STATE”

The ACLU submitted this written statement in support of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51) to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform for its March 22 hearing on…

opeds and blog posts

July 27, 2020

D.C. Statehood is a Racial Justice Issue

The legal and moral argument for D.C. statehood. By Adriel I. Cepeda Derieux , Senior Staff Attorney, Voting Rights Project at the ACLU, Published July 27, 2020 As the movement…

opeds and blog posts

July 19, 2019

Washington, D.C. Residents Deserve the Full Benefits of Citizenship

By Monica Hopkins, Executive Director, ACLU of the District of Columbia July 19, 2019 Five years ago, I left the state of Idaho to become a resident of…