Holding the Line on Home Rule

I promised in my February 11 blog post to give more air time to defending our DC democracy as well, and there are definitely efforts under way to undermine even DC's limited home rule. I'm doing my best to try to educate friends, especially in my home state of Tennessee, about the real DC and its longtime fight for democracy, but in this difficult moment, it helped me to get this encouragement from at-large DC Councilmember Christina Henderson:

Dear Neighbor,

“What have the people of the District done that they should be excluded from the privileges of the ballot box?” - Frederick Douglass, 1895 from his home in Anacostia 

It is not lost on me that at the same time our country is being thrust into a debate about the value of diverse and inclusive communities, and teaching the full scope of American history, that the District’s right to self-governance has also entered the chat. For over 130 years, this conversation about whether DC should have home rule has raged on, and though some are reluctant to admit it, race has always been a main character in the story. 

Most people do not remember that for much of the nineteenth century, Congress allowed residents in the District to elect their own local officials. At the time, however, only white, male landowners had the right to vote. Then in 1867, Black men were granted the right to vote in DC elections for the first time – yes, years before the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment. That was too radical for Southern members of Congress and elites in DC who were concerned about the growing political power of Black Washingtonians. And in 1874, they revoked home rule for everyone in the District. It was never about the Constitution. It was never about operations of government. Voting rights is always about power.  

What should you say to your family and friends who are probably asking your thoughts on the latest conversation? Tell them this – Washington, DC is a world-class city, home to 700,000 residents who are doing their best to live out the American dream just like everyone else. We are a beautiful mixed tapestry of cultures and lived experiences. We just had our 28th consecutive clean audit. Violent crime is down 30%. Our pensions are fully-funded. And our schools are award-winning. You’re always steps away from history, arts and culture, and the best libraries and parks in the country. And yes, our sports teams compete on the highest level. We relish in our role as host of national and international events, and fiercely protect the right of our residents and all Americans to exercise their First Amendment right in our town. No city is perfect and we do have some challenges to acknowledge, but this is my home – why shouldn’t I have the right to choose my representation and serve as a check on political power like all other tax paying Americans? 

The challenges that we currently face will not be our last, but we will continue to move forward and fervently hold onto the values and integrity of our city. Representing the District has been a profound honor and I will continue to defend her. I hope you will join me. 

And this from me again:  Don't sit on your hands!  We may not have representation (yet), but we have our voices, so use them to protect home rule right now!