FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2021
Contact: Emily Phelps | press@indivisible.org
See Photos of Activists with 51-Star Flags
Washington, DC — With H.R. 51 passing through the U.S. House, and the Biden White House signaling their strong support, Indivisible activists across the country are calling on their Senators to “Make D.C. the 51st State!”
This month, as H.R. 51 has progressed from markup to the House floor and on to the Senate, Indivisibles activists in every U.S. time zone shared pictures on social media and with lawmakers holding 51-star flags and pro-D.C. statehood signs (The Rachel Maddow Show). Dozens of photos and videos from activists across the country and in front of U.S. landmarks live in this document that continues to be updated and can be downloaded from this google drive.
Supporting grassroots activists in key states, the Indivisible Project placed six full-page newspaper ads in: Arizona (Sinema ad, Kelly ad), West Virginia (Manchin ad), Maine (King ad), New Hampshire (Shaheen ad). The sixth and final ad ran in the Denver Post to thank Senator Hickenlooper (Hickenlooper ad) for co-sponsoring S. 51 after months of meetings and conversations with Indivisible groups and activists.
As the fate of D.C. statehood moves to the hands of the Senate, Indivisible activists have been working in tandem with the Indivisible national organization to increase pressure on these five senators through meetings with Senators and staff, light brigade projections, radio and newspaper advertisements, LTEs and Op-Eds, social media campaigns, and more.
Recent highlights from key states:
ARIZONA
Last week, Sinema and Kelly received a letter from Indivisible Arizona signed by over 30 Arizona grassroots groups (text here) calling on them to co-sponsor D.C. statehood: “We appreciate your leadership on democracy reform, and we hope that you will once again lead on these issues by co-sponsoring S. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. D.C. statehood is good policy, it’s good for democracy, and would right grievous historical wrongs. More importantly, it’s just the right thing to do.”
Indivisibles in Arizona who are going to be critical advocates for getting a D.C. statehood victory -- similar to their role in flipping the Senate and getting a Biden presidency across the finish line. At this moment, we have activist sources in Prescott, Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff we can connect you with for your D.C. statehood reporting.
MAINE
In addition to meetings with Senator King and his staff, Maine activists have been holding LTE writing parties to make it right into Senator King’s daily press clips. Activists have been leaning into using LTEs as a direct line to their senators since staff frequently pulls press mentions for senators and members of Congress to review.
Earlier this year, Bangor Indivisible Samantha Le published an LTE on D.C. statehood in the Bangor Daily News:
“I believe it is amoral and racist to deny D.C. residents statehood…
...Since it is not a state, D.C. could not call the national guard for help during the Donald Trump-inspired insurrection on Jan. 6. How can our senators continue to go to work in D.C. knowing that those who cleaned up after the insurrection and those who protected them do not have representation? How much longer must the residents wait to have a voice in their democracy?”
Just last week, Alan Blum from Harpswell Indivisible, also published an LTE for the Portland Press Herald:
“On this, the 200th anniversary of Maine’s statehood, Mainers should support D.C. residents’ efforts to gain the same dignity and equal voting rights that we have long enjoyed.”
Patricia Manning, a member of Maine Indivisible Network, placed their Op-Ed, It is time for DC statehood, in the Bangor Daily News:
“Our senators spoke passionately about the importance of democracy in the wake of the Capitol riots. Now, they must ensure democracy exists in every corner of the United States and that the power of the vote is available to all.
Sen. Angus King can be a champion in the Senate on D.C. statehood and other critical reforms, as he has been on so many issues that affect the people of Maine. Now, we ask him to do the same for our fellow residents of Washington, D.C.”
COLORADO
In Colorado, Indivisible activists are expressing their gratitude after Senator Hickenlooper’s announcement of his co-sponsorship of S. 51 earlier this month. Senator Hickenlooper announced his co-sponsorship of the S. 51 following weeks of lobbying from Indivisible groups, many of whom were integral to his election in 2020.
D.C. statehood is one of the pillars of Indivisible’s democracy campaign, the For the People Project. The For the People Project aims to make democracy reform a top priority in the 117th Congress -- that means getting critical democracy reform legislation like H.R. 1, H.R. 51, and H.R. 4 signed into law in 2021.
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ABOUT THE INDIVISIBLE PROJECT
The Indivisible Project (501c4) is a social movement non-profit driven by a vision of a real democracy - of, by, and for the people. Indivisible began in 2016 as a viral guide to resisting Trump’s agenda. Today, the Indivisible movement is a network of thousands of local groups and millions of activists across every state. The Indivisible Project drives campaigns for bold progressive policies, lobbies Congress, and equips activists with tools to build lasting progressive power, everywhere. Together, we fight to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government and build an inclusive democracy.