2011 Annual Report

Working to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

The people of Washington, DC suffered significant congressional attacks on their democratic rights in 2011. In response, DC Vote led unprecedented protests and won several important victories.

During 2011, this Congress revoked DC’s ability to fund critical reproductive healthcare and mandated a DC private school voucher program. It threatened to end an important DC HIV/AIDS prevention program, to weaken firearm safety laws, and to scrap marriage equality in the District. Not only do these congressional actions limit DC’s autonomy in a way that would never be imposed on any other city or state, but members of Congress are also using new methods to permanently redefine DC as an appendage of Congress. When this happens, low-income residents and people of color are disproportionately affected.

This inequity is clear with the two most immediate threats to DC from congressional intrusion:

1. A ban on using local tax dollars for reproductive healthcare for low-income women through Medicaid-funded abortions.2. Prohibiting the use of local funds for syringe ac-cess programs critical to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS among injection drug users and their partners.

In 2011, DC Vote prepared for, monitored and re-sponded to these and many other encroachments on DC Home Rule. Our activities led to concrete victories and gave our fight unprecedented exposure:

• DC Vote responded to a failure by President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Reid to protect DC home rule by calling for and organizing a protest on Capitol Hill that drew 400 people. Our Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, and our Public Affairs Director, Eugene Kinlow, initiated a civil disobedience action that led to 41 people being arrested. Among those

2011 Annual ReportWorking to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital1

72activists

arrested

ExecutiveSummary

engaging in civil disobedience were

the District Mayor and Chairman of the DC Council. The action generated worldwide media attention that resulted in hundreds of broadcast interviews and news articles. Over the course of the protests, 72 people would engage in civil disobedience.

• Our allies in Congress stood up for DC Home Rule when fifty-nine of members of the House signed a letter to Senate leaders, asking them to oppose the DC abortion ban.

• The White House specifically and repeatedly stated their support for DC voting rights and Home Rule, through an official statement on the 2012 federal budget and in an interview with NBC4.

• Conservatives in Congress voted against ex-treme gun legislation for Washington, DC over con-cerns that DC Vote and our coalition would rally our allies to oppose it. Our success made it clear to gun advocates that they could not move anti-DC democ-racy bills without consequences.

• Several congressional proposals that would have undermined DC’s local autonomy were never of-fered because DC Vote’s allies in Congress made it clear they would oppose those measures.

This has been a challenging and exciting year for DC Vote. The following is a brief summary of our activities and achievements for 2011.

You are leading a new revolution in this town and sending a new message: don’t underestimate us.

DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Nortonat DC Vote Capitol Hill advocacy event,

July 8, 2011

AdvocacyIn 2011, DC Vote launched our Demand Democracy campaign, calling on DC residents and the DC Government to engage in di-rect challenges to Congress and the White House that highlight the District’s lack of democracy. The goal of the campaign is to dramatically increase pressure on Congress to end DC’s sec-ond-class citizenship. The initial steps of the campaign produced significant actions that drew widespread attention.

Civil DisobedienceWhen President Obama and Senator Reid traded away DC’s Home Rule authority to reach a deal on the fed-eral budget, we used our 13 years of experience to or-ganize a 400-person demonstration within two days. 41 people, including DC Mayor Vincent Gray and six members of the DC Council, engaged in civil disobedi-ence and were arrested.

The arrests gener-ated over 100 media hits, including CNN, PBS News Hour, the

New York Times, and more. Since then, we have con-tinued the campaign by leading other protests on the Hill, with 31 additional people getting arrested, as congressional intrusions into DC Home Rule continue. Several of those arrested choose to go to trial.

In order to keep up the pressure, we led two “Don’t Tread on DC” protests on the Hill in May. At those rallies, we engaged the clergy, elected officials and community leaders, and ended with acts of civil dis-obedience from people like Councilmember Mary Cheh, philanthropist Diane Bernstein, Washington

Grantmakers president Tamara Copeland and College Success Foundation Executive Director Herb Tillery. These protests were critical in showing Congress and the nation that the demonstration in April was not a one-time event, but an ongoing, persistent campaign.

Direct ActionDC Vote created a strong response to the decision by the new Congress to strip DC Delegate Norton of her vote in the Commit-tee of the Whole. Specifically, we organized citizen advocacy visits and a call-in cam-paign to Speaker Boehner’s office. Our ef-forts generated more than 20 media hits, including the New York Times, the Associ-ated Press and the Rachel Maddow Show.

22011 Annual Report

Working to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

Mayor Vincent Gray, center, protests congressional riders prohibiting the District of Columbia from spending local funds on abortion for low-income women. Mayor Gray was arrested with DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka (l) and Council Chair Kwame Brown (r), and 38 other activists during the protest.

11Capitol Hill &

White House actions

In February, DC Vote staff and volunteers stood in silent protest with gags over their mouths during a House Judiciary Commit-tee hearing. The Committee Chairman de-nied Delegate Norton an opportunity to re-spond to proposed legislation before the committee directly affecting DC.

DC Vote organized a demonstration out-side Speaker John Boehner’s Capitol Hill residence, chanting “Don’t Tread on DC!” in response to prohibitions on spending local dollars on local programs. The action resulted in dozens of news articles carried around the world.

Finally, DC Vote conducted a file-in at Senator Harry Reid’s office, asking him to respect DC’s Home Rule authority in negotiations over the federal budget.

Advocacy in CongressIn order to bolster our protest strategy, DC Vote led advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill to ensure that mem-bers of Congress heard our message from DC resi-dents directly. We organized three advocacy days this

year with hundreds of DC residents partici-pating. With pro bono support from Patton

Boggs, we met with or delivered letters to every mem-ber of the House and Senate, in some cases multiple times. We also held dozens of one-on-one meetings with congressional staff.

At each of these meetings, we delivered the Don’t Tread on DC letter, signed by nearly 100 local and national organizations, ranging from the Washing-ton Teachers Union to NARAL Pro-Choice America to the United Methodist Church. The letter asked each member of Congress to oppose any effort to impose Congress’ views on the District of Columbia, especially through the 2011 and 2012 budgets. The diversity and number of causes illustrate the power of the DC Voting Rights Coalition.

As a result of this advocacy, in combination with the public pressure from protests, our allies in Congress stood up for DC democracy more intensely and our opponents have refrained from attacking the District with new riders.

DC Vote has worked to educate key members of Con-gress on the important issues related to DC Democ-racy. Even Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-R), Chairman of the House Government and Oversight Committee, has begun negotiating legislation that would provide the District of Columbia with local budget autonomy.

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Working to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

AdvocacyI will continue to stand by those in DC who believe that they should not be paying taxes like everybody else and serving in the military like everybody else and doing everything that’s expected of citizens and yet not have the same voting rights as everybody else in America..

President Barack ObamaNBC4, July 15, 2011

As part of the campaign to eliminate riders from the District’s budget, DC Vote distributed yard signs and posters. The popular yard signs were featured on the History Cahnnel show “How The States Got Their Shape.”

1215participants

in DC Voteactions

1285petitionsignatures

42011 Annual Report

Working to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

White House CampaignDC Vote organized a White House rally for DC democ-racy on Saturday, June 25. With 500 people in Lafay-ette Square Park, we sent a message to President Obama that DC residents demand that he stand up for DC and take the policy riders added to DC’s budget off the table in upcoming budget negotiations. Another group of committed activists stepped into the street and got arrested for civil disobedience.

In response to the rally, White House spokeswoman Joanna Rosholm reaffirmed the President’s “unequiv-ocal” support of voting rights, home rule and budget autonomy for DC. A few weeks later, President Obama embraced our cause more forcefully:

I will continue to stand by those in DC who believe that they should not be paying taxes like everybody else and serving in the military like everybody else and doing everything that’s expected of citizens and yet not have the same voting rights as everybody else in America.President Barack Obama, NBC4 (July 15, 2011)

A few weeks later, the White House issued an official Statement of Administration Policy specifically ob-jecting to a provision in the 2012 Appropriations bill “which undermines the principle of states’ rights and of D.C. home rule.”

Faith leaders and their communities were critical to making the June rally a success. In November, the faith community and DC Vote held a candlelight vigil at the White House to urge President Obama to stand with DC and reject assaults on DC self-determination during the FY 2012 budget process. Thirty-four lead-ers from the DC area faith community signed a letter requesting President Obama protect DC from need-less congressional interference.

Advocacy

Five hundred people gathered in front of the White House in support of DC Democracy in June 2011. The Obama Administration issued statement of support for voting rights, budget autonomy, and home rule as a result of the rally and other actions led by DC Vote.

CommunityEducationDC Vote consistently seeks out and creates opportunities to educate people in the Great-er Washington Region about DC democracy. In addition to speaking to countless com-munity organizations and attending events and rallies across the area, we prioritized a few significant efforts to raise awareness in 2011.

We worked with Daniel Solomon, DC Vote founder and local philanthropist, to place a DC democracy mural on the side of his build-ing on U Street. Everyone walking down the street now sees a huge image of George Washington gagged – a visual representation of the denial of democracy in DC.

As is our annual tradition, DC Vote reached thousands of supporters and broadened our network through our outreach at summer fes-tivals including Capital Pride, Palisades Pa-rade, Adams Morgan Day Festival and Fiesta DC. We collected 1,285 signatures on our pe-tition through direct interactions, distributed literature, engaged dozens of volunteers and recruited new supporters to the cause. We were par-ticularly successful recruiting local college students to volunteer at this year’s events, primarily from George Washington University.

DC Vote worked closely with the Congressional Black Caucus to share information and to present at panels designed to educate key stakeholders on issues such as legislative and budget autonomy, statehood, and voting rights.

To coincide with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication, DC Vote partnered with the District govern-ment to hold a rally at Freedom Plaza. Dr. King was a vocal supporter of full democracy for the District of Columbia and his dream of a just and equal society re-mains unfulfilled. DC Vote staff and volunteers passed

out posters, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and literature to the more than two thousand peo-ple in attendance. The rally received extensive media coverage.

StudentOutreachIn 2011, DC Vote edu-cated students at the el-ementary, middle, high school and college level about DC democracy. In 2011, we reached over 700 students by giving

presentations to nearly 30 different groups ranging from local public and charter schools to international exchange programs. Regardless of age or background, students were struck by the injustice of taxation with-out representation in DC and asked questions about how and why DC continues to be denied democracy.

Students from George Washington University donated more than 400 volunteer hours to DC Vote in the fall of 2011. Students acquired valuable knowledge about DC voting rights and gained firsthand experience by educating people about DC Vote at community festi-vals, assisting with the annual Champions of Democ-racy gala, connecting with donors and coalition part-ners, attending rallies and vigils and more.

52011 Annual Report

Working to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

Mary Beth Gosselink, DC Vote founder board member Daniel Solomon, and DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka attend the unveiling of the “Let Washington Vote” mural located at 15th and U Streets NW.

792students

reached

Media OutreachDC Vote is one of the very few insti-tutions consistently working to gen-erate news stories about our issue. Journalists tell part of the story but leave out significant pieces. DC Vote puts this story together for the me-dia with positive framing, specific examples and strong branding. For example, DC Vote provided critical information used by the Washington Post to write an article explaining what the cuts in the federal govern-ment budget for 2011 will mean for the District. Our proactive strategies and expertise have made us a go-to source for stories involving DC and Congress. Over the course of the year, DC Vote was instrumental in generating nearly 800 articles, editorials, blog posts and broadcasts about DC democracy.

DC Vote employs the services of trusted consultants who helped us garner media attention in national outlets like the Huffington Post, NPR and Associated Press. In addition to our strong media coverage, DC Vote has generated over 1,000,000 hits to our web-site. We also continued to educate on Facebook and Twitter. We recently hit 2,800 fans on Facebook and have 1,575 followers on Twitter.

Online AdvertisementsIn 2011, DC Vote used online advertisements strategi-cally to educate millions about DC democracy and to recruit participants for advocacy events. Thanks to a grant from the DC Government, DC Vote designed and placed the following ads:

• Ads for our rally and advocacy day to defend the Delegate Vote in the Committee of the Whole in Jan-uary, including DCist, Facebook and TBD.com.◊ Result: nearly 4 million impressions

• Don’t Tread on DC advertising campaign on Face-book and Google.◊ Result: nearly 1.5 million impressions

• Advertisements for the White House rally for DC Democracy on Facebook, DCist and the Washington City Paper.◊ Result: 485,890 impressions

Increased Local VisibilityThis spring, DC Vote created and distributed 5,000 “Don’t Tread on DC” lawn signs across Washington, DC and particularly on Capitol Hill, to show congres-sional leaders and residents that the majority of DC residents support local control over local affairs.

782media

stories

62011 Annual Report

Working to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

CommunityEducation

I believe so strongly that the current attacks are enormous steps backward for the tiny bit of democracy that we do have and that this is the time to recommit all of us together to support this work. The Meyer Foundation has been a deep and longtime supporter of DC Vote and we hope that if you are not already, that you will become one.

Julie Rogers, PresidentEugene & Agnes Meyer Foundation

DC Vote Staff and supporters prepare to file in to Senate Majority Leader Harry Ried’s office in March 2011.

Development & SustainabilityWe are pleased to report that most of our donors, large and small, have stayed loyal to DC Vote over the past two years. Thanks to their continued support, DC Vote has proven that we are an important, estab-lished institution in Washington, DC. Our supporters have shown with their contin-ued donations that the work for DC voting rights and Home Rule is valued and will endure.

Foundation SupportWe are grateful to each of our supporting foundations for their ongoing loyalty and commitment in 2011:• The Arca Foundation• The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation• Naomi & Nehemiah Cohen Foundation• The Community Foundation of the

National Capital Region• Consumer Health Foundation• CrossCurrents Foundation• Herb Block Foundation• Hill-Snowdon Foundation• Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer Foundation• Public Welfare Foundation• The Summit Fund of Washington• Tides Foundation• Woodbury Fund

Champions of Democracy 2011On Wednesday, October 26, over 350 leaders from Washington, DC’s business, political and academic communities gathered at the Mayflower Hotel to cel-ebrate DC Vote’s 2011 Champions of Democracy: Maudine Cooper, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League and Walter Smith, Execu-tive Director of DC Appleseed. We also celebrated the “DC 72”–committed people from across Washington, DC who engaged in civil disobedience this year during protests against congressional interference in DC’s lo-cal affairs.

Other notable attend-ees included Con-gresswoman Elea-

nor Holmes Norton, Congressman John Conyers, DC Councilmembers Michael Brown, Mary Cheh and Tom-my Wells, University of the District of Columbia Presi-dent Dr. Allen Sessoms, civil rights leader Julian Bond, presenters Chanelle Hardy, Senior Vice President for Policy for the National Urban League and Alice Rivlin, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Theodore Noyes TrustOur Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, has often said, “The DC democracy movement is like a relay race through time with one generation passing the baton on to the next generation.” In 2011, DC Vote was handed the baton from the Noyes Trust Fund.

Theodore Noyes, editor of the Washington Star (a DC newspaper for most of the 20th century), set up a trust in the 1940’s in support of efforts to get congressio-nal representation for Washington, DC. In the 1950’s, it funded the campaign that eventually won the three Electoral College votes for DC (23rd Amendment). In the 1970’s, the Fund supported efforts to pass a constitutional amendment that would have given DC a Representative and two Senators (the amendment passed Congress, but failed in the states).

This summer, the Fund provided DC Vote with a $41,000 gift in support of our fight. With that gift, the Fund is closing down. DC Vote is grateful for this donation from the Noyes Trust and the generational support that it represents.

72011 Annual Report

Working to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

When it appeared this spring that Congress was intruding on home rule, DC Vote organized protests, dozens were arrested—including Mayor Vince Gray and council members—and allies rallied to the District’s cause. . . .

Washington ExaminerOctober 3, 2011

13Foundations

supporting DC Vote

Conclusion2011 was a dramatic and productive year for DC Vote. Our Demand Democracy Campaign has demonstrat-ed to Congress, the White House and the nation that the people of the District of Columbia are passionate, organized and ready to fight for the full equality that all Americans deserve. DC Vote is confident that our ongoing, creative and strong protests will keep up the momentum for DC Home Rule and will provide an im-petus for positive policy changes by Congress.

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Board of DirectorsElizabeth A. Allen, Chair

Marque Chambliss, Vice ChairDonald Sherman, Secretary

Ed Davis, TreasurerVinoda Basnayake

Jon BoukerCurtis L. Etherly Jr.

Ed KrauzePatrick Mara

Marc H. MorialStefan C. Nicholas, Esq.

Joseph M. PertaDaniel SolomonJoseph SternliebTrish VradenburgLaurie Wingate

2011 Annual ReportWorking to end Taxation Without Representation in the Nation’s Capital

DC Vote StaffIlir Zherka, Executive Director

Eugene Dewitt Kinlow, Public Affairs DirectorAntonette E. Russell, Operations Director James Jones, Communications DirectorAbigail Levine, Development Manager

Jennifer Matson, Public Affairs ManagerRobin Taylor, Administrative Assistant

2011 By The Numbers•High-profile individuals and organizations

who wrote or signed letters to Congress and/or President Obama: 132

• Individuals attending Hill advocacy days &rallies: 1,215 people

•Advocacy Days and Protests on the Hill orat the White House: 11

•Articles, editorials, newscasts and blogposts about DC democracy: 782

•Events that DC Vote spoke at, recruitedfor or hosted: 186

•Students reached: 792•New petitions signatures supporting DC

democracy collected: 1,285 • Total Facebook fans (new): 2,791 (833)• Total Twitter followers (new): 1,556 (914)•Hits to website: 1,146,865•People reached through ads: 5,986,000•DC Voting Rights Coalition Meetings: 28• Individual donors to DC Vote: over 1,000

186events

featuringDC Vote