Once again, the world must deal with a government that denies its citizens basic human rights. Again, the world must wrestle with how to ensure that democracy and freedom prevail. Economic sanctions? International observers? Regime change? Not this time. Now, the human rights violation is in the United States-specifically, right here in the District of Columbia.
Last December, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an agency under the Organization of American States, ruled that the citizens of Washington were being denied basic human rights by not having a voting member of Congress. The ruling, declared “no other federal state in the Western Hemisphere denies the residents of its federal capital the right to vote for representatives in their national legislature,” and urged Congress to act to correct the violation.
Voting rights activists had hoped this would help the plight of the District, yet neither the White House nor Congress have taken action. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan offered no substantive answers when questioned about the Organization of American States report, which Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) referred to as a backhand slap to the District.
While the Organization of American States report is non-binding and easily dismissed by the Bush Administration, the shame factor is significant and undeniable. How can the United States tout spreading democracy in Iraq while they overlook voting rights of those in their own capital city?
The report also sends a clear message to the federal government that politicians must take the District’s grievances seriously, rather than treat it as a local issue of little importance.
For years, District politicians have relied on gimmicks such as January’s “preferential primary” and placing the “no taxation without representation” slogan on license plate and the district flag to gain national attention. The Organization of American States, however, report places the issue under serious international scrutiny.
Congress and the White House need to act and give residents of the District the representation they deserve. The easiest and most practical solution is to restore Norton’s voting power. There have been prior bills proposed in Congress to do this, the most recent offered by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.). The White House should publicly support this measure, and help bring democracy to the capital of the “free” world.
