Thousands March For D.C. Voting Rights

By: KaTysha Foreman

"Free D.C., Free D.C." These were the words that rang out in the street of the District yesterday by the thousand plus activists demanding full representation in the U.S. Congress.

This week started with a optimistic bill that was on the House floor to give the District equal representation in the U.S. Congress. The efforts of the bill's supports were overseen and the bill was not passed.

Although, this would be a remarkable and monumental occasion, voting-rights activists are seeing great opposition from the Republicans in Congress and most importantly, the President. The bill, that did not get through the House of Representatives, would have had a harder time making it through the Senate floor; even harder time getting it signed by the president who has openly stated that he would veto it.

March leader and activist Mayor Adrian Fenty was at the forefront of this movement. Fenty, reportedly told the Washington Post, stated that "the White House is next." Getting into the hearts of D.C. residences, firing them up for the continued movement.

The march was held on the of D.C.'s Emancipation Day; the day in history when the slaves where freed in the District. Mayor Fenty draws a unique parallel to the Emancipation of slaves to the Emancipation of D.C. voters.

The fight is no where near over and the solution will unfold for D.C. voters.