1. United States
2. R.I.
3. Letter

Subject: Defend Against Tyranny - D.C. Statehood Now! Taxation Without Representation Over 700,000 U.S. citizens live in the District of Columbia—more than in Wyoming or Vermont—yet they have no voting representation in Congress. DC residents pay more per capita in federal income taxes than any state, yet their voices are silenced in the House and Senate. This is the very injustice—taxation without representation—against which our nation was founded. Vulnerability to Federal Overreach Without statehood, DC lacks the sovereignty and protections afforded to states, allowing its elected local government to be overruled at any time. This vulnerability was exploited when a president invoked emergency powers to “fight crime” despite DC’s crime rate being at a 30‑year low. Such rhetoric was not about public safety but about targeting a city whose residents vote overwhelmingly Democratic, raising grave concerns about abuse of power and the threat of authoritarian governance. Moral and Democratic Imperative It is a moral and democratic necessity to grant DC statehood. This would end an indefensible injustice and ensure that DC residents have the same rights, protections, and voice as every other American. Supporting H.R. 51 and S. 51 is not a matter of political convenience—it is a commitment to the fundamental values of our republic: equal representation, self‑governance, and defense against tyranny The refusal to grant statehood perpetuates a deliberate disenfranchisement rooted in partisan calculation and historical injustice. Statehood is not a concession but a constitutional necessity, demanded by justice and the promise of equal citizenship. Supporting H.R. 51 and S. 51 is an urgent test of America’s commitment to democracy, dignity, and the defense of every citizen’s rights. Congress must act now to right this historic wrong and admit Washington, Douglass Commonwealth as the 51st state.