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Stand Up for Democracy in DC Coalition

1715 4th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 232-2500 (tel/fax)
www.standupfordemocracy.org

September 20, 2002

Re: Endorsement of Elected District Attorney for the District of Columbia

The Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition strongly endorses Resolution 14-494, the "Establishment of the Office of the District Attorney Advisory Referendum Approval Resolution of 2002," which will be on the ballot for the general election on Thursday, November 5, 2002.

This Resolution to the District of Columbia Home Rule Charter furthers the realization of the coalition's goal to obtain "full democracy for all residents of the District of Columbia under the U.S. Constitution consistent with international law."

At present, the people of Washington, DC do not live in a democracy. We are colonial subjects of a U.S. Congress not elected by us, which includes a criminal justice system imposed upon us. A District Attorney elected by DC citizens, rather than the current process of Presidential appointment, will be a significant step in our march toward full first-class American citizenship.

Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition congratulates and fully supports Councilmember David A. Catania and the rest of the members of the Council of the District of Columbia for passing Resolution . 14-494. We encourage Washingtonians to vote overwhelmingly for this referendum and step towards freedom. FREE DC!

The Stand Up! for Democracy in .DC Coalition is a volunteer, non-partisan, grassroots civil rights organization that has been dedicated to its goal of achieving full democracy: first-class, American citizenship and equal civil and human rights for- the more than half a million people living in the District of Columbia - our home, as well as the nation's capital - since its inception in 1997.

Our mission is to gain local control over DC's budget, laws, and judicial system, and to obtain full voting representation in the U.S. Congress. The Coalition meets every second and fourth Tuesday at the National Council of Negro Women, 633 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, at 6:30 pm. (Green/Yellow Metro Line: Archives/Navy Memorial Stop) FREE DC NOW!

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Stand Up for Democracy in DC Coalition

For immediate release September 23, 2002
Contact: Wayne Turner (202) 547-9404

DC democracy activists join in campaign for elected DA

This referendum will appear on the November 5, 2002 general election ballot, seeking voter approval to establish a new, elected Offce of the District Attorney for the District of Columbia, accountable to DC residents. The District-wide vote is required of all proposed changes to the DC Home Rule Charter (District of Columbia Self-Government and Reorganization Act of 1973), the District's nearest equivalent to a state's constitution. The measure must then be approved by the US Congress in order to take effect.

The District of Columbia is unique among all other US cities, counties, states, territories, and possessions, in that prosecution and enforcement of both local and federal laws is handled by the US Attorney's Offce, a division of the US Department of Justice, and appointed by the President. Civil actions and certain other enforcements are assigned to the DC Offce of the Corporation Counsel.

States DC AIDS activist Wayne Turner, the vice president of Stand Up for Democracy, "Good government and self-government go hand in hand. An elected District Attorney represents a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to achieve full democracy for District of Columbia residents, while providing greater accountability in the enforcement of our local laws."

The referendum is the result of a resolution passed by the Council of the District of Columbia in July, introduced by Council member David A. Catania (At large). Local democracy activists are mobilizing for the November election vote in conjunction with Citizens for DC Justice, which is organizing the referendum's campaign.