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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Ellen Sciales, press@sunrisemovement.org

Sunrise Movement Responds to DC Statehood Vote: Democracy is Broken, Abolish the Filibuster

In response to the House of Representatives vote to grant D.C. statehood, Ellen Sciales, Press Secretary of Sunrise Movement, released the following statement:

"Every good bill that passes in the House and dies in the Senate is a reminder that our democracy is broken. Today, Sunrise celebrates the hard work activists took to ensure the passage of D.C. statehood in the House. But the truth is, we cannot come close to fixing our democracy and granting D.C. residents the representation they deserve until Democrats get serious about abolishing the filibuster.

WASHINGTON

In response to the House of Representatives vote to grant D.C. statehood, Ellen Sciales, Press Secretary of Sunrise Movement, released the following statement:

"Every good bill that passes in the House and dies in the Senate is a reminder that our democracy is broken. Today, Sunrise celebrates the hard work activists took to ensure the passage of D.C. statehood in the House. But the truth is, we cannot come close to fixing our democracy and granting D.C. residents the representation they deserve until Democrats get serious about abolishing the filibuster.

"Today we remember that the filibuster, a significant obstacle to D.C. statehood, was popularized by white supremacists to prevent the passing of civil rights legislation. This feels especially stark given that D.C. statehood is a racial justice issue and hundreds of thousands of people of color will continue to be silenced unless the filibuster is abolished and this is passed into law.

"Democrats have a majority in the House, Senate, and a President who claims he is ready to take action. Democrats have the power to deliver, but are frankly choosing not to. So we must ask--when will you deliver on your promises and heed the calls of voters across country? You cannot say your hands are tied when you're the ones putting on the handcuffs."

Sunrise Movement is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.