Congresswoman Discusses Struggle for D.C. Statehood

The young professionals of the National Urban League's Thursday Network held their last general body meeting of the 2010-2011 year last Thursday. 

In 1910, the National Urban League started a movement in the African-American community toward establishing economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. Wainie Young, outgoing public relations chair, reached out to Howard University to encourage students to learn more about the Thursday Networks young professional group. 

"We've all talked about how we can get involved with more Howard students. We have a lot of Howard alums in the Thursday Network and reaching out to Howard was important to all of us," Young said.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, now in her eleventh term in Congress representing the District, was guest speaker at the Thursday Network general body meeting. 

The Congresswoman spoke to the packed room at the National Public Radio  headquarters about the struggle for D.C. statehood and its congressional voting rights for the District. 

She spoke about the historical impact of the struggle for representation in Congress for the District that begun over 200 years ago-- after the Revolutionary war. Norton's great grandfather escaped a Virginia plantation fled to the District in search of a better life over 150 years ago. She is a third generation Washingtonian deeply committed to equal representation in Congress for the District. Although Norton is a voice for D.C. residents in Congress still has the authority to overrule district laws and budgets. 

"We don't want to be slaves here either so we've got to get up and do something, Holmes said.

Founded in 1992, the Thursday Network is comprised of more than 130 young professionals committed to serving the Washington Metropolitan area through community programs and partnership that address the five-point thrust of the National Urban League Young Professionals. The mission of the Thursday Network is to provide a forum for young adults, ages 21 - 40, to focus their energies on community service, professional development, and political involvement.

For 10 years, Congress would not allow D.C. to spend municipal funds on needle exchange programs. According to Norton this mandate has had a significant impact on public health and can be attributed to the exceptionally high HIV rates. Baltimore a much poorer city than D.C. has substantially lower HIV rates and has had an active needle exchange program for years. 

The 112th Congress and newly elected tea party Republicans have also stripped the District reps  committee vote which is where critical measures that are included in a Bill before it is sent to the House floor are determined. Although some members on Congress are willing to vote to extend full voting rights in Congress to a D.C. representative until the District can take back full responsibility for prison costs, which runs close to $1 billion a year. 

The Congress won't consider statehood. Budget cuts in Congress earlier this year prompted over 200 members of the community to gather on Constitution Avenue in front of Senate office buildings over controversial budget riders. These protests led to the arrests of members of the D.C. City Council and newly elected mayor, Vincent Gray. 

The Greater Washington Urban League Young Professionals Thursday Network will be holding its first general body meeting and open house of the new 2011-2012 year Thursday Oct. 6.