From my housemate Zoe Mitchell:

B.A.D. Day Call to Action

October 1st will be a B.A.D. Day in DC
B.A.D.= Budget Autonomy for the District

We’ve had enough. October 1, 2004, the beginning of the fiscal year, will be a B.A.D. Day for those in support of full Democracy for the District of Columbia. On the day DC residents are formally disenfranchised and democracy is disabled, we will fight back. Using diverse tactics, such as lobbying, petitioning, and protesting, District residents and friends of democracy will push for an end to DC’s underclass status. We will demand budget autonomy as a first step—and begin a concerted new fight for freedom, statehood, and voting rights.

Help make B.A.D. Day a major city happening that grows each year, until we get our democratic rights! Come out to a rally at the Capitol South Metro Stop on the Blue and Orange Lines on October 1 at 8:30 am. Listen to live musicians, speakers and activists demand democracy for DC. Then at 10:30 am, come lobby Members of Congress that control DC for change.

Residents of the District of Columbia have had bad days since Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 17 of the U.S. Constitution allowed Congress to have “exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever, over” the area that was to become Washington, DC. DC residents have been denied fundamental rights—ones that most Americans consider essential for a democracy.

Unlike states, we don’t elect or appoint our judges; instead they are appointed by the President. Unlike states, we have no representation in Congress, yet Congress can overturn our local laws. Unlike states, we are the ‘Federal City’—we pay federal taxes, we serve on federal juries we are subjected to all federal laws—yet, we have no formal say in the federal government.

On Friday, October 1, 2004, we will take a stand:

For every time federal legislation has passed without DC residents getting a chance to weigh in;

For every time the District’s budget priorities have been delayed because Congress won’t pass the DC Appropriations Bills by the start of the fiscal year;

For every time Congress offends local democracy by passing our budget for us;

For every time our voter-approved referenda, initiatives and recalls have been overturned by overzealous Members of Congress; and

For every time we have demanded change and been ignored;

We’ve had enough. Enough is enough!

For more information or to get involved, call the B.A.D. hotline at 202-232-1724!

We’ve got over 20 different appointments made with various congressional offices so that DC residents can lobby their unelected officials for budget autonomy, equal voting rights, statehood, and essentially lobbying to end the tyrannical rule of Congress over DC. If you have a chance come down to Capitol Hill next Friday! We’ve got some rappers, some speakers, and some B.A.D. ass fun. Watch democracy in action, nay, be apart of democracy in action! If you have any questions, please drop me an E-mail!