LCCR Disappointed with Senate Vote on D.C. Voting Rights Bill

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s oldest and largest civil and human rights coalition, released the following statements on the Senate vote on the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007:

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of LCCR, said:

“Today is a sad day for American democracy and for the citizens of the District of Columbia. Voting is the language of democracy and the right to vote is an American birthright, not a partisan issue. However, Senate Republicans struck a blow to the fundamental right of our democracy by filibustering a voting rights bill for the first time in forty years. LCCR remains committed to pursuing voting rights for District of Columbia citizens – the only residents of any capital in the Western world, who don’t have the right to vote – and it will continue to press to rectify this profound injustice.”

Nancy Zirkin, vice president of LCCR, said:

“This is especially disappointing since the DC voting rights bill enjoyed bipartisan support. The Senate Republican leadership hid behind the pretext of the Act’s unconstitutionality to keep the residents of the nation’s capitol from having the same voting rights that they, like other citizens, are fighting to bring to Iraq and Afghanistan. But we are grateful for those Republicans who stood up against their leadership to vote for the higher principles of democracy.”