Freedom Then, Statehood Now: Thursday, April 16

On April 16, we honor DC Emancipation Day, the day slavery was abolished in the nation’s capital and more than 3,100 enslaved people in Washington were set free. It was a defining moment in our city’s history and a powerful reminder that progress has always required struggle, organizing, and the courage to demand what is right.

For Democrats in Ward 6, Emancipation Day is not only about remembering the past. It is also about recognizing that the fight for freedom in the District is still unfinished. DC residents still pay federal taxes, serve in the military, and contribute fully to this country, yet we continue to be denied full voting representation in Congress and full control over our own affairs. That is why Emancipation Day must also be a call to action for DC Statehood.

The connection is clear. Emancipation was about freedom, dignity, and self-determination. Statehood is about those same values today. As Ward 6 Democrats, we believe the residents of the District deserve what every American should have: full democracy, full representation, and full citizenship.

This Emancipation Day, let us do more than commemorate history. Let us organize, educate, and speak out. Let us honor those who came before us by continuing the fight they began. Support DC Statehood. Show up at community events. Talk to your neighbors. Lift up the history of our city. And keep pressing until Washington, DC is no longer treated as less than equal.