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Over the past 172 years, the Democratic Party's platform has addressed the political status of the District of Columbia in a number of ways. From 1988 to 2000, the Democratic party unequivocably endorsed statehood for the District of Columbia.
Prior to that time, it supported the 1978 constitutional amendment to give D.C. full representation in both the House and the Senate in Congress, an unlimited vote for President (not restricted to the number of electoral votes of the least populous state as in the 23rd amendment to the Constitution), and a vote on constitutional amendments (even though we did not have a state legislature). That amendment died in 1985 when not enough states ratified it wihtin the seven years allowed in the act.
The Democratic Party has also supported full home rule for D.C. and voting representation in Congress (both Houses) and more recently (2004-2012), D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has changed the platform plank from an endorsement of statehood to one only endorsing a vote in the House (through legislation and not a constitutional amendment) and partial temporary legislative fixes such as budget autonomy.
Below are excerpts from all the Democratic Party platforms between 1840 and 2008 that mention the District of Columbia.
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On November 10, 2011, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Vincent Gray, and Council Chairman Kwame Brown joined Bob Vogel, Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks for the U.S. Park Service in reopening the District of Columbia World War I Memorial on the Mall. The District of Columbia, like all the states, funded and buit its own memorial to its soldiers who fought in the "Great War." The memorial was built on the Mall and the National Park Service was charged with its maintenance. After falling into great disrepair, the Congress authorized the cleaning, realnscaping and repair of the memorial. For information on the efforts by some to make it the "national" World War I memorial and deprive the residents of D.C. of their memorial to their soldiers, see the November 10, 2011 article by Tom Howell of The Washington Times entitled "D.C. fights for World War I memorial."
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Frank Kameny, D.C. Statehood Hero
Frank Kameny, a great D.C. statehood hero as well as human rights and gay rights acitvist, died October 11, 2011.
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D.C. historian, Mark David Richards wrote the following article about the history of the flag of the District of Columbia.
http://www.dcwatch.com/richards/0106f.htm
The Flag of the District of Columbia
Prepared by Mark David Richards,
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A Dream, Bureaucracy, Agitation, and a Flag
In their own little ways, DC citizens have always been dreaming about and agitating for equal rights. In 1917, while working for a printing firm on a flag book for the 48 states, Charles A. R. Dunn noticed there was no flag for his DC home. In 1921 he sketched a design using George Washington's Coat of Arms, with three red stars above two red stripes on a white field. At that time, the Voteless League was set up by former women’s suffrage campaigners--they became the Voteless League of Women Voters of DC. By 1924, there was "considerable agitation" for a DC flag. The Evening Star printed Dunn's drawings. The Fine Arts Commission weighed in, saying a DC flag must emphasize that "DC is the seat of the central government of all states." Dr. William Tindall of the DC government pointed out that the 3 stars could be said to represent the 3 federal branches. The issue, unresolved, died down. But the drive for rights did not. Theodore W. Noyes, in a nationwide WMAL radio address in March 1929, asked "Will not every red-blooded American who hears me tonight respond hopefully and vigorously to the District’s appeal for political equality? How long, O Americans, must we of Washington be compelled to say and to sing: ‘My county, ‘tis of thee Not land of liberty, For District folks; Where rights for which the fathers died Are now denied and crucified, Mock’d at as jokes’?"
A 1930s drive for Congressional voting rights and home rule led to a flurry of articles and comics. The DC commissioners were called "a national laughing stock," and the DC govt. an ineffective "Adventure in Autocracy." In 1933, young African-American college grads from the U Street community organized the New Negro Alliance, demanding that businesses hire some people they served. They picketed businesses and were arrested. It took until 1938 for African-American lawyers to establish the legal right to picket by the Supreme Court. Also in 1938, a Citizens’ Conference of 271 local organizations financed a plebiscite with two questions—"[D]o you want to vote for President and for members of Congress from the District of Columbia?, and do you want to vote for officials of your own city government in the District?" The District Suffrage League set up voting places in 38 public schools, and on April 29th dressed up like Paul Revere and paraded in the streets to publicize the event. 95,538 people voted on April 30th, most supporting both measures. In June 1938, a Flag Commission was created by Act of Congress to advise the Commission of Fine Arts. A contest was announced. The Heraldic Division of the War Department laid down rules. Dunn submitted his design. The Flag Commission couldn't decide between two designs, so they submitted both to the Commission on Fine Arts. In October, a joint meeting of the 2 Commissions chose Dunn's design. Along with the US flag, DC could now fly their flag along with the other 48. They gained an early symbol, but still no vote in their schools, in their local government, nor in Congress. In 1961, Dunn said "I think it is a good flag, and I am glad that an early dream of mine came true."
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Issues 