Rally for DC Voting Rights at the Denver Mint

In 2008, the U.S. Mint denied the DC Government's request to print "Taxation Without Representation" on the DC quarter.

Well, let's just say that didn't go over so well. Six months of pent-up frustration at this additional insult to DC residents came spilling out this morning in front of the Denver Mint.

(Councilmembers Jack Evans, Muriel Bowser, and Chairman Vincent Gray in front of the U.S. Mint)

Approximately 150 DC voting rights supporters, DC delegates, and elected officals said their 25 cents at the corner of Cherokee & Colfax streets. Cars passing by honked and a number of pedestrians received wooden nickels which explained that American democracy isn't worth more than a wooden nickel without a vote in Congress.

(A portion of the crowd at the mint)

The photos tell the story better than words.

(Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Councilmember Jack Evans, Council Chairman Vincent Gray, and Mayor Adrian Fenty)

(John Capozzi bringing the passion at the Mint)

What other delegation has got a music video?

DC residents didn't just bring their passion for DC voting rights to Denver. Nope, they brought go-go.

These thumping local beats crossed the plains and hit the Mile High Country with force. In fact, the whole country heard some go-go just before Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton called for passage of the DC House Voting Rights Act on the convention floor. And, not just any go-go. Check out the video below and learn more about the fly "Demand the Vote" single just waiting to be downloaded onto your iPod.

Ekua Boateng - Volunteer Superstar

Once in a while, there comes a volunteer who is no ordinary volunteer. Serving the cause of DC voting rights above and beyond the call of duty, these superstars radiate such immense passion for the cause that all pales in comparison.



Ekua Boateng is one such volunteer. She not only holds the DNC record for petition signatures gathered, but also bagged more swag in less time than thought to be humanly possible. If you think this is excessive superlative, you have yet to meet Ms. Boateng.

DC Vote salutes Ekua for all her help in spreading the word about the denial of democracy in our nation's capital.

16th Street Ped Mall for DC Voting Rights

At 11:15 AM Mountain Standard Time, passersby on the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall of Denver, CO reported being inundated with material calling for an end to taxation without representation in our nation's capital.

Witnesses recalled seeing a throng of eight volunteers in coordinated clothing passing out bumper stickers and soliciting signatures for petitions with unusual rapidity. While these accounts have only been confirmed thus far by the Washington Post and DCist, the DC Vote Blog has secured the following photos from a source which has asked to remain anonymous.

Judging from the photos, it appears that Janice Davis, 2nd Vice President of the National Federation of Democratic Women was one of those successful in their outreach attempts.

Also evident from these photos is one Eugene Dewitt Kinlow appearing to be completely in his element -- outreaching to the world about DC voting rights.

If you have any additional sightings of events of this nature, please send tips to the DC Vote blog forthwith.

The Republican at the DNC

Famous Republican Abe Lincoln hit the streets of the Democratic Convention today. MSNBC took notice. And so did Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (no doubt he agreed to take the picture because of his strong support of DC voting rights).



But there's nothing to illustrate the bipartisan bonhomie of DC voting rights than posing with plushie political mascots!

All Hands on Deck in Denver

With the first day of the convention in full swing, delegates and friends from DC all came together this morning to focus on DC voting rights. The DC delegation's breakfast not only took the theme, but taxation without representation swag was being distributed at the DC delegation office left and right. Volunteers were priming other volunteers to hit the streets.

And hit the streets they did.

Uber volunteer Karen Rose is seen here getting a petition signature on the 16th street pedestrian mall.

We've already heard reports that DC vote gear is popping up across Denver and it's only been one day. Stay tuned for more canvassing reports.

DC Vote Music Video to Premiere at 2008 DNC!

Stay tuned to DNC coverage for a short-format version of DC Vote's music video for the song, "Demand the Vote"!

The video will play before a speech by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton on DC voting rights on Tuesday, August 26, at 5:15 PM EST.

DC Voting Rights Takes Flight

Denver International Airport had no idea what was about to hit. Frontier Airlines had packed a plane of people headed to the DNC and whithin the fuselage was a powerful punch of DC voting rights supporters including none other than House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD, and pictured below).

But wait, that's not all. This flight of freedom also included Shadow Senator Mike Brown, who, we hear, is attending his eigth convention. Yup, count 'em, 8!

Senator Brown set the bar high, and Eugene now has a goal to attain. But first, people from all over the country are going to hear from these folks and many more about DC voting rights.

DC Vote Taking DC Voting Rights a Mile High

Tomorrow, Eugene and I will be taking DC Voting Rights a mile high (a.k.a traveling to the Democratic National Convention to spread the word about the denial of democracy in our nation's capital to thousands of politically engaged Americans).

We'll be in Denver with more than 70 people who have signed up to volunteer and help us canvass with petitions, pass out bumper stickers, and generally spread the word.

If you'll be in Denver for the DNC, we'd love to see you. Check out our calendar of events to figure out where to meet up.

We'll be posting through the Convention. And we may even have some info on this Abe Lincoln character the Washington Post was talking about...

Also, if you'll be headed to the RNC, let us know and we'll be in touch when we finalize plans for taking DC voting rights Gemini-style to the Twin Cities.

I Gave Stephen Colbert a DC Vote T-Shirt

That's right. Here I am with Peter, the head writer for the Colbert Report who is going to give Stephen our DC Vote shirt. I have to say, one thing that funny people have in common - they're all really nice, too. I guess making people laugh keeps you in a relatively good mood!

Politics is Funny...and Strange

So, I did it. I sort of, kind of, successfully inserted the issue of DC voting rights into a panel of real comedians and real political comedy experts. Barring one crazy woman who took her 15-seconds of fame to "ask DC Vote a question" while actually just berating one of the presidential candidates, it went off without a hitch. Here I am with my new pal, Eddie, the lead writer for Late Night with David Letterman. Yeah, I'm kind of a big deal.

What do politics and funny have in common?

Heck if I know! But, I better figure it out QUICK. T-minus one day until hell freezes over and I join forces with the co-creator of the Daily Show, writers for the Washington Post, the Onion, the Tonight Show and the Colbert Report for the "Politics is Funny" panel. "Hey, have you heard the one about how Congress is denying DC residents the right to vote?" Ha, ha, hee, hee. Hmmm.

In DC, We Demand the Vote!

Supporters young and old came out to help us shoot our first-ever Demand the Vote music video last Saturday, August 2! With the help of local musician, Joe L. Da Vessel, and a crew from D.A.A.S. Wuz Up Entertainment, we brought the house down. Click here to listen to Demand the Vote.