Self-Determination and Human Rights
Self-Determination and Human Rights
Self-Determination and Human Rights
The late Dorothy Irene Height, a mentor to both Eleanor Holmes Norton & Kymone Freeman, supported the self-determination of DC residents & Palestinians. She lead two delegations to the World Conference on Racism in South Africa in 2001 where both US & Israel walked out.
The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act in 1986 addressed racial segregation and oppression in South Africa. But Congress has not yet taken any steps to address legal segregation in Israel and the Occupied Palestine and the need for Palestinian self-determination.Failure of the US to speak out on violation of Palestinian human rights helps perpetuate those harms, endangers Palestinian Americans, and contributes to dehumanizing views and oppression in this country.
Essential Conversations
Self-Determination and Human Rights
Self-Determination and Human Rights
From 2018 up until the pandemic, Freeman and Spatz, a white Jewish woman from Ward 6, participated in Cross River Dialogue, meetings where Black, non-Jewish residents from east of the Anacostia River and white Jewish residents from west of Rock Creek Park engaged in thought-provoking discussions. "Anyone who tries to say certain things about Israel or Jewish involvement in politics gets labeled as antisemitic. We’re becoming more and more fascist by the minute. Kymone could draw some attention to the way our country is settling into shutting people down.” -- Virginia Spatz | The Washington Informer | Ward 6 voter
DC's Vote in Congress
DC's Delegate has in the past been allowed to vote on committee matters, including in Committee of the Whole.
RANKED CHOICE VOTING ARTICLES
Make All Votes Count: Initiative 83 and background
NPR's "Explainer" on RCV nationwide
De-Escalation and Ceasefire
US House Res 786, calling for an immediate deescalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine, has only 18 co-sponsors , not including our current Delegate.
The US stands apart from substantial global majority -- 153 of 193 in the UN -- supporting peaceful resolution. Many leaders in- and outside Jewish communities around the world believe the current violence only endangers Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
