A human rights commission affiliated with the Organization of American
States has ruled that the United States violates the rights of residents
of the District of Columbia by denying them representation in Congress.
The December ruling, which was announced at a news conference yesterday, has little immediate practical effect but was hailed by voting rights activists as an important step forward in their struggle.
" We still are, as far as I can see talking to mayors around the country and around the world, the only capital in a democracy . . . without representation for our people," said Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D). "It's time to stop" the injustice.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights ruled after nearly a decade
of proceedings. It concluded that Washington's 572,000 residents are
denied full access to the democratic process because of where they live.
The suit was filed by voting rights activist Timothy Cooper, representing
the Statehood Solidarity Committee.
He argued that the denial
of congressional representation to D.C. residents was a violation of their
fundamental human rights. The U.S. State Department
countered with several arguments, including that Cooper had failed
to exhaust appropriate domestic legal avenues. Federal attorneys also
contended that the founding fathers legitimately feared that D.C. residents
would exert disproportionate influence over
national affairs by virtue of their proximity to decision-makers.
The 34-page opinion said, "The commission considers that [D.C. residents] have been denied an equal right under law . . . to participate in the government of their country by reason of their place of residence."
The commission declined to comment on the ruling.
At the news conference, Cooper hailed the ruling, saying it would help
publicize the city's lack of congressional representation and create
pressure for change. "America can run
but it cannot hide from the judgment of the international community," he
said.
The Organization of American States has 35 member states, including
Mexico, Brazil, Canada and the United States.