"Free DC! Free DC!," was the only sound that could be heard as an estimated 5,000 citizens and civil rights leaders braved the cold, damp, and windy weather to demand voting representation. The DC Voting Rights March was led by Mayor Adrian Fenty, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District City Council, DC Vote and other groups in a civil rights coalition on Emancipation Day. The March commenced at Freedom Plaza (13th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW) and proceeded along Pennsylvania Avenue, then rallying the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool.
The residents of D.C. are fed up over Congress not giving us the right to vote. We are here today to say to Congress, 'If you have the legislation in front of you that would give us the full vote in the House of Representatives, we want you to pass that legislation now! - Mayor Adrian Fenty
A young and energetic choir performs at city hall before the 04/16/07 protest march to Capitol Hill.
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Mayor Fenty greets those gathered to demand voting rights for DC in Congress.
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DC Vote Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, shares his thoughts with the Mayor. DC City Council member Jack Evans is on the far right.
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DC City Council member Jack Evans applauds Mayor Fenty's leadership.
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District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor H. Norton in front of the John Wilson Bldg on 04/16/07.
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Mayor Fenty expresses the demand for Voting Rights in DC. "Today is DC Emancipation Day. On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln set the slaves of the District of Columbia free."
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Mayor Fenty is supported before march on Capitol Hill for Congressional Voting Rights by DC Vote Executive Director, Ilir Zherka (left) DC Delegate Norton (middle). "This was nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation, so the
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Mayor Fenty begin the protest march of thousands from the John Wilson building to Capitol Hill. "But I ask you... with more than 200 years of no vote in Congress, are we truly free?" *
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Youth Mayor of the District of Columbia, Nicole Newman inspires citizens to demand voting rights.""
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DC Vote Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, amuses the crowd and DC City Council member Jack Evans, Ward 2 before the Voting Rights march on April 16, 2007 "Youre probably wondering, what kind of name is Ilir Zherka? Dont worry, Im used to it. My family left Albania for America because we wanted to enjoy the blessings of democracy."
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DC Vote Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, is watched closely by DC Congresswoman Norton as he addresses crowd before march to Capitol Hill to demand Congressional Voting Rights for DC residents. "The DC voting rights movement is like a rally race through time, with each generation passing the baton to the next generation."
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DC Vote Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, address to crowd before march to Capital Hill for Voting Rights for DC. "My friends are you prepared to finish the race for democracy for DC?"
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DC Vote Executive Director, Ilir Zherka show his slavic enthusiasm. "We demand the vote because we understand the wisdom of Fredrick Douglass who said power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will."
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DC Vote Executive Director, Ilir Zherka. "Walt Whitman wrote the famous words, I hear America singing. We, the residents of democracys capital city, want to be part of Americas chorus."
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DC City Council member Jack Evans, Ward 2 addresses thousands before march to Capitol Hill on April 16,2007
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