Not only do Washingtonians have no vote in the House and Senate, but the District has been shut out of Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, home to likenesses of famous Americans from all 50 states.
That ban is not currently set to change; D.C. still isn’t a state.
“This is a slight to the District,” Mayor Anthony Williams said Wednesday.
To bolster its campaign for statehood, the city has commissioned two $100,000 sculptures of renowned Washingtonians, with the hope of someday adding them to the collection of statues in the Capitol Building. The entire collection, first commissioned by Congress in 1864, consists of 100 statues contributed by 50 states.
But for now, the completed D.C. sculptures will be exhibited in the District’s John A. Wilson Building.
Residents can help pick the District’s statue honorees by going to www.dcarts.dc.gov and voting for two of the 30 renowned Washingtonians listed, including Frederick Douglass, Francis Scott Key and Langston Hughes. Voters can also nominate up to two individuals by giving a valid reason in 50 words or less as to why they should be considered.
Nominees may include those who have excelled in arts, history, civil rights and politics and who worked to make a difference not only in the District of Columbia, but also in the world. Individuals must have been citizens of the United States and have either been born in the District or resided there for a significant amount of time. Living persons are not eligible to be nominated.
