District of Columbia Statehood

Jesse Jackson, Washington DC’s “shadow” senator, spoke to the National Press Club luncheon about statehood for Washington, DC. Rev. Jackson warned that “phase two” of the Persian Gulf War would cost the United States even more than the military conflict: to maintain a “new world order” within the global community. He said the U.S. cannot justify military expenditures abroad while social ills such as poverty and homelessness remain at home. Rev. Jackson called for statehood for Washington DC on the grounds that the lack of representation of DC’s population is contrary to the ideals the U.S. government had been fighting for in the Persian Gulf War. close