Dear Friend,

“Taxation without representation” is a phrase that is synonymous with the District of Columbia. We live and work in a city where inequity is driven in part by the District’s “unique” relationship with the federal government. The District’s lack of representation in Congress and intrusive federal oversight has repercussions that are felt in our schools, workplaces, criminal legal system, housing and beyond.
 
We are working alongside those who have experienced the harshest effects of these inequalities. You can read more about the difference we are helping to make in the stories below.
 
This work could not be done without trailblazers like Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, whose career has been dedicated to the fight for full democracy for the people of the District of Columbia. We look forward to honoring the Congresswoman and the rest of our award recipients at this year’s Wiley A. Branton Awards Luncheon. We hope you will join us. More information can be found below.
 
Thank you for your support. Until all voices are heard.
 
Jonathan Smith
Executive Director, Washington Lawyers’ Committee

Shawlawn Beckford was subjected to racial and sexual harassment while serving at the Army base in Yongsan, Seoul, South Korea. Ms. Beckford’s superiors and coworkers, as well as members of leadership of the hospital in which she worked, made frequent race and gender-based discriminatory remarks to her and in her presence. Last month, Ms. Beckford settled her discrimination case against the United States Army and began a process of changing the racially and gender toxic environment at BAACH. Read about the outcome.

ICYMI: Last week, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held that President Trump’s rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Program was arbitrary and capricious and in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. This decision came in a case brought by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee on behalf of ten immigrant civil rights organizations and 17 individuals. Read more.

Four former employees of Homefix filed a collective- and class-action lawsuit on Wednesday, April 24, against the home remodeling company, the 18th largest in the nation, for unpaid wages and racial discrimination. They allege that Homefix did not pay them minimum or overtime wages and sometimes did not pay them at all. They also allege that the company segregated them by race in the neighborhoods where they were assigned to work, denying people of color the opportunity to work in neighborhoods where they could earn more money. Read more.