Statement on US Senate Overruling DC's Revised Criminal Code

Statement by Vice President of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Patrice Willoughby, on US Senate Overruling DC's New Criminal Code:

The NAACP has grave concerns that DC's revisions to its criminal code will be overruled by today's U.S. Senate Disapproval Resolution. Local representation and home rule is essential to democracy. The U.S. House and Senate should respect the elected representatives of DC who voted to change DC's criminal code. The code is widely recognized in need of reform, and revisions were made over a period of years.  Election-year politics should not subvert DC's autonomy. The persistence of congressional interference underscores the need for DC Statehood, a position long held by the NAACP.