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| D.C. Statehood Greens Mourn George S. LaRoche, Lawyer for D.C. Democracy. |
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THE D.C. STATEHOOD GREEN PARTY "Too few District residents know of George's legal efforts, often against great adversity, to win true democracy for D.C. and full citizenship for all of us," said Statehood Green Party member Joyce Robinson-Paul, who ran for D.C. 'Shadow' Senator in 2002. "We mourn George's passing, but we also honor his work and we vow to keep the 'Twenty D.C. Citizens' lawsuit alive and continue fighting for D.C. statehood. He was a dear friend to all of us, and we especially express our condolences to Edith Blackwell, George's wife." As attorney for 'Twenty D.C. Citizens' in their lawsuit seeking full voter representation, equal treatment, protection from Congress, and the right to choose their own autonomous democratic government for the people of the District of Columbia, LaRoche argued Adams v. Clinton (later, Adams v. Bush) before a District Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. Both courts dismissed the suit but declined to comment on its claims, which leaves open the possibility that a similar suit can be filed in the future. LaRoche faced sharp behind-the-scenes criticism from some D.C. officials for filing the 20 Citizens suit, especially from politicians who preferred to make representation in Congress the goal of the D.C. democracy movement. A few months after the 20 Citizens suit was filed, the District government's Corporation Counsel filed the 'Daley v. Alexander' suit, which eclipsed 20 Citizens in much of the press coverage when the two cases were paired and considered together by the courts. Ironically, while the courts ignored the 20 Citizens suit, their comments on Daley effectively ended any further legal efforts in which seats in Congress for D.C. are the sole remedy. For more information about the history of Adams v. Bush and George LaRoche's arguments before the courts, including texts of court documents, visit <http://dccitizensfordemocracy.org>. The D.C. Statehood Green Party enthusiastically supported 20 Citizens, and held a fundraiser from which the proceeds were in part donated to LaRoche's legal work on the suit. 2000 Green presidential candidate Ralph Nader appeared at the event. "When the Financial Control Board, Mayor, and City Council sought to repeal our elected Board of Education, the only legal professional who came to our aid was George LaRoche," said Gail Dixon, former elected member of the Board and longtime statehood activist. "George helped us craft the language of our arguments in favor of the democratic rights of D.C. voters. For me, he was a truly thoughtful and sensitive human being, who through his actions supported the legal and human aspects of our struggle. That's quite rare." "Since the 20 Citizens suit sought full democratic redress and would have opened the door for statehood, we strongly supported and promoted George LaRoche's efforts," said Lou Aronica, Statehood Party co-founder and D.C.Statehood Green Party member. "We urge everyone who cares about democracy, whether they live in D.C. or elsewhere, to recognize George's work on our behalf -- and to support us in our struggle for real democracy and statehood for District residents. George deserves a monument." MORE INFORMATION
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