Stand Up! For Democracy in DC (or Free DC) is a left-of-center organization that advocates for statehood of the District of Columbia and expanded autonomy under home rule. In addition to advocating for statehood and greater home rule for the District of Columbia, the organization has taken left-of-center stances on other issues. In 2008, the organization opposed the U.S. Supreme Court’s Heller decision that struck down the District of Columbia’s handgun ban. ¹

The organization is a recipient of controversial “statehood grants” that are awarded by the District of Columbia government. In 2018, it was awarded a $10,000 “statehood grant” and spent the money organizing a “D.C. Statehood Rap Contest.” ²

Overview

Stand Up! For Democracy in DC (Free DC) is a left-of-center organization that advocates for statehood and increased home rule autonomy for the District of Columbia. The organization considers D.C. the last colony of the United States due to its lack of representation in the U.S. Congress and federal supervision over its finances and laws. ³

The organization was founded in 1997 to protest the U.S. Congress creating the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, also known as the Control Board, which was created to oversee the District’s finances. The control board had the authority to overrule the D.C. Mayor and the D.C. Council on financial matters. ⁴

In 1998, the organization claimed credit for helping the defeat Sen. Lauch Faircloth (R-NC), who orchestrated the creation of the Control Board. The organization’s members contacted their relatives in North Carolina and told them about the Control Board and its impacts on D.C. ⁵

As of 2017, the organization had a dozen active members. For special events, it usually has 40 or so in attendance. ⁶

D.C. Handgun Ban

In 2008, the organization opposed the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Heller case that declared the District of Columbia’s handgun ban unconstitutional. The organization called the ruling “anti-democratic” and bemoaned that the fact that the court had “gutted [D.C.’s] gun control laws.” ⁷

The organization also pointed out that the judges were confirmed by the U.S. Senate, a body in which the District of Columbia had no vote. ⁸

Statehood Grants Controversy

Since 2015, the District of Columbia government has awarded around $200,000 a year in “statehood grants.” The grants are meant to go to “grassroots organizations” and help them build support for the admission of D.C. as a state. ⁹

In 2018, the organization received a $10,000 “statehood grant” from the D.C. government. It used some of that money to sponsor a “D.C. Statehood Rap Contest.” The rap contest cost DC taxpayers $6,500 and only had 137 views on YouTube as of December 1, 2019. ¹⁰

The organization spent the remaining $3,500 on “updating its statehood documentary.” The documentary was removed for alleged copyright violations and was no longer on the group’s website as of 2019. ¹¹

In 2019, the District of Columbia government awarded the group a $15,000 “statehood grant.” The organization planned to spend at least $5,000 on a chart that outlines the challenges the District faces on its path to statehood. ¹²

Leadership

The founder and president of the organization is Anice Jenkins. Jenkins is a native of Washington, D.C. and has worked as the organization’s leader since its founder in 1997. ¹³

Finances

Stand Up! For Democracy In DC files the e-Postcard for small nonprofits with less than $50,000 in gross receipts. ¹⁴

The organization receives “statehood grants” that are awarded by the District of Columbia government to organizations that support statehood for DC. ¹⁵

1. “Stand Up For Democracy In DC, Reaction To Heller Ruling, June 26, 2008.” DC Watch. June 26, 2008. http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/gun080626h.htm.
2. Flack, Eric.  “A DC Statehood ‘Rap Contest?’ You Paid For It.” WUSA9. Dec. 13, 2019. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/taxpayers-paid-for-a-dc-statehood-rap-contest/65-80018585-234f-4727-97ff-85fa3bd58c3d.
3. Jenkins, Anise. “D.C. – The Last Colony?.” Stand Up! For Democracy In DC (Free DC). Feb. 19, 2022. http://standupfordemocracy.net/dc/index.php/component/k2/item/242-d-c-the-last-colony.
4. Wright Jr., James. “Anise Jenkins: Warrior For D.C. Statehood.” The Washington Informer. March 3, 2021. https://www.washingtoninformer.com/anise-jenkins-warrior-for-d-c-statehood/.
5. Wright Jr., James. “Anise Jenkins: Warrior For D.C. Statehood.” The Washington Informer. March 3, 2021. https://www.washingtoninformer.com/anise-jenkins-warrior-for-d-c-statehood/.
6. Hopkins, Tatyana. “Statehood Advocacy Group Celebrates 20 Years.” The Washington Informer. Aug. 9, 2017. https://www.washingtoninformer.com/statehood-advocacy-group-celebrates-20-years/.
7. “Stand Up For Democracy In DC, Reaction To Heller Ruling, June 26, 2008.” DC Watch. June 26, 2008. http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/gun080626h.htm.
8. “Stand Up For Democracy In DC, Reaction To Heller Ruling, June 26, 2008.” DC Watch. June 26, 2008. http://www.dcwatch.com/issues/gun080626h.htm.
9. Flack, Eric.  “A DC Statehood ‘Rap Contest?’ You Paid For It.” WUSA9. Dec. 13, 2019. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/taxpayers-paid-for-a-dc-statehood-rap-contest/65-80018585-234f-4727-97ff-85fa3bd58c3d
10. Flack, Eric.  “A DC Statehood ‘Rap Contest?’ You Paid For It.” WUSA9. Dec. 13, 2019. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/taxpayers-paid-for-a-dc-statehood-rap-contest/65-80018585-234f-4727-97ff-85fa3bd58c3d.
11. Flack, Eric.  “A DC Statehood ‘Rap Contest?’ You Paid For It.” WUSA9. Dec. 13, 2019.  https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/taxpayers-paid-for-a-dc-statehood-rap-contest/65-80018585-234f-4727-97ff-85fa3bd58c3d.
12. Flack, Eric.  “A DC Statehood ‘Rap Contest?’ You Paid For It.” WUSA9. Dec. 13, 2019. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/taxpayers-paid-for-a-dc-statehood-rap-contest/65-80018585-234f-4727-97ff-85fa3bd58c3d.
13. Wright Jr., James. “Anise Jenkins: Warrior For D.C. Statehood.” The Washington Informer. March 3, 2021. https://www.washingtoninformer.com/anise-jenkins-warrior-for-d-c-statehood/.
14. Stand Up For Democracy in DC Coalition (EIN 26-2618767), IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
15. Flack, Eric.  “A DC Statehood ‘Rap Contest?’ You Paid For It.” WUSA9. Dec. 13, 2019. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/taxpayers-paid-for-a-dc-statehood-rap-contest/65-80018585-234f-4727-97ff-85fa3bd58c3d.