>From pflagntl@aol.com Wed Nov 17 13:36:07 1993

                      LESBIGAY ACTION TASK FORCE
                          THE CITIZENS FOR NEW COLUMBIA 

                                  PRESS RELEASE
				Contact:	George Neighbors, Jr.
					202-638-4200
					202-737-4176
                         LAST DEMONSTRATION AND CIVIL
                               DISOBEDIENCE BEFORE
                              SATURDAY'S HOUSE VOTE

November 17, 1993- Washington, DC--  The last action of the Citizens for New
Columbia will be held on November 18, 1993.  The House of Representatives
will vote Saturday on HR51, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton's (D-DC) bill to
create the state of New Columbia.

The Lesbigay community will be represented along with the Haitian and Women's
communities marching in solidarity for the establishment of the state of New
Columbia.  George Neighbors, Jr., co-chair of the Lesbigay Action Task Force
said, "It is pure and simple- the ole American battle cry of taxation without
representation.  The people of America do not understand that their own
fellow citizens, living in the grand ole USA, are denied the right to vote
for fully recognized Members of Congress, yet pay federal taxes.  Puerto Rico
voted last week on statehood and they don't even pay taxes. It is an
outrage!"

Asked why there is opposition to the state of New Columbia, Neighbors
responded, "It's about prejudice and bigotry- the white patriarchy of
Congress fear the additional voices of 3 Members of Congress who represent a
generally black/african-american, asian, latino, gay and lesbian, democratic,
working class constituency.  They [Members of Congress] can fight for
democracy and republican government in Bosnia, Somalia and Kuwait- yet they
deny those same rights to the people in whose very city they work."

November 18, 1993- 	11:45am @ 1 Judiciary Square
	12:00   March to Longworth Building
	12:45   Civil Disobedience at NJ & Independence 

                                      -30-

