Norton Celebrates 204th Birthday of Frederick Douglass, D.C. Voting Rights Champion

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass' 204th birthday. Douglass was a longtime District of Columbia resident and an avid proponent of equal rights for D.C. residents. A Norton bill placed D.C.'s statue of Douglass in the U.S. Capitol, making D.C. the only jurisdiction that is not a state with a statue in the Capitol. A Norton bill established a bicentennial commission to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities to honor and celebrate the life of Douglass. Norton was appointed by then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to serve on the commission.

"Frederick Douglass holds a special place in our country and in the hearts of D.C. residents, who chose his statue to represent the District in the Capitol," Norton said. "This great American statesman, the country's foremost abolitionist, knew where he lived and lent his great renown to equality and freedom for our city and its residents. His historic home in Southeast D.C., Cedar Hill, is a National Historic Site and reminds residents and thousands of tourists annually of Douglass' many contributions and achievements."

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