Listen to Ilir Zherka
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Ilir Zherka
Executive Director
DC Vote
Audio Transcripts
On DC Vote
Well, DC Vote is dedicated to securing full voting representation in Congress for DC residents. Most Americans think that the Civil Rights Era ended in the '60s, and for DC it continues. And so we want to make sure that Americans are reminded of that, are aware of it, and we're going to look to our coalition partners, board members, members of DC Vote, elected officials to prevent the type of interference in local affairs we've seen in the last 12 to 15 years. We are trying to empower average Washingtonians to affect national policy—policy that affects them directly.
On Representation
Members of Congress and Senators from around the country come to Washington, DC, and then tell Washingtonians how to live their lives, and where money should be spent, and where it shouldn't be spent. The idea that people from outside DC can tell Washingtonians that they shouldn't support a needle exchange program when Washington has one of the highest rates of AIDS, HIV/AIDS, in the country is insulting, infuriating—and that has to come to an end. And it's not going to come to an end until Washingtonians have the power that other Americans have in the Congress. And so our goal is to secure that power, and that Washingtonians and local elected officials will have to use it, and use it wisely and constructively.
On Commitment
It's really an honor for me to have this role. I came with my family when I was two-and-a-half to this country in search of democracy and a better life. And so for me that just felt like, almost like fate, you know, that I would be here at this moment and given this opportunity. I feel a great deal of responsibility to all the people who came before me—the 206 years of activism on this. I feel like we have a very unique moment that DC Vote helped to create—this moment, right now. And we have it, and we've got to do everything we can to seize this moment and turn and opportunity into victory.
On Victory
In the past there has not been a funded organization that's been around day-in, day-out to take this issue on. The fight is on and we're in it, and we're in, like, the seventh inning. You know, I feel like we're in the ballgame and we're winning.