DC Residents Celebrate Flag Tattoos in Fight For DC Statehood

WASHINGTON - How much do you love the District? Are you willing to get a tattoo to show your D.C. Pride? Many District residents have gone all the way and marked their bodies with ink as they fight for equal representation.

Tuesday night in Dupont Circle, a large group gathered at the fountain to rally for statehood, including Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Many of those had D.C. pride tattoos and used the District flag as a symbol for their skin art.

In recent months, there has been a major push by District residents fighting for home rule, representation in Congress, and statehood. Mayor Vincent Gray and seven council members have been arrested along with dozens of D.C. residents. Many of them were arrested when they blocked traffic along Constitution Avenue on Capitol Hill.

Norton told the crowd at Dupont Circle to continue the fight. That fight will continue on Thursday when a Congressional appropriations subcommittee meets to discuss the D.C. 2012 fiscal budget. D.C.'s budget must be approved by Congress.