D.C. Statehood Commercial Starring Dave Chappelle from DCist on Vimeo.

D.C. native Dave Chappelle stars in a new advertisement calling for statehood.

The comedian, a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, sits with Shadow Senator Paul Strauss as he explains how District residents don’t have a vote in the federal government.

“Denying equal rights to Americans isn’t funny,” says Strauss, and Chappelle scrunches up his face before saying, “No, it’s not,” as others in the room start laughing.

Chappelle publicly came out for statehood at the unveiling of the revamped Ben’s Chili Bowl mural a year ago, calling his inclusion on the famed wall “one of the greatest honors.” He also received a key to the city from Mayor Muriel Bowser in September, during a trip to the District where he performed Radiohead with Ed Sheeran at Eighteenth Street Lounge.

With his addition to the “51 Stars” public service announcement campaign, Chappelle follows in the footsteps of actress Rosario Dawson, Better Call Saul star Jonathan Banks, and actor Richard Schiff, among others. Strauss is always right next to them in the videos.

The campaign received $25,000 in shadow delegation funds this year. (The council allocates a total of about $257,000 to the shadow delegation and this year included a line item in the budget for $952,000 towards a statehood public education campaign headed up by the mayor’s office.)

Strauss says local viewers will see the ad during morning shows, in an initial ad buy that cost approximately $2,500.

Why play the ads for the audience most likely to know about D.C.’s disenfranchisement?

“There’s a reason why, when you are watching TV in D.C., you see a lot of ads that are designed to influence national policy,” says Strauss. “The target is really to let members of congress, their staffs, a certain executive who apparently watches a lot of TV, to get a sense of what people will be seeing out in their states.”

Like the other “51 Stars” ads, the Chappelle spot can then be deployed when the New Columbia Statehood Commission does targeted advertisements in different states. That might happen if there’s a push to get D.C. statehood on other states’ party platforms or if there’s a “particularly egregious member who’s not respecting home rule,” says Strauss.

Chappelle donated his time and the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment handled the videography and technology sides of the shoot, says Strauss. Post-production cost about $2,000.