In Washington, DC, our nation's capital, we have no voting member of Congress, and our local taxes and laws are subject to the control of Congress. This violates every principle of democracy and it is un-American.

The public has a direct stake in this case because it exposes a dangerous failure inside Washington State’s justice system: DOC is refusing to follow binding court orders and is holding a man based on a conviction that no longer exists. When a state agency can ignore the courts, keep false records, and unlawfully restrain someone past their legal release date, it threatens the rights and safety of every Washington resident. This is not just about one man — it is about the integrity of our justice system. Charles’s case reveals how easily a person can be misclassified, mislabeled, and held under false information, even after the courts have corrected the record. If DOC can disregard a legally vacated conviction and continue treating someone as a murderer “for historical purposes,” then no one is protected from similar errors or abuses. By joining this campaign, you are standing up for: • Truth and transparency in state agencies • Accountability when public institutions violate the law • The rule of law, which must apply to DOC just as it applies to every citizen • Human rights, because unlawful restraint is a constitutional violation • Public safety, because a justice system that ignores court orders is a threat to everyone Supporting this petition means demanding a justice system that works — one that follows the law, corrects its mistakes, and respects the rights of the people it serves. When we protect Charles, we protect all Washingtonians. Charles is being held in prison for a conviction that the courts removed almost twenty years ago. The judges already fixed the mistake, but DOC refuses to update his record and still treats him like a murderer. They’re ignoring court orders and keeping him past his legal release date. If this can happen to Charles, it can happen to anyone. We’re fighting to get his record corrected and bring him home. I’m asking you to help because no family should have to go through this, and no one should be held in prison based on false information. 

The new budget proposal has $1.5 million taken away from sidewalk infrastructure and the Eviction Advocacy center, and it needs to be returned.

This is bigger than one ship. This follows the renaming of a navy ship dedicated to pioneering gay rights activist Harvey Milk last year, as MAGA Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pushed to re-segregate the military and erase all progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Under Hegseth’s leadership, Black military members have had their promotions blocked and been sidelined from appearing at public events.  This is about an administration that is dedicated to whitewashing and rewriting American history to maintain control over the present. From removing or altering portraits of former President Obama and other cultural imagery throughout federal buildings, to Trump’s explicit attacks on the Smithsonian, to renaming the USS Doris Miller, it’s all part of the same anti-Black, Project 2025 agenda.  The through line is clear: this administration is not simply changing what appears on the walls of federal buildings or on the hull of our military’s ships; it is actively attempting to reshape how Americans understand our history, whose stories are recognized, and whose contributions are remembered.

It violates students rights. 

Government power can take away a person’s freedom, privacy, livelihood, and even life.  The people entrusted with that power must be held to a higher standard—not protected by a lower one.  Civil-rights violations are not paperwork errors.  They include unlawful arrests and detention, excessive force, torture, illegal surveillance, retaliation against protesters and journalists, evidence fabrication, and deliberate denial of constitutional protections.  When officials commit these acts and later obtain another badge, government contract, security clearance, or sensitive position, the system exposes the public to the same danger again.  I previously held a Top Secret–Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance while supporting national-security programs.  Clearance holders can lose eligibility for dishonesty, criminal conduct, poor judgment, or unwillingness to follow rules because those behaviors demonstrate that they cannot be trusted.  An official who intentionally violates someone’s constitutional rights has demonstrated those same disqualifying traits in the most direct way possible.  Federal law already makes willful deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law a crime.  But conviction does not consistently create a permanent, government-wide prohibition against holding another position of authority or trust.  Losing one job is meaningless if the offender can simply move to another agency, contractor, police department, correctional facility, or sensitive government position.  This proposal applies only after a criminal conviction and allows eligibility to be restored if that conviction is overturned and the person is acquitted or the charges are dismissed.  It protects due process while protecting the public from proven abusers.  A government that returns coercive power to convicted civil-rights violators is telling victims that their rights matter less than an offender’s career.  Constitutional rights must carry real consequences when government officials deliberately violate them.  If you cannot be trusted with another person’s constitutional rights, you cannot be trusted with the nation’s secrets, weapons, surveillance systems, detention authority, or public power. 

It is important because your petition connects personal experience with broader systemic issues that affect more than just one individual case. By sharing your story, you are not only explaining your own circumstances, but also highlighting how laws, policies, and sentencing practices can shape outcomes in ways that have long-term consequences for families and communities. From the respondent’s perspective, the importance lies in several key points: First, it provides context. It helps explain who you are beyond the conviction—your role as a father, family member, and mentor, and the work you are trying to do through youth outreach and education. Second, it raises awareness of systemic concerns. Your statement points to issues like sentencing disparities, the use of cooperating witnesses, and the broader impact of drug laws. Even if someone does not agree with every interpretation, it encourages reflection on how the system operates in practice. Third, it shows accountability alongside reflection. You acknowledge responsibility for your actions while also questioning whether the punishment matches the proven conduct. That balance is often important to decision-makers because it shows you are not avoiding responsibility, but also believe fairness should be examined. Finally, it emphasizes future contribution. Your focus on mentoring at-risk youth and trying to break cycles of incarceration shows a forward-looking purpose, which matters when evaluating rehabilitation and potential community impact.

People should join this petition because sibling bonds are some of the strongest and most important relationships a child can have, especially during difficult childhoods involving foster care, neglect, or family separation. Many older siblings step into parental roles by protecting, raising, feeding, and emotionally supporting their younger brothers and sisters when adults fail to do so. Yet after adoption, those same siblings can be completely cut off from the children they helped care for, causing heartbreak and emotional trauma on both sides. Supporting this petition means supporting children’s emotional well-being, mental health, and sense of identity. It is about giving family courts the ability to recognize when sibling relationships deserve protection and ensuring that adoption does not automatically erase the bonds between brothers and sisters who love each other. Change is needed so future families do not have to suffer the pain of losing contact with siblings simply because the system failed to keep them connected.

## THE MORAL AND FISCAL CASE FOR A DISABILITY LIVING WAGE The current Social Security Disability system is built on an inherently flawed "pay-to-play" model. By basing monthly payments on prior work history and "work credits," the government effectively penalizes those who become disabled at a young age. These individuals never had the chronological opportunity to build a career or pay into the system, yet they are forced to survive on significantly less support than those injured later in life. This creates a systemic "youth penalty" that traps our most vulnerable citizens in a cycle of lifelong poverty. The financial logic of the current system is also deeply counterproductive. When disability payments fall below the actual cost of living, individuals are often forced into state-funded nursing homes or long-term care facilities. These institutions cost taxpayers significantly more than a direct living wage would. By providing a livable income, we allow people to live independently in their communities, which is not only more humane but a far more responsible use of public funds. Beyond the financial savings, a living wage provides the foundation for true autonomy. Those disabled early in life lack the 401(k)s, home equity, or personal savings that older adults may have accumulated. A guaranteed living wage levels the playing field, ensuring that a person’s ability to afford food, accessible housing, and medical necessities is based on their human dignity rather than their previous tax contributions. Providing a living wage also acts as a direct stimulus to local economies. Unlike high earners who may save or invest their income, disabled individuals living on a fixed budget spend their benefits immediately on essential local goods and services like groceries, rent, and healthcare. This keeps wealth circulating within the community and supports small businesses, turning a social safety net into an engine for local economic stability. Ultimately, America must decide if its disability program is an insurance policy for the lucky or a safety net for all. We demand that Congress eliminate the work-credit requirement for those with permanent disabilities and establish a universal benefit floor that meets the modern cost of living. It is time to end the administrative complexity of the current tiers and replace them with a simple, dignified, and livable standard for every permanently disabled American.

Signing this petition is a way to stand up for basic human rights and demand accountability where it has been repeatedly ignored. Trousdale Turner Correctional Center has a well-documented history of violence, deaths, and unsafe conditions, yet little meaningful change has been made. By adding your name, you are helping bring attention to a serious issue that affects not only those incarcerated, but also their families, staff, and the broader community. Every signature increases pressure on officials to take action, whether that means shutting the facility down or enforcing immediate reforms. Change only happens when people speak out, and your voice can help protect lives and ensure that no one is forced to live or work in such dangerous conditions.

HB211 in Louisiana would criminalize homelessness, imposing penalties and mandated “homelessness courts” instead of providing access to housing or supportive services. Such measures do not address the root causes of homelessness and further destabilize vulnerable individuals. We must prioritize housing-first solutions and comprehensive support rather than punitive policies.

Rodney Dutch has served over 28 years in prison for a robbery—yet he was recently denied parole and given four more years, despite doing everything required to rehabilitate himself. This campaign is about more than one man—it’s about fairness, accountability, and a justice system that honors rehabilitation. Under the New Jersey Parole Act of 1979, individuals are supposed to be granted parole unless there is clear evidence they pose a risk. When that standard is not applied fairly, it affects everyone. By joining this campaign, you are: *Standing up against excessive sentencing *Supporting second chances and true rehabilitation giving a voice to families impacted by long-term incarceration *Helping hold the New Jersey State Parole Board accountable to the law. Your signature is more than support—it’s a statement that justice should be fair, consistent, and humane. Together, we can push for the second chance Rodney has earned.