Dr. Angela Davis' record speaks for itself. She is a renown leader of the civil rights movement, including being part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This is why it should've come as no surprise that Dr. Davis was chosen to be honored for a human rights award by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) in October. But earlier this month, BCRI decided to revoke its award from Dr. Davis by releasing a statement that read, "Upon closer examination of Ms. Davis’ statements and public record, we concluded that she unfortunately does not meet all of the criteria on which the award is based." [1] Although BCRI never stated which "criteria" Dr. Davis did not meet for the award, the move came after the Southern Jewish Life magazine spoke critically about BCRI awarding Dr. Davis and her support for Palestinian human rights. As Dr. Davis prepares to attend an alternative event in February, it's important to stand in solidarity and show support for her as a leader, a visionary, and a human rights advocate. Source: 1. "Why a Revoked Civil Rights Award for Angela Davis Is Causing an Uproar in Alabama," Slate, January 8, 2019 https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/01/angela-davis-birmingham-alabama-award-civil-rights-bds.html

Congressman Steve King (R-IA) is openly pushing white nationalist policies and meeting with white nationalist politicians in Canada and Europe. Recently, King questioned if terms such as "white supremacist" were offensive. In the weeks leading up to election day, Steve King traveled to Austria to be interviewed by Caroline Sommerfeld of the Austrian far-right propaganda site Unzensuriert (which means “uncensored” in English). Sommerfeld is a prominent leader in Europe’s neo-fascist identitarian movement. In his conversation with Sommerfeld, King discussed his belief in the superiority of white European culture over others and talked at length about his belief that Europe and America are threatened by Muslim and Latino immigration. And the conservative Weekly Standard reported on election night that King had referred to Mexican immigrants as "dirt." However, these are just the latest developments highlighting King's extremest agenda. For years, Republicans have allowed Steve King to use their party platform to promote an agenda of racism and xenophobia. The House Republican Conference can expel Steve King from their caucus with a 2/3 majority vote. While some Republicans have taken steps to denounce Steve King's racist rhetoric, a vote to expel him would show that they are serious about cutting ties with the white nationalist wing of their party. That's why House Republicans should immediately vote to expel Steve King from their conference.

As someone who is LGBT (bisexual) this cause is close to me because all to often, LGBT people are the target of covert discrimination attempts through the usage of "religious freedom" legal exemptions, which are explicitly designed to allow for bigots who use their religion to justify to hatred to discriminate against people. It's time to put an end to these licenses to discriminate.

Shut down ACS and DCF. The fact is we don't need them. We have police for this.

After Ald. Ed Burke was indicted for corruption, he stepped down as chair of the City of Chicago Finance Committee. Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants Ald. Patrick O'Connor to replace Burke. 1. City Council should choose the chairs of committees. 2. O'Connor engaged in reprehensible, racist attacks on Ugo Okere, a Nigerian-American candidate challenging O'Connor during an October 16, 2018 candidate forum.

My petition is to save the dogs around the world from being put to sleep for things not in their control. They should have the same rights as humans. Humans get second chances all the time, yet these dogs from dog fighting cases have no rights and are put to sleep immediately because of their bloodlines because the type of dogs they normally are (pit bulls). These dogs need to be safe, and I'll do anything in my power to keep them safe. If these dogs can be saved, then they should be, and yes if the dog is not safe to be around then that's another story, but when a dog is put into a ring with a dog that will do anything to kill it, then it will do anything to survive, just like a human. Most of these dogs come out and they are loving animals and can be put into a loving home. Even if they don't get along with other dogs, they can still find a home; these dogs are given up on too fast.

I am an MST veteran who experienced retaliation, homelessness, and PTSD due to MST. The MST community is the most underserved and vulnerable class of veterans. Leading most of us to commit suicide. The most PTSD claims come from MST. The most suicides do to PTSD are MST. Homelessness affects MST veterans at 2x the rate. In every category, MST veterans are at the highest risk, yet no one is changing the laws. Our Bill of Rights provide protections for MST Veterans around the Nation!

This petition is about the Equality Act, a piece of legislation that would dramatically amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to explicitly include anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people. As someone who is bisexual, this is personal for me. I don't deserve to be discriminated against for being bisexual.

I am a UNC Alumna, an NC tax payer, an Orange County resident, and a committed anti-racist organizer. Enough is enough with the "Lost Cause" narrative that cemented the Jim Crow era. Silent Sam is gone, no resources should be wasted on enshrining the statue.

Across the nation, states are taking action to create increasingly independent commissions that remove partisan considerations and politics from their redistricting processes. They are doing so because they understand that independent commissions lead to more competitive districts, which are ultimately healthy for the functioning of our democracy. In an inexplicable move, New Jersey is poised to reverse course, and instead, increase the exact measures that experts agree lead to greater gerrymandering. SCR45/ ACR60 would change the NJ Constitution so that: 8 of the 13 members would be directly appointed by Senate and Assembly legislative leadership, and no less than 4 MUST be legislators themselves. This could result in upwards of 12 out of 13 committee members tasked with drawing legislative districts being either beholden to or actual legislators themselves! Ties the hands of the independent, non-partisan, court appointed tie-breaker, relegating their role to no more than a checklist prefect. Establishes and mandates the precedence of a mathematical model, that while seemingly fair on paper, is not rigorous enough to prevent unjust manipulation of the formula by parties with vested interest. We stand united in the belief that SCR43/ ACR60 are un-American and destructive to our democracy. We demand legislators reject this proposal, and protect the integrity of our elections.

Indiana is currently one of only five states in the United States that do not protect its residents against hate crimes. A hate crime is a prejudice-motivated crime committed by a perpetrator against a person or persons based on race, religious affiliation, gender preference or gender identity. In addition to psychological distress and/or physical injury or material damages sustained by the victim, a hate crime conveys a message of intimidation, hatred, and terror to the entire group. As a result, members frequently feel isolated and vulnerable. Hate crimes can also lead to factionalism or divisions within communities. It’s no secret that in recent years, extremists have been emboldened, and Abigail Hauslohner of the Washington Post states, “Hate crimes in the nation’s 10 largest cities increased by 12 percent last year, reaching the highest level in more than a decade, according to a report released [in May] by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino.” For this reason, it is urgent that a hate crime (or bias-crimes) bill with aggravated penalties be introduced and voted into law in Indiana. Indiana legislators need to know now that you want groups targeted for hate crimes to be protected from violence by law! Please sign the petition to urge that state representatives act immediately to introduce hate crime legislation that includes aggravated penalties to Congress and work to their utmost ability to get said bill passed into law.

To maintain peace and prosperity in Liberia, Liberia must continue meditation processes in which the victim, the offender, and the other individuals or community members can actively participate in the mediation and resolution of past grievances. To continue restorative dimensions of their work, the TRC has created a Reconciliation Unit, which has engaged traditional religious leaders and solicited their views on the way forward for Liberia. We want a peaceful resolution.