House Bill 24 and Senate Bill 145 would allow faith based adoption and placement agencies to legally discriminate against families for children with none, based on their religious views. Research supports that in looking at what is in the best interest of a child, a loving and supportive home is a much more important factor than whether the parents are of the same religion, race, gender or if one has been divorced. The over 4,000 children awaiting placement in Alabama, with over 1,000 waiting to be adopted, deserve to have a loving home regardless of individual organization's prejudicial beliefs. We must take a stand for the children

This petition is to show there are many families that are being torn apart due to lies from CPS workers, angry family members, and revenge-seeking exes and even medical personnel. As a whole nation, we need to put a stop to CPS and family court corruption. CPS doesn't seem to care about what is best for our children and WE ALL need to expose them for tearing apart good families and taking away kids who are loved yet leaving children who are abused in unfortunate circumstances in homes where they are in real danger. Please help me in exposing all CPS and all family courts for their corruption. NO parent should know the pain of having their child/children taken away and placed in a home with pure strangers. DCBS/DFS/CPS/FAMILY COURT would much rather take children from their homes and send them to strangers than try to ACTUALLY repair families. We CAN stand and SPEAK UP for OUR children and OUR rights!!

For signature by CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA only please as the Senators are only influenced by their own constituents!! Check MoveOn for a petition addressed to your Senator. The Gorsuch nomination is scheduled for vote in the Senate on April 7, 2017, so, if you oppose the nomination, please sign this petition at your earliest convenience. Senator Warner announced on April 3, after this petition was posted, that he opposes Judge Gorsuch's nomination and will join in the filibuster of that nomination by Senator Kaine and others. I hope you'll still sign this petition to show Senators Kaine and Warner that we support their position and want them to hold fast to that decision despite political pressure and dealings that will inevitably occur over the next few days. Please take a moment to call Senator Kaine (202-224-4024) and Senator Warner (202-224-2023) to tell them of your opposition to and your support for their opposition to Judge Gorsuch. OUR CALLS DO MATTER as I've been told by every legislator with whom I've spoken in recent months! The following are but a few of the objections and concerns raised by the nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court: 1) Hearings and vote on President Trump's SCOTUS nominees must not proceed unless President Trump and his campaign and transition teams are cleared of collusion with Russian officials/operatives who interfered in our 2016 Presidential Election. 2) Republicans effectively stole the SCOTUS seat. President Obama, by right and obligation, nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the SCOTUS. Republicans, contrary to their Constitutional duty and Senate rules and protocol, denied Judge Garland a hearing and a vote. This unprincipled behavior should not be condoned or rewarded. Confirming Judge Gorsuch in these circumstances sets a dangerous precedent and signals that Republicans can act contrary to our Constitution and be rewarded for their misconduct. 3) Judge Gorsuch was nominated by President Trump to fulfill his promise that the next Associate Justice will have an ultra conservative judicial philosophy like Justice Antonin Scalia and will vote to "automatically overturn" Roe v. Wade. 4) While Judge Gorsuch claims to be apolitical, his nomination is supported by a publicity campaign funded by millions of dollars of "Dark Money" from largely unknown, apparently conservative, sources (reportedly linked to a network tied to the Koch brothers). 5) Confirmation of Judge Gorsuch, who is 49, will have a profound and enduring effect on our Nation as his philosophy and predilections will likely shape the views of the Court for more than 30 years. 6) During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Gorsuch was evasive and refused to answer legitimate questions designed to reveal his judicial philosophy. 7) Judge Gorsuch is a proponent of "originalism" (and will apply the words of the U. S. Constitution as they were understood at the time they were written - 1789 - when slavery existed and women could not vote) and "textualism" (and will look solely to the objective meaning of the text of a statute rather than to the legislative intent or statutory purpose), an approach not likely to protect and forward the civil rights of women and minorities. 8) As evidenced by his prior opinions as a Judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and his extrajudicial writings, Judge Gorsuch will most certainly undo our country's progress in so many areas and prevent its progress in others, in part, as outlined below : ** Women's Reproductive Rights - See a) Burwell v. Holly Lobby Stores in which Judge Gorsuch interpreted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to permit a corporate employer to refuse to provide its employees with medical insurance including comprehensive contraceptive coverage because it conflicted with the corporate employer's religious beliefs and b) Assisted Suicide by Judge Gorsuch (2006), where he expresses skepticism of the Constitutional basis of a woman's right to choose abortion. ** Separation of Church and State - In Holly Lobby, Judge Gorsuch essentially found that the religious beliefs of a closely held corporation supersedes the beliefs and the rights of employees. ** Worker Health & Safety - See TransAm Trucking v. Admin Review Board in which Judge Gorsuch sided with the corporate employer and found that a Dept. of Labor rule that a driver can't be fired for failing to operate his vehicle because of safety concerns did not prohibit the firing of an employee who temporarily left a disabled truck trailer along the roadway in sub-zero temperatures to seek shelter at a nearby location in the truck cab. ** LGBTQ Rights - Judge Gorsuch's reasoning in the Holly Lobby case has already been used to allow individuals to discriminate against the LGBTQ community (See EEOC v. R.G. & G.R. Funeral Homes, Inc.). Judge Gorsuch has also expressed admiration for Justice Antonin Scalia, also an "originalist" who wrote that our Constitution DOES NOT protect against discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. As Judge Gorsuch is also a proponent of originalism, it follows that he will not likely be inclined to protect and extend the civil rights for the LGBTQ community. ** Environmental Protection - Judge Gorsuch has repeatedly denied court challenges brought by environmental protection groups against those who damage our environment. See, for example, Wilderness Society v. Kaine County. He also will likely restrict the ability of federal agency experts to implement federal laws enacted to preserve our planet and halt the progress of climate change. See, for example, Gutierrez-Brizuela v. Lynch. ** Campaign Finance Reform - In his concurring opinion in Riddle v. Hickenlooper, Judge Gorsuch indicated that making a campaign contribution is a "basic constitutional freedom . . . enjoying significant relationship to the right to speak . . .. Thus, it seems unlikely tha...

Our community is strong and resilient, and we deserve to be seen. We Count. The Trump administration's recent decision to remove sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) questions from HHS surveys, to halt progress on including SOGI questions in the Census and American Community Survey, and to stop evaluation of HUD LGBTQ programs make it seem like the Trump administration doesn't agree. We won't stand for it. We demand to be counted. Reverse the decision not to collect data about LGBTQ people and their families now. We Count, so count us!

I am a Transgender ally and an active member of organizations fighting for Transgender and Immigration justice.

Please ask your legislators to support Senate Bill 180. The RISE Act, Senate Bill 180, has been introduced into the California Legislature by Senator Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). It is a key sentencing reform bill in the effort to shift from a failed policy of mass incarceration and jail expansion to social investments that will actually reduce drug use and support vibrant, healthy communities. SB 180 would repeal the current three-year sentence enhancements for prior drug convictions, with the exception of convictions involving a minor. The enhancements are applied consecutively – three years for every prior conviction for possession for sale. Of the 1,700 people now serving sentences longer than five years, many more than 10 years, in county jails; the leading cause is non-violent drug sale offenses. Why is the RISE Act so important? It will: Free up taxpayer dollars for investment in cost-effective community based programs instead of costly jail expansion. Address the extreme sentences that are causing some people to spend 10 years or more in dangerous, overcrowded county jails. Reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Reduce the practice of punishing people who are suffering from a substance disorder. Senate Bill 180 is co-sponsored by American Civil Liberties Union of California; California Public Defenders Association; Californians United for a Responsible Budget; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights; Drug Policy Alliance; Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Friends Committee on Legislation of California and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott just wrongfully removed the first Black woman State's Attorney in Florida's history from a key case after she heroically pledged not to use the death penalty. Aramis Ayala ran on a daring platform committing to real change for our communities. Her bold move is a direct response to the voters who put her in office, and shows the kind of leadership we need to see from prosecutors across the country. And Gov. Scott is sending a scary and unfair message: the voters’ choice in who they elect to serve real justice does not matter.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott just wrongfully removed the first Black woman state attorney in Florida's history from a key case after she heroically pledged not to use the death penalty. Aramis Ayala ran on a daring platform committing to real change for our communities. Her bold move is a direct response to the voters who put her in office, and shows the kind of leadership we need to see from prosecutors across the country. And Gov. Scott is sending a scary and unfair message: the voters’ choice in who they elect to serve real justice does not matter.

Myself and many others have been the victims of sexual assault and rape by homegrown American men. The idea of using violence against women as an excuse for this Muslim travel ban is absolutely infuriating and demeans the nature of violence against women!

Rep. Steve King's blatant and dangerous racism cannot be tolerated. Despite his outrageous statements, King is still the Chair of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice—which oversees constitutional rights, Federal civil rights, ethics in government, and more. Speaker Paul Ryan tried to distance himself from King's statement with light criticism. But critiques are not enough. King is in no way fit to chair the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice—or any other committee. This weekend, Rep. Steve King of Iowa tweeted his support for a Dutch nationalist politician saying, "We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies." This statement is the latest of King's many racist comments—and he's even doubled down on the statement saying, "I meant exactly what I said." In the same interview, he went further and said, "If we care about our stock, our country, our culture, our civilization—we need to have enough babies to replace ourselves and hopefully grow." Allowing Rep. King to continue to chair the committee further normalizes this terrible brand of racism and hatred. Former KKK leader David Duke and Richard Spencer, another white prominent supremacist, both celebrated and praised King's comment. And as attacks on Muslim, immigrant communities, and communities of color escalate in the wake of Donald Trump's toxic presidential campaign and subsequent Executive Orders, we cannot allow racism and white supremacism to be further normalized. Republican leaders have the ability to remove King from this committee and must do so immediately and send the message that racism and hatred will not be tolerated and rewarded by members of Congress. They must do so immediately.

Three troubling bills target the homeless and protesters. H5690 says that drivers who drive into a protester on the road are not liable for the injury they cause if they "exercise due care" -- the bill sends a signal that encourages malicious people to "accidentally" drive into protest marches and rallies. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText17/HouseText17/H5690.pdf H5258 makes it a crime to stand anywhere in an "unsafe" road or on the roadway median, a bill that targets panhandlers but also criminalizes people with political messages or fundraising drives. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText17/HouseText17/H5258.pdf H5210 fines drivers if they stop to give anyone money or other items, penalizing those who are generous to the less fortunate as well as anyone who just hands something to family or friends. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText17/HouseText17/H5210.pdf

As the bi-vocational pastor of a small church here in Jackson, MS, over the last 12 years, I've watched Nissan engage in abusive, exploitative, and militantly anti-union labor practices in their Canton, Mississippi facility. At the same time, Nissan tries to burnish their image by sprinkling charitable contributions around the community. The disconnect between Nissan's public image and actual corporate behavior was so great for me that I decided to get involved by joining the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan. Now I'm asking you to get involved too. Tell Nissan to stop using their advertising dollars where hate is being promoted. Tell Nissan to stop the threats and let workers have a fair union election. Join me in adding your name to this petition. Nissan has chosen to take a page out of the playbook of Mississippi and intimidate workers against voting for a union. The U.S. is the only place in the world where Nissan operates non-union. So we pastors here say: "Why not Mississippi?"