After receiving calls from individuals who said that they would be “uncomfortable” voting at the Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR), and others who expressed plans to impede voting by calling in bomb threats to the center on Election Day, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher stripped the ICBR of its status as a poll site. Rather than report the threats or stand strong against bigotry, Susan Bucher instead caved to these anti-Muslim groups and individuals and denied the ICBR community the ability to participate in the most basic function of democracy--the casting of ballots. There are about 80 churches and five synagogues assigned as polling stations in Palm Beach County, but the ICBR is the sole house of worship whose status as a poll site has been revoked. Bigotry should not be codified in policy, and no one should be denied the right to participate in our democracy at any level because of their religion. Susan Bucher must immediately reverse her decision and restore the ICBR's status as a poll site.

The May 5, 2016 email exchange between Amy Darcey and Brad Marshall indicated desire to exploit and encourage discrimination and hatred of atheists. Our Constitution is inclusive of people of all beliefs and the DNC platform should explicitly state that atheists and people holding religious beliefs are entitled to equal respect.

Charles Kinsey, a mental health worker, was shot in the leg while helping an autistic patient who had wandered away from the medical facility where Kinsey works. At the time he was shot, Kinsey was lying on his back, hands in the air, trying to explain to the responding police officer that he and his patient were both unarmed. When Charles asked the officer why he shot him, the officer responded, "I don't know." The department just suspended Commander Emile Hollant—the officer who radioed in the misinformation that the patient was loading a gun and later lied about it—without pay. Suspending these officers is not enough—neither of these officers should be able to put on a uniform again. However, Florida police union contracts and lobbying have made it almost impossible for police officers to be held accountable. Police violence against Black men and women in our country is an epidemic—the number of Black men and women killed by police each year is staggering. At least 138 Black people have been killed by police already this year. Having police who are unable to make quick judgment calls that de-escalate police encounters is no longer acceptable. Our social media feeds and media headlines are filled with horrific stories of police responding with aggression, violence, and domination, instead of engaging in conversation or using de-escalation strategies when interacting with Black men and women. Police officers who jump to violence must be held accountable and removed from the police force. Failing to do so continues the dangerous tradition of allowing police to act without consequence for the pain and suffering they inflict on Black men and women.

Echoing critiques made by Bernie Sanders and supporters of his presidential campaign, 14 progressive organizations are urging the Democratic Party to scrap the superdelegate system, which they say "undermines representative democracy." The groups, including Democracy for America, National Nurses United, The Other 98%, and Progressive Democrats of America, outline their concerns in a letter, which was obtained by Politico, to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the DNC Rules Committee, and the delegates to the Democratic National Convention. They're calling on the party to take action to get rid of the system that allows state party elites and elected officials to back the candidate of their choosing when the committee convenes in Philadelphia July 25-28. Read the whole article at Common Dreams: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/07/14/name-democracy-progressives-urge-dnc-ditch-superdelegates

One year ago, on July 17, 2015, Eric Garner, was killed by numerous police. The murder was recorded on camera. His words, "I can't breathe" were heard around the world and further compelled the movement for justice in our country. But the Department of Justice investigation has not yet resulted in charges against the officer who took Eric Garner's life. As the anniversary approaches, it is important to note that Erica Garner, Eric's daughter and her family have not had any closure. Activist Erica Garner was invited to the ABC's Presidential Town Hall with the promise that her voice would be heard—that she and other family members who have lost their loved ones to police violence would be able to ask the important questions our country must face in order to heal. But ABC broke its promise, and denied the invited family members of police violence the opportunity to speak. The Garner family grieves along with the families of Mike Brown and all other victims of police violence. They deserve to speak and air their grievances just as the families of the fallen Dallas officers and police authorities had a chance to do. Their lives matter and the town hall with the President of the United States was a disrespectful step backwards for all the families working to achieve justice. This is why we say #BlackLivesMatter.

We have all been deeply affected by the racial tensions ongoing since the time of slavery. Our country needs the Truth and Reconciliation program to heal the PTSD that has been passed down for centuries, and to educate the communities of both victim and perpetrator as to how trauma and PTSD is healed. Tutu set up a panel of nonjudgmental empathic listeners to hear the trauma stories, which began a healing process that has led to forgiveness and reconciliation. The program is deep and wide and needs to be studied in-depth to be implemented in the way Tutu chose, which has been successful in its scope and application. Just imagine what it would be like to live in this country without the tragedies caused by racial tensions, to be free of the fear, hatred and violence, to experience forgivness, reconciliation and unity for the first time ever!

This petition is to put an end to the road side drug testing of motorists. This is a pilot program for 5 counties in Michigan and the state police have not named the counties involved. This testing started 7/13/16 and it will run a year. If somebody is swerving and weaving they already have sobriety testing in place. This is just another attempt to harass motorist and another spin on driving while black. It is a violation of our constitutional rights to be drug tested on the side of the road for weed, cocaine and heroin. Please help put a stop to this harassment .

On June 14, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a rally in Greensboro as part of his national campaign to mobilize a far right movement based on hate, fear, and division. In response, a diverse crowd of hundreds from Greensboro and across North Carolina mobilized to oppose his agenda of racism, anti-LGBTQ and anti-women bigotry, anti-immigrant and Islamophobic demagoguery, fueled by more war and repression. It was a powerful and beautiful demonstration of unity and solidarity in the face the growing tide of reaction that Trump is organizing. As Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes took the stage to endorse Trump inside the arena, outside hundreds of local, state and federal cops brutalized and arrested protesters -- predominantly young people of color. In contrast, armed Trump supporters moved freely on the sidewalks and the streets around the arena - and even walked through the protest all while taunting and and shouting racial epithets at the demonstrators. At least twelve people were arrested and charged with an array of bogus charges. Most of those arrested suffered injuries from the police in one form or another - one of the arrestees suffered a sprained arm; a second suffered a chipped tooth, facial injuries, and broken pair of glasses that was never returned; another had their pants ripped to shreds, and they had cuts and bruises covering their arms and legs, and a giant welt on their eye after being slammed and tackled to the ground by at least 5 cops. The vicious police attack on the demonstration and Sheriff Barnes’ ringing endorsement of white supremacy are part and parcel with the role the cops play in our society -- to serve and protect the interests of the rich and the powerful, and to enforce division and oppression among working class people. We say the names of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Alex Nieto, Jai Williams, Mya Hall, Akiel Denkins, Sandra Bland, Aiyanna Jones, Trayvon Martin, and the countless Black and Brown people who have been killed by cops. Black Lives Matter! In response to the events on June 14 and the current environment of divisiveness and violence, we demand: -Due to the wrongful and abusive arrests of protesters, we demand that the Guilford County District Attorney immediately drops ALL charges against those arrested on June 14. -In recognition that Trump’s presence in Greensboro created a toxic and violent scenario for our city, we demand that Mayor Nancy Vaughn and the Greensboro city council declare Greensboro a “ No-Trump Zone” banning Trump from returning to our city. -Since his endorsement clearly demonstrates a willful incapacity to carry out his duties impartially, we demand the immediate resignation of Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes.

Guided by love, we continue to stand together for justice, human dignity and our shared goal of ending all forms of state violence against Black people. We organize, occupy, demonstrate, march and chant for a new future: A future we can be proud of. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, who fought for their freedom and ours. Like them, we want a world where our lives matter. We want an end to the war being waged on Black people, in all its forms. Some people fear change, and that's ok. Many will attempt to halt our progress. That is not ok. Some will continue their attempts to undermine us, but we will remain undeterred. For far too long, our unjust deaths have meant business as usual in this country. No more. We pledge not to be controlled by fear, but instead by our dreams. Join us, and pledge to do the same: Stand with the Movement for Black Lives.

Four Black deaths in a matter of days, we're in--and have been in--a state of emergency. Within a week, our nation has bore witness to the brutal police induced murders of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Delrawn Smalls, and Alva Braziel. Instead of indicting the officers that killed these Black men and reforming the departments that enable them, the federal government continues to pouring millions of dollars into the police departments that employ them. We can't afford to spend millions of dollars on police departments that will continue killing Black people. Join us in calling on President Obama and Congress to take executive action to pull all grant funds from any police department that doesn't make reforms to protect Black lives.

Governor Dayton said, "Would this have happened if those passengers and the driver were white? I don’t think it would’ve." I represent St. Paul, and I've worked with the community on many issues, including criminal justice issues. When our leaders speak truth to power, it is essential that morally conscious citizens stand up to support them. People of color are killed by police disproportionally. The time for reform is now. We need a cultural shift within the nation's police departments, and we can start today with the state of Minnesota. Lend your support today and sign this petition. Thank you.

We the undersigned believe it’s time to erase the name of bigoted Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney from public places like Taney Street and Taney Park in Philadelphia. Taney notably delivered the shameful Dred Scott decision that said people of African ancestry were not or ever intended to be citizens under the Constitution. Honoring him is like honoring John Wilkes Booth or Adolph Hitler. Plus he has little if any actual physical connection with Philadelphia. Instead, we want to celebrate the life of a real Philadelphia hero, Octavius Catto, who did so much for racial justice here. (And while the city will be honoring him with a statue on the apron of City Hall, it’s also important for his name to be prominent outside of Center City.) This renaissance man, scholar, athlete, teacher, organizer, patriot and civil rights activist was brutally murdered on Election Day in 1871 during a particularly nasty campaign. His killer was acquitted. Catto contributed his talents and finally his life to Philadelphia. So we are asking you to remove Taney’s name and rename both Taney Street and Taney Park in Catto’s honor – as a lasting demonstration of justice over prejudice in Philadelphia. Baltimore and Maryland are both trying to distance themselves from Taney and move his statues from prominent spots. Let’s beat them to it by putting Taney in the rubbish bin of Philadelphia history where he belongs – and rightfully elevating Octavius Catto to a place of honor.