DA Mathis said there was no reason for concern, despite the fact that an allegedly routine traffic stopped turned into a violent arrest is itself a cause for concern. Sandra's family says that Sandra would never kill herself and that police seem to be covering up her death. We must demand that local officials release all video, information and photographs relating to Sandra's unjust arrest, imprisonment and death. The local police department and prosecutor's office have a long history of racism and corruption. Last year, DA Mathis threatened a local Reverend who spoke out about racist prosecutions, saying he would release his “hounds” on the Reverend. Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith was fired from the police department in Hempstead, Texas for documented cases of racism. According to her loved ones, Sandra Bland was a loving, compassionate woman, with a bright future ahead. Today would have been the first day at her new job working student outreach at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University. Loved ones described her as bright, spirited, and having a thirst for life. She was also a vocal advocate against police brutality and often spoke about ending racism and police violence. Our hearts and minds are with her friends and family as they move through this unimaginably hard time. But in a world where Black people are stereotyped as “violent” and police exist to enforce the boundaries of a deeply divided and racist society, who Sandy was or the life she was creating, did not matter. What mattered was that she was Black, and therefore, in the eyes of the law, didn’t deserve respect, didn’t deserve her civil rights, her freedom or her life. To be Black in America, is to be safe nowhere. Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to be targeted by police and incarcerated than white women. The Department of Justice and Attorney General Lynch have the power and responsibility to address the systemic police violence targeting Black communities. The reality is, racism, corruption and a deep-seated culture of secrecy prevents local and state police from holding themselves accountable. Without independent oversight, police will continue to kill and prosecutors will continue to do nothing. We should not have to demand justice, every time a Black person is murdered, but we will continue to do so until the justice system respects Black lives.

Earthjustice is heading to court to demand environmental justice for five communities that have been disproportionately exposed to toxic contamination. Take action now to tell the EPA to address these injustices by enforcing the Civil Rights Act. The suit we’re filing argues that the EPA has failed to complete open investigations of civil rights violations filed more than a decade ago. Each of the complaints charged that state agencies, in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, granted permits for polluting facilities in predominantly low-income, African-American, or Latino neighborhoods, including: * A hazardous waste facility in Chaves County, NM * A landfill in Tallassee, AL * Two gas-fired power plants in Pittsburg, CA * A wood incinerator power station in Flint, MI * An oil refinery expansion in Beaumont, TX Will you join me by asking EPA Administrator McCarthy to act on these civil rights violations? It’s unacceptable that the racial composition of a community continues to be a critical factor in predicting exposure to toxic contamination. Like all agencies of the federal government, the EPA has a responsibility to ensure that the states, local governments and private entities to whom it awards grants and financial assistance don’t discriminate. This has been the law of the land since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But the EPA’s record on civil rights enforcement has been notoriously poor. Tell the agency to enforce the law.

All eligible couples have a legal right to marriage in ALL 50 states. Ohio is no exception! Source: 1. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/07/13/guernsy-county-marriages.html.

Justice should be blind. All judges should follow the law. Even laws they don't agree with.

Too often people are busy working or cannot get away from their job to vote or volunteer on Election Day. Giving them a paid day off for this purpose will encourage them to take the time to make sure their opinion gets counted at the polls.

The Confederate battle flag, revived by racist terror groups during the civil rights struggles in the 20th century, remains a powerful, negative and deadly symbol for promoting racial terror today. The recent murders of the Emmanuel 9 and this flag's influence on the alleged perpetrator of those murders is a horrific reminder. People who "love" others should renounce the Confederate flag and not associate with it in any manner!

Using photographs of black males as targets for shooting practices is wrong. It sends a subliminal message that de-sensitizes and de-values the lives of African-American males. In fact, a picture of any human being should never be used, especially for law enforcement training. They should only be allowed to use the silhouette pictures for target practice.

Last week, House Republicans poured salt into an open wound by trying to ram through a bill allowing Confederate battle flags to fly on federal sites and national parks. Just as the people of South Carolina were coming together across party lines to take down the Confederate flag in a healing show of unity, Republicans in Congress were doing whatever they could to protect this symbol of hate and division. Sign the petition: tell Congress to remove the Confederate battle flag from the U.S. Capitol and get back to work!

As a 5th generation California, I am proud of the fact that California opposed the Confederacy and supported the Union cause in the Civil War. Mr. Calvert has perverted California history by supporting the Confederate flag in his official capacity as a representative of California in the US House of Representatives.

To save a man's life who is suffering with a polio condition and is being treated unfairly against all human rights!

It's time to stop shining a light on Confederate icon or traitors. The flag is down. It's time to shake loose the last vestiges of the things that continue to divide us. The KKK was and is a domestic terrorist organization. They do not deserve state-sponsored recognition.

I am a Detroiter. My ancestors fled the south due to what they experienced regarding the terror of the Klan and the rebel flag which is their signature just like the burning cross. It sends a message of hate and intolerance and bigotry and ignorance to the feelings of others.