My entire life, I've stood alongside people of different faith and ethnic backgrounds in the fight for justice, because I know that solidarity is the only way we'll all win. That's why I was appalled to learn about a Christian professor's suspension from Wheaton College for speaking out in support of Muslims. Dr. Larycia Hawkins is a political scientist who has taught at Wheaton College in Illinois since 2007. She wore a headscarf to class to show solidarity with Muslim-American women, who have faced increased hate crimes as Islamophobia has spiked this election season. Shortly thereafter, she was placed on leave. Dr. Hawkins had also posted on Facebook that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, which the college said failed to "faithfully represent the college's evangelical Statement of Faith." The college is entitled to stand by its theology, but Dr. Hawkins' was showing us the best of character. Her action was rooted in a concern for the people around her--even people with different beliefs--and a concern for justice. These aren't principles to be suspended for.

There is a rising tide of hateful rhetoric and violence aimed at our Muslim and Arab community members, at refugees fleeing violence, at immigrants and at people of color in our communities. This swell of hate and fear permeating our national dialogue is dangerous. We believe it must be met head-on with clear statements of principle from local business owners because we are leaders in our communities.

Civil Rights Law Enforcement is a function of government, not individual citizens. Section 706(b) of Title VII needs a more consistent enforcement policy.

I start this petition with great concern for the civil and human rights of persons of color, having witnessed police officers in Minneapolis and Hennepin County commit perjury, lie under oath, in order to convict persons of color with or without prior records. I and other researchers know the shooters of the BLM activists were escorted to the site by police and escaped with MPD help. I also know MPD will continue to stalk persons of color to either pad arrest statistics or to harm or worse murder...with the knowledge they can and will and have gotten away with it. We request that the MPD be placed in federal receivership until the city can produce officer candidates capable of providing equal justice under the law for all.

As a former teacher and school-based administrator, I understand the importance of system-wide consistency in responses by school staff members to acts of bullying and intolerance.

On October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was brutally gunned down by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Even though Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel knew about this gruesome murder, it wasn’t until communities rose up in protest and a journalist sued the city of Chicago to get video footage of the murder released, that Mayor Emanuel decided to act [1]. In a recent op-ed, Mayor Emanuel stated “At the end of the day, I am the mayor and I own it. I take responsibility for what happened and I will fix it.” Since the release of the police dashboard camera, Mayor Emanuel has fired Chicago Police Supt. Gary McCarthy and assembled a five-person task force on police accountability [2]. However, these actions fail to address the role Mayor Emanuel played in covering up Laquan McDonald’s murder. Mayor Emanuel’s negligent and possibly criminal leadership kept the McDonald family in the dark about what really happened to their son. Instead of demanding that killer cop Jason Van Dyke be held accountable for his violent actions, Mayor Emanuel has been working hard to protect his own effort to get re-elected. Before the video was released, Mayor Emanuel had praised the efforts of his former police chief, defended the city’s investigations of police shootings, and resisted a federal investigation into the police department. By turning a blind eye to the brutal murder of Laquan McDonald, Mayor Emanuel is clearly demonstrating his lack of concern for Black lives. Chicago residents deserve better! Demand that Mayor Rahm Emanuel resigns. DeAngelo Bester, Workers Center for Racial Justice Charlene Carruthers, BYP100 Byron Hobbs, SOUL Katelyn Johnson, Action Now References “Rahm Emanuel, Anita Alvarez – where’s your resignation?” The Grio, 12-02-2015, http://on.thegrio.com/1XN4QRG “Rahm Emanuel Denies Laquan McDonald Cover-Up In Op-Ed” The Huffington Post, 12-04-2015, http://huff.to/1IvbzbQ

After watching Donald Trump on ABC's Kelly and Michael, it occurred to me I had never seen hatred celebrated and welcomed on network TV with enthusiasm; the idea that radical and extreme hatred and intolerance is being normalized with a warm welcome is appalling.

We live in a state founded on the principles of religious pluralism and now more than ever we need to live up to our ideals.

Trumps words of fear are undermining American democracy and result in discrimination of the worst kind. America is the land of immigrants. Diversity makes us stronger not weaker. Irrational fear will not solve the brutality of some in the world.

Fathers' rights are integral in today's society, and a vital part of any child's development. Recently in a dependency hearing for contempt my attorney charged the state with fraud. I am going on 2 years without being able to see my daughter. This has gone on completely ignored by the local 18th judicial circuit here in Brevard County, Florida. I am hoping to proceed with all of my documented procedural history and file a civil claim that perhaps will lead to criminal charges which will pave the way for a possible bill sponsorship by senator or congressman (Hera's Law ). I don't get into the particulars of my case because a minor is involved, but i hope that one day soon my daughter's mother, realizing the bias that has been placed in her favor, will join me in this civil claim, providing her testimony as a deposition of facts that will cement this claim against the state and DCF for their criminal act at the expense of my daughter's relationship with me as her father. This will many other children and good fathers alike. I am streamlining our complaint and civil rights efforts with petition projects. Here are the official links : https://www.change.org/p/fathers-matter-vote-yes-for-hera-s-law http://www.thepetitionsite.com/173/616/558/fathers-matter-vote-yes-"heras-law"/ http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/fathers-rights-heras

We, as educators of conscience, stand in defense of our Muslim Sisters and Brothers and formally denounce any and all anti-Muslim rhetoric and sentiment. American communities and their schools should be safe havens for all students, and we as educators must stand by all members of our community, regardless of faith. Recent inflammatory statements by a presidential candidate serve only to divide us and to create an atmosphere of fear and prejudice. These statements are reminiscent of our nation’s past injustices, including: the attacks on German-Americans during WWI the wave of race riots against African-Americans after WWI the blacklists of the McCarthy hearings in the 1950s the barring of Jewish emigres into this country during WWII the internment of Japanese and Italian Americans during WWII We call on all public officials and candidates to denounce religious and racial bigotry. Furthermore, we call on school district personnel to work together to create and implement programs that celebrate diversity and foster an attitude of tolerance. It is the responsibility of every American citizen to defend the ideals that this country embraces, including but certainly not limited to the freedom of religion. In Solidarity, August Leppelmeier, Teacher, NYC (MORE Caucus/UFT) Beth Dimino, Port Jeff Station, NY, President Lyn Bigelow, Teacher, Sacramento CA (NTA, California Teachers’ Association) Jia Lee, NYC, MORE Caucus/UFT Aixa Rodriguez, Bronx Educators United for Justice Jamaal Bowman, NYC Principal C.A.S.A. Middle School Francesca Gomes, NYC, MORE Caucus/UFT Xian Franzinger Barrett, Chicago CORE/CTU Marla Kilfoyle, Teacher, NYS, Executive Director of The Badass Teachers Association Michelle Gunderson, Chicago, CORE/CTU

Donald Trump wants to ban Muslims from traveling to the United States, including U.S. citizen Muslims outside the United States at the time of the restriction. He says he wants to "understand" the problem of radical Islam. Maybe first he should understand ordinary and peaceful non-radical Islam, which truly represents 99% of all Muslims throughout the world.