As a gay ex-Mormon I am infuriated by seeing a civil servant using his religious views to tamper with Utah citizens' lives. This couple is legally married and meet ALL the requirements to adopt the child they have been fostering for 3 months. This judge's decision came about less than a week after the LDS church put out a new policy punishing the children of gay parents. These actions are linked and proof of the dangers legal citizens face when a religion is intertwined with legislation. Apparently there have not been enough anti-discrimination laws put into place to stop this type of thing from happening. There is a terrible shortage of foster parents here in Utah as well. We should be grateful and respectful to every couple that opens their home in order to relieve this crisis. Please sign so we can submit this petition in order to uphold the law and reverse this discriminatory ruling.

On October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was brutally gunned down by 16 shots from Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. The murder was caught on police dashboard cameras and security video from the restaurant- which was erased by police. [1] With the release of this devastating video evidence, it is now clear that the police lied and Laquan did not act in an aggressive manner. More than a year later, even with full evidence, Chicago city officials did nothing but reassign Officer Van Dyke to desk duty. But now that sustained grassroots mobilizations forced the city to release the video, they are finally charging Van Dyke- not because they believe in justice, but only because they want to avoid mass outrage. In Chicago, Black women, Black men, and Black youth face extreme levels of anti-Black violence and terrorism at the hands of the police. The city of Chicago has no interest in justice and the US Justice Department has consistently failed to defend Black people from racist attacks by police. That is why we are calling for the resignation of the police superintendent and the state's attorney and calling on the governor to appoint a special prosecutor whose only job is to investigate police killings. In addition, we call for a truly independent investigation conducted by the United Nations and Organization of American States into the violation of the human rights of Black people in Cook county and the city of Chicago. Sources [1] “The video that will rip Chicago apart — and why you need to see it,” The Chicago Tribune, 11-10-2015, http://trib.in/1lk39d4 “Chicago Police Sued for Alleged Police Brutality” ABC 7, 07-09-2015, http://abc7.ws/1TqxzWQ

Black students--who pay tuition just like their white counterparts--are leaving the University of Missouri because of active death threats against them. The school is on lockdown, classes have been cancelled, white students are walking around shouting "white power," and bricks have been thrown through windows--all in the wake of the University Chancellor stepping down and the President resigning. At the time, I was unable to find any mainstream media coverage about this incident. Racism is pervasive and threats and abuse are rampant. It's the worst we've seen in years. We cannot afford to live in denial or sit back and wait for others to act! Please sign this petition to help these students get back to campus and prevent further harm from being done. This violates their basic human rights! My petition is calling for the government to publicly address these concerns & to declare a no-tolerance policy on racial threats, slurs and discrimination.

While the inspiring protests against racism on campus led to the resignation of the University of Missouri president and chancellor, that hasn't ended the threat of violent racists. Threats against Black students at Mizzou have actually surged in recent days, including threats to 'shoot every black person I see,' shouts of 'white power,' and even physically trapping cars with Black students inside them. One called in threat resulted in the lockdown of a school building. CNN says these 'reports' of threats have been declared false by police but, at the same time, quietly notes that arrests have in fact been made--meaning the threat is real. Mainstream media is about to walk away from this story, but we can't abandon Mizzou's students right now, just as they're becoming more vulnerable. Let's stand together against violent racism at the University of Missouri.

Children need the protection of seat belts when riding on school buses. Children are at risk of death or injury in the event of a crash. Seat belts are required in private vehicles, why not on school buses?

I am the daughter of one gay couple and one heterosexual mormon couple, raised to respect others' lives and decisions, especially their religions, and to be loving and kind toward my fellow man. This petition seeks to reverse the senseless, discriminatory new policies adopted by church leadership regarding children of same sex couples. Children who are heterosexual themselves are barred from membership and full participation due to something they cannot control. It is hateful and discriminatory to bar anyone from membership for any reason beyond their personal control, including anyone of any sexual orientation and their potential children. I want the Mormon church to reverse the discriminatory rules they have recently adopted and open their church to any interested member, regardless of their family composition.

Nothing will stop us, for what we are fighting is just as enshrined in the UN charter of indigenous people. IPOB Leadership had ordered its members to stage a one million man Protest in major cities in the Eastern and Southern Part of Nigeria to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu. he indigenous people of Biafra have retained Dutch lawyer, Prof. Dr. Göran Sluiter. He has been instructed to file a criminal complaint against Nigerian President Buhari before the International Criminal Court (ICC), on account of crimes against humanity. The people of Biafra, living in the South of Nigeria, have been trying to exercise their right to self-determination for decades now. They have been systematically oppressed by the Nigerian government and have suffered serious human rights violations, amounting to crimes against humanity. With the election of new Nigerian President Buhari, violence and crimes committed against the people of Biafra have intensified. This is exemplified by the recent unlawful arrest and detention of Biafra’s leader, mr. Nnamdi Kanu, since 14 October 2015. Prof. Dr. Sluiter is convinced that there is more than enough evidence to have the ICC Prosecutor conclude that the people of Biafra are the victim of crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC and that President Buhari plays an essential role in these crimes. He also points out that the situation in Nigeria –including other crimes committed by Buhari, namely the electoral violence of 2011- has been under preliminary examination of the ICC for some time now and that the moment has come for the Prosecutor of the ICC to launch a full criminal investigation. The criminal complaint will be finalized on short notice and will –in the interests of justice and transparency- be made available to the public.

The ACAA was enacted by Congress decades ago to eliminate discriminatory practices against disabled travelers. However, the lack of specificity in the ACAA with respect to the dimensions of airline lavatories has allowed the airlines and airline manufacturers to continue to downsize the lavatories to allow more seating capacity, making it impossible for wheelchair-bound travelers to use the lavatories. As a consequence, millions of wheelchair-bound travelers suffer true indignities and physical hardships when traveling on the airlines.

On September 11th 2007, my seven year old son was told all Muslims are terrorists. Eight years later, the fear and smear of American Muslims continues. The safety of our nation is intertwined with the spiritual growth of her people. Tell America that American Muslims are not terrorists, they are our friends and neighbors, our brothers and sisters.

My mother was a Native American. She died still trying to convince those around her that she was a dark skinned white person. While I took after my father and have white skin and green eyes, inside beats the heart of a native. I cringe every time I see or hear hate in America. Too many people fly Confederate Flags, shoot little girls on highways, sneer at homeless people. I am in awe of people who can swear at a black homeless veteran to get out of their way so they can get to the church in time for cookies and coffee.

On Friday, October 23rd, Dr. Paul Gausman and the Sioux City School Board disregarded a petition which was aimed to stop Donald Trump from speaking at Sioux City West High due to the violation of the School Board’s Anti-Bullying/Harassment/Hazing Policy. Following Dr. Gausman’s statements that Donald Trump was still speaking, West High students met with the School Board to discuss the bullying that the students had suffered since the announcement of the Trump’s event. Even with their concerns voiced and their best efforts to be acknowledged by Dr. Paul Gausman and the Sioux City School Board, the event continued and the student’s concerns were neglected. Please join with us and demand that Dr. Paul Gausman and the Sioux City Community School District revise the District’s Anti-Bullying/Harassment/Hazing policy and have them provide a statement to the community illustrating their negligence for the safety and concerns of students.

HUNDREDS OF WOMEN IN TEXAS HAVE GONE ON HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST INHUMANE TREATMENT AND INCARCERATION Refugee and migrant women are on hunger strike at the all-women T. Don Hutto detention center in Taylor, Texas — an ICE facility run by the notorious private prison company, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). They are demanding an end to abusive treatment and their immediate release. Since the strike began, ICE and CCA have escalated their efforts to retaliate by threatening to deport hunger strikers and moving at least 6 women to other facilities or placing them in solitary confinement as a response to their collective action. It’s torture. And if enough of us speak up, ICE and CCA officials will be forced to hear the women’s grievances and consider their demands.