Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army, and was the 1st Grand Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan. There are some apologists who argue that when the Klan started to become violent, Nathan Bedford Forrest distanced himself from the Klan. This image can easily be debunked, using the writings of the acclaimed historical non-fiction writer Andrew Ward:  "In the spring of 1867, Forrest and his dragoons launched a campaign of midnight parades; 'ghost' masquerades; and 'whipping' and even 'killing Negro voters and white Republicans, to scare blacks off voting and running for office." The ROTC building on MTSU's campus (Forrest Hall) is named after him. There is no reason or explanation on why MTSU continues to honor this man that is in any way justifiable. Help us to ensure that the memory of this hateful man be washed off of MTSU's Campus. We call on President Sidney A. McPhee, the State Legislature, the Board Of Regents, the SGA, and the Department of the Army to support our campaign and help to promote true diversity on MTSU's campus.  For any group interested in sponsoring our campaign, which is an extension Black Lives Matter, please contact us at the following email:  [email protected]

This week marks the two-year anniversary of Shelby v. Holder, the Supreme Court decision which gutted core components of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. The Shelby case is devastating because for the last half century, the VRA has protected the right to vote for millions of Americans. Unless Congress updates the Voting Rights Act, the federal government will be powerless to stop racially discriminatory election procedures from going into effect. Congress has been unwilling to restore the critical protections of the VRA for two years -- however the need for voting rights protections has skyrocketed. In 2014, 21 states had new voting restrictions in place, followed by 17 states introducing 40 new voting restrictions in 2015. The 2016 election will be the first in 50 years where voters will not have the full protections of the VRA, which makes fixing the Voting Rights Act an urgent priority. The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 (VRAA), a bill just introduced in Congress by Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. John Lewis, will restore key voting rights protections. Most importantly, the VRAA will modernize the preclearance found in the original Voting Rights Act of 1965 and protect against voting changes that may be harmful or discriminatory. Republican and Democratic administrations and Congresses alike have reauthorized the Voting Rights Act in full for decades, and there is no reason why we cannot all work together to restore the Voting Rights Act today.

Although the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of marriage equality, current Michigan laws offer LGBT people no protection from workplace discrimination. LGBT couples who get married in Michigan can still be fired without legal recourse. Tell the Michigan Legislature to act immediately to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include workplace protections for the LGBT community.

It is the right thing to do. We have got to teach practicing bigots that this type of attitude will not be tolerated.

We are very saddened by the tragic deaths of our fellow community members. They were so loving and dedicated to our community and are amazing example of what Charleston, South Carolina is all about. We are the Holy City and we are a unified city where we look out and love one another. Their deaths did not occur in vain. They all inspired us to be better people and to be a strong and caring community. Instead of this tragedy dividing us as intended, it unified us as never before. Our undying love for our city and humanity over-poured as we celebrated their lives and honored their legacy in Charleston, South Carolina. They were all amazing examples of how Charlestonians, South Carolinians, and Americans should be and live. I am petitioning we honor their lives in an exemplary way by renaming the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to the Mother Emanuel Unity Bridge. I urge the South Carolina legislature to take this into consideration at their next session in order to honor the lives of these inspiring people in Charleston, South Carolina. Thank you!

Removing a negative piece of history that should not be portrayed as something good for all people.

Confederate symbolism lives on the flags of seven state governments (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee). This is not only a mockery to millions of citizens that live under these banners but it is a reminder that America is unwilling to rid itself of its troubled past. Symbols of secession should no longer be permitted to fly over state houses that are supposedly an embodiment of the values of all its citizens and that of the United States. Why stop at the removal of the Confederate flag in front of the South Carolina state house? Lets make sure that these symbols of hate and systemic racism are no longer used in our country.

Following last week’s attack on Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. and a Supreme Court ruling giving states discretion over what appears on license plates, the governors of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee have stated their commitments to taking the Confederate flag off speciality state license plates. Five more states offer license plates that bear the emblem—Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Add your name to the petition telling them to remove it. Whatever its benign significance to some people, the Confederate flag historically signifies an era of slavery and oppression, and is a rallying symbol for white supremacists and those fearful of progress. Displaying it on government issued license plates is unnecessarily divisive and hurtful. Sign the petition: Take the Confederate flag off state-issued license plates.

DSS is not doing what is needed to get children what they need when they place us with people. Some are bad and some are good. I've been in DS for seven months now, and I would like to see a DSS clean up. There needs to be more foster homes available. What we go through being in DSS is sometimes worse than in our original homes. We have no say in what happens with us. I'm fourteen, and I was taken because my mom went to jail for pdc and they told me I would be out in two days, which turned into 7 months. I would like to get someone to look at things from the children's eyes. Please listen to what we have to say.

Elected officials have no business supporting symbols of hate.

It's time for change in Charleston. Black and white must come together to rid our city of symbols of white supremacy and segregation. Street names should be bestowed on individuals deserving of honor. Americans of all colors can agree that John C Calhoun does not deserve such an honor in our city, especially after the tragic events at Emanuel AME Church which has to endure the indignity of having as its address the name of such a man like John C Calhoun. Charleston's children growing up in this city deserve better individuals to honor than Calhoun, and Rev Clementa Pinckney is one such name.

"GOODWILL is the monarch of this house. Men, unacquainted, enter, shake hands, exchange greetings, and depart friends. Cordiality exists among all who abide within." That quote is from an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., poem, "House of Alpha." South Carolina State Senator Clementa Pinckney was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. This petition is in honor of him and the other eight souls lost due to racism, so that we can heal America's racial divide that has left us all so unacquainted.