To President Obama, the U.S. Congress, the National Council on Disability, the National Council on Independent Living, and the Rehabilitation Services Administration: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2013, 17.6 percent of persons with a disability were employed, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In contrast, the employment-population ratio for those without a disability was 64.0 percent. The employment-population ratio was little changed from 2012 to 2013 for both groups. The unemployment rate for those with a disability was 13.2 percent in 2013, higher than the rate for persons with no disability (7.1 percent). The jobless rate for persons with a disability was little changed from 2012 to 2013, while the rate for those without a disability declined. These statistics illustrate that legislative efforts and "best practice solutions" to fully include and integrate people with disabilities into the workplace are NOT successful and discrimination and disincentives to getting a job or having a career still exists. In addition, according to the most recent U.S. Census data, 28 percent of those with disabilities ages 18 to 64 lived in poverty in 2010. Meanwhile, the poverty rate for their peers in the general population was 12.5 percent. On October 14, 2016, thousands of people with disabilities and fellow supporters will participate in the Million Gimp March on our Nation's Capitol to demand the following: 1. That Congress or the President takes immediate steps to make gainful employment and the pursuit and achievement of a career a civil right for people with disabilities and that legislation such as the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act are strengthened and vigorously and meaningfully implemented. 2. That Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which authorizes employers, after receiving a certificate from the Wage and Hour Division, to pay special minimum wages - wages less than the Federal minimum wage - to workers who have disabilities for the work being performed be immediately repealed at the Federal and State levels for all workers with disabilities and that an Executive Order be issued ordering that the certificates held by states and other jurisdictions be immediately made null and void. 3. That laws that make it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in hiring and in the workplace be strengthened, funded and immediately implemented. 4. That, once employed, people with disabilities be allowed to keep medical benefits such as Medicaid and Medicare, as a supplement that would cover essential items, services and long term care that private insurance does not. 5. That the asset limit for people with disabilities on Medicaid be increased from $2,000 to $50,000. We, the undersigned, agree with and fully support these demands and call for across-the-board competitive and inclusive employment opportunity equality regardless of ability.

My father, Ali Mahmood Awad Irsan, my mother Shmou Ali Alrawabdeh and my sister Nadia Irsan, have been in jail since May 2014 for a crime they never committed.

There are half a million migrant children farm workers in America. These children, some only six years old, work seven days a week picking onions, grapes, tobacco, and more. Because there is no law to protect them, there are no restrictions on how old or how long they can work. These children deserve our help.

My son, Frank McQueen, was shot multiple times and killed by Chester, Pennsylvania Police. He was shot so bad the funeral director wanted to do a close casket. I was also told that my son was also shot in his head twice at close range. The system is not telling me anything about my son's killing. My son is dead help me fight for yours. Thank You All In Advance I will always fight police brutality.

On July 2, 2014, in New York City (NYC), a Federal Court jury found that NYC police acted with "malice or evil intent" in falsely arresting four individuals at the 2004 Republican National Convention (RNC) in NYC, and awarded punitive damages to the protesters. This trial -- possibly the first time a "false arrest for protesting" case has gone to trial in decades -- comes six months after an $18 million settlement for the arrests of some 1,800 individuals at the 2004 RNC. I am one of the four (out of over 1,800) who refused all settlement offers in order to have a trial by jury. It is long overdue for NYC to accept responsibility for the wrongs committed and not continue to drag this process out.

Get this: Jimmy John’s makes ALL of their employees sign an extreme non-compete agreement that’s not only far outside of the norm for the industry, it’s completely CRAZY. Workers who leave Jimmy John’s for any reason – even if they’re fired – are barred for TWO years from getting jobs at any restaurant that sells sandwiches within 3 miles of ANY Jimmy John’s location. That means a sandwich maker or a delivery driver will have an even tougher time finding a job after she leaves Jimmy John’s. It’s time for Jimmy John’s to get rid of this oppressive and totally insane policy – not to mention pay their workers enough to support their families.

Sami Osmakac was found guilty of terrorism-related charges in June 2014 and faces the possibility of life in prison. Sami's sentence date is November 5th, 2014. His family, friends and supporters are desperately seeking the public's support to petition the state and federal government to release classified evidence that shows that Sami is extremely mentally ill and another victim of the FBI's terrorism entrapment efforts. Sami is currently in solitary confinement and is in poor health. To learn more about Sami Osmakac, his family and his trial, please visit our official Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/JusticeForSamiOsmakac. To learn more about FBI's terrorism entrapment efforts and informants, please watch this eye-opening documentary: http://youtu.be/CMRns4ViuEY We greatly appreciate your time.

Domestic violence is an issue that needs to be addressed and handled appropriately no matter your status or profession. The dismissal of Honolulu Sgt. Cachola's domestic violence case is yet another example of how police are not being held to the same standard as the general public. It's time to shed a light on this dark crime and strip Sgt. Cachola of his badge before his crimes affect another civilian.

On September 30, 2014, eight professors at GTS were fired for exercising their basic (and legal!) rights as faculty members and as workers: the right to form a union. They demanded to meet to address issues that create a “hostile work environment." Their firing doesn’t just impact the professors, but the students and future leaders of the Church. As custodians and overseers of an institution charged with nurturing the next generation of Episcopalian leaders, it is the Board of Trustees’ responsibility to lead by example and practice worker relations that align with the values of the Church and honor workers’ legal and moral rights. At the 2102 General Convention, the Episcopal Church resolved to build networks in the labor movement and work with those in the labor movement to strengthen for a more just society, pledged to oppose legislative attempts that eliminate or reduce collective bargaining rights and consider union rights when making purchasing and contracting decisions. Given the Episcopal Church’s explicate opposition to retaliation and support of workers’ right to organize, the Board of Trustees must quickly reinstate these faculty members and meet with them as a collective bargaining unit.

Because the lack of a decision has created a great divide in this country. Same sex marriages are recognized by some states and in some instances and not in others. This is creating a real burden on gay families and government agencies that must deal with the problems created. The time has come for a uniform, national rule.

The tragic police killing of 18-year-old Mike Brown hit home for millions across the country. The horror of losing a loved one to senseless, racially-motivated police violence is a daily threat in the lives of Black people in America. Now, national leaders are paying more attention to racial profiling and police brutality than they have in years. Will you join us in calling on the federal government to implement critical reforms to end abusive, militarized, and biased policing targeting Black and brown communities?

Years from now, it will be considered bizarre that anyone would have opposed the right of all committed couples to marry. Perhaps those who opposed marriage equality will apologize some day to the Americans whose rights they refused to acknowledge until the courts forced them. Until that happens we have to hold them accountable.