We are people who have spoken out and protested against war or sanctions on Iran. We are people who have opposed the Obama Administration’s plan to bomb Syria. We know the sorry results of U.S. and European interventions in the Middle East. We also have spoken out against mistreatment of Palestinians by Israeli forces and the denial of basic Palestinian human and national rights for many decades. We write to you about the situation of Palestinians in Yarmouk. The camp and its tens of thousands of residents have been under total siege for around six months. The Washington Post reported in mid-January that 48 Palestinians have died from hunger and related causes. We have seen pictures from Yarmouk of people reduced to near skeletons from malnutrition. We are not offering a solution to Syria’s problems; however we are united in saying that a siege of tens of thousands of civilians is cruel and improper. It violates international law and religious teachings. Attacks on civilians by any side in the conflict must be condemned. We ask that your representatives contact the Assad government and insist that it end its siege of Yarmouk and all predominantly civilian areas. Initial Signers: Mongi Dhaouadi, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations - CT, Noam Chomsky, Mazin Qumsiyeh, Ali Antar, president of the Berlin, CT mosque, Nada Khader of Wespac, Augusta Girard, Program Director, Promoting Enduring Peace, J. Kehaulani Kauanui, PhD. Professor of American Studies and Anthropology, Wesleyan University , As‘ad AbuKhalil, Department of Politics, California State University, Stanislaus, Felice Gelman Wespac Middle East Committee, John Mahoney, Executive Director, Americans for Middle East Understanding, Stanley Heller, Executive Director, Middle East Crisis Committee and the group Promoting Enduring Peace. (colleges and group names listed with individuals are for identification purposes only)

We need three states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment so that it can be added to the Constitution, as our 28th Amendment. The time has come for equality among women and men to be recognized and supported by our United States Constitution.

I am concerned Citizen and The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation Congress has ever passed. Last year's Supreme Court decision weakened critical provisions of it. Right now, Congress can restore those protections by passing this important bill. Rep. Smith should support this effort by cosponsoring and fighting for a strong bill.

I am starting this petition because a lot of states have passed laws that discriminate against the voting right of minorities and people of color. I am a non-white person.

We can not continue to sit back and do nothing while the GOP bullies, cheats, steals, lies, and buys election outcomes while continually dismantling OUR Democratic Election Process...

Voting rights are what we have left. Corporate greed and biased media are attempting to steamroll the common sense out of America.

The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation Congress has ever passed. Last year's Supreme Court decision weakened critical provisions of it. Right now, Congress can restore those protections of it. Right now, Congress can restore those protections by passing this important bill. Rep. Bishop should support this effort by cosponsoring and fighting for a strong bill.

To gain California support to protect voting rights through Congressional legislation. I have not been effected.

The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation Congress has ever passed. Last year's Supreme Court decision weakened critical provisions of it. Right now, Congress can restore those protections by passing this important bill. Rep. Smith should support this effort by cosponsoring and fighting for a strong bill.

The gay choir director at an Indiana church can't get his job back because the new pastor 'doesn't want to work with someone like [that]' -- so the congregation is voting with their feet. The newly appointed pastor of Alexandria United Methodist Church won't allow Adam Fraley, a beloved former choir director who served for six years, to return. What's more, when the church's elected lay leader stood up for Fraley, the pastor removed him from his leadership position. Local Methodist officials admit that there's nothing in church rules preventing a church from having gay staff members, but so far they haven't intervened, even as lifelong members of this small-town congregation have left in disgust and the story has made national news. Let's show the Indiana Methodist bishop that people across the country are standing with the pro-equality congregants who 'want their church back.'

The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation Congress has ever passed. Last year's Supreme Court decision weakened critical provisions of it. Right now, Congress can AND MUST restore those protections.

If we diminish the rights of any one person to vote we diminish the fabric of our constitution. Many people put their lives on the line to give everyone the right to vote and that right should continue to be protected. Rep. Denham should support this effort by consponsoring and fighting for the right of all people in this country to be able to exercise this right.