Political prisoners rotting in prisons since 9/11 without being proven guilty, or with no substantial charges, or fabricated charges

I had to put up with "we don't hire women" after graduation from college, and then put up with rape in the workplace after I became a pioneering Art Director in an ad agency. My skills are of great value; please don't force me into homelessness by deliberately depriving me of my Civil Rights!

The Justice Dept. should recognize that this is another form of poll tax it's target is to disenfranchise minorities, the elderly and students.

Farm workers started a 13 day, 200 mile march to Sacramento on August 23. Their goal? To press for enactment of the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act and the right to be paid overtime after 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week just like any other worker. The "Fair Treatment For Farm Workers Now" will end on Sept. 4th, Labor Day weekend, at the State Capitol. If you're in California, please consider joining workers for one of the days of the march. If you can't join the march in person, please join virtually by signing their petition by clicking the grey "submit form" button to the right. Two months ago, Gov Brown vetoed the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act, a bill that would have made it easier for farm workers to join a union and speak up for their rights. More than 1,000 farm workers visited the Capitol during the 12 days Governor Brown deliberated on the bill. Risking their jobs to attend, they held vigils, fasted and rallied for change. They told the Governor how the laws in the books are not the laws in the fields. They talked about having no bathroom breaks, no overtime pay, no respect and the lack of enforcement of heat regulations. And they were right-- two more workers may have died of heat related illness this year alone. Farm workers can't afford to wait any more, not when their lives are at risk. So they are using their marching feet to try and convince Gov. Jerry Brown to sign their new bills when they reach his desk. In Governor Brown's veto of the "Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act," he says he is "not yet convinced." For farm workers, "not yet" means farm workers don't get water and shade. "Not yet" means farm workers continue to die of heat illness. "Not yet" means farm workers do not have basic justice implemented by the Agricultural Labor Relations Act. “Not yet” means hundreds of farm workers who last year voted for union representation have waited more than a year for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to take the simple act of certifying the elections. Enough with "not yet." The time is now. Join the virtual march by signing the petition to get farm workers the fair treatment they deserve.

We support diversity at the 21st Circuit Court, your signature shows support for the appointment of Imani Drew as the first African American Judge in its history to be appointed to the 21st Circuit Court. African Americans gave great support to Chief Justice Tom Kilbride, we the undersigned would like his support in recommending to the 21st Circuit Court Imani Drew. Justice is not just if Blacks are qualified but excluded!

FACTUAL HISTORY: On the heels of Oakland Unified School District Police Chief Peter Sarna being fired for drunkenness and outrageous racist comments regarding African Americans, Tony Smith, superintendent of OUSD, has shocked the Oakland community by replacing the disgraced chief with the murderer of Raheim Brown Jr., Sergeant Barhin Bhatt. On January 22, 2011, 20-year-old Raheim Brown Jr. was sitting in his car not far from Skyline High School when he was approached by Sgts. Barhin Bhatt and Jonathan Bellusa. In a short while, Raheim Brown Jr. would be dead, shot five times through the head and upper body. His female companion was pulled out of the car through the window and then beaten and arrested. She has testified to the fact that racist comments were made right before Brown was killed. Police alleged Brown was armed with a screwdriver but even if that is so, the young man was sitting in his car, never exited the vehicle and thus posed absolutely NO threat to the officers. This is at a minimum excessive force, but the community believes it is actually no less than murder because the officers were not in any danger and could have called for backup or used non-lethal means to detain Brown. To name Bhatt as the Acting Chief of the OUSD Police sends a chilling message to all those youths in our schools, especially non-white males, that they may end up dead too, as did Raheim Brown Jr., if they come in direct contact with OUSD police officers. On Wednesday, August 10th, community members attended Oakland school board meetings to demand the termination of Bhatts and Bellusa, but less than a week later, not only was Bhatts not fired; he was promoted into a position of prominence and power. COMMUNITY DEMAND: THE COMMUNITY DEMANDS THE TERMINATION OF BARHIN BHATTS AND JONATHAN BELLUSA AS WELL AS THEIR ARREST AND IMMEDIATE PROSECUTION BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY FOR THE MURDER OF RAHEIM BROWN JR.

We are no different than any other citizens. We work, pay taxes, and love just the same as other Oklahomans. It just so happens that we love people of the same gender. We deserve the equal rights to marry our loved ones. Most of all we should have support for the one's that their families disown because of ignorance and bigotry bestoyed upon them. We are always going to be around, and I for one am not moving to a state that is more loving and tolerant of gays. I plan to stay and fight!!!!

As of the date of this email there are 243 sponsors and cosponsors of H.R. 822 ,which represents 55.9% of the votes in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is interesting to note that there are 193 Democratic and 242 Republican Representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives; yet only 34 (17.6%) of the Democratic Representatives are cosponsors of H.R. 822 while 209 (86.4%) of the Republican Representatives are sponsors/cosponsors. This is very consistent with the voting records of the members of Congress where all Representatives vote along party lines at least 85% of the time. I thought that in the U.S.A. we elect candidates that will represent their constituents and support the US Constitution rather than a political party position. I urge all Representatives to fulfill their obligations under the oath of office they took under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution as regards Amendment II of the U.S. Constitution and support H.R. 822 rather than adhere to a strong party discipline such as seen in Westminster Parliamentary governments and in Communist Party governments. Discussion: Currently there are eleven (11) states that do not recognize concealed weapons carry permits issued by any other states in violation of Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States. (CA, CT, HI, IL MA, MD, NJ, NY, OR, RI, & WI) Of these one (IL) does not have any provisions for issuing concealed weapons carry permits and does not allow concealed weapons carry. Conversely, there are eleven (11) states that honor all other states' concealed weapons carry permits in compliance with Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States. (AK, AZ, IA, ID, IN, MI, MO, OK, SD, TN, & UT). One state (VT) does not require a permit for concealed weapons carry and therefore does not issue concealed weapons carry permits. The remaining twenty-seven (27) states recognize some other states' concealed weapons carry permits but do not recognize other states' concealed weapons carry permits, again in violation of Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States. These remaining 27 states are also not consistent with each other thus creating a mind-numbing and constantly changing environment for travelers with valid state issued permits for concealed weapons carry. In some states, you can not even possess a handgun without a permit and permits are only issued to residents with a “demonstrated need”; effectively violating residents' U.S. Constitutional, 2nd Amendment rights . We should have the right to protect ourselves in any state while traveling or on vacation. All but one state have passed concealed carry laws because the right to self-defense does not end when one leaves their home. However, as listed earlier, interstate recognition of those permits is not uniform, is in violation of the U.S. Constitution, and creates great confusion and potential safety and legal problems for the traveler. H.R. 822 would solve this problem by requiring that lawfully issued carry permits be recognized in accordance with Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States, while being subject to the same conditions or limitations that apply to residents of the State who have the least restricted permits issued by the State or are otherwise lawfully allowed to do so by the State. It would authorize a person who is carrying a government-issued photographic identification document and a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm in one state to carry a concealed handgun in another state in accordance with the restrictions applied to the least restricted concealed carry permit of that state. This provision protects the ability of the various states to determine the conditions of concealed carry, much like they determine their individual state traffic laws. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; rather, it would require the states to recognize each others' carry permits, just as they recognize drivers' licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards. =========================================== Applicable portions of The United States Constitution Article IV - The States, Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others. Article VI - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths AMENDMENT II AMENDMENT XIV, Section 1, and Section 5

Dr. Frank Kameny was the first to fight dismissal from a federal job and appeal it all the way to the Supreme Court. He was the first to run for Congress in 1971. He also worked to remove the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder from the American Psychiatric Association's manual of mental disorders. He deserves recognition for his pioneering efforts.

Under Connecticut state law, 17 year-olds may work, drive, legally consent to sexual relations, and even stand trial in adult criminal court for certain crimes. They contribute to state revenues through sales and employment taxes. They can serve in the armed forces. They are required to complete a course in civics education in order to graduate from high school. And, as of 2008, they have had the right to vote in primary elections (provided they turn 18 before the general election). Yet, despite these various responsibilities, Connecticut's 17 year-olds are barred from participating in general elections. Giving these youth the right to vote will breathe new life into stagnant public debates surrounding education reform, juvenile justice policy, environmental protection, and a host of other important issues that uniquely affect young people. Moreover, it will encourage Connecticut’s youth to take a more active role in civic life and help them to develop a long-term interest in government and politics. We therefore call on state lawmakers to amend the state constitution and lower Connecticut's voting age to 17 for general elections.

In the fall of 2011 the Chicago City Council will debate whether or not it will pass a resolution against torture. The resolution calls on the City of Chicago to “hereby stand against all forms of torture and inhumane treatment and does proclaim Chicago to be a torture free city.”

There has been data that anti-gay rhetoric is harmful to gays (especially gay youth). The two seem to be connected as evidenced by an increase in hate crimes involving 'perceived' gay teens and gay adults.