This is important because Black people have been on the back burner of this country for over 400 years even though this country was built on their backs. It’s important for all Americans to face this reality with a willingness, acceptance, and sincerity to make a change in their behavior. The US Senate has the stature and authority to set an example for the US and the world that they are united in this reality and become role models for everyone.

During President Trump's visit to India in February 2020, mobs attacked minority neighborhoods leading to 46 deaths and displacing thousands. This tragedy along with discriminatory national legislation (including a religion-based system to grant citizenship) demonstrate that India's values of democracy, secularism, and human rights are under serious threat. **If your organization wants to be listed as a signatory, please email: [email protected]**

Days after the WNBA announced it would take extraordinary steps to amplify the movement for Black Lives, U.S. Senator and co-owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream Kelly Loeffler, declared, "I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement" and that we should "remove politics from sports." The WNBA announced that it would spotlight Breonna Taylor's name on jersey's, "Say Her Name" on warm-ups, and "Black Lives Matter" on its basketball courts. Sen. Loeffler, a major supporter of President Trump, criticized the league for taking a stand and said they should put an "American flag on every jersey" as a "common-sense" solution. Former and current WNBA stars Sheryl Swoopes, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, Alysha Clark, and Sue Bird have all called for Sen. Loeffler's removal as an owner from the league. Basketball icon Sheryl Swoopes tweeted, "WNBA MUST do better." She's absolutely right. We need to stand with the WNBA in their bold support of the Black Lives Matter movement, especially when a U.S. Senator is trying to intimidate the women's basketball league to fall in line with President Trump's racist view of BLM. SOURCE: "Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler critical of WNBA's Black Lives Matter initiative," ESPN, July 7, 2020 https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29424379/dream-co-owner-kelly-loeffler-critical-wnba-black-lives-matter-initiative

It’s been 10 months and no one has been charged. The driver has been identified and still no charges. Aryues Townsend was 24 years old and deserves justice. He was proud to be an organ donor and was able to save 7 lives. He loved and lived life to fullest! He was well loved by so many. His family and friends deserve closure. We want justice for Aryues Townsend!

I am an essential worker at a grocery store. Unlike those who have been able to work from home or have been furloughed and collect an extra $600 in unemployment, I have been showing up to work throughout the coronavirus pandemic. I provide an essential service to my community and, as such, should be paid accordingly, especially when I am putting my life at risk each and everyday I work. The risks involved in dealing with large groups of people indoors during a pandemic are high. Also, most essential workers have to travel long distances, many by public transportation, adding to their risk of becoming ill from COVID-19. Many of my fellow coworkers have gotten ill from COVID-19; some have been sick for months. At this time we don't know what long-lasting effects result from COVID-19, although evidence is starting to show even asymptomatic cases can cause lung damage. Aside from the trauma of working during the coronavirus pandemic, many grocery store workers rely on working several jobs at once and many of these jobs in the service industry are no longer available. Most of us live paycheck-to-paycheck, and have no real financial stability when we need it the most. The added stress and anxiety of trying to make ends meet at a time when our hours are being cut and other sources of income are not available takes a huge toll on us mentally and physically. Grocery store workers, truck drivers, doctors, and nurses have been the lifeline for communities, especially during this pandemic. We certainly appreciate all the thanks we have received, but it is time to show real appreciation by providing us with retroactive hazard pay. In this way, we can continue to serve the community knowing we are supported financially during this pandemic. I call on the US Congress to add retroactive hazard pay for essential workers into the new stimulus bill.

Camping should be welcoming for everyone. This flag is a symbol of white supremacy and has no place in the beautiful parks of our great state.

Scenes of highly militarized police roaming major American cities with tanks, shooting peaceful protesters, journalists, and even lawmakers with rubber bullets and teargas have shocked the nation, and the world. Now Senators Schatz, Murkowski, Harris, and Paul have submitted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to “limit the transfer of certain surplus military-grade equipment to local law enforcement agencies across the country.” A powerful constituency of police unions and “tough on crime” lawmakers are opposing the amendment - but our campaign can help build grassroots support, and educate more people about the dangerous police militarization pipeline. Sign on to show your support for this bipartisan effort to get military-style weapons out of the hands of local police forces - we’ll need a massive grassroots groundswell to make this happen!

President Trump attacked Bubba Wallace, NASCAR's only Black driver, for his courageous stand to have confederate flags banned from race tracks After taking a stand to get NASCAR to ban the confederate flag from its race tracks, Bubba Wallace's team found a noose in his garage stall at his next race. Rather than praise Wallace for his courage and leadership, President Trump attacked him with this tweet: "Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX?" This was NOT a hoax. The FBI investigated, and it turns out the noose was there since October of 2019. That a noose could be in plain sight at a NASCAR track for that long without being taken down is further evidence of the culture shift needed to make the sport more racially inclusive and welcoming. Bubba is taking the high road, responding to President Trump with, "Love over hate every day. Love should come naturally as people are TAUGHT to hate. Even when it's HATE from the POTUS." Let's show Bubba we've got his back.

I am a young ballet dancer who has been dancing for about ten years. On stage and in competitions, I have seen a lot of people wearing pink tights even though it doesn't match their skin color and "breaks the line" of the dancer. Having a variety of skin tones in a large ballet wear company is very important, especially to increase diversity and make an inclusive ballet world. Tell Wear Moi to publicly support having more colors for flesh-toned tights and add more in their store and their website online.

All black lives matter. No person shall be discriminated against based upon the color of their gender, sexual orientation, skin tone, economic status, social status, religious beliefs, or location. Everyone deserves adequate resources in order to live and thrive. Speaking out and standing against injustice is an essential human duty. There is a mutual duty to serve and protect between the community and its members. Acknowledge, respect, accept, and celebrate differences as well as commonalities. Believe in the power of words and their impact.

Aurora, Colorado’s police force is clearly dangerous — and it’s enabled by unaccountable police union leaders who prioritize abusive officers over true community safety. It’s time for the mayor, the police chief, and the city council to rein them in. Aurora officers murdered Elijah McClain almost a year ago. A few months later officers mocked and glorified the killing. Then just last month, community members holding a peaceful vigil of violin players — honoring McClain’s life and protesting his murder — were attacked by Aurora police in riot gear, with batons and pepper spray. The police unions’ response? Marc Sears, president of Aurora’s Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) went on offense, dismissing public criticism as completely unfounded and repeatedly attacking the city’s first openly LGBTQ city council member who has dared call for accountability. The Aurora Police Association, the city’s other police union, which has been silent since McClain’s death, finally spoke up last week — only to complain about the firing of one of the officers and launch a barrage of personal attacks on the police chief, not just decrying her actions but questioning her integrity. As these atrocities have come to light, there’s been no contrition, no apology, and far too little accountability. And Aurora’s police unions have been solely concerned with knee-jerk defense of officers and deflecting any honest conversation about the problems with the department and long-overdue reform. Mayor Mike Coffman says he’s committed to stopping police violence in Aurora and creating real change. But that can’t happen through negotiation between the city and Aurora’s police unions. Like police unions across the country, Aurora’s union leaders perpetuate a violent and unaccountable police culture, routinely defend abusive cops, try to win contracts that effectively put police above the law, and do everything they can to block reform. If they’re given influence over the process, they will block any meaningful change. If Coffman and the city council are serious, they’ll follow the lead of the mayor of Minneapolis and stop any negotiations with police unions about accountability and reform. If we can convince the city of Aurora to stop letting the police unions bargain over the policies and reforms that could hold police accountable, it will help pave the way for real change in Aurora, and send a message to other cities that they can break free of the power of police unions and finally have an opportunity for real change.

The name of the Washington team is defined as racial slur going back to at least 1898 printing of Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. But the possibility of a name change is finally within view. American Indian people and tribes have repeatedly called on the team to change the name for decades. Despite a claim that the team name “honors” indigenous people, the name itself is derogatory and comes to front the practice of collecting a bounty for “red skins” or scalps of Native men, women, and children murdered as part of this country’s history of genocide. The traditions of the team and its fans also reveal the racist nature of the name. The team’s logo is a racist caricature and the team fight song calls the players “Braves on the Warpath!” all calling up stereotypes of Indian “savages.” And some of the fans of the Washington team take the continuation of the name as permission to dress in costumes mocking and imitating Native people. The team name, its logo, all of these traditions are dehumanizing and perpetuate racism. According to a new UC Berkeley study, • 65% of Native Youth 18-24 year-olds found the Washington team name offensive. • 57% of people who feel highly connected to being Native American are offended by the Washington NFL team name. • Native American mascots cause higher rates of depression, suicide ideation, self-harm, and substance abuse in Native youth, and increased discrimination in schools against Native students. It’s clear. It is time for the Washington NFL team to #ChangeTheName and end its racist images and practices.