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Justice For Jayvis BenjaminThis is a letter from his mother- My name is Montye Benjamin I am the mother of Jayvis LeDell Benjamin. Jayvis was UNARMED and killed by officer Lynn Thomas of the Avondale Estates Police Department in Dekalb county Georgia. I would like the opportunity to share with you my experience seeking justice for my son. As his mother I will continue to be his Advocate and voice that was silence by officer Thomas who sentencing Jayvis to a roadside execution, being the judge and jury on the street. My journey includes many barriers that was put in place attempting to force me to quit or having no hope for justice with limited resources, legal counseling and mainly with little to no support from my community. On the night that my son was killed, a false narrative was given that he stole a car and assaulted officer who commanded him to get back in a wrecked car. I did not find out the truth until I appeared before the Grand Jury that my son only ran a red light. On January 18, 2013, Jayvis ran a red-light losing control of the car he was driving running into a telephone pole head on. Officer Thomas witness Jayvis running the light then calling into dispatch stating, “that guy is going 120 miles an hour, I am going to go look for him”. Upon arriving officer Thomas exits his patrol car approaches Jayvis and begin to pat both his left and right side appearing to decide either to use his tazer or gun. Officer Thomas then release from the holster his gun pointing it directly at Jayvis, before Jayvis exit the car. Jayvis then proceed to exit the car brushing away the broken window on the driver side, once he exits he then raised his hand up stating “Do ya’ll see this $h1#. Do see ya’ll see what he trying to do to me” repeatedly and then officer Thomas shouting, “get back into the car”. At no time did officer Thomas access for injuries from the impact of the car hitting the telephone pole. You can see that Jayvis was engaging with the people in the community that began to come out of their home because the power was knock out and the loud noise of the impact hitting the telephone pole. On April 30, 2015 a Grand Jury hearing “Strongly Advised Indictment” of Officer Thomas. On May 1, 2015 DA James announced during a press conference that a warrant would be issued for Officer Thomas and he would appear before a criminal grand jury. Almost a year later the Former DA presented an altered clip of the dash cam video, only showing Jayvis and not officer Thomas exiting the patrol car. Former DA Robert James ruled the shooting justified stating that he did not agree with the jury decision and they needed to be trained to evaluate a police involve shooting. The case was in the appellate court process because the judge dismissed the case. This decision was made on the altered video that was entered to the court and not the same one that was shown during the grand jury hearing. Five months after DA James rule the shooting justified Officer Thomas was promoted to chief of his department. Several request by me and my attorney’s to get the original dash cam video and we are yet to received it or our request has ever been honored. Jayvis and I have been “Denied Due Process”. I am so glad that I was able to view the dash cam video during the grand jury hearing, had I not seen it I would have never known the TRUTH. Jayvis should’ve received a traffic citation and a day in court, not a death sentence. There was no police chase, stolen car report or fitting any description. It wasn’t until after Jayvis was DEAD, that thomas came up with the stolen car report. Also, a background check was done on Jayvis after he was murdered and conducted by the GBI and the DA office showing he did not have any altercations or a criminal record with the justice system. It was the GBI investigator that actually motivated me to look deeper into Jayvis case. When I spoke with him he said that he could not discuss Jayvis case because of the open investigation by the DA office, but that I needed to request all copies of each investigation. The GBI completed their investigation March 2013, and the DA did not completed his until April 2015. For the justice system to function the way it does today I know I may not see justice in my life time but at least I do know the truth and he was murdered by lynn thomas. The only purpose of his badge, gun and uniform is to protect himself with the support of the court system that expect the average citizen to respect the very laws they are paid to enforce. I am presently requesting that Jayvis case be reopened with a special prosecutor and investigator with true transparency. I have been fighting Justice for Jayvis, for the last 7 years. I will continue to do so with my last breathe. My son was racially profiled and murdered with no accountability or remorse for life lost due to thomas incompetence and negligence. Thomas holding the position of chief has really taunted the respect, integrity and honor of the title chief.1,166 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by Britt Jones
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Justice For Jabril RobinsonOn May 16, 2016, Jabril Robinson and his gf were having an altercation outside his gf’s mothers house. The gf’s mother called police wanting police to help de-escalate the fight, but she was quoted as saying, “If I knew they was gonna kill that young man I would have never got them police involved. Never. I love that boy like a son. God! God this is crazy!” She just wanted their help. Both Robinson’s gf and gf’s mother kept being questioned if Robinson had a gun multiple times even though they kept saying that he didn’t. Officers told the mother and gf that they would look for him, talk to him, and bring him back. When Clayton County Police Officer Charlie McDaniel and Dwayne Parkin spotted Robinson, he ran and they chased him behind the house where they shot him multiple times in the back. When he struggled to get up, they shot him in the back of the head. They were called to de-escalate, so why did Jabril Robinson end up dead? Sounds like Charlie McDaniel and Dwayne Parkin, who are civil officers, decided to take the law into their own hands over an argument between two civilians that they are meant to protect.1,225 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by Britt Jones
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Removing the State Senators from ND! Hoeven and CramerWe need people who represent the hard working, ethical people of North Dakota. Civil rights should be important to the people who represent us. The constitution was written for all!24 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Stephanie Thorpe
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The CUNY administration must support the naming of a Hunter building for Audre Lorde. Now!At this formative moment for racial justice in our society, CUNY must use its naming rights to elevate someone who reflects the multiply diverse backgrounds--in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, immigrant origins--of the student population. Otherwise, there will never be a building named after someone who reflects the backgrounds of CUNY students and who can therefore truly inspire them.25 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Jacqueline Brown
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Release Our Elders and Political Prisoners Now!These long-suffering Elders have already been forced to survive four, five and nearly six decades of torturous confinement. Many were victims and survivors of the U.S. government's admittedly repressive "counter-intelligence programs" to discredit and destroy African American leadership and our Black organizations. They deserve immediate release and return to their families and our communities. Thank you.21 of 100 SignaturesCreated by AFRICANS DESERVE REPARATIONS NOW!
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End Hate in Central OregonIt is important for our Central Oregon region to stand up against hate groups of any kind!109 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Stephanie VanKlootwyk
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Sign Our Petition in Support of the Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2020 to Cancel Pigford DebtIn 1997, the USDA released the Civil Rights Action Team (CRAT) Report, a condemning report that affirmed Black farmer narratives of pervasive government-sanctioned racial discrimination against them through the Farm Service Agency and county committee systems. Later that year, farmer-plaintiffs Timothy Pigford, Cecil Brewington, Lucious Abrams, George Hall, Eddie Ross, and Lloyd Shaffer filed class action lawsuits, charging the USDA with discrimination against Black farmers in the distribution of loans as well as failure to investigate complaints regarding widespread systemic racial animus. The goal of the Pigford lawsuit was to restore Black farmers and their agricultural land base through full debt cancellation, federal and state tax relief, monetary compensation, priority of lending services, and access to land. After the lawsuit, the vast majority of Black farmers were left with crushing debts originating from the racist misdeeds of USDA, threat of foreclosures, and no legal recourse to save their family farms. The $1 billion settlement was paid out mostly in $50,000 cash payments to 15,645 claimants. Only 4.8% of the $1 billion settlement went to debt relief. 6,906 farmers were denied the cash payments and debt relief. Most of the 6,906 were actual farmers with verifiable farm identification numbers. According to recent USDA, 17,000 Black legacy farmers are delinquent on their loans with USDA. Our farmers have been under threat of foreclosure ranging from 5 to 30 years. Over the years, aging Black farmers have delayed foreclosures by filing pro se complaints in federal court. The USDA continues to offset Black farmers’ tax refunds, social security, disability, and subsidy payments to cover outstanding debts. Decades of farmer-led organizing combined with our heightened efforts over the last three years laid the groundwork for the Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2020. Introduced by U.S. Senators Corey Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and Kirsten Gillibrand the Justice for Black Farmers Act, is historic legislation that finally includes comprehensive debt cancellation for our Black legacy farmers. Due to Congress being out of session today, the Act will be officially introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and Kirsten Gillibrand on November 30th. In order to claim this victory for our farmers, we need to activate our collective power. Thank you to all of our supporters that have helped amplify our campaign and raise awareness of the plight of our Black legacy farmers. In the words of June Jordan, “we are the ones we have been waiting for.” The legacy of the Pigford lawsuit is the theft of Black farms through usurious debt. Now is the time to rectify this shameful chapter in U.S. history. We urge President-Elect Joe Biden and the new Congress to quickly enact the Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2020.1,198 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Acres of Ancestry Initiative/ Black Agrarian Fund
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Put Public Enemy on a U.S. Postage StampIn Fight the Power, Chuck D says “most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamps” Through their music and activism, public enemy is a hero of the American narrative. They deserve a stamp. Let’s do better for our kids: starting with a PUBLIC ENEMY stamp:83 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Thomas Lennon
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Wayne County and All Government Employees Bill for Hazard payBecause now its a matter of fighting for money to pay us for everday work function. A function that can take us away from our family. An uninsured family left to fill a void unrecognized for the danger of a everyday regular job, with either environmental, health, material,equipment, chemical,or natural dangers involved.145 of 200 SignaturesCreated by President Darlene Buffington
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Black's Beach Recreational Scandal "STOP Commercialization and privatization of SD Parks"Hello Friends of our public We would like to see a discussion of the Torrey Pines Gliderport (which is owned by the City of San Diego) be added to the agenda for the next LJ Town Council meeting. We have been requesting this for many months and have been given many excuses in return. The Torrey Pines Gliderport is city land that has been leased - for FREE - to a private FOR PROFIT business since 1998. It was originally a 5 year lease with an option to be extended for ONE additional 5 year term. So it expired in 2008 and yet continues to this day. In about 2006, the City was sued for the many abuses of the Gliderport business, and the City settled the lawsuit in the complainant's favor and agreed to create a Torrey Pines City Park Advisory Board containing all interested stakeholders. The City (Mayor Sanders) created the "Board" under the wrong section of the City Charter (43b rather than 43a - look it up), and that enabled the City to both limit and terminate the Board to keep it from correcting the ongoing problems and abuses. To this day there is no oversight by the City and the business brings in millions of dollars every year without a dime going to the City itself. The Torrey Pines Gliderport is a poster child for the corruption in San Diego, We want the La Jolla Town Council to investigate and address the Issue with the City Council to fix it. (Closure) We have the 1998 lease agreement which I believe is still in effect to this day. Feel free to verify that this lease is current with the City's Real Estate Assets Division. Thank You I also welcome anyone contacting Me personally for more details. Ernie Casco (858) 568-1384 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Speech LJ Town Council Nov 12th 2020 Hello my name is Ernie Casco La Jolla resident, senior pilot TPGP We need LJTC help, protecting our La Jollas recreational freedom at the Gliderport. We have a proven Recreational public Waiver, that would end the dispute, An Easy fix could be done within a week. Currently Working in LA , Colorado, and Yosemite I believe. This would ....Effectively split Tandem /School operation... from public recreation freeflight. The waiver would,... Stop mandatory Club fees. Stop Insurance Fees. Both, ridiculous amounts of $. By No contest, are illegal collection of funds. (not required by law.) The waiver would also,... Stop the signing of current unfair Wavers. Stop the monopoly, the threat of violence, personal loss, false report and arrest, as they fight over power control & personal profit. The Tandem/School would,... Pay for their own insurance. (required by Law). Pay for their oversight... needed for Public Safety. San Diego City liabilities are already covered by California Recreational Statues Law. A Recreational Waiver is working at other locations, where needed. There are No waivers required at any of the other San Diego Sites. The Recreational waiver restores public access. Secures our recreational rights and freedom. Provides a Safe Tandem /School operation. It's a Win for the City, LJTC and the public rights ... I'm asking LJTC to bring this to Agenda, Provide recommendation & letter in support Show Fair representation and End the dispute.104 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Ernie Casco
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Change Street Parking times at Bent Creek PreserveThis rule isn’t in the best interest of the Bent Creek community as a whole. We will never be able to have holiday parties or any kind of get together after dusk without our friends and families being towed. This rule is excessive.138 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Eileen Gabriel
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Support the SF Good Neighbor PolicySF Black Wallstreet was formed in June 2020 by seven Black SF natives amid the COVD-19 pandemic and the global Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality. We are committed to securing business, cultural space, and homeownership for Black San Franciscans. This summer, SFBW and members of our community rallied around Cafe Envy -- one of the few Black-owned restaurants in the Bayview corridor to remain open during COVID-19 restrictions-- in response to excessive nuisance and compliance complaints being filed by a neighbor. Cafe Envy, located at 1701 Yosemite Avenue within the African American Arts and Culture District -- has been a site for Black locals to gather and socialize for more than 40 years. Thanks to city and community partnerships, Cafe Envy continues to be a welcoming space for Black people to legally and safely eat, drink, and celebrate our culture during the pandemic. Despite the value Cafe Envy brings to our community as a whole, one neighbor continues to terrorize our community by weaponizing his privilege, filing complaints against Cafe Envy, bullying, and intimidating the restaurant staff, patrons, and other neighbors. This week, those complaints materialized into a written petition and an organized effort to shut Cafe Envy down permanently. Fortunately, Cafe Envy remains open for business with all legal permits and staffing in place, but it is now under heightened surveillance and subjected to over-policing. White transplant residents using anti-black bullying tactics to intimidate long-term Black, Latinx, and marginalized residents by weaponizing complaints and code violations is a National issue. The underlying motive of these complaints is to shut down our businesses, over-police our spaces, and erase our culture in an attempt to make us feel unwelcome in our own neighborhoods. We can no longer allow the discomfort, fears, and expectations of privileged SF transplants to disrespect our community, regulate our community activities, or strip away our cultural identity. SF Black Wallstreet and community stakeholders are calling on city and community leaders to adopt an SF Good Neighbor Policy, a code of conduct that guides respectful engagement with the Black, Latinx, and native SF community. The Good Neighbor Policy would also penalize 311 callers for using the line to file unsubstantiated and malicious reports. The “Good Neighbor Policy” will be crafted by a coalition of Black, Latinx, and SF natives who organize and advocate on behalf of their respective communities. Black San Franciscans, like all other communities in San Francisco, are entitled to spaces where we are welcomed, celebrated, and appreciated. Sign our petition to support Cafe Envy and encourage city officials to close the loophole on 311 complaints and enact a Good Neighbor Policy to guide respectful engagement with our Black, Latinx, and native SF community!591 of 600 SignaturesCreated by SF Black Wallstreet








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