United States citizens and residents have the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. Protesters' civil rights are being trampled on and violated. Putin stops protests in Russia and Xi Jinping hurts protesters in China but this is not acceptable in the United States of America. Photo credit: Skylor Powell

If we value the ability to live and speak freely, this is imperative to every single person living in the United States, as well as those we affect abroad.

Enough is enough. From the exposure of the racial discrimination lawsuit in our countywide police department to black and brown people being used as BOTH punching bags and target practice by those that are sworn to protect us. PGCHANGEMAKERS and its' allies say NO MORE to police brutality in Prince George's County! WARNING - These videos are triggering. Viewer discretion is advised. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCwcmizBy8M/ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2707963206105717 https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pg+police+beat+downs&docid=607990734244021592&mid=50FC9D5356C4EF95491F50FC9D5356C4EF95491F&view=detail&FORM=VIRE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMk4L9iaE7o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrOnhcBpEFE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBsQfk-iEew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o75_fjwtkfE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xf6oLSPB10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqziDwXJSU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0doXRLkv8E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo6m8AP5odA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF-UatpD44k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08OR_Dr1l8s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOa1rFM9T-0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKzigsYQn58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRi_smnYaCY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L3FyfbZVaM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKFfybKIaGw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfEhPjyBPDg

These are scenes out of a police state, not a democracy: heavily armed, unidentified federal agents are grabbing American citizens off the streets of a major American city, bundling them into vans and detaining them without charge. Local officials in Oregon are pushing back: the mayor of Portland has demanded these secretive federal troops leave the city, and the ACLU has filed suit. But this outrageous attack on civilians and peaceful protesters needs a loud, no-holds-barred national response NOW. If we don’t shut this down, Portland could be a trial run for Trump-backed paramilitary police squads deployed in cities nationwide. This is not a drill - it’s time to ring the alarm! Sign on to call on Congress to do everything within their power to shut down this authoritarian threat: from holding immediate hearings, to supporting Senator Ron Wyden’s amendment to the defense bill to stop the Trump administration from sending its paramilitary squads on to America's streets.

After an influx of revealing stories submitted by students who have been abused and traumatized by Greek organizations and their members at USC, it has come to the attention of USC's student body that these organizations are doing much more harm than good to our community. A recent study has grounded these perspectives in data, and those involved and uninvolved in Greek life at USC have shown us that empty promises and reforms are no longer tolerable. College is an introduction to adult life for many students, and Greek life acts as a precedent for how students should behave socially after they finish their time at USC. The normalization of sexual assault, white supremacist ideals, and gender or sexuality-based discrimination have no place in our students' first steps towards adult independence. The world around us is progressing rapidly, but by choosing not to stand with the abolishment of IFC and Panhellenic Greek organizations, USC will be left behind in social evolution.

The City of Bexley must recognize that institutional racism and discrimination, in all forms, exists, and has a painful, historic legacy in this country, the effects of which continue to place the health and well-being of minority citizens in crisis. The City of Bexley must pledge to work together with community groups, organizations, and individuals to confront systemic, institutional, and individual acts of racism and discrimination in order to promote equity, justice, and healing. The City of Bexley must reject, discourage, and condemn any and all racism, discrimination, and hate-based conduct in order to build and uphold a welcoming culture based on equity, dignity, respect, and inclusion of all people regardless of race, color, religion/non-religion, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, language, age, disability, or genetic information.

John Lewis and C.T. Vivian should be the men that we create statues for. They spent their lives and careers to better the landscape for Black Americans and all Americans. This is who we should applaud. We can replace the KKK bust or other confederate statues.

Senator Mitch McConnell is among the many members of Congress who have made statements on the passing of their colleague and civil rights giant John Lewis who nearly died in the fight for the Voting Rights Act. McConnell tweeted, "I will never forget joining hands with John as Congress sang We Shall Overcome at a 2008 ceremony honoring his friend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It could not have been more humbling to consider what he had suffered and sacrificed so those words could be sung in that place." Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-7) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act that would restore key provisions of the act that were struck down by the Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013. You can read a brief summary here: https://www.hrc.org/resources/voting-rights-advancement-act The best way that he and his colleagues can honor the memory of their colleague is to pass H.R. 4.

Emmett Till was murdered 68 years ago. At only 14 years old, he was kidnapped, brutally tortured, lynched and killed during a racially-motivated hate crime that ultimately helped launch the modern day civil rights movement. The past is not past​. The specter of this devastating crime remains ever-present through modern day racially motivated murders. The burdens borne by families such as Emmett's (Thelma Wright Edwards and Deborah Watts), George Floyd’s (Philonise and LaTonya Floyd) Ahmaud Arbery’s (Wanda Cooper Jones and Marcus Arbery Sr.), Trayvon Martin’s (Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin), Jordan Davis’ (Lucy McBath and Ron Davis), Eric Garner’s (Gwen Carr), Breonna Taylor’s (Tamika Palmer) and many others force them to speak up loudly, demand justice and take action when others won’t. Family members of Emmett Till urgently need your help​. ​Emmett’s case remains open and active​, appearing on the Department of Justice Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes cold case list. The case was reactivated in 2017 when the ​only known accomplice, Carolyn Bryant Donham - who is still alive and now well into her 80s ​- appeared to admit to an author of a book about Emmett Till and his case, that she lied to her husband, and during Emmett’s murder trial, by falsely claiming that Emmett made sexual advances and physically touched her. Carolyn Bryant Donham’s false claim and involvement are the actions that began the tragic chain of events leading to Emmett’s murder. Thank you for your support to help bring truth, justice, accountability and closure to the Emmett Till murder case. Amplify your impact on behalf the Emmett Till case: ● Tweet the President Biden @POTUS and Vice President Kamala Harris @VP demand #JusticeForEmmettTill ● Tweet DOJ and US Attorney General Merrick Garland @TheJusticeDept and demand #JusticeForEmmettTill ● Tweet and call Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch @lynnfitchag; 601.359.3680 demand #JusticeForEmmettTill ● Email and call District Attorney for the Fourth Circuit Court District of Mississippi, W. Dewayne Richardson [email protected]; 662.378.2105 demand #JusticeForEmmettTill Check out our website: https://emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com/ and follow us on Instagram @emmetttilllegacyfoundation Twitter @emmetttill Facebook Emmett Till Legacy Foundation to get updates on our work and journey towards #JusticeForEmmettTill!

Federal officers in camouflage and tactical gear filled Portland streets with tear gas, shot at protesters, and used unmarked vehicles to arrest and detain protesters. The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon calls it “flat-out unconstitutional” that protesters in Portland are being “shot in the head, swept away in unmarked cars, and repeatedly tear-gassed by uninvited and unwelcome federal agents.” Federal authorities have no right to police an American city against the wishes of local leaders. Sources: 1. “Feds Vowed to Quell Unrest in Portland. Local Leaders Are Telling Them to Leave.” The New York Times, July 17, 2020 https://act.moveon.org/go/141155?t=10&akid=268993%2E23524057%2EFCty61 2. "It was like being preyed upon’: Portland protesters say federal officers in unmarked vans are detaining them,” The Washington Post, July 17, 2020 https://act.moveon.org/go/141156?t=12&akid=268993%2E23524057%2EFCty61 3. “Tear gas, unmarked cars are used in protest arrests in Portland,” Los Angeles Times, July 17, 2020 https://act.moveon.org/go/141157?t=14&akid=268993%2E23524057%2EFCty61

John Lewis is the real American hero and patriot. Rename the bridge!

Portland has a long history of protests. President George H W Bush referred to my hometown as "Little Beirut" because he was greeted by protests as soon as he stepped off the plane. I have personally attended many demonstrations. I felt safe enough to bring my young daughter and her friends. Portland demonstrations are largely peaceful, orderly and more like a festival than a protest. Since the DHS and other federal agents have arrived this has not been the case. I will continue to protest for a cause that I feel needs attention but I no longer feel safe. The lives and physical welfare of innocent citizens are at risk. Our government leaders need to take action to protect Portlanders exercising their 1st Amendment rights. While Governor Brown and Mayor Wheeler may not have the authority to order the federal agents to leave, they can send the state and local police to stand between them and the protesters. This is an opportunity for the Portland Police Bureau to prove that it is here to protect and serve the community. The real violent agitators are federal agents. If we can’t make them leave, please sign to protect Portlanders from them.