Bernie Sanders OVERWHELMINGLY won California. We need a state delegation chair to the national convention that reflects that victory and Bernie's platform. We want Rep. Ro Khanna! Rep. Khanna is a bold progressive who, along with the MAJORITY of Californians and Americans, supports Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, the dire need for racial justice, and a compassionate, PEACEFUL foreign policy platform that prioritizes diplomacy over militarization and warfare. Please sign on to support Rep. Ro Khanna as the CA State Delegation Chair to the Democratic National Convention. The State Delegation Chair represents the entire California delegation at the National Convention.

Livonia has an unfortunate history as one of our country’s largest “Sundown Towns” - “all white” municipalities or neighborhoods that practiced a form of segregation by excluding non-whites through a combination of discriminatory local laws, intimidation, policing and violence. We urge the Livonia Police Department to set a higher standard of policing by strengthening accountability mechanisms and securing critical reforms to end police brutality, biased racial profiling, and policing targeting youth and communities of color. It’s time to not only address the racism and inequality that exists in our own community, but to address it with intention and ambition. Be a part of the Livonia Citizens Caring About Black Lives movement by following us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1183500345325924 Read about the Campaign Zero initiative - https://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision

As musicians committed to fighting racial and economic injustice, we will no longer stand idly by and allow police unions to protect police officers who murder Black people and fellow workers. Police unions across the nation largely continue to condone the same policing tactics that led to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Botham Jean, Freddie Gray, and countless more Black lives. Many musicians and AFM members are using social media platforms to listen to the voices of Black activists and amplify them. In addition, many are actively engaging in peaceful protest–using their voices, instruments, and talents to uplift not only the names, but the platforms of anti-racist movements such as Black Lives Matter. This is only the beginning of the work we must do to actively build anti-racist practices within our community. Background: In 2017, Philadelphia Police Union President John McNesby said of Black Lives Matter protesters: “When you go to work each day, you shouldn’t have to worry that a pack of rabid animals will suddenly show up at your home and openly threaten your family,” McNesby said. “These are not activists, they are racist hate groups determined to instigate violence.” This is a prime example of Police Union leadership disrespecting and undermining the values and work of anti-racist activists, many of whom are also members of the AFM. Under the protection of police union bylaws, many predatory officers are able to escalate situations, intimidate, injure, and kill unarmed citizens with impunity. This environment makes it unsafe for Black musicians and members to organize at the workplace, at home, and travel to/from performances. The actions of police officers and their unions have made it clear that they are not treated as traditional workers and thus have no place in the Labor Movement. The history of the AFM includes decades of inaction against racial injustice. Many Union Locals represented by the AFM across the nation were forced to integrate Black and White union musicians by court order, with the signing of Civil Rights Act legislation. Despite this history, the AFM and its members have made considerable amounts of money performing, and–at times–appropriating Black American music and Black culture, especially in its legacy contracts such as Broadway, festivals, club dates, live TV, and film scoring. It is easy to conclude that the AFM’s livelihood depends on Black American Music, therefore it is of the utmost duty for the AFM to defend Black American lives. We appreciate the recent statement by Ray Hair pledging “to continue to confront the ways our union and the music industry have contributed to persistent systemic racism” as well as the work done by the AFL-CIO in support of racial justice, including calling for police reform and the resignations of the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and President of the Minneapolis Police Union. However, as musicians we must truly come to terms with our own history, ask our Union to do the same, and move forward together by taking direct action. The American Federation of Musicians must show the world that it is invested in the beliefs of its membership and committed to becoming an actively anti-racist union. Calling on the expulsion of police unions in the Labor movement is a essential step to begin this work.

This is our taxpayer money, our money funded the program and the program should be accountable to us. Taxpayers are entitled to this public information and Secretary Mnunchin promised full transparency. The Washington Post's Catherine Rampell made a compelling case this morning that with "a half-trillion dollars of our hard-earned cash" in question, taxpayers should be asking, "What are they hiding?"

It’s Important because a lot of us don’t know our history or what Juneteenth is about. I want this to educate my community because I didn’t really know what Juneteenth was about until I was an adult. I want my community to be celebrated because we built this country.

During this time of incredible upset, the Trump Administration has decided to finalize a rule rolling back protections for Transgender and Trans* people. President Trump has taken our outcries for equality and spat on them, dragging the LGBTQ community into the series of horrific events unfolding this 2020. The night of the four year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, a shooting in Orlando Florida that ended with hundreds of members of the queer community dead, was the night the Trump Administration chose to tell the queer community that they are not worth health care. That if a doctor or hospital refuses to treat them based on their sexual or gender identity, that the law doesn't care about them. It feels as if he does not care about the marginalized, making it very clear to America that if we saw Black Lives Matter, he will say QUEER LIVES DON'T. The Trump Administration has been working tirelessly to narrow the definition of gender in order to LEGALLY deny health care to Transgender people and eventually the entire queer community. Queer people, especially QUEER PEOPLE OF COLOR are so much less likely to seek medical care when they need it, precisely because of the ignorance and disrespect with which the health care system sees them. We are already fighting the global pandemic of Covid-19, along with the national pandemic of POLICE BRUTALITY. The Trump Administration is shoving down our throats the reality that they would rather we all just die. We must not allow this message to be heard without a FIGHT. We must STAND UP TO INJUSTICE and not allow Trump's distracting disregard for queer life to end our fury and demand for change. This is only a stepping stone towards changing the way AMERICA SEES EQUALITY. If we don't stop this law, next it will be legal to not give health care to any queer person, or to a person based on their race, or religion. If a person has no protections based on their gender identity, what is to stop hospitals from turning away cis men or women based on their preference of gender identity. This erasure of gender related protections is DANGEROUS. This has the potential to affect every single person in America, regardless of your political standpoint. ALL PEOPLE DESERVE HEALTH CARE no matter how they identify. ALL HUMANS ARE CREATED EQUAL UNDER GOD, says the constitution. It is our job to uphold this precedent.

Stop the spread of Covid-19 Gives health professional more data to go by to make sure it's safe for children to return. Mental health of our children. Gives the schools time to prepare for smaller class sizes

We are in the middle of a pandemic. It's not just the people signing consent forms acknowledging the risk of COVID-19 via the Trump website who will be impacted by a massive convention. Those traveling to the convention will be interacting with locals who work at hotels, bars, restaurants, gas stations, and stores. Those attending the convention and working at the convention could potentially bring COVID-19 back to their communities. The COVID-19 confirmed cases in Florida have jumped drastically since the beginning of May. We in Jacksonville shouldn't have our health and safety threatened for politics. It is the job of the Florida governor and the Jacksonville mayor to protect the citizens, both those who did and who did not vote for them.

Symbolic value is important. Statues represent the ethos and values of the people of California, as well as placing honor in the character, successes or challenges a figure symbolizes. It is time to replace the California statues in Washington, DC with public comment opportunity.

More resources for public health inciatives. For example one riot gear uniform can buy 31 nurses PPE. Development projects in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Utilizing social workers, medical experts and community organizations to handle specific emergencies i.e. domestic violence and mental illness calls. Redesigning our neighborhoods in ways that make us feel safe by directly addressing problems and funding them quickly.

Since reopening, COVID-19 cases are dramatically on the rise in Palm Beach County. According to the Palm Beach Post, "with 1,682 confirmed COVID-19 cases logged in the first 10 days of June, the county is averaging 168 new infections a day — double the average number of daily new cases in April when only essential businesses were open." There is a SMART way to safely get through the summer but it requires testing; the use of technology; public health experts; adequate and ACCURATE data that informs our every step. This only happens when our Commissioners agree to move forward in this way. Palm Beach County Commissioners have failed to responded to this dramatic increase in any meaningful way. In light of this dramatic increase, County Mayor Kerner has not increased safety measures, but instead asked Governor DeSantis to allow additional categories of businesses in Palm Beach County to fully open -- all restaurants and shops, massage parlors and movie theaters. And while Commissioners have mandated that all people wear masks inside public buildings, they have not mandated mask wearing in other shared indoor spaces, leaving many in our community at risk for contracting the deadly virus. Sources: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200610/as-countyrsquos-coronavirus-cases-soar-expert-says-rapid-reopening-may-be-to-blame

Mississippi is currently being represented by Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, and James Zachariah George, Confederate General. These statues were donated to National Statuary Hall in 1931. Earlier this year, there was even word that James Z. George was moved to the boiler room of the U.S. Capitol because his legacy was too contemptible to mention during Capitol tours. Also, neither of these figures were even born in Mississippi. The National Statuary Hall Collection is a chamber in the United States Capitol comprised of individual states donating two statues each to honor deceased people notable in that state's history that is seen by people from across the world. Since its opening, National Statuary Hall has had at least seven states replace their statues including Mississippi's neighbor Alabama with four more states undergoing the process of replacement. This trend was made possible by legislation enacted in 2000 as a way to bring the Hall Collection into the 21st century. Mississippi has the highest percentage of black people in America at a whopping 37.3% according to the 2010 census. Furthermore, Mississippi has the highest number of black elected officials. So, why is Mississippi being represented nationally by figures that are known for dehumanizing a considerable part of Mississippi's demographic? This is not how Mississippi deserves to be represented today. With a history as rich as Mississippi's, we are currently missing a prime opportunity to showcase our biggest and brightest such as B.B. King, Eudora Welty, Medgar Evers, Jim Henson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. James D. Hardy, Elvis Presley, and many more. This national moment calls for swift, decisive action. I urge you to use your platform and publicly support the replacement of Mississippi's national Confederate statues. Together, we are all one Mississippi. Let's get this done!