The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts claims, on paper, to be committed to serving Sonoma County’s diverse community, “taking meaningful actions to welcome and center the voices that often need to be heard, [and] furthering the community dialogue around equity, oppression, active inclusion and privilege in everything we do.” [Source: https://lutherburbankcenter.org/about/general-information/diversity-equity-inclusion/] If any place, particularly a nonprofit, commends itself for its upstanding diversity, equity and inclusion, it should be held accountable by those standards in all its actions within the community it serves. By allowing performers like Dave Chapelle to use their space as a platform for blatantly transphobic and harmful content, the LBC contradicts the values asserted in their DEI statement and directly contributes to the violent rhetoric LGBTQIA+ people are forced to deal with every day. By giving discrimination the stage, the Luther Burbank Center sends a message to all of Sonoma County that prejudice, harmful language, and stereotypes are cause for laughter and celebration. On Wednesday, July 20th, Minneapolis’ First Avenue theater listened to community outcry and relocated Dave Chapelle’s performance to another venue. By aiming to move Chapelle’s Sonoma County performances, we build upon the message which First Avenue has sent: transphobia will not be tolerated in our community or beyond. The LBC is supposed to stand for our community, not for profit! By signing this petition, you raise your voice against the normalization of transphobia in our county and stand as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.

As I write this, the clock that indicates how much time we have left to avoid a 1.5 degree temperature increase is about to roll over from 7 years, 0 days, 00:00:00 to 6 years, 364 days, 23:59:59. In spite of this, and the fact that the majority of Pennsylvanians want to see their government act on climate, our state government continues to take us in the wrong direction, approving more fossil fuel and petrochemical development while pushing for huge investments in false climate solutions promoted by the fossil fuel industry. Among them are technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage and Blue Hydrogen, initiatives like turning western PA into a Hydrogen Hub, and specific projects like Nacero, Encina, and KeyState. Our clock must serve as a permanent reminder that our government needs to break its ties with the industries responsible for the ever-shortening amount of time it counts down and take swift, bold, and just action on climate.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade requires bold action. It is important for the Surgeon General to issue a letter to every American household giving them complete and accurate information about medication abortion, to increase knowledge and availability of this safe and effective process.

The language the media uses requires accuracy.

Ben & Jerry’s is in court protecting their decision to stop selling ice cream in occupied Palestinian territories, after a betrayal by their parent company, Unilever. To appease the Israeli government, Alan Jope, CEO at Unilever, authorized a backroom deal to sell the franchise to an Israeli company – essentially overriding Ben & Jerry’s decision. Sign the petition: tell Unilever to stop its betrayal of Ben & Jerry’s and Palestinian human rights. Ben & Jerry’s made the human rights-affirming decision in 2020 to stop doing business in occupied Palestine, following a decade of grassroots organizing and campaigning by Palestinians and allies across the globe. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s finally went public with their decision — after a particularly brutal Israeli military assault on Gaza which killed over 200 people — and during a huge surge of international support for Palestinian freedom. Now, a year after Ben & Jerry’s public announcement, their parent company, Unilever, has made a backroom deal to sell ice cream operations to the Israeli licensee rather than honor Ben & Jerry’s decision to respect Palestinian lives.

On June 27, Jayland Walker was pulled over for an alleged “traffic and equipment violation.” Eight Akron Police Department officers shot at Jayland more than 90 times in seven seconds. Jayland suffered 60 gunshot wounds. Then the same officers who murdered him handcuffed his lifeless body. The police bodycam footage reveals eight cops killed a Black man while five officers stood by and watched. Our hearts break for Jayland’s family and the Akron community. Jayland was a young man with a family and a bright future, a human who deserved to be treated with dignity. Instead, Akron police murdered him. The officers who fired more than 90 shots at Jayland are on paid administrative leave. As we mourn and turn our outrage into action, this moment requires us to recognize a painful truth: The police murder of Jayland Walker is not an anomaly. We’ve been here before. • In South Carolina, Walter Scott was stopped by police for a non-functioning brake light. • In Michigan, Patrick Lyoya was stopped for improper vehicle registration. • Just outside Minneapolis, where police murdered George Floyd, Daunte Wright was pulled over for minor traffic violations and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. All of these Black men were murdered by police during routine traffic stops. In a country where armed, militarized police are the response to every incident and crisis — and Black people are viewed as threats, not human beings — Black people aren’t issued tickets or citations; we receive death sentences. Now, as Jayland’s family and neighbors take to the street to demand justice, the Akron Police Department has initiated a terror campaign against protesters and journalists. From tear gas and rubber bullets to false imprisonment, Akron police have waged war against people demanding justice for Jayland as demonstrated by the violent arrests of Bianca Austin, the aunt of Breonna Taylor, and Jacob Blake Sr., the father of Jacob Blake. Police terrorism continues to target Black and Indigenous communities. And when people stand up to protest police brutality, cops douse them with chemical weapons and beat them with batons. This is who the police are, and dehumanizing and terrorizing Black people is what they’re paid to do. The murder of Jayland Walker and the violent police response in Akron are just the latest cruel examples of what happens when elected officials prioritize policing over investments that actually keep communities safe. That’s why we’re standing with The Freedom BLOC to demand Akron’s elected officials: 1. Protect protesters: Immediately end the use of tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. 2. Stop arresting protesters and free those who have been detained: Immediately release all protesters from jail, expunge their records and remove all fines and fees. 3. Create and fund an unarmed traffic enforcement unit for routine traffic stops. 4. Invest in community-led public safety solutions. Invest in what keeps Black communities safe, including reparations, housing, public transportation, food security, health care and community-controlled public safety alternatives. According to Mapping Police Violence, Black people are 4.9 times more likely to be killed by police than white people in Ohio. And when we protest police violence, we become the next target of police brutality. We must take action to end this vicious cycle.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's outrageous and harmful ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, President Joe Biden has reportedly caved to a demand by Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to appoint an anti-abortion extremist to a lifetime appointment on the federal bench. The federal judges below the Supreme Court are the only ones protecting reproductive rights at this point, and we can't afford even one new anti-abortion jurist on the bench. We cannot imagine a more out-of-touch move at this moment. Women overwhelmingly backed Biden over Trump in his bid for the presidency, and now he is taking our votes for granted and using us as bargaining chips. Let's take a look at the record of Chad Meredith, the Kentucky attorney Biden is considering awarding a lifetime position: Meredith has devoted much of his career to defending abortion restrictions in the Bluegrass State, including a controversial law on the books that requires doctors offering abortions to conduct fetal ultrasounds while playing audio of the heartbeat and giving vivid descriptions of the image. Meredith is also a member of the radically conservative Federalist Society, which also counts in its rolls anti-Roe Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. The fact that Senator Mitch McConnell wants Meredith on the federal court bench is all we need to know about Meredith's fitness for the job. We are a resolute NO on this appointment. Tell President Biden he must not consider Chad Meredith or any anti-abortion extremist for our courts!

Join others and demand state legislatures stop violating the rights of their citizens. A majority of Americans support access to abortion and state laws must reflect that. Let your voice be heard!

The right to an abortion has been proven to lower the risk of death and injury. San Antonio must be dedicated to protecting the safety of its people. San Antonio must continue to honor the rights of pregnant people to bodily autonomy and private medical decisions.

On June 27, eight officers fired more than 100 shots at Jayland Walker. Over 60 of them struck his body, and he was killed instantly. Currently, the Akron Police Department and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations are examining this horrific incident. We know that Jayland was unarmed when he was killed—despite what police claim, and that his murder fits a pattern of racially-charged killings of Black people by police. Local organizers in Akron, including the Akron NAACP, are calling for an independent investigation led by the Department of Justice. Ohio elected officials must use their platforms to call for a DOJ investigation, as well.

Animals matter! New Yorkers care about animals! Thousands of wonderful companion animals suffer in our NYC ACC animal shelters. They are frightened, confined in cages, becoming stressed, falling ill and are unjustly condemned to death. There is little concern for the shelter’s responsibility and for the animals’ right to a safe and loving home. We must demand accountability and change! We must challenge the status quo and demand reform of the failed and dysfunctional NYC ACC. Killing is not the solution! “What is an animal “shelter” that does not protect, care for its own, nor show them respect. What is a “shelter” that treats those that live there as if they had no rights at all. There are many names for a place like this, but a “shelter” it should never be called!” Karen Lyons Kalmenson Below are several typical descriptions, comments and narratives, among many thousands, of animals killed at NYC ACC: June 26, 2022 - Guinness was killed! “June 25, 2022: ‘Happy ray of sunshine’, Guinness #139794, just 2 years old with the 2ND BEST behavior score. Found tied up and abandoned in a park.” May 22, 2022 - Luna was killed “24 months old. She was highly social, seeking attention, wiggly, and excited to greet everyone at the shelter, which is a testament to her personality. Luna loved people she didn't even know.” July 2, 2022 - Rambo was killed “Jun 30 2022- ORDER TO KILL Rambo #146031’s owner was unable to find him a new family, so now he dies in @NYC ACC anytime…a smart 2yo puppy willing to learn. A target to die, HELP!” And Rambo was killed even though at least 2 offers of homes were received. Twitter reactions: * “Still a puppy. What is wrong with @GovKathyHochul @NYCMayor Why won't they stop this?? RIP sweet baby, you deserved better.” * “Can nothing be done? It's a total disgrace and shame on New York. What about their reputation - It's becoming known throughout the country! Uncaring killers!” * “This breaks my heart. 2 years old. RIP Rambo. You didn’t have a chance at that place.” New Yorkers are fed up with the lack of concern demonstrated by elected officials and their appointees. We care about animals and WE VOTE! Please join us as caring New Yorkers in urging Mayor Adams and the NYC Council to TAKE ACTION NOW!

From their unelected perch, the 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court handed down decisions designed to take away our personal freedoms and make our country less safe to live in. If we don’t do something to stop Mitch McConnell’s handpicked, right-wing extremists on the bench, they’ll continue to attack our rights until we no longer recognize the country we live in. To protect our fundamental freedoms, Congress must rebalance the Supreme Court by adding four seats. We can’t let Mitch McConnell or Donald Trump hide behind their hand-picked Supreme Court to enact their extreme agenda. Our rights are too important for that. Congress has changed the Court’s size seven times throughout American history. In order to protect our fundamental rights, it’s time to do it again. 58 members of the House of Representatives have already signed on to the Judiciary Act, a bill that would rebalance the Supreme Court by adding four new justices. Sign your name today to support expansion of the court.