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Tell Attorney General Merrick Garland: Fire Trump appointees in the DOJ!Almost an entire year after leaving office, Donald Trump’s political appointees are still working in the Department of Justice.1 Even worse, there’s never been any investigation into whether Trump broke personnel rules by hiring them. That’s because Attorney General Merrick Garland says he’s not “looking backward.”2 As a nation, we can’t collectively move forward past the Trump administration if his cronies are still burrowed deep inside the Department of Justice. Sign the petition: Tell AG Merrick Garland to investigate and remove Trump appointees in the DOJ! Having Trump appointees installed in career positions at the DOJ is a ticking time bomb for the Biden administration. One of them, Deputy Solicitor General Chris Gannon went against the Biden administration and argued, in front of the Supreme Court, to deny Social Security benefits for residents of Puerto Rico. Another Trump appointee, Alexander Haas, has used his position as Director of the Federal Programs Branch to weaken protections for student-borrowers from predatory for-profit colleges. These cases may seem small but they impact real people, and the longer these Trump appointees remain in the DOJ the more likely they could become involved in high-profile cases like voting rights, immigration, or reproductive rights. President Biden can’t afford to keep Trump aides inside the DOJ. If Attorney General Merrick Garland truly wants to look forward and not backward, he can start by removing Trump’s cronies from his agency. Sign the petition: Tell AG Merrick Garland to investigate and remove Trump appointees in the DOJ! Sources: 1. The American Prospect, “The Trump Officials Still Running Biden’s Justice Department,” December 13, 2021. 2. Washington Post, “Merrick Garland Will Not Deliver Your Catharsis,” July 19, 2021.123 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Demand Progress
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Pass the Open Courts Act!Over a decade ago, Demand Progress’ co-founder Aaron Swartz started working to make federal court documents available to the public at no cost. The public entrusts federal courts with our rights and disputes; in turn, the public has a right to inspect court records and ensure federal courts administer justice fairly. But the current filing system stashes these essential documents behind a paywall, costing the public more than a hundred million dollars each year.[1] In 2008, Aaron paid a small fortune to bring several million federal court documents out from behind the paywall, exposing misdeeds within the federal judiciary in the process. For sharing information and revealing wrongdoing, Aaron was pursued by the FBI.[2] It’s time for court documents to be made public. Sign the petition if you agree. Thanks to Aaron’s and others’ activism, we’ve come a long way from the days when open sourcing federal court documents was regarded by the federal government as radical — even potentially criminal. When the Senate returns from holiday break, legislation to make federal court records available at no cost to the public will be brought before the full Senate for a floor vote. This movement is gaining traction. We need to make sure the legislation passes. Sign the petition: Tell Congress we demand the passage of the Open Courts Act! Information freedom activists and civil rights groups have been calling for transparency around court records for over a decade. But the federal court administrators still refuses to make these records publicly accessible, even after a district court ruled last year that the courts are dramatically overcharging the public for access the paywall as it currently exists is illegal.[3] Court administrators, who have diverted the revenues for unauthorized purposes, fear giving up this revenue stream. Some federal judges do not want to empower systematic studies of how justice is administered, and have fought the public access movement tooth and nail.[4] The courts have built a rickety, poor-designed, costly alternative to the promise of access for all that (barely) serves their narrow needs, not that of the public. Thankfully, many federal court records have entered the public record another way: through grassroots information-sharing. In the process of empowering the public to access its own laws, activists have also exposed rampant privacy violations within the federal judiciary — demonstrating once again that public oversight is essential to protecting democracy.[2] It’s time for Congress to require the courts provide free and open access to federal court records. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to pass the Open the Courts Act to grant the American people access to their own records! Sources: 1. Fix the Court, “How Could We Pay for Free PACER? Let's Look at the Options,” August 29, 2019. 2. CNN, “How Aaron Swartz helped build the Internet,” January 15, 2013. 3. ABA Journal, “Federal judiciary wrongly used PACER fees for unrelated projects, Federal Circuit rules,” August 6, 2020. 4. GovExec, “The Paywall That Continues to Stand in the Way of Government Transparency,” November 30, 2021.76 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Demand Progress
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Remove and Ban Fox News from all U.S military instillations and Federal buildingsRemoving Fox News and it’s affiliates would greatly improve the mental health, slow the spread of misinformation and disinformation and decrease the radicalization of our armed force members and Federal employees.. The disastrous effect this propaganda has on the morale of our men and women must not be minimized643 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Brian Sheehan
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"On this Episode of American Greed, PoolCorp Quietly Buying up Retail"PoolCorp is no stranger to the FTC. In fact, in and around 2011 the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-1 approving a complaint and consent order against PoolCorp. In the complaint it alleged PoolCorp threatened Manufacturers not to sell to its competitors over an 8 year pressure campaign. It is important to note that the FTC approves a complaint when it has "reason to believe" that the law has been or is being violated. With that said the FTC agreed to a consent order which did not require PoolCorp to admit, nor was it a finding of wrong doing. What it did do is outline specific actions that PoolCorp has to abide by in the future interactions, specifically instructing PoolCorp to avoid any anti-competitive practices. So PoolCorp tried and failed to Control the Manufacturing side of the supply chain. With only a mere slap on the wrist by the FTC. PoolCorp has patiently waited and now recently implemented the only other alternative way to achieve what they set out to do initially back in 2002-2011. They now are disrupting the supply chain management structure by attempting to control and Monopolize the transaction of tons of swimming pool products from Manufacturer to Distributor, from Distributor to Trade Professional, and from Distributor to the End User.47 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Brian Umberger
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Congress Must Regulate FacebookRecent congressional testimony and the Facebook Papers prove the tech giant was aware of its role in fueling sectarian violence in places like the United States, India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and more — and that its algorithms put hateful and violent content front and center. It’s clear we can’t trust Facebook to hold itself accountable. That’s why Congress needs to step up and regulate big tech companies before they’re able to harm more people and further weaken democracies around the world. Add your name to join us in calling on Congress for oversight and regulation of Facebook’s algorithms and activities.61 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Win Without War
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Prosecute Trump and his accomplicesEvery single freedom we have will be taken away, from voting to judicial decisions to the right to protest. The very atrocities we see in other authoritarian countries will become our every day reality. If corruption is left to become normalized and the perpetrators aren't held accountable, common sense shows this will all just get worse.247 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Lisa Anderson
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Hip Hip Hooray for our School Board Today!Books, and especially books with controversial, unpopular and/or unconventional protagonists, are common targets for censorship. This strategy to control thought runs counter to our culture's deeply-held beliefs in the importance of freedom of expression. We strongly support each parent's right and obligation to engage fully in their child's education. However, that right does not extend to dampening the opportunities for new ideas or exploration of cultures, lives, and lifestyles, both villainous and virtuous, in the past, present and future, for other children in our system's schools. Through reading, these imaginary journeys promote empathy, understanding, inspiration and curiosity, all essential traits for healthy adults and a thriving democracy. We applaud our Fairfax County Public School's conclusion that the books in question are "valuable in their potential to reach marginalized youth who may struggle to find relatable literary characters who reflect their personal journeys." We note that, contrary to the public assertions that propelled action by FCPS, no depiction of pedophilia was found by either school committee formed to investigate the allegations that the books were not suitable. It is important that everyone who believes in the the value of diverse ideas, intellectual freedom and curiosity, and the contribution books make to a healthy democracy, reject the notion that censuring books is a pathway to a better future. Please join us in supporting our Fairfax County Public School Board.534 of 600 SignaturesCreated by Holly Hazard
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MANDATE COVID VACCINES OR NEGATIVE COVID TESTS FOR MAINTENANCE WORKERSResidents that live in Greenburgh Housing Authority and Greenburgh Heights, LLC complexes have a right to health protection during this pandemic.115 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Mechelle Brown
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The Need For A Woman of Color Speaker is the Only Acceptable OptionWith a female majority in the New York CIty Council, and with Latino Leadership in high positions on a decline, it is crucial that our City centers a Latina leader in our government to ensure equity, diversity, inclusion, and representation are prioritized.202 of 300 SignaturesCreated by The People of New York
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Grant a Presidential Pardon for Leonard PeltierOn the heels of the Rittenhouse verdict, your office sent out a message that we have to fix the justice system in our United States. Here is a concrete way you can send a clear message - free Leonard Peltier #freeleonardpeltier. He has applied for clemency before. Given the justice system in South Dakota, it is unlikely his case for parole will be granted - there is just too much of a two-tier justice system there. I plead a petition to you, President Biden, as the head of our government. I am sharing this petition on MoveOn.org. It is time to release Mr. Peltier. Thank you in advance.20 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Wild Dog Study
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Rename 21st in Bryan, Texas: Carey Cauley Jr StreetWhen asked at the Chamber event honoring Irma Cauley why no action yet on the street renaming, a Bryan Councilmember responded "well, if everybody wants it." City Manager policy requires “100% of property owners, residents and business owners” to sign a written petition affirming their desire to rename their street Carey Cauley Jr Street. There is no ordinance -no law- on Bryan’s books to rename streets. Local community leader, Helen Washington, walked the streets gathering signatures. She's the spearhead who is crossing every "t" and dotting every "i.” Help her. EVERYBODY, please join Helen and everybody who lives on 21st Street to SUPPORT this effort to honor the Cauleys. Please SIGN to tell Bryan Mayor and City Council you SUPPORT renaming 21st Street to honor our local civil rights heroes.117 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Janet Dudding
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Demand the Media Cover the GOP's Coup Plans!1. Democracy must be the main story. Newspapers, television, and radio need to increase the frequency and in-depth reporting on democracy issues. Americans have to understand the strategies planned to manipulate elections – the voter suppression laws, extreme gerrymandering, replacement of honest election officials, and the scenarios for a losing candidate in 2024 to be declared the winner. 2. Stop routine “bothsides-ism" when covering the two major parties – half of the coverage to one and half to the other regardless of merit. Media should cover the facts and refute the lies -- not propagate them or give them equal time and space. When democracy is under attack, journalists should not cover it like politics as usual. 3. Journalists must hold politicians accountable. They must persistently interrogate every politician who is promoting lies. According to a recent CNN poll, “Almost 6 in 10 (59%) of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said that ‘believing that Donald Trump won the 2020 election’ was very or somewhat important to what being a Republican meant to them.” Almost all Republican officeholders and candidates have repeated lies about that election and January 6. The media are responsible for reporting the truth and countering the lies. 4. The press should not allow Koch organizations to receive free promotion of their op eds or commentaries. The Center of the American Experiment, the American Enterprise Institute, the Federalist Society, the Heritage Foundation, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and many others are part of a coordinated group funded by the Koch donor network. Their anti-voter, anti-democracy agenda is well documented in Nancy MacLean’s book, Democracy in Chains, and should be exposed by the media. Indivisible MN03 has endorsed this petition. We are asking you to also sign and demand the media cover the struggle to save democracy!876 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Dave Olson