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

Bryan Brayboy, who is the President’s Professor of Indigenous Education and Justice in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University, says this: “The social science research and literature on this is pretty overwhelming that the use of these caricatures is bad for everyone. Particularly, it’s bad for children. . . For non-native kids, it largely inures them toward racism toward native people. It ends up giving them the sense that native folks and peoples are a thing of the past or are to be caricatured, so they are less likely to have empathy with native peoples, and they come to see us as these relics of the past and stereotypes rather than vibrant, viable, productive human beings.” The American Psychological Association (APA) agrees with Professor Brayboy and has been calling on schools and teams to stop using American “Indian” mascots, symbols, images, and personalities since 2005. The APA says that not only do these symbols, images, and mascots perpetuate inaccuracies about Native American culture, but they teach young minds that it is acceptable to participate in culturally abusive behaviors and discrimination. Twin Lakes has attempted to ensure its representation of indigenous peoples is “respectful”—for instance, discouraging cartoonish depictions of the “Indian” mascot. But turning people into a stereotype causes serious harm even if the stereotype is intended to be or perceived as positive by the local community. One study found that mascots subconsciously reinforce stereotypes, even when exposure to the mascot is only incidental, and that people who live in cities with teams with Native American mascots were more likely to think of Native Americans as warlike. These names and images demean and dehumanize Native American people. When a community reduces rich, varied cultures to a logo on a t-shirt or a wall, the community is saying that those living, breathing people are “other than” and relics and insignificant to the current society. Indigenous people are not artifacts of the past; nor are they peoples who only exist in other places. The United States recognizes 567 tribes today. In 2010, the U.S. Census found that 49,738 American Indian and Alaska Natives live in Indiana. The past is still important to acknowledge, though, because we live in Indiana, the “Land of the Indians,” and there are zero reservations here. When French traders arrived in the area that we now know as White County and Monticello, they encountered the Miami. Later, the Potawatomi people migrated into modern-day Indiana and were soon joined by other tribes as they were pushed out of ancestral homelands in the eastern United States, including the Delaware and Shawnee (who settled Prophetstown). By 1850, however, the Native American populations in Indiana were largely reduced, but not because they had “disappeared.” They were pushed west yet again in forced migrations like the “Potawatomi Trail of Death.” Our ancestors took control of this land by killing and abusing native peoples and forcing them from their homes. It is hollow for us to claim that we are honoring native peoples by plastering stylized images of indigenous bodies and cultural symbols on buildings which stand on land stolen from those same peoples. Some will claim these symbols represent our history, but even if such images could be a genuine way to honor native peoples, the images Twin Lakes uses are offensive in terms of historical inaccuracy. The feathered war bonnet so prominently featured both within and outside our school buildings and on logos has zero ties with the indigenous people who lived in our area. Similarly, tipis, like the one that so long graced our football field, come from the Plains Tribes of the northwestern U.S, not here, and totem poles, like the one featured prominently in the high school gym, originated from traditions in the Pacific Northwest. Around the country, and indeed the world, people are finally recognizing that “Indian” mascots are unacceptable. Stereotyping and appropriating the symbols of people who have been marginalized is wrong. We call on Twin Lakes now to join in this growing tide. Whatever the reasons for the “Indian” mascot, it is time to make a change. This is not about school spirit. It’s about acknowledging that indigenous peoples are not suitable mascots. The children—Native Americans and non-natives alike—deserve better.

Many studies have proven that face masks help stop the spread of Covid-19, and the CDC is calling for universal mask wearing. Masks have been mandated in public places already, but one area that hasn't been addressed in Kansas and Missouri is events such as weddings. These type of events have the potential to be super spreaders, especially now that gathering limits have been lifted. Outbreaks in many areas have already been traced back to social events like weddings. People in attendance are not always able to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, such as when they are watching the ceremony, mingling and dancing. We, as contracted vendors are also required to be there, but we are not being protected while doing our jobs. Several other cities, counties and states across the United States [such as Jackson, TN, Platte and Clay Counties in Missouri, Springfield, MO and the states of Oregon, Louisiana, and Texas] have put mask mandates in place for weddings and similar events so that people can continue to hold their events, and make sure that everyone in attendance is protected. Tell Mayor Lucas, Governor Kelly and the County Commissioners to amend their respective mask mandates to include weddings and other social events.

To mitigate the spread and devastating effects of the COVID19 virus within our Community. ALL City employees are charged with protecting the safety and well being of ALL Wausau residents. They should be wearing masks.

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

All over the United States we are witnessing the negative impact of Confederate monuments aimed at controlling the narrative of history and attempting to perpetuate notions of white supremacy. These monuments were originally installed to revise the history of the Confederacy as an honorable cause fostering false ideologies by a small group of wealthy donors. Although we do acknowledge they represent a piece of history, they are by no means an honest nor accurate depiction of everyones history. By removing the statues, we are making the public space a space for all people in the community to take pride. We are also making a statement that Black people are welcome and racism will not be perpetuated, nor tolerated in Savannah. Please sign this petition to remove and relocate the monument!

If scientists, doctors, the research community, and public at large do not have the proper information, and proper guidelines based on that information, we are at a greater overall risk of never being able to slow the spread, and needlessly killing tens of thousands additional people. Also, false numbers will impact the decisions of schools to re-open, putting children, teachers, and family members at greater risk. Lastly, at no level should we be lulled into complacency due to false optimistic data. We must trust the data or it is useless.

The United States harbors an enduring legacy of anti-Asian racism, from the murderous violence of the so-called "Yellow Peril" in the 19th and 20th centuries to the surge in hate crimes committed against Asian Americans in the wake of COVID-19. The continued use of "oriental" in the profession of East Asian Medicine in the US perpetuates this injustice. In 2016, the term was removed from all US federal regulations through a bill authored by New York State Representatives Grace Meng (D) and Hakeem Jeffries (D). It received unanimous, bipartisan congressional support and was signed into law by President Obama. The bill also struck the terms “Negro,” “Eskimo,” and “Spanish surname” (to honor Latinx folks), which are the associates of "oriental." Our profession is dangerously out of step with what progress has been made outside our community. We will fail in our institutional anti-racism efforts before they begin if we persist in using this racist, obsolete term.

We as Citizen should not have to stand by helplessly and watch another Citizen Beaten or Murdered right in front of US, just because the Murderer is wearing a police uniform.

We have seen false information presented in past debates, where issues turn into "he said, she said," and facts get turned into "opinions." This does not help the public to assess the candidates, nor their platforms. It is impossible for one candidate to hold the other accountable during a debate, as it is so easy to sidestep or attack. The moderators need to have clearly stated positions where they can simply note that questions have not been answered, and there is "30 seconds left to try again." If questions are still not answered, this needs to be simply stated. The pressure needs to be on the candidates to answer, not on the moderators to try to get them to answer.

Currently, contact tracing is not required in Palm Beach County for those who test positive. Contact tracing is essential to stopping Coronavirus. In South Korea, where contact tracing is prioritized, the curve is nearly flat and the economy has not majorly suffered.