The purpose of my story is to show why society must rethink how it reacts to teenage crime, especially when the first response is driven by fear rather than belief in growth. My experience shows a difficult truth: a child who commits a terrible act is not permanently broken. The human spirit can learn, change, and rise from its lowest point. Rehabilitation is not theory—it is lived reality, and my life proves redemption is possible even when a person’s greatest mistake feels unforgivable. People should join me in the campaign for reform because this is not only my story. Every person has needed a second chance and a path back into community. When we deny that possibility to children, we deny something essential about humanity. With community support, change becomes possible and humanity is restored. My name is James D. Williams, one of many juvenile lifers in Wisconsin’s adult prison system. In 1997, two months after turning 17, I committed a terrible crime and took a life. I do not offer excuses. My actions came from a misguided code of loyalty, false ideas of strength, and fear. Growing up on Milwaukee’s North side, I was taught that keeping my word meant everything—that loyalty meant pushing feelings aside and never showing weakness. In the moment that changed my life forever, fear and confusion were stronger than reason. I believed I had no other choice. After my arrest, the full weight of my actions crushed me. I hid in my cell, overcome with shame and depression. No one cared about my apologies, not the State, not my victim’s family, and even my own family was shocked. I believed honesty and accountability might bring some relief, but nothing changed. So I buried my emotions and pretended to be strong. At sentencing, I begged the judge to see me as more than the crime—to see a young person capable of change. Instead, I was labeled a “monster” without hope for redemption. At 17, I was sentenced to life with a parole date 101 years away. The judge said my life was over, and I would never be anything more than my worst act. Entering prison, I was legally an adult but emotionally a child. I was isolated, terrified, and overwhelmed by guilt. Panic attacks, depression, and conflict became part of my daily existence. Yet in the middle of all that, I managed to earn my HSED and a vocational certificate. One night, I asked myself what I needed to survive a life in prison, and the answer became psychology. I read books on persuasion and self-help, not to heal, but to control my surroundings. I distanced myself from reality for years, convinced I was unlovable and deserved only pain. My turning point came when I finally entered a true rehabilitation program in my 30s. A program called Challenges and Possibilities introduced me to restorative justice. I learned about the ripple effects of crime—how one violent act spreads pain into families and communities. That understanding forced me to confront the full impact of my actions. I apologized to my family and listened to their pain, facing the truth rather than hiding from it. Even then, shame controlled me. I tried to be the person I believed I should be, and others looked to me for guidance. Helping gave me purpose, but I was still drowning in guilt, believing that endless punishment would somehow create peace. Nothing worked until a short stay in segregation forced me to face myself honestly. There, I read House of Healing, and for the first time, I understood that seeking forgiveness included forgiving myself. It did not erase my crime, but it opened the door to real healing. From that point on, I worked to become the person I wished I had been. I continued my education, reached out to my victim’s family through the Office of Victim Services, and prepared for a future I never expected to have. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles could not be given life without parole, hope returned, even though I feared release because prison was the only world I knew. I filed motions, pursued vocational training, and earned degrees. The legal system offered moments of hope, then disappointment. Reform movements rose and faded. Bills stalled. Promises from officials collapsed. Each time, I had to face the possibility that I might die behind these walls, even after decades of growth. But I never stopped learning, mentoring, and preparing to contribute to society. Programs like the RYTE Program showed me the value of my experience. Speaking to youth about choices and consequences gave meaning to my life. I earned degrees, including a bachelor’s degree with honors, and continued building skills while embracing accountability and service. My story isn’t finished. I continue to study, mentor, create, and work to improve myself. I don’t know how it will end, but I know why it matters: a 17-year-old can commit a terrible act without fully understanding the scale of what he is doing. A child’s brain and worldview are incomplete. Fear, loyalty, and identity overpower consequence and clarity. But that child does not stay frozen in time. He grows. He learns. He matures into someone capable of empathy, purpose, and contribution. Rehabilitation is not about perfection—it is about persistence. It proves that even after the worst mistake, a person can build a meaningful life. My sentencing judge could not see that possibility. But decades later, I stand as proof he was wrong. This campaign is bigger than me. It is about the belief that no young person should be defined forever by their darkest moment. It is about restoring the possibility of redemption. Children deserve a real chance to become the adults they are capable of being. And when we offer that chance, we do more than help individuals—we preserve the values we claim to hold as a society. My story continues, and the work of change continues with it.

A dangerous wave of Israeli settler violence is tearing through the West Bank, with roving gangs rampaging through Palestinian villages, beating residents, torching homes and a mosque, and even assaulting Israeli security forces who arrive to restore order. Five Americans have been killed in the West Bank in just the past two years, including most recently Sayfollah "Saif" Musallet, a 20-year-old from Florida who was visiting family when violent settlers beat him and stopped an ambulance from reaching him. Up until this year, an Executive Order helped prevent violence in the West Bank by sanctioning some of the settlers and organizations that were fueling it. But Trump repealed it on his first day in office, allowing the perpetrators of the uptick in violence we’re seeing today to act with impunity. Now, Congress is mobilizing to enshrine these sanctions through the West Bank Violence Prevention Act (H.R.3045 / S.2667) — which just hit a critical milestone of 100 House cosponsors. With your help, we can flood lawmakers’ inboxes with even more support and push this momentum further to help impose costs on violent settlers in the West Bank.

Each time mergers happen between large corporations, consumers suffer. Prices go up, quality goes down. We lose choice. That’s why anti-trust laws are fundamentally pro-consumer and pro-worker. We don’t want to pay a tax to watch “Stranger Things” or “Squid Game.” These mergers also hurt the entire movie industry. Fewer films are produced, which hurts the writers, actors, designers, technicians, editors, and all the related fields that support film production. Movie theaters no longer have enough movies to keep their doors open. Creative output is diminished, fewer voices are heard, and fewer stories are shared. Netflix has already raised prices significantly in the past few years (taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic) and did a price increase this year. Enough is enough. Media monopolies are bad. Period.  It’s no wonder voices from both sides of the aisle are raising concerns. When Elizabeth Warren and Mike Lee agree, you have to realize that this idea must really be horrible. A Netflix/Warner Bros. deal would be disastrous to consumers, creators, the economy, and the industry. Don’t let Netflix kill movies!

Predators are targeting Black elderly homeowners — especially women — because they believe no one will protect them. But we will. Our elders built Central Brooklyn. They deserve safety, dignity, and the right to age in place — not displacement through fraud and violence. Add your name. Stand with our elders. Protect Black homes.

The Trump administration originally planned to use taxpayers dollars to burn the contraceptives—largely intrauterine devices (IUDs)—currently stored in warehouses in Belgium. In fact, earlier this summer, U.S. officials said the contraceptives were already destroyed, which was a lie. Belgian laws ban the destruction of usable medical supplies without special approval. So instead, the Trump administration is just trying to run down the clock until the birth control is unusable.  Recent reports suggest that some of the contraceptives have already expired, but others are not set to expire until 2027, 2028, or 2029.  We still have time to force the Trump administration to release the birth control to another country or nonprofit organization so they can distribute it as planned. Add your name to the petition now!

“Kill everybody.” This was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s reported order for a September 2 strike, according to a source close to the series of unauthorized bombings in the Caribbean and Pacific. Some would call it a war crime, but a reminder: we are not at war. What Hegseth ordered is simply murder. Disturbing evidence is emerging that these strikes were both plainly criminal and directed from the very top. Now, powerful members of Congress — from both parties — are demanding answers. But this order is just the latest move by an out-of-control official who abuses his power, undermines the rule of law, and actively harms communities here and abroad, and answers aren’t enough. Impeachment is how Congress must check Secretary Hegseth’s reckless actions and stop him from inflicting future harm. Unfortunately, without pressure from constituents, lawmakers are unlikely to act with the urgency necessary to meet the moment. That’s where you come in.

This petition is for CorePower community members who •  believe their instructors and studio cleaners deserve a fair wage • are sick (sometimes literally) of ringworm-infested studios

Under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth watch, recent unauthorized boat strikes in the Caribbean killed more than 60 civilians. This highlights a reckless disregard for civilians and basic standards of international humanitarian law. Treating civilian casualties as an acceptable cost of “showing strength” undermines U.S. credibility with other countries, fuels instability, and puts both service members and communities abroad at greater risk. His explicit effort to rebrand the Pentagon as the “Department of War” is not symbolic; it reflects a worldview that prioritizes aggression and political theatrics over careful, lawful, and restrained use of military power. Civilian lives must never be treated as expendable, and any leader who normalizes such harm and normalizes war crimes cannot credibly claim to be safeguarding our national security, our values, or the service members asked to carry out these operations. Hegseth’s background simply does not meet the standard for this job. For the safety of U.S. troops, the protection of civilians, and the integrity of our democracy, we need to remove Pete Hegseth and confirm a Secretary who values human life, international law, and true defense over permanent, endless war. 

Senate Democrats must fight back to protect our democracy and demand that Trump’s nominees meet the qualifications and integrity intended for our judicial branch. We have to keep the pressure up to let Democrats know that we’re watching and relying on them to stop Trump from completely taking over our courts. Republicans have filled our judiciary with right-wing extremists, from the lower courts all the way to the Supreme Court, and it’s up to Democrats to stop Trump’s attempts to further corrupt our courts in order to carry out his authoritarian agenda. 

Any defense of Epstein is simply immoral. Jeffrey Epstein and his coconspirator Ghislaine Maxwell spent decades abusing young girls and women. Megyn Kelly’s rhetoric is not only disgraceful to every survivor out there, but it’s harmful. This rhetoric attempts to minimize Epstein’s harm and takes away the pain and abuse he caused thousands to go through. On top of these heinous comments, this isn’t the first time that Megyn Kelly has caused controversy. She’s spent years spewing hateful rhetoric to her viewers, and years ago, she was even fired for trying to justify blackface on Halloween. It’s clear that Megyn Kelly doesn’t deserve a platform to spread her hateful rhetoric—especially one with millions of listeners and dollars behind it. 

The death of Marchello Woodard in Erie, PA, left his family and the community with unanswered questions and a sense of injustice. Independent oversight is necessary to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability in how this case is handled.We are concerned about impartiality in this case. The Erie County District Attorney appeared on a public podcast with the parole officer involved in my father’s death. This connection raises questions about a conflict of interest and makes it critical that an independent investigation be conducted to ensure transparency and accountability. Why others should join: • Community trust: When investigations are delayed or unclear, public trust in law enforcement and local officials is eroded. • Accountability: Independent investigation ensures that any misconduct, errors, or mishandling are addressed. • Justice for families: Marchello’s family deserves answers and closure, and your support helps amplify their voice. • Prevent future tragedies: Oversight and transparency can help prevent similar cases in the future. By signing this petition, you are standing with the family and the community to demand that the authorities act responsibly and transparently.

By signing the following, I am petitioning the City and DOMI to: 1.    Not implement their current proposal. 2.    Keep S. Linden Ave a two-way street for its entire length. 3.    Meet with residents who live within the project area to draw on their experiences and collaborate on solutions to improve pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist routes without compromising safety, removing existing on-street parking, or creating new-unsafe conditions for any mode of transportation. 4.    Conduct a traffic study of the project area during multiple times of the day – specifically during morning commute, school dismissals on S Linden (and the implications this will create for the safety at the schools on S Dallas and Reynolds), and evening commute. 5.    Conduct a traffic study on the implications this will have on other nearby intersections (Hastings Street, Reynolds Street, Gettysburg Street, Fennimore Street, Edgerton Ave, Glen Arden Drive, Kingston Way, Elysian Street, S Dallas Ave, Conover Road, Sinnet Way, Selwyn Street, Lacy Way) pedestrian safety and traffic congestion. 6.    Consider speed humps as an alternative on S Linden in the school zone and near the light at the five-way intersection.