We are a country founded by immigrants. Philadelphia was a sanctuary to The Founding Fathers of this nation, we must continue this long standing tradition of protecting human rights. We need to protect our brothers and sisters who are currently under attack by Sessions and the Trump Administration. Please stand with me and let Mayor Jim Kenney know that we stand for human rights and the protection of our immigrant community and we cherish Philadelphia as a Sanctuary City.

Jack Jones and Marcel Williams were executed on Monday, April 24. Ledell Lee was executed on Thursday, April 20. Arkansas performed its first execution since 2005, and the first double execution in the United States since 2000. The assembly line of death has executed three men, and one more remains at risk of imminent execution. Arkansas has exactly eight doses left of a crucial drug used to perform lethal injections, and it's set to expire at the end of April. So the governor scheduled eight executions packed into a ten day period—with two executions per day—as if the justice system was a conveyor belt. The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment that always violates human rights. What Arkansas is doing now is even more evidence that it needs to be abolished once and for all. Treating prisoner's lives as if they were products with a "use by" date is abhorrent. Rushing through executions on a conveyor belt simply because of an expiration date damages the dignity of all involved and gives a sickening image of Arkansas' justice system. Rapid executions increase the risk of human error, and the drug they are rushing to use already been shown to make prisoners die in agony. Execution warrants have expired for Don Davis, Bruce Ward, and Stacey Johnson, who are no longer at risk of imminent execution. Executions remain scheduled for two prisoners, although a stay is in place for Jason McGehee. Williams is scheduled for execution April 27.

The latest polls show that 73% of Americans want an independent, nonpartisan commission investigating Russia's meddling in our 2016 presidential election. Polls also show that 54% of Americans want Congress to investigate any potential ties between Russia and President Trump's campaign. Considering the partisanship that we have witnessed all but consume the House investigation and new details emerging of the lack of progress on the Senate investigation, it is time to place this investigation into the hands of an independent commission that will conduct a transparent, timely and thorough probe of these important matters on behalf of the American people.

We the people demand an independent investigation into the matter of Trump's and the Trump campaign's possible collusion with Russia. Both the chairman of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees have shown that they are not willing to do their jobs and are trying to obstruct efforts to get the investigations moving. If these are treasonous actions on their part, we deserve to know. Yes, Trump administration, people do care.

As a commuter, getting to and from work and home in a timely matter, without delays or re-routing is our RIGHT, not our privilidge. The amount we pay NJT every month, just to de delayed, or worse, re-routed or stalled for hours, is completely unacceptable partnered with the kind of service we're getting. We're asking for NJT to waive the cost of the monthly train pass for May for all NYC bound commuters. If they do not concede, we're asking each of you to stand up for your rights. To boycott the system. To say, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH. To REFUSE to pay for a monthly pass for May and demand we ride for free during the month of May. It's the least they can do for us, taking into consideration the hours of ours lives lost and wasted on delays or re-routing. Terrible service effects our work hours and even worse, our family life and time spent with our families. Stand up for your rights. Either NJT gives every commuter a free May pass, or YOU REFUSE TO PAY FOR ONE. Stay strong. Stand up for what you believe in. Come May 1st, if we don't hear from NJT officials about a free month, refuse to buy a ticket and board your train as usual. We outnumber them. We need to take control back.

This is ethically the right thing to do.

The White House and Republicans may be attacking immigrants and workers, but we know that we rely on each other and that our futures are one! Whether it's a childcare provider who allows a parent to go their job or a home attendant who makes independent living possible, their work makes all other work possible.

Governor Rauner vetoed a 215 million dollar education funding package for Chicago Public Schools. HB4036: Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that in addition to any other transfer that may be provided by law, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer, from such funds and in such amounts as the State Comptroller shall determine, the total sum of $215,000,000 into the General Revenue Fund. Provides that the sum transferred shall not require the direction of or notification from the Governor. Effective upon becoming law, but does not take effect unless an Act of the 100th General Assembly appropriating the sum of $215,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to Chicago Public Schools becomes law.

General Mattis wants to increase U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's catastrophic war in Yemen [1], which has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine, including by selling Saudi Arabia even more weapons. In addition to producing humanitarian catastrophe, Saudi Arabia's war is helping Al Qaeda in Yemen. Imitating war profiteer Milo Minderbender in Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," who fights on both sides and bombs his own squadron to increase his profits, by selling arms to Saudi Arabia, we indirectly arm Al Qaeda in Yemen, who we're also bombing. "In their fight against Yemen’s Houthi rebels," Just Security reports, "the government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and its Saudi backers, have worked with local actors with suspected ties to al-Qaeda. Sometimes this means the targets being tracked by the US are actually cutting deals and getting their hands on weapons thanks to connections they have with the Hadi government and the Saudi-led coalition, to which the US provides support. Laying bare these thorny battlefield alliances in Yemen is crucial as the Trump administration considers stepping up US military involvement in the country." [2] Senators Murphy, Paul, Durbin and Franken have introduced legislation - SJR 40 -that would require the Administration to certify that Saudi Arabia is fighting Al Qaeda in Yemen, not helping Al Qaeda in Yemen, before the U.S. could sell Saudi Arabia even more weapons. [3] Urge Senators to co-sponsor SJR 40 by signing our petition. References: 1. http://thehill.com/policy/defense/330030-trump-admin-weighs-stepping-up-support-for-yemen-fight 2. https://www.justsecurity.org/40200/yemens-complex-battlefield-includes-al-qaeda-links-allies/ 3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/40

Update: Dec. 6, 2017 Today, the House of Representatives is due to vote on HR 38. (S. 446 & H.R. 38) would redefine who could carry a loaded, concealed weapon in public areas across the nation. Currently, states designate their own laws concerning who is qualified to carry a weapon and this law will undermine the authority of the state. This legislation is extremely dangerous because it would allow the states with the weakest gun laws to set the standard for the nation. For example: "states that have taken the most lax approach to concealed weapons permitting would effectively set the national standard, allowing individuals with no safety training, with violent misdemeanor convictions, or with a demonstrated history of drug or alcohol abuse to legally carry concealed, loaded guns in every state in the country."(1) Most importantly, one version of this legislation would allow individuals who live in states with no training or permit requirements to carry in states that do require such measures. Tell President Trump and Congress to continue to allow individual states to maintain local control and determine their own safety laws concerning who can carry loaded, concealed weapons. Please sign and share this petition with others. Thanks for taking action. _____________________ 1) https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/guns-crime/reports/2017/02/13/414921/federally-mandated-concealed-carry-legislation/

"I went to work with my right eye shut and face swollen. I had a painful tooth ache that led me to the emergency room. Eventually, I found out I had an abscess tooth with severe pain, fever and inflammation. I took only that one day off of work because I could not afford to miss days and still be able to feed my family. As a single mother and sole provider in my house, getting sick was not an option for me. My job would not accept a doctor’s note even though they could see the swelling in my face and pain in my eyes. It was very embarrassing when customers would see my physical pain and suffering. I know I deserve paid sick days and the time off to take care of myself when something like this happens." - Lisa.

All workers need time to care for themselves or a loved one. Earned sick time ensures workers can afford to take time they've earned to go to the doctor or stay home with a sick child -- without losing pay. We don't need a fake 'flexibility' act, we need the Healthy Families Act so we can earn sick time wherever we work in the U.S.A.