The privatization of public schools in Michigan has been disastrous for students, particularly for students of color and those with disabilities. DeVos helped block efforts to clean up the for-profit, unregulated charter school mess in her home state. Many students who currently receive a good public education will lose access to that opportunity under the system of vouchers and school choice that she advocates. Please put children before profits and stop this nomination.

If Obama will recognize Palestine and allow it to join the UN as a full member, peace between Israel and Palestine will be greatly advanced. Former President Jimmy Carter in an article in the NY Times fully delineates the reasons: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/opinion/jimmy-carter-america-must-recognize-palestine.html

Governor McCrory has performed dismally, damaging the state of North Carolina across the board. The voters of North Carolina have weighed in with their votes. McCrory needs to concede.

If Governor McCrory truly wants to respect the Democratic Process in NC, he would let the original results be tallied and certified. He's challenged 50 county board of elections and is continuing to try to extend his stay in Raleigh. Mr. McCrory you've damaged our state enough, cost us enough- it's time for the voters voices to be heard.

When we hold an election in this country, every vote should be counted fairly and transparently. That's an essential principle of our democracy. Here's what we know about the elections held two weeks ago: Hillary Clinton is leading Donald Trump in the popular vote by more than 2 million votes—but the results in a few key states that could result the outcomes of the electoral vote are likely to come down to as few as 100,000 votes. That’s why Americans deserve to be fully confident that all votes in this election are counted fairly before the Electoral College meets in mid-December. There is an opportunity right now to give us greater confidence in our elections, both this year and in the future—by asking for an audit or hand recount in close states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Will you sign our petition asking for an audit or recount in key states? Leading computer scientists and election security experts have urgently called on election officials to transparently verify the results that have been reported by auditing the paper ballots—the actual votes cast—in key states and precincts where only computer results have been tallied. To be clear: the electoral results are not likely to change. However, experts are saying we shouldn't place all of our trust on a computer alone when the actual votes are in front of us. Researchers have repeatedly exposed critical vulnerabilities in electronic voting machines, and in a year like this when the result was close and unexpected and where election hacking repeatedly made the news, we owe it to our democracy to make sure everyone can be as confident as possible in the outcome.  This is worth repeating: Americans deserve to be confident that all votes in this election are counted fairly. That’s why we are calling on the 2016 presidential candidates and election officials to ask for an audit or hand recount in key states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Asking Clinton & the Democratic Party to fund 2016 Recounts.

Our elected leaders are entrusted with representing our communities and government bodies with dignity and respect towards all citizens and will work to uphold our civil rights. It is dangerous enough when normal citizens convey racism and violence towards our neighbors. When our leaders do it, we face a potentially mortal threat to our Republic, which is based on a social contract of equality for all. The current political climate has our country in turmoil following the election. There has been a significant increase in hateful acts in our children’s schools, on our college campuses, and in our communities. We fear that the hateful and racist rhetoric of the campaign and its subsequent outcome has emboldened some citizens to unleash their previously restrained bigotry and prejudices. We are a civilized nation and each of us is accountable to denounce the prejudices and violence that threaten peace, democracy, and civilized society. Respectful and civilized behavior is not simply something we expect of our elected leaders in Washington, D.C. We expect it even more so from our neighbors and friends and local leaders here at home. Salem is our city. It is our home, and we will fight to protect it from hatred and discrimination and work to ensure that it is a community of respect, inclusion, and equality.

Irregularities in vote patterns have been found in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania by computer experts. http://theweek.com/speedreads/663679/computer-science-experts-recommend-hillary-clinton-challenge-election-results-3-swing-states

I'm appealing to everyone who voted for Trump: if you are ashamed of the recent rise of hate crimes and some of Trump's picks for his administration, sign this petition. It’s disheartening to hear that the most racist of Americans believe that “Trump is President” is a fine excuse to draw swastikas, shout hateful slurs, and otherwise harass minorities. White Nationalists are growing in number and gaining power in "Trump’s America." Trump himself thinks that your vote for him, after everything he said during the election season, means he can pick people who have promoted hatred for Jews, Muslims, and other minorities for his administration. I have to hope that for most of you, this was not your intention; regardless, it is the outcome. I say all of this not to scorn you but to call you to action. I want to create a space where, should it be possible, a bold coalition of regretful Trump voters rise up, poised to fight back against what their votes have perhaps unintentionally encouraged. As the people who put him into power, you have a unique role to play, as your voices will ring louder than those who opposed him. I believe you are currently our best bet in the continued struggle for equality and respect for all. Thank you.

On Nov. 7th, Ralayzia Sayuri Taylor, a Black Trans Woman, was stabbed in the back 3 times and beaten with a hatchet at 10:30am in Arbor Glen Park in Charlotte. Though she was severely injured, Ralayzia survived and was able to stay with family in Ohio during the first few days of her recovery. On Nov. 17th, 10 days after surviving physical assault and battery, the CMPD issues warrants for Ralayzia's arrest. She was arrested on charges of statutory sex offense and indecent liberties with a minor based on accusations about the events leading up to her assault. CMPD then labeled her as a fugitive for leaving the state when in reality Ralayzia just needed a safe place away from Charlotte to heal physically, mentally and emotionally. Currently, Ralayzia is in jail in Cincinnati, Ohio with an extradition charge to Charlotte, meaning the Hamilton County Sherriff"s office will not release her until she is transported back to Charlotte, NC and into CMPD Custody. Ralayzia is locked in a cage in Ohio for daring to survive a hate crime. Let us Remember: .) Trans Women of Color who have been locked up after surviving hate crimes, such as CeCe Mcdonald and Merci Chrisette. .) Before Ralayzia's arrest, HB2 was passed in North Carolina to target and marginalize the trans and gender non-conforming community. .) Two months ago, CMPD murdered Keith Lamont Scott, murdered Justin Carr, framed Rayquan Borum for the murder of Justin Carr, and now has imprisoned Ralayzia. Yet another black body for CMPD to exploit, to murder, and to feed to the prison industrial complex. Ralayzia's arrest is another example of how trans women of color are criminalized and dehumanized. Ralayzia's Trans Womanhood IS NOT A CRIME! Black Trans Women Lives Matter and we must bring our sister home and free her from jail! #RahRahGoneStand #BlackTransWomenlivesmatter #NOJusticeNOPeace

This is to show the non support from those teachers, staff, Administrators, and community members that either became targets or were driven out of the district by tactics developed that unfairly targeted senior staff, EA's, TA's and other employees by using the "PIP" (Personal Improvement Plan) as a way to force them to retire, loose their benefits or both Protesting the recognition of the Fired ousted Superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools, Silvia Valeria Petition by Stephen Severance To be delivered to Fired Superintendent Silvia Valeria, Fired and Ousted SPPS Supeintendent Current petition signers 3. Gloria Johnson from St. Paul, MN signed this petition on Nov 23, 2016. 2. Carla renz from Saint Paul, MN signed this petition on Nov 23, 2016. 1. Stephen Severance from Saint Paul, MN signed this petition on Nov 23, 2016.

Numerous credible analyses make it appear all but certain that the GOP victory in the recent presidential election was the result of voter suppression and/or fraudulent vote counts. The clearest exposition of this argument is at http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/40381-how-the-gop-flipped-and-stripped-yet-another-american-election. The U.S. State Department relies on exit polling all over the world to evaluate the validity of elections, and we should adhere to the same standard. We must encourage Democrats in Congress to prevent the fraud-based theft of several states' electoral votes in the recent presidential election. Allowing Trump to accede to the presidency on the basis of fraud is akin to acceptance of what amounts to a coup d'etat, which is the use of legitimizing institutions to seize power illegally. If this seizure of power is allowed to occur, we shall all suffer the consequences.