The Libingan ng mga Bayani is for the President and Soldiers who served our country.

Update: (9-28-16) On Tues., Sept., 27th, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously agreed not to appeal the jury verdict, but to instead pay Justin Palmer $1.1 million in damages and $1 million for attorneys' fees. CORRECTION AND CLARIFICATION: Though at first the plaintiff Justin Palmer named the City as a defendant in the case, the City was dismissed as a defendant prior to trial -- this after the City agreed to pay damages in the event the jury issued a judgement against one or both of the officers. While the City was not found legally liable for the one officer's conduct on the job, the City did accept responsibility for paying the judgement against him. We apologize for any confusion. Note, the plaintiff and defendants recounted different versions of the events preceding Palmer's arrest when police asked to see Palmer's identification. ---------------------------------------- The Coalition for Police Reform (CPR) in Santa Monica started this petition to urge the City to respect the jury verdict in the Justin Palmer civil rights trial and to focus on adopting best police practices while addressing issues of racial profiling, racial justice, and excessive use of police force. The Coalition anticipates continued dialogue with the City to promote greater understanding between police and the diverse communities they serve. CPR members responsible for this petition include Julie Alley, Joanne Berlin, Gina Frazier, Robbie Jones, Audrey Lyness, Sheri Walker, Michele Wittig, and Marcy Winograd.

My name is Dewayne Brown and I spent over 12 years in prison, including 10 years on death row, in Texas for a crime I didn’t commit. I was wrongfully convicted because the state hid evidence that supported my alibi and proved my innocence. My conviction was finally overturned and all charges against me were eventually dismissed in June 2015. I was innocent going into prison and innocent coming out of prison. But some innocent people in Texas haven’t been so fortunate. In 2004, Texas executed Cameron Todd Willingham despite new evidence showing that he was innocent. Now, proponents of Prop 66 want to make California law more like Texas law by making it more difficult for death row prisoners to introduce new evidence of their innocence. Prop 66 will increase California’s risk of executing an innocent person! The only way to guarantee that we never execute an innocent person is to get rid of the death penalty altogether, but as long as it exists, we shouldn’t eliminate safeguards! I was almost executed for a crime I didn't commit! California voters should reject Prop 66 and vote Yes on 62.

For natural African-American men and women, dreadlocks are a common hairstyle. For reasons unknown, dreadlocks are seen as unprofessional, and now the US government is allowing employers to discriminate against people who have them. This action displays the failure of the American government to fully accept African-Americans and their culture. It seems that only hairstyles chosen by Caucasians seem never to come into question. Hair has never affected one's work ethic, so why should it affect the hiring process? If equality in the workplace is real, why doesn't that apply to all aspects of a person from race to hairstyle?

Under the “leadership” of Mitch McConnell, the U.S. Senate may be driving our country toward another debilitating government shutdown. Far-right forces in Congress are holding government funding hostage unless corporations are allowed to continue keeping all their political spending secret. Conservatives have turned the budget process into a bonanza for corporate lobbyists and right-wing ideologues. We the People deserve a budget devoid of sneaky giveaways to Corporate America. Tell Mitch McConnell to stop threatening another government shutdown just so Big Business can continue undermining our elections.

Recordings from body cameras and dashboard cameras should be used to make law enforcement more transparent and accountable to the communities they serve. However, North Carolina HB 972 blocks the release of law enforcement recordings.

At a time when heightened Islamophobia and hateful rhetoric has caused an increase in violence directed at Muslims—including harassment and, in some cases, murder—we're working with our allies at MPowerChange.org to get out the largest Muslim voter turnout in U.S. history. We'll defeat hate at the polls on November 8, and build a sustainable movement to combat anti-Muslim bigotry and policies. Because for our communities, the work doesn't end on Election Day. It never has. Over the past few weeks, I've spoken to Muslims of all racial backgrounds and from various parts of the country. For many, there is apathy about voting—especially after the Obama administration has disappointed so many when it comes comes to the surveillance and policing of our communities. The truth is: we have work to do regardless of who becomes president—whether that's challenging the militarization of our police forces, white nationalism, or militarism abroad. One way to make ourselves heard on these issues is by exerting our political power—showing we are a constituency politicians must listen to—by turning out in big numbers on Election Day, especially in key states and races. That's why we're asking you to do two things––pledge to vote and, just as important, reach out to fellow Muslims to ask them to make their mark on this election and beyond. In order for us to even begin to move this plan forward, we need to get 50,000 Muslims to get on board within the next week to vote in this election. *Note: By adding your name, you agree to receive emails in the future from MoveOn.org Political Action, MoveOn.org Civic Action, and our partner in this specific project, MPowerChange.org.

I am a Veteran and have lost friends to war & to PTSD. We are and have been an under-served community for decades. Enough is enough - it's well past time to support our troops; and the corporations that profit from war should be first in line to do so.

We are petitioning to support the bill "an Act affirming a terminally ill patients right to compassionate aid in dying". The purpose of this bill is to support those who choose to pass away before they're terminal illness progresses further with the assistants of their physician(s). We ask for your support in our mission and ask you to join in the actions we are taking if you believe in our movement.

For the safety and longevity of our children, our homes and even our business we can no longer delay or apply half measure to what is a very serious issue! Investment must be made in the form of legislation. Corporations must be made to act for the good of themselves and their customers if anyone wishes to have a future on this planet. WE NEED COURAGEOUS ACTION BY OUR GOVERNMENT.

In August the BOE gave Dr. G an evaluation of average/satisfactory across all metrics measured. Average performance does not constitute firing the Superintendent. She has been Superintendent for one year; one year of working in the District after much turmoil where there is a historical lack of parental and community investment, a population of extreme poverty, and a long history of micromanagement by the previous BOE where all but two were voted out. It is absurd to think that anyone could control all of those factors and magically turn that history around in one year. Firing Dr. G is not only unwarranted, it is irresponsible. The students and teachers need continuity of strong leadership by both the Superintendent and the BOE. Such a change after a short time at the District would put the District on the wrong path. Over the last year, Dr. G has built an excellent executive team and has shown vision and leadership in developing the reading initiative, coordinating many partners and all schools onto the same reading program and focusing all partners onto a common means to a common goal. All of this while a lot of politics from the Mayor regarding the City’s support and many people still at the District who were and are part of the problem in causing such poor performance and a State takeover. In the last 6 years, State legislators have been harmful to the future of education in Alabama by enacting laws that have nothing to do with what is known in education policy or supporting schools and everything to do with naming and penalizing poor performing schools through the Accountability Act, the A-F school grading system and charter school law. None of these aforementioned items are under the control of Dr. G. Stand up and support Dr. G. I know the Board of Education can get back on the right path; they have shown good leadership over the past year. The BOE is not perfect and not all problems are solved. But that doesn’t mean that I advocate for them to all be voted out. The BOE meets Sept 22nd at 5:30.

Danger to a tranquil community. Hillcrest Golf Club is a rolling 40+ acre golf course located in a nice, peaceful neighborhood on the border of St. Paul, Oakdale and Maplewood. Golfers/club members and their families can enjoy the comfort of golfing on the edge of the city without of the feel of the city. What many don't realize is that as they golf with family, friends and colleagues, the Hillcrest neighbors and residents along Winthrop Street North live in fear of golf season. They fear that children, their pets and they, themselves will be hurt or even killed by a golf ball coming directly to them over the golf course fence (which measures less than six feet tall!!) at between 130 - 140 miles per hour*. It is estimated that between 500-1000 golf balls leave the course at high speed, hitting houses, cars, walkers, pets, windows and walkers per year. * The average speed of a golf ball in flight on a fairway drive. Who are the neighbors on this short stretch of Winthrop st North? They are middle income median wage earners, retirees, developmentally disabled group home residents, children, walkers and pets enjoying the spring, summer, and autumn weather. How and Why? In what other neighborhood, you may ask, would this ever, ever be allowed? This is a thriving neighborhood, a highly-populated and favorite public walking route. The answer appears to be that the golf course management is mission is profit driven. The course is a private investment venture where the risk of injury is tolerated in hopes of higher short-term financial returns. Until an individual is hurt sufficiently to merit a lawsuit, no amount of money will be allocated toward building a preventative barrier. Civil liability is at the door...It is only a matter of time until there is a serious injury. The question remains whether the known risk of serious injury -- repeatedly documented, and serially ignored, may also leave the director and the board open to eventual criminal charges. The director and board have told the neighbors that a fence would cost too much money. The savings to the course are more important than the neighbors on the other side of the course's five-to-six-foot fence. Frequent damage and minimal response, disturbing close calls: The golf balls not only take a toll on residents' sense of safety but on their personal property as well. There have been dozens of incidents of damage to residents' houses, cars and guests’ vehicles. The balls break windows, damage roof shingles, and create body damage on nearly every car that is parked regularly in the neighborhood streets and driveways. When these accidents happen, golfers are often unaware or choose to walk away hoping they will not be fingered for whatever happens when their drives go unintentionally off course. What is the response from Hillcrest management? Officially the damage from golf balls are "not their problem," legally speaking, of course. When Hillcrest management receives phone calls from residents such as myself for these damages, the response from their management team and manger Paul Hayne is always the same, “Hillcrest Golf Club is not responsible for any damage done if the golfer did not own up to their fault.” Additional responses from Hillcrest’s management team are that neighbors should call their own insurance to pay for these damages. This means that deductibles will come out of the resident's own expense. A disturbing close call: In addition to property damages that have been ongoing for years, there was a recent incident this past June that Hillcrest Golf Club chose to ignore. A resident was out walking her dogs when a golfer yelled out warning; when she looked up a golf ball was flying towards her head. Only by quick reflex she was able to save her face by blocking the ball with her hand. The golf ball hit her hand with so much force that the ball bounced 20 feet away from her. The resident was so upset that she did not get the golfer’s name. Her neighbor drove her to Hillcrest Golf Club in hopes of obtaining the golfer’s information, only to come back empty handed. Her neighbor emailed Paul Hayne, the manager at Hillcrest and Mr. Hayne replied back stating that he had already contacted the young woman and she said everything was fine. This was not true, as Hillcrest’s only attempt to contact her was a message from the manager in their catering department, stating that she would pass this message onto upper management. The young woman’s fingers were painful, swollen and bruised but she was unable to get any medical attention due to lack of health insurance. If this had happened to an elderly person or a child, whose reflexes are much slower, this would have been a very bad accident. The impact of a golf ball can be fatal; there have been people with brain injuries due to direct impact of golf balls to the head. Where else would this be allowed?? Despite Hillcrest Golf Club’s management team’s knowledge of property damage and this recent incident, there has been minimal effort from Hillcrest Golf Club to makes changes. Residents in this neighborhood have also contacted their City Council (Ward6) and City Attorney of Saint Paul (Peter Warner) only to get similar discouraging responses, "We have no power or say in this matter; residents need to talk to the golf course." Hillcrest Golf Club has not made any any real change and minimal efforts have been made to "calm residents," but nothing substantive to remove what is seasonally a constant source of bodily and property harm. When it comes down to it this comes close to violating the very principles of what makes life in the United States so precious! The United States’ Declaration of Independence notably states, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and the Constitution promotes the “general welfare” of the people; we are the people and we are living in fear in our own home. Residents and their children should not have to live in fear; we...