Ted Cruz [1], Marco Rubio and Ron Wyden [2] have introduced legislation to try to erase the distinction in U.S. government policy between goods produced in Israel and goods produced in settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House. [3] J Street and Americans for Peace Now oppose this pro-settlement legislation. [4] Although this pro-settlement, pro-occupation campaign is opposed by the Obama Administration, Senator Wyden's support for it is worrisome. It suggests that this pro-settlement campaign could spread to other Democrats in Congress. Some press reports have suggested that the Administration might be considering enforcing existing U.S. law more consistently, so that, for example, wines sold in the U.S. from Shiloh Winery in the West Bank could no longer be labeled "Made in Israel." [4] If the Cruz-Rubio-Wyden pro-settlement effort is successful, it could discourage the Administration from enforcing existing U.S. law. Urge your Senators and Representative to oppose this pro-settlement legislation by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2474/cosponsors 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-resolution/346/cosponsors 3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/567/cosponsors 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tom-cotton-israel-palestinian-territories-label_us_56afcc6fe4b09214b14f3506 5. http://forward.com/news/332192/us-labeling-rules-already-bar-made-in-israel-tag-for-west-bank/

Prince George's County Deserves Better!

Recently the Des Moines Register published an op-ed saying, "Something smells in the Democratic Party." In the op-ed, the Register writes, “Too many accounts have arisen of inconsistent counts, untrained and overwhelmed volunteers, confused voters, cramped precinct locations, a lack of voter registration forms and other problems. Too many of us, including members of the Register editorial board who were observing caucuses, saw opportunities for error amid Monday night’s chaos.” The op-ed also states, “What happened Monday night at the Democratic caucuses was a debacle, period. Democracy, particularly at the local party level, can be slow, messy and obscure. But the refusal to undergo scrutiny or allow for an appeal reeks of autocracy." The Iowa Democratic Party must act quickly to assure the accuracy of the caucus results, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Please join with us and demand that Democracy is upheld in Iowa. The reputation of the Iowa caucuses depends on it.

This petition was designed to end school violence and bring awareness to bullying.

To peacefully protest the unlawful occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by the Bundy gang, lead by Cliven Bundy.

We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with subcontracted workers at UC Berkeley and endorse the Speakers Boycott for which they have called. Nearly 100 of these workers, employed by American Building Management, LAZ Parking, and Performance First, launched an insourcing campaign in August 2015: demanding formal inclusion into the UC Berkeley workforce and the wages, benefits and protections that come with direct university employment. Despite performing the same tasks as their UC-employed counterparts, workers subcontracted through the three private companies are paid a fraction of the wage: as little as $9.30/hr in a city where the minimum wage is $11/hr. Many of them are forced to work second and third jobs, and some work up to 190 hours every two weeks without any overtime pay – sometimes working 32 hours in a row. Not only are they largely (when not completely) denied access to healthcare, sick days, vacation days, and retirement, they are also routinely subjected to various forms of abuse. Subcontracted parking attendants have filed wage-theft claims totaling more than $40,000 in the past eight months alone. Custodians who have worked in UC Berkeley’s labs for over fifteen years bear scars where they have been cut by broken glass and burned by spilled chemicals because they were not provided gloves or adequate equipment. Women who have been sexually harassed and assaulted while working on campus describe how the abuses continued, sometimes for months, because they knew they would be fired if they reported them. When these workers began organizing, they were subject to intimidation and retaliation. Their claims to compensation equal to that of UC employees have been repeatedly dismissed on the grounds that they are “temporary” laborers. But the average subcontracted custodian has worked at UC Berkeley for eight years. A number of the workers organizing have poured more than twenty years of their lives into this institution. They are not only vital to the day-to-day functioning of the University, but integral members of the campus community. As members of the various communities to which these workers belong, we stand with them in endorsing the Speakers Boycott of UC Berkeley, and will continue to do so until each and every one of them has been brought in house. -------- Nosotros, los abajofirmantes, en solidaridad con los trabajadores subcontratados de UC Berkeley, endosamos El Boicot que los Oradores han lanzado. Casi 100 de estos trabajadores, empleados por American Building Management, LAZ Parking, y Performance First, lanzaron esta campana en Agosto de 2015: exigiendo inclusion formal en la poblacion laboral de UC Berkeley y tambien los salarios, beneficios y protecciones que vienen con el empleo directo. A pesar de realizar las mismas tareas que sus contrapartes empleados por UC, los trabajadores subcontratados por las tres companias privadas se les pagan una fraccion del salario: tan poco como $9.30/hr en una ciudad donde el salario minimo es $11/hr. Muchos de ellos son obligados a trabajar dos o tres trabajos, y algunos trabajan hasta 190 horas cada quincena sin pago de horas extras - a veces trabajando 32 horas corridas. No solo son negados acceso a la asistencia medica, dias de enfermedad, dias de vacaciones y el retiro, tambien son sujetados a diversas formas de abuso con frecuencia. Los guardacoches subcontratados han presentado reclamos por un total de mas que $40,000 en los ultimos ocho meses. Los custodios quienes han trabajado en los laboratorios de UC Berkeley mas que quince anos tienen cicatrices donde han sido cortados por vidrio roto y quemados por quimicos derramados porque no recibieron guantes ni equipo adecuado. Mujeres que han sido acosadas y agredidas mientras trabajando en campus describen como continuaban los abusos, a veces durante meses, porque sabian ellas que serian despedidas si los reportaban. Cuando comenzaron estos trabajadores a organizar, fueron sujetados a intimidacion y represalias. Sus reclamos a compenscaion igual a la de los empleados por UC han sido rechazados a causa de que son trabajadores "temporales." Pero un custodio subcontratado al medio ha trabajado en UC Berkeley por ocho anos. Varios trabajadores que organizan han vertido mas de veinte anos de sus vidas en esta institucion. No solamente son esenciales para el funcionamiento diario de la Universidad, sino que son miembros integrales de la comunidad del campus. Como miembros de las varias comunidades de que son partes estos trabajadores, nos levantamos consigos endosando El Boicot de los Oradores de UC Berkeley, y continuaremos hacerlo hasta que todos y cada uno sean empleados directamente por la Universidad.

CCC's students require government representation as the campus develops, and this won't be achieved without representation by peers who've shared their same experiences.

Thousands of Americans have called on Michigan Gov. Snyder to release all relevant information about what happened in Flint -- but he's still hiding information. And what's more, this week the emergency manager who exposed thousands of people to poisoned water skipped out on testifying before Congress about what happened. It's clear we need to step up the pressure. Demand an independent Congressional investigation today. Flint’s unelected, state-appointed “emergency manager” switched Flint’s water supply to the Flint River, which corroded their pipes and contaminated people's water with lead. And for over two years, children and families were drinking that poisoned water. Nation-wide outcry has been critical to our efforts to learn how this happened, and who should be held accountable. But with more and more reasons to doubt that Gov. Snyder is telling us the whole truth -- we need to take our efforts to the next level. Congress must create an independent, select committee with a mandate to subpoena all relevant records, require the appearance at public hearings of every public official or private citizen involved in this debacle, and issue a full report on its findings. We must determine who knew what and when they knew it, how we can avoid other crises like this, and who should be held accountable. The public’s faith in government at any level depends on transparency and accountability; public servants -- elected, appointed, or hired -- owe the people of Flint the full truth without further delay. Add your name now and demand an independent investigation into the water crisis in Flint.

Earlier this week, the CDC issued a statement recommending that doctors instruct women of childbearing age who are not using contraception to avoid all alcohol, so as to decrease their hypothetical baby's risk for fetal alcohol syndrome. While this statement may be well-intentioned, in reality it creates unrealistic expectations and attempts to remove the agency of women in making their own informed choices around their contraception and alcohol consumption. While the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy remain unclear, attempting to enforce such unrealistic expectations will do little to protect unborn children from harm. It is the duty of the CDC to provide necessary, realistic guidance that will increase public health. Their current directives, which aim to police women's bodies, do not meet that goal and must be amended today!

New York City's prominence among progressive circles makes it self-evident that it host one of the additional debates. As this election is, to a large degree, about determining the direction of the Democratic Party, it is imperative that New York City's voices are heard and questions answered before a nationally televised audience.

Please join us in urging the legislature to resist making further cuts to the KCTCS budget. Community and technical colleges are more important than ever in economically-challenging times, and we should be making a stronger commitment to them--not cutting back!

From the research I have done, I have learned that fracking and leaking pipelines have damaged water systems and has been linked to serious health and environmental issues. I do not want to see my family, friends, and people within this community suffer from serious consequences caused by the oil industry. Let's let the White House, Congress, NC Governor, NC House and Senate know we are putting up a fight to keep our county and state fracking and pipeline free!