Donald Trump recently called for a ban on all Muslim immigrants coming to the United States. Mr. Trump has said some shocking things throughout his presidential campaign, but this is really beyond the pale. For more than 235 years, we have upheld the freedom of religion as one of our country's core principles. It's one of the many things that makes America exceptional as a nation. We must say ENOUGH to this divisive rhetoric.

Donald Trump is a racist and a bigot, but the political committee that works to elect Republicans to the Senate has been profiting off of his name by selling Trump-branded merchandise since May. Ohio Senator Rob Portman (R) has criticized some of Trump's remarks, but he's still accepting support from the sale of Trump merchandise to help his 2016 re-election campaign. In a recent email, a Republican committee encouraged supporters to “claim” the “perfect gift” — a Trump koozie for $12 — “just in time for the holidays!” They’re also selling bumper stickers that read “I’m with Trump,” further proof that Republicans like Senator Portman are willing to stand with Trump and his divisive ideas when it leads to a payoff for their campaigns. It is absolutely hypocritical for Republicans to denounce Donald Trump while accepting campaign contributions raised in his name! If Rob Portman truly represents the values of Ohio, he will demand that the National Republican Senatorial Committee stop using Donald Trump’s racism as a fundraising tool and refuse any donations made in his name. Please join with me in demanding that Ohio Senator Rob Portman reject all funds raised by Trump’s racism and bigotry!

Donald Trump is a racist and a bigot, but the political committee that works to elect Republicans to the Senate has been using Trump’s inflammatory language to attract small-dollar donors since May. Recently, Republicans distanced themselves from Trump’s outrageous and racist comments but that hasn’t kept them from using Trump’s brand for fundraising. In a recent email, a Republican committee encouraged supporters to "claim" the "perfect gift" — a Trump koozie for $12 — "just in time for the holidays!" They're also selling bumper stickers that read "I'm with Trump," further proof of how Republicans are willing to embrace Trump’s policies to raise money Ultimately, the money raised by these committees will fuel the campaign of the Republican candidate looking to fill Marco Rubio’s vacant Senate seat. It is absolutely hypocritical for Republicans to denounce Donald Trump while accepting campaign contributions raised in his name! Any Republican who is serious about representing the state of Florida in the Senate, should demand that the National Republican Senatorial Committee stop using Donald Trump’s racism as a fundraising tool and refuse any donations made because of his racist comments. Please join with us in demanding that Florida Republicans off Trump’s racism and bigotry!

There is a climate in this country that has come to the crisis point. When someone shoots up a clinic (Planned Parenthood most often, but any women's clinic), they are endangering lives, even as they claim to be Pro-Life. Yet when they head to court, they are given labels such as "mentally unstable" or "lone wolf" and other excuses. Their actions cause people to be afraid to visit those places under fear of being killed, which is the very definition of TERRORISM. High time to call these crimes what they are.

Mayor Emanuel lacks the integrity to be open and honest, as well as distribute resources to assist the communities that supported his reelection.

I have repeatedly reported Donald Trump and those on his page on FB for hate speech. His posts insight rhetoric that is a catalyst for violence against Muslims. One reader even suggested they should all be killed. Even this was rejected by FB as hate speech. Enough.

When Donald Trump says he wants to ban all Muslims from entering the United States, he is using prejudice and hatred to build support. This is not who we are; these are not American values. Donald Trump and the Republicans who echo his message are playing into the strategy of ISIS, who wants to paint their atrocities as a war between the West and Islam. It's time for Republican leaders to do the right thing: Reject a Trump presidency, without caveats or reservations. 

This kind of hate speech has no place in a race for President of the United States. And nobody who spews it is fit to represent America as our head of state. 

 America needs a president that will embrace citizens of every religion and unite our country together against terrorism. Let’s stand up to divisiveness and discrimination together. Sign the petition: Stand up to dangerous, hate speech and bigotry -- and tell Republican leaders to reject Donald Trump.

Decent and innocent people are being attacked in part because of reckless rhetoric in the name of shameless self promotion of people like Donald Trump. It must end now. Donald Trump owes it to all Americans and all Muslims to help put an end to this type of ugly violence here in America and all Americans(including those in Washington and on every major news network) need to stand up and put immense pressure him to do so.

In the state of Kansas, under the Personal and Family Protection Act, it is legal to concealed carry a handgun without a permit or training. Under a state or municipal building exemption, public universities and colleges are not currently required to allow firearms in campus buildings, but this exemption expires on July 1, 2017. After that date, concealed carry will be allowed in campus buildings unless “adequate security measures” are put in place. Considering the costs and planning required to implement “adequate security measures”--there are over 800 buildings on Kansas public university campuses--there is no practical way to maintain gun-free campuses without amending the law. The Kansas Coalition for a Gun Free Campus and the undersigned university affiliates and other concerned citizens believe that the presence of firearms on our campuses fundamentally alters the nature of the work we do at institutions of higher learning. Numerous Kansas college affiliates have already voiced their concerns, including University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, KU Senate President Michael Williams, and forty Kansas State University distinguished professors. Among the reasons cited for prohibiting the possession of firearms on college campuses are: 1) More accessible weapons means more opportunities for intentional gun violence and accidental discharge. 2) Students, faculty, and staff of color will be disproportionately affected and will be especially vulnerable. The LGBT community, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups will also be disproportionately affected. 3) There will be a greater risk of successful suicide attempts, especially in student dormitories and private offices. 4) The presence of firearms limits academic freedom by creating an environment of intimidation and fear. These are just a few of the many reasons guns do not belong on college campuses. Kansas gun laws allowing concealed carry on campuses will also discourage highly qualified prospective students and faculty from considering our colleges and universities for study or employment; as such, the quality of education will suffer. We disagree with the notion that arming our colleges will protect us in the event of an active shooter, as it would create confusion and potentially undermine the efforts of law enforcement. Since Kansas does not require permit or training, the chances of successful civilian intervention are even more unlikely. Additionally, as indicated in the arguments above, active shooter situations are far from our only concern. It is clear to us, the undersigned, that firearms should not be allowed in our classrooms and other campus buildings. We will not rest until Kansas legislators amend the law to address our concerns. Further reading: The Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act: https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/concealed-carry-statutes.pdf?sfvrsn=24 Kansas Board of Regents Weapons Fact Sheet: http://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/FACT_SHEET-2105_weapon_possession_on_university_campuses_in_Kansas.pdf Chancellor Gray-Little speaks: http://www.kansan.com/news/ku-chancellor-bernadette-gray-little-weighs-in-on-campus-climate/article_7aa86e14-9d21-11e5-8c6f-f34d00a8f27c.html?mode=story KU Weapons Information Session: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2015/dec/08/fear-unanswered-questions-dominate-guns-campus-inf/ Forty Kansas State Distinguished Professors speak out: http://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement.php?id=23727&category=news&referredBy=email#.Vl72_2j7j-8.twitter

Pardon or commute Joshua Williams’ sentence... Josh was charged with arson and was sentenced to 8 years at the Missouri Department of Corrections for trying to set fire to a QuikTrip Gas Station after hearing that a St. Louis County, Berkeley Missouri Police Officer shot and killed an unarmed male. Yet, the QuikTrip was never set on fire, Josh pled guilty under the circumstances. Josh was reacting out of duress due to recent Police Violence that was affecting, and continues to affect, the mental health and well-being of people and communities. Taking away this young man’s freedom because he has been mentally abused is wrong!! The Atlanta Black Star speak more on African-Americans, Race Trauma and PTSD. "Race-based trauma isn’t just inclusive of racist acts, but also the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness one feels during and after the incidents. " https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/09/06/cant-breathe-african-americans-race-trauma-ptsd/ Robert T. Carter, Ph.D. wrote on this in a 2006 Psychiatric Times article: “Race-based traumatic stress injury can be a consequence of emotional pain that a person may feel after encounters with racism, which can be understood in terms of specific types of acts (as distinct types: racial harassment or hostility, racial discrimination or avoidance and/or discriminatory harassment, aversive hostility).

The State of Missouri refuses to let a disabled veteran telework. I am a Military Service Disabled Service Connected Veteran hired under the Show Me Heroes program. The State of Missouri placed Disabled Veterans like myself on Leave of Absence without pay during Christmas time. I have asked for work over and over again and the State of Missouri has refused. Please sign my petition telling the State of Missouri to let me telework so I, a disabled veteran, can support his family.

I start this petition with great concern for the civil and human rights of persons of color, having witnessed police officers in Minneapolis and Hennepin County commit perjury, lie under oath, in order to convict persons of color with or without prior records. I and other researchers know the shooters of the BLM activists were escorted to the site by police and escaped with MPD help. I also know MPD will continue to stalk persons of color to either pad arrest statistics or to harm or worse murder...with the knowledge they can and will and have gotten away with it. We request that the MPD be placed in federal receivership until the city can produce officer candidates capable of providing equal justice under the law for all.