Mass shootings have to stop like the one in Charleston. People are dying. Let's stop encouraging hate and hateful symbols and names associated with slavery of an entire population of human beings on this earth.

Our state still has no hate crime legislation. Since 2013 there've been 51 documented hate crime incidents. South Carolina has 19 known hate groups, according to Southern Poverty Center data. It's more imperative now than ever that all citizens no matter their race, creed, religion, or sexual orientation, are safe from violent persecution. Passing this bill would be a huge step forward for this state; not only in real change in law; but also in perception and solidarity of our state.

The State of South Carolina has used the Confederate flag as a symbol of intimidation for the past 150 years. The terrorist attack in Charleston, SC is only the latest racist terror to visit upon the people of that state. The symbol is not one of pride, but of arrogance and terror. The City of Portland and the State of Oregon must show our repugnance at such a blatantly racist symbol.

Combat racism in America by boycotting states that use racist symbols.

Media should NOT be in the business of choosing the party nominee for President. Senator Bernie Sanders deserved equal air time to Secretary Hillary Clinton. As Sanders surges in the polls, it grows increasingly discordant that CNN news programming focuses almost solely on Hillary Clinton's campaign. Please join us in demanding CNN do its job.

Kansas legislators have recently passed a bill, in which the state's courts will only be funded in the event that none of them rule to overturn a previously passed law that limited the administrative authority of the courts. This is a clear abuse of power as the Kansas Constitution clearly states in Article 3 §1: "The judicial power of this state shall be vested exclusively in one court of justice, which shall be divided into one supreme court, district courts, and such other courts as are provided by law", The Kansas legislature and governor are in breach of this provision as they have attempted to interfere in judicial rulings. Since the legislature and governor were not acting within their constitutionally defined powers, I believe this also constitutes bribery using state funds under federal statute 18 USCS prec § 201(b) which is explained here http://bribery.uslegal.com/federal-laws-on-bribery/ As this is a particularly brazen example of bribery, I want to call on the president to seek the harshest penalties defined under the law, that the offending legislators and the Governor be disqualified from holding public office. Please sign the official petition on "We the People": https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/file-charges-against-kansas-legislators-who-passed-hb-2005-bribery-all-kansas-judges More information on the bill and situation can be found here: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2015/06/05/kansas-passes-law-linking-court-funding-to-judicial-rulings/

The American Slave Culture has been improperly released from slavery. America is a nation that operates with laws, codes, references, referendum and proper legal documentation. Calling the culture Black or African American is out of order. Black is a color, a description, an adjective. It is not a Nationality or culture. It's not a noun (Person, Place or Thing). African American is a United States immigration term for those whites and blacks who come from Africa seeking U.S. citizenship. The American Slave Culture has been struggling since the Civil War, not Black America. African Americans have a country that they can return to. The American Slaves were born on the plantations in the south. They are natural born citizens. American Slaves were America's first born offspring who have been neglected by America. We are all Americans and we are only as strong as our weakest link. Slavery was the foundation and the bedrock to the American economy. The descendants of American Slavery are the crack in the foundation, and we must help the weakest link if our nation is going to be made whole. Sign this petition asking Congress to properly include the American Slave Culture to be included in the U.S. Constitution.

A new study says the University of New Mexico pays female professors, on average, 13% less than men. Asked why, Provost Chaouki Abdallah says, "The most important reason for male professors [having higher average salaries] is that there are colleges and departments with higher salaries. For example, there are more male engineering professors. The lowest paid professors are where females are a majority such as education or the arts. The other reason is that females may delay careers or promotions because of family. Males will also negotiate for more money and females generally don’t." They can't be serious. UNM can - and should - do better. Tell them to honor the Fair Pay Act and pay female professors on par with men.

Treasury confirmed on June 17 that Alexander Hamilton and not Andrew Jackson will be the first paper currency changed to reflect America's beautiful diversity. But how can the Treasury not see the hypocrisy in retaining an avowed racist on the $20? Andrew Jackson despised Native Americans. He coerced (or deceived) proud Native American tribes to move west of the Mississippi ("The Trail of Tears"). His actions triggered the death of over 46,000 Native Americans while fostering expansion of slavery in the South. Tell Treasury and Congress our currency reflects American values. Tell them their first change to currency should be the removal of Jackson from the $20.

This year, the Connecticut Legislature passed a strong, progressive budget that will put our state on the path towards a more competitive economy and make sure Connecticut continues to be a great place to live. Facing projected deficits, it closed corporate tax loopholes, asked the top 1% of wealthiest residents in the state to pay a their fair share, and took other reasonable steps which allowed them to avoid gutting our schools and community services. A week later, a few of the biggest corporations led by GE demanded that Connecticut amend the budget to restore their tax breaks. If they have their way, lawmakers may have to slash even more funding from education, transportation, and children’s healthcare to meet GE’s demands. Instead of cutting even more vital social services, legislators should stand strong and make corporations like GE pay their fair share.

This year, the Connecticut Legislature passed a smart, forward-looking budget that will put our state on the path towards a more competitive economy and make sure Connecticut remains a great place to live. Facing projected deficits, it closed corporate tax loopholes, asked the top 1% of wealthiest residents in the state to pay a little more, and took other reasonable steps. This allowed them to avoid gutting services and to promote real, long-term economic growth by investing in quality schools to educate a skilled workforce; efficient transportation that enables companies to bring their products to market and people to commute to work; and safe, stable communities. Now the legislature is holding a special session at the end of the month to discuss reversing these smart policies, which would force cuts to education, healthcare and transportation, due to pressure from big business looking to avoid paying their fair share. Instead of cutting these vital services, legislators should stand by their balanced, pro-economic growth approach. Tell Connecticut legislators to reject the proposed $224 million in cuts to state services.

Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 111 Sections 31 & 143, we are petitioning for an independent, thorough, and transparent health and safety evaluation of the threat posed by the WRLP segment of AIM to the health, well-being, and property of the residents of West Roxbury, Dedham, Westwood, and the surrounding areas. An explosion of this 750psi pipeline would cause certain devastation to an area as large as a 30 city block radius. Leaked fracked gas passing through this pipeline has toxic components like PCBs, arsenic, radon, and methane. The risk of leaks is increased by live blasting in the immediate area of a planned Metering & Regulating station opposite an active quarry. The imminent construction of this station and a 750 psi pipeline in a densely populated area that includes three schools and a nursing home is an intolerable risk that requires an urgent halt for a thorough and independent review of the health and safety effects of frequent blasting in the immediate region of a high-pressure pipeline.