• Justice for Wilbert Gay, Jr.
    On July 26, 1976, in Philadelphia, Wilbert Gay, Jr. age 19, was an occupant, along with Nathaniel McMillan in a car driven by Jerry Gatty. Jerry Gatty had words with Nathaniel McMillan, and pulled his car over under the Walt Whitman Bridge. Both Gatty and McMillan got out of the car and Gatty got a shot gun and a 38 out the trunk of his car and shot Nathaniel once with the shot gun and three time with the 38. Wilbert Gay didn't know that Gatty had planned to shoot Nathaniel, nor did he contribute in any way in the death of Nathaniel. Jerry and Wilbert Gay left the scene of the shooting. The next day, Wilbert Gay was arrested and told by the arresting homicide detective that he had been implicated in the murder of Nathaniel McMillan. Jerry Gatty had been arrested earlier that day. At the time of his arrest, Gay did not know that the Philadelphia Homicide Unit that arrested him were themselves being investigated by the FBI for violating the constitutional rights of suspects and witnesses by beating them and mentally abusing them in order to get confessions that would lead to convictions. The FBI investigation centered on the homicide unit's investigation of a multible homicide firebombing case that occurred on October 5, 1975. In that case the homicide detectives picked up a suspect, beat him and forced him to sign a confession for a crime that he didn't commit. The guy would be convicted and sent to prison. The actual murderer would later come forward and confess. The wrongfully convicted guy would get a new trial and would be set free. When Wilbert Gay, Jr. was arrested he invoked his right to remain silent and requested a lawyer. Disregarding his rights he was handcuffed to a metal chair that was bolted to the floor and the detectives initiated interrogation in blatant violation of Gay's Miranda rights. Not being pleased with Gay's refusal to talk, the detectives began to beat and mentally abuse him. At one point, Detective Roseborough McMillan, the uncle of the deceased Nathaniel McMillan placed his gun against Wilbert Gay's head and told him, "If you don't get life for what you did, I will kill you". Finally, Wilbert Gay succumbed to the physical and mental abuse and signed a statement that the detectives had prepared for him to sign. The movie, “The Thin Blue Lie” is about the same Philadelphia homicide unit that interrogated Wilbert Gay, Jr., beat him and forced him to sign a statement and how those six homicide detectives were responsible for violating the constitutional rights of the aforementioned firebombing murder suspect and witnesses. At Wilbert Gay’s preliminary hearing (aka probable cause hearing), he was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. With such a charge you don’t have to participate in the actual murder to be found guilty, if there is evidence that you were part of a conspiracy to commit the murder (agreement and planning) than you would be held just as responsible for the murder as the person who did the actual killing. The statement that Wilbert Gay was forced to sign was not a confession to the murder or to participating in a conspiracy to commit the murder. The statement in legal terms was an extrajudicial exculpatory statement. In a word it said I was a passenger in a car with the Nathaniel McMillan and the driver, Jerry Gaddy, when there were words between the driver, Jerry Gaddy and the victim, Nathaniel McMillan. Then Jerry stopped the car, got out of the car and got weapons out of the trunk of his car and shot Nathaniel to death. The statement said that the defendant (Gay) in no way participated in the murder of the Nathaniel McMillan. The presiding preliminary hearing judge, Meyer Rose initially stated that there was not enough evidence to hold Gay for trial. At that point in the proceeding, the assistant district attorney stated that he had a statement from the co-defendant, Jerry Gaddy (the shooter) implicating Gay in the murder. At that point, the judge Meyer Rose, with the assurance from the assistant district attorney, that additional evidence would be available going forward, Gay was held for trial. At the July 25, 1978 trial the assistant district attorney never presented as evidence the statement that the co--defendant, Jerry Gatty allegedly had made and Jerry Gatty never took the stand at Gay’s trial. The only probable cause to arrest and hold Wilbert Gay for trial was the alleged statement made by the Jerry Gaddy (the shooter) and without such a statement or testimony by Gaddy there was no probable cause for his trial to proceed. That did not stop the prosecution from going forward with the “malicious prosecution” of Wilbert Gay, Jr. Six members of the Philadelphia homicide unit who are the subject of the movie, “The Thin Blue Lie” were convicted four months before Gay’s trial of violating the constitutional rights of the murder suspect and witnesses mentioned in the movie by beating and coercing them in order to get a confession which led to a conviction. The murder suspect that they beat until he confessed, had not committed the murders. After he was convicted the real murderer confessed to the murders. The only evidence that connected Wilbert Gay to the crime was the statement that four of the convicted felon detectives (John Ellis, James Curley, Rosebourough McMillan and William Jones) had obtained from him. On December 3, 1976, a Suppression Hearing was held to suppress the statement that Wilbert Gay, said was not given voluntarily. The presiding judge, Alex J. Bonavitacola was the same judge that presided over the suppression hearing in the firebombing murder case. At both suppression hearings judge Bonavitacola believed the detectives who would later be indicted and convicted of violating the constitutional rights of the firebombing murder suspect and witnesses. At Wilbert Gay’s trial the prosecution called ten witnesses to testify. The first nine witnesses consisted of one homicide detective, ...
    685 of 800 Signatures
    Created by Cleve Parmer
  • Revise the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)
    In 2010 we refinanced under the HARP. Since then mortgage rates have dropped significantly, however per HARP's rules we can only refinance once under their program. There are many responsible homeowners like us who deserve a break. Allow us to refinance more than once.
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    Created by Joan
  • Be More: Let Kids Make Their Own TV and Radio Stations.
    Because we think it's unfair that kids can't express their feelings and be free! We are two 9 (almost 10) year old girls and we want our own TV channel, but the process is hard. Kids should be able to have their own stations, so kids should be creative! What if a kid has a lot of news stories or wants to start a talk show? Kids should be able to set up stations. Please get this to 1000 signatures!
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    Created by Sydney and Madison
  • Fire GOP Staffer Elizabeth Lauten
    Elizabeth Lauten's thoughtless, cruel, vile and hateful comments directed towards two young teenage girls and their appearance is just wrong on so many levels. Young teenage girls all over the country are struggling with peer pressure and scrutiny in regards to how they look and dress. No one deserves to be attacked in the cruel manner Sasha and Malia Obama were by this "professional" woman that is supposed to be a "Director of Communications." When did attacking young girls become okay? Fire her now! Stand up for Sasha, Malia and all young girls who are judged and attacked based on their appearance alone.
    1,281 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Tamara Burgess
  • We support our armed forces and veterans
    We support our nations armed forces and veterans. Congress is quick to send our armed forces in harm's way but slow to take care of their needs. They look for every opportunity to cut education, jobs for veterans and their retirement. We demand our elected officials stand up for our active service members and the veterans of this country.
    1,294 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Jerry Stidman
  • Alabama
    MY NAME IS LISA DEATON.I'M WRITING IN REGARDS TO MY BROTHER DANIEL BENJAMIN BLAN. WHOM HAS BEEN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND INCARCERATED FOR OVER 18 YEARS FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT NOR HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT IN. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT CAN PROVE HIS INNOCENCE AND SET HIM FREE.HE DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE INNOCENTLY AND WRONGFULLY CONVICTED FOR OVER 18 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN A LING HARD BATTLE FOR HIM AND OUR FAMILY TO GET SOMEONE TO HEAR OUR PLEA FOR HELP AND JUSTICE.HE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ATTORNEYS' FILE ON HIS BEHALF BUT TO NO AVAIL THEY DILIGENTLY FOUGHT FOR HIS FREEDOM.YET NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO TRUTH.HOW ANYONE INVOLED SLEEP KNOWING THIS MAN IS INNOCENT IS BEYOND ME.ANY AND ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG IN A TRIAL DID IN DANIELS.MANY KNOW OF HIS INNOCENCE YET NO ONE WANTS TO FACE THE TRUTH AND FACTS THAT DANIEL IS COMPLETELY INNOCENT OF THIS CRIME.PLEASE HEAR OUR PLEA FOR MERCY AND HELP SET MY BROTHER FREE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME WITH THIS MATTER.GOD BLESS.SINCERELY LISA DEATON
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    Created by Lisa Deaton
  • Give a person a chance to work if they have a bad background.
    A lot of people who have done time or even have misdemeanors, have a hard for them to get hired on any job.
    186 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Brenda Brown
  • Save Boulevard Cafe
    The Boulevard Cafe has been serving the neighborhood of West Grand Boulevard for 30 years. They are beautiful people and we would hate to see them leave our area.
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    Created by cyll hill
  • Federal charges of Misconduct by St. Louis Prosecutor's Office
    Injustice in America can not be ignored or racism will prevail.
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    Created by malcolm martin
  • Vote yes on S.B. #528
    I believe that the senate is delaying scheduling a hearing of S.B. #528. In my own opinion they don't want this to be voted on due to their own personal beliefs. That would not be fair to do since according to that belief the government could ban something like candy as long as they didn't like it. As a Pennsylvania resident, I think if the people want marijuana legal as long as it is not endangering anyone, it should not be a problem. If other harmful drugs are legal then this makes no sense since marijuana poses half the threat.
    214 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Corey burt
  • Sen. Warren: Reject loopholes, don't renew them
    Congress is about to REINSTATE loopholes that let huge corporations like GE, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup dodge taxes -- and to stop it, we need champions like Sen. Elizabeth Warren to stand up. Tax loopholes allow corporations to dodge taxes by hiding profits overseas -- some companies pay $0 in taxes. Congress is about to decide their fate: Renew $9 billion in offshore corporate tax loopholes, or leave them on the scrap heap of bad ideas. Earlier this year, a large slate of corporate subsidies expired. Hidden among the tax credits are some of the worst loopholes that reward multinational corporations for moving profits and jobs overseas. Now, Congress wants to renew many of these programs, even the ones that reward huge companies for hiding profits overseas. It makes no sense -- this is our chance to let these loopholes end for good. The President has already spoken out against renewing these loopholes, but we need to more champions to stand up, and we think Sen. Warren should be one of those champions. It’s about time that these corporations start living by the same rules as the rest of us. It’s time to close these loopholes and invest in an economy that works for everyone.
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    Created by Nathan Proctor
  • Petition to the Idaho Transportation Department Requesting Immediate, Site-Specific Actions to Mi...
    Concerned about serious accidents during inclement weather on the substandard, dangerous stretch of U.S. Highway 95 on Reisenauer Hill, Paradise Ridge Defense Coalition and citizens of Latah County, Idaho, again strongly urge the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to immediately implement significant, site-specific measures to mitigate highway conditions and improve safety. Petition signers request that ITD lower and seek enforcement of the speed limit, erect reduced speed limit warning signs, and install rumble strips in appropriate places on this section of Highway 95.
    315 of 400 Signatures
    Created by Paradise Ridge Defense Coalition