I am a young adult, who is at a relatively low risk of COVID-19 to be fatal for myself, but this does not mean that I cannot contract this virus. My 73 year old Papa is a Type 2 Diabetic, which mean he IS at high risk to die from COVID-19. He, along with the millions of elderly and individuals with auto-immune disorders in the US are fatally at risk. According to Rachael Rettner of Live Science, "Without a mask, droplets produced during coughing can travel up to 12 feet. With a mask, this distance is reduced to just a few inches," (Rettner, 2020). A COVID-19 carrier without a mask has a 70% chance to transmit the virus to an individual wearing a mask. However, if a COVID-19 carrier wears a mask, there is only a 5% probability of transmitting the virus to someone not wearing a mask, and a 1.5% probability to someone wearing a mask, (Roseland, NJ; 2020). Mrs. Pelosi, ALL Americans are at risk of contracting this virus, and MILLIONS are at risk of dying from COVID-19. We needed Congress to act on this yesterday! If you will not do this for everybody, at the very least, do this for the ones that you love. Everybody loves someone, and everybody can lose someone. Please, sign this and tell Congress that they need to act now! Cited Works: Rettner, R. (2020, June 30). Visualization shows exactly how face masks stop COVID-19 transmission. Retrieved July 01, 2020, from https://www.livescience.com/face-mask-visualization-droplets-covid-19.html Roseland, New Jersey. (2020, May 7). COVID-19 - Why Mask? Retrieved July 01, 2020, from https://www.roselandnj.org/home/news/covid-19-why-mask Kim, A., Andrew, S., & Froio, J. (2020, June 25). These are the states requiring people to wear masks when out in public. Retrieved July 01, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/us/states-face-mask-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

In January of 2019, H.R. 40 was introduced to members of Congress. The bill states its purpose is "to establish a commission to study and develop Reparations proposals for African-Americans" and "submit to Congress the results of such examinations." The Committee found that “as a result of the historic and continued discrimination, African-Americans continue to suffer debilitating economic, educational, and health hardships including but not limited to having nearly 1 million black people incarcerated; an employment rate more than twice the current white unemployment rate; and an average of less than 1/16 of the wealth of white families, a disparity which has worsened, not improved over time.” Now, in the wake of a national health crisis that disproportionately affects the Black Community and the continued public slaughter of Black bodies at the hands of law enforcement despite international condemnation, African Americans continue to be left behind economically. The time is now for this country to pay back the Black community for this economic chokehold. Join me in urging members of Congress to move forward with the findings of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s Committee to Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans and encourage Congress to demand Reparations for African Americans. Read H.R. 40 here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/40

Phase 2 is not working. Masks are not being worn. In order to stay safe we must go back to phase 1 and reevaluate how to proceed.

Ninian Edwards was a founding political leader and governor of Illinois in the 1800s. He was also a slave owner who actively encouraged the continuation of slavery in Illinois when the North West Ordinance of Illinois outlawed it. Edwards also participated and encouraged the removal and genocide of Native Americans in Illinois. In 2007, a statue of Edwards was erected and a plaza was named after him, right in downtown Edwardsville. Our downtown public spaces should celebrate our community's values and identity. The statue and plaza perpetuate negative messages about who is and is not welcome in our city, about who we revere and who we value. On November 17, 2020, the city took a first step by renaming the plaza. Edwardsville should demonstrate its commitment to equality and its opposition to racism by taking the next straightforward action - removing the statue. We believe this is the right action because of our history. We must learn about Edwards - who he was and what we did - but we should be doing so in a way that is appropriate for learning history, rather than revering him in the heart of our city. The statue can be rehomed to an educational/historical setting. Please join us as we work to achieve the following: 1) The removal of the statue of Ninian Edwards from the downtown Ninian Edwards Plaza. 2) The relocation of the statue to a museum or less public city space, to be displayed alongside information that describes the harmful historical actions of Ninian Edwards against Black Americans and Native Americans.

"The risks of this new industry should fall on the industry and the regulatory agencies, not on the public. As we see it, the purpose of government agencies like DEP and DOH is to proactively prevent harm, not to wait and see if the worst really happens. There has already been too much of that." The 43rd Statewide Grand Jury has found that the state agencies responsible for protecting the public from the shale gas industry have failed us. Badly. They describe a state environmental protection agency that is unresponsive to the public, or worse. "We heard, for example, from a homeowner who personally observed a spill occurring into the creek near his property. He saw the creek change color. He took video. He called DEP and described what was happening in real time. But nothing he said would convince the employee to come and look for himself. The employee said he had already talked to the operators of the well, that they had assured him there was no danger to the creek, and that he therefore had no need of the homeowner’s evidence. He threatened to have the homeowner prosecuted for filing a false report." -- pp. 65 - 66, bit.ly/PAGJreport They describe an agency that takes the word of operators over those of citizens, that fails to refer criminal cases to the Attorney General, that allows employees to have too cozy a relationship with the industry they're supposed to be regulating, and that fails to ensure that employees are adequately informed of important policy. And the list goes on and on. The Grand Jury believes that some things have improved during the Wolf administration, but try telling that to the people along the Mariner East pipeline route who saw the agency approve a pipeline that still had several hundred remaining deficiencies in its application, or the people at Save Our Streams PA who hunt down, test, and map old orphaned and abandoned wells that are leaking methane since the state has failed to locate, much less maintain them, or the public who wonders why the agency slapped Range Resources with an historic $8.9 million fine for a well leaking in Lycoming county in 2015 and then rescinded the fine in 2017 with no explanation and why the well was still leaking when a reporter checked in 2019 and may still be today. Pennsylvanians want to know why the only state with a Constitutional guarantee of clean air and pure water included among its citizens' fundamental rights is being failed so badly by those hired to protect that right. Pennsylvanians in fracked communities call the agency 'Don't Expect Protection' for a reason. The PA DEP needs an overhaul and it must start with Secretary Patrick McDonnell's ouster.

The current state flag bill prevents the Confederate battle flag from being used in the new state flag. On the eve that the bill was voted on, Senator Melanie Sojourner asked if the bill prevented all Confederate imagery and emblems from being used on the new state flag. Senator Briggs Hopson then stated that it did not. Senator Sojourner then mentioned that Georgia’s state flag is based on another flag from the Confederacy (the “Stars and Bars”). Details on the Flag Bill Process: The nine-member commission must adopt a new flag by September 14th. It will then be voted on by people in November of 2020. In the 2021 session, the lawmakers still must ratify a final flag design that voters vote on in the November election. If voters reject the design, the nine-member commission gets back to work, and voters would weigh in on another design in November 2021. On the nine-member commission, there will be at least one member from the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Mississippi Economic Council.Contact your state representative, state senator, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, or the Mississippi Economic Council to express your views on what imagery the new flag should and shouldn’t include. Sources: Bill: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2020/pdf/history/HB/HB1796.xml Article: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/28/live-mississippi-lawmakers-take-up-state-flag-bill/3275024001/

We are deeply disturbed by recent reports that the Trump administration is moving forward with a $478 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia’s monarchy, which would provide 7,500 precision-guided missiles to a government that has already bombed thousands of civilians in Yemen, often with U.S. weapons. We are also troubled by the Trump Administration’s prior announcement of a $556 million arms sale of 4,569 MRAP vehicles to the U.A.E., a government that has also brought misery to both Yemen and Libya. Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. pose significant threats to U.S. interests, regional democracy, and global security. Here are eight primary reasons: ** Using U.S. Weapons to Drive War and Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. have used U.S. weapons in their devastating wars in Yemen and Libya, which have contributed to the spread of the Coronavirus across the Middle East and North Africa by decimating local healthcare systems. ** Supporting Terrorist Networks, Including with U.S. Weapons: Officials from the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia have been caught supporting terrorist networks, such as Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups across the Arabian peninsula. ** Jailing and Killing Human Rights and Democracy Advocates: Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. have both jailed reformers and advocates for democracy within their borders. Saudi Arabia has also assassinated and executed nonviolent reformers and dissidents, of whom Jamal Khashoggi is only the most famous example. ** Exporting Dictatorship: Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. both intervene across the Middle East and North Africa to stop democracy and promote dictatorship, including in Bahrain, Egypt, Sudan, and Libya. ** Violating Women’s Rights: Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. both violate women’s rights through systems of discrimination and repression, as well as through imprisonment and torture of women activists. Two notable Saudi women’s rights activists who are still imprisoned are Loujain al-Hathloul & Samar Badawi. ** Modern-Day Slavery: Both Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. maintain the kafala system, an abusive labor system that robs foreign workers of their human rights. Under kafala, workers are often trapped, unable to leave abusive employers without their permission, in circumstances that can amount to forced labor. ** Global Kidnapping, Espionage, and Murder: Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. have both worked globally to silence critics and forcibly stop those attempting to escape state repression, including through espionage, armed kidnappings, and assassination. ** Driving the Climate Crisis: Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. are major contributors to the global climate crisis through their massive fossil fuel export economies, which are responsible for a significant share of the world’s fossil fuel emissions. In addition, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly undermined global climate negotiations.

We do not believe that the mitigation plans we have read about are sufficient to ensure not only the protection of the students but of the community at large. We also do not believe it should become the responsiblity of the host communities to assume the burden of supporting students as they become ill or need to quarantine. Or to have to enforce adherance to COVID mitigation measures when out in the community. Until the colleges and University can demonstrate that they have not only appropriate mitigation plans in place but the capacity and ability to enforce those plans on campus and off - as well as deliver any urgent and ongoing medical and health related services in a manner that does not burden the local resources - students should not return to campus. All future COVID mitigation plans should be reviewed and approved only by the town representatives who have been elected to represent the aforementioned communities.

Reports are coming out that Russia placed bounties on U.S. soldiers serving in Afghanistan during the peace talks between the U.S. and the Taliban. According to military intelligence, Russia has paid out on some of these bounties. President Trump was briefed on this in February at the very latest. Republican lawmakers confirm that briefings were made. Trump may have been informed of this as early as March of 2019 by John Bolton. These accusations are horrifying, and the response thus far from the Trump Administration has been shameful. We the people demand information.

Wyoming has 578,000 people, is 92% white, and has two US senators. Vermont has 624,000 people, is 94% white, and has two US senators. DC has 705,000 people, is 47% Black -- and has zero senators. As local advocacy group DC Vote notes: “With a majority Black and Brown population, the fight for DC Statehood cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice.” But right now, those living in our nation’s capital don’t get the fundamental rights that their fellow Americans enjoy -- like a meaningful vote, real representation, and a full voice in their government. That’s because the Constitution says that only states can be represented in Congress. And as a result, DC residents have no one to fight for them in the Senate -- and in the House, they only have a non-voting delegate. People in DC pay more in total federal income tax than those in 22 other states -- only to get no say in how those tax dollars are spent. (It’s the reason DC license plates say “Taxation Without Representation.”) And Washingtonians have fought and died in every war our country has been in -- yet those veterans are denied the very freedoms they risked their lives for. These Americans have been denied a seat at the table of our democracy for far too long. And the Washington, DC Admission Act -- which was passed by the House in June -- would bring an end to this long-standing injustice. If you believe that EVERY American deserves an equal say in our democracy, tell the Senate to make DC the 51st state.

Masks, when combined with other measures, have proven to be the best way to significantly stop the spread of the virus. Masks have been proven effective across the globe and in our state. Orleans Parish successfully reduced the devastating effects of the COVID-19 virus by continuing to make masks mandatory throughout the reopening process. By doing so, Orleans Parish went from an epicenter of the virus to a safe place to work and live. As of June 29th, 2020, Jefferson Parish is instituting the same restrictions in order to reduce their numbers that have been increased since Phase Two of reopening. Not only are St. Tammany Parish’s COVID-19 numbers increasing, but close proximity to parishes with increasing numbers such as Washington and Jefferson create even more of a risk to those who live and work in St. Tammany. It is not uncommon to live on the Northshore and work on the Southshore. This commute increases the likelihood of infection and bringing the virus further into our community. According to recent numbers, St. Tammany is the parish with the fifth-highest recorded COVID-19 cases. Parish President Cooper even said it himself “We can shape the size of the scar this pandemic leaves on our community.” If he is truly committed to the safety of our parish then making masks mandatory in public is the only option for success. __________________ Here is the link for the contact information of your Parish Council Representative as well as the Parish President. Email them the statement above and let them know you support a safer St. Tammany! Below I have included a phone script if you would like to call their offices directly. http://www.stpgov.org/government/parish-council http://www.stpgov.org/government/parish-president Script for telephone: Be prepared to have your zip code in hand. “Hello, my name is (your name) and I am a constituent of (your council members name). I am calling today to urge (Council Member X) to introduce a policy to make facial masks mandatory in St. Tammany Parish. Thank you.”

I am a physician scientist actively engaged in COVID-19 education, organizing, and advocacy within and beyond Harris County. The local response to containing the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to struggle against the irresponsible decisions being made by other parties. We live and die by those decisions. The Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas is world renowned. But my colleagues admit readily that the hospitals there are full, and they are fearful of what lies ahead. We are universally appalled that the most visible physicians' organization is supporting a very large gathering of people at a mask-optional event amid this crisis. We cannot in good conscience continue to support the TMA if it moves forward with participating in the Texas GOP convention on July 16-18. This is a pledge for Texas physicians to boycott the organization if it fails to withdraw.