I was born and raised in Glastonbury and received an amazing, world-class education there. All throughout college, I would always wear my Glastonbury Tomahawks sweatshirt because of how proud I was of my home. During college, I befriended a girl who is Native American, and I would find myself pausing every time I wanted to put on my Tomahawks sweatshirt. This sweatshirt was a symbol of a place that I took so much pride in. I thought of my education as progressive and shedding light on the world outside of the four walls of GHS. However, how can a place that I held in such high esteem continue to ignore this offense? What lesson does it teach the students of Glastonbury to continue to use a mascot that trivializes the culture of others? Glastonbury’s community must recognize that their mascot is not appropriate. We cannot use this symbol in good conscience when Native American tribes throughout the country, and here in Connecticut, oppose the use of Native American mascots. We must listen to their opposition, and be good allies by trusting and respecting their stance on the subject. Glastonbury was a wonderful town to grow up in, and I am generally very proud to be from there. Please do the right thing: stop appropriating Native American symbols. “As documented in [...] decades of social science research, derogatory 'Indian' sports mascots have serious psychological, social and cultural consequences for Native Americans, especially Native youth." Change Glastonbury's mascot to one that we can all be proud of. (Link to quote on NCAI's website: http://www.ncai.org/proudtobe)

In the midst of a homeless and COVID 19 crisis Brian Abernathy has failed to house the poor and most vulnerable - homeless people that are the majority black and brown. They remain homeless in a COVID pandemic. Philadelphia's city budget is decreasing housing by 12 million dollars in affordable housing funding increasing Philadelphi4a Police budgets by 14 million. He ordered tear gas and rubber bullets unleashed on peaceful protesters demanding racial justice and police ending the murder of black people. He should immediately resign because in Philadelphia Black lives matter. His actions have displayed a flagrant disregard for Black lives by keeping them homeless and hiring even more police to exacerbate the issue of police violence. Removing a Frank Rizzo statue is not justice. Justice is his resignation.

Sanctuary Maui means zero infections coming to Maui, while the hotels are full, the economy is running and people are working. Let me end with a sincere appreciation for your great work. You have protected our lives and our islands through your determination, your wise guidance, and your sleepless nights. Nobody could have imagined that we could get that close to eradication of the virus. Let's grab that opportunity while it is there, follow New Zealand's example, and create Sanctuary Maui. https://www.facebook.com/mauieconomy

SARS-CoV-2 is ravaging our communities. It is highly infectious and it is spreading like wildfire. Our hospitals are filling up and resources are scarce. It is our government’s responsibility to ensure our safety, and something must be done to prevent further deaths in our communities.

President Trump and his team are supposed to be distributing crucial COVID-19 relief funds to help everyday Americans through this public health and financial crisis. But instead -- they’re spreading corruption, enriching giant corporations, muzzling the truth, and rewarding their mega-donor allies. That’s right: instead of making sure ordinary Americans are safe, secure, and cared for during this global crisis -- Trump has exploited the situation to create an unaccountable, trillion-dollar slush fund to hand out to private special interests. We’re demanding that Congress respond by passing the CORE Act. This vital legislation would enforce stronger oversight of and accountability for the Trump administration. It’d ensure that the taxpayer dollars allocated for COVID-19 relief don’t serve the wealthy and well-connected -- at the expense of the American people. Specifically, the bill... - Prohibits conflicts of interest: fully vets for potential bias among anyone distributing COVID-19 relief funds -- whether they’re contractors, advisors, or White House staff; - Empowers and protects independent watchdogs: requires that Inspectors General can only be fired for cause -- not as retaliation for doing their jobs; - Protects whistleblowers: strengthens safeguards for those who call out waste, fraud, or abuse in the administration’s spending; - Improves transparency for bailout funds: allows everyone to see where bailout money is going -- to make sure it’s supporting everyday Americans, not major corporations and special interests; - And implements dozens of other provisions to hold Trump and his administration accountable. This is a commonsense bill -- and it may be the only way to end Trump’s war on legitimate, independent oversight. Otherwise, he won’t stop until there isn’t a single White House watchdog left. Add your name to urge Congress to pass the CORE Act -- and demand transparency and accountability for COVID-19 relief spending.

We, Israeli and American citizens who care deeply about peace between Israelis and Palestinians, stand together in urging the government of Israel to abandon its plan of unilateral West Bank annexation, and to instead pursue negotiations with the Palestinian leadership to reach a conflict-ending peace accord. Annexation is antithetical to our shared values and our commitment to peace. The damage that annexation would inflict is not just a matter of values and vision. Annexation would severely hinder any prospect of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, would jeopardize Israel’s relations with moderate Arab states, particularly with Jordan, further erode Israel’s international standing, and threaten the stability of the US-Israel relationship. Yes, Donald Trump supports annexation. And, yes, some Israeli politicians view his sharp diversion from policies followed by successive past US administrations – both Democratic and Republican – as an opportunity to take actions that would not previously have been possible. But this is an aberration. Trump will leave the White House, if not in months then in several years, and with him will vanish his short-sighted policies that compromise a peaceful future for Israel and Palestine. But the consequences of annexation will be long lasting, if not irreversible. Netanyahu recently stated that Palestinian residents of these unilaterally annexed areas will be considered “subjects” living in “enclaves” and not eligible for Israeli citizenship. What Netanyahu is describing has historical precedent and a name: apartheid. His plan means that two national-ethnic populations will live in the same area, under the sovereignty of an internationally recognized elected government, the government of Israel. One of these groups, Israeli settlers, will enjoy full civil rights, including the right to elect their government. The other population, Palestinian “subjects,” will be deprived of almost any civil right, disenfranchised, governed by a set of military occupation laws. This has been the de facto situation in the West Bank since Israel captured it in 1967. But it was, in theory and in law, a temporary arrangement. Now, Netanyahu and Trump are working ahead of the November presidential elections to turn this travesty into a permanent reality. In perpetuity. Without hope of ending the conflict. Without a horizon of peace and lasting security for Israel. And without a horizon of independence and statehood for Palestinians. Israelis, Americans, and concerned citizens worldwide should not sit idly by as two irresponsible leaders, wielding tremendous power but showing little regard for the future of Israel and its Palestinian neighbors, take measures the Israeli public itself is deeply divided on that would wreck Israeli democracy and condemn Palestinians to perpetual subjugation. A joint US-Israeli committee, armed with maps and aerial photos, is already working to chart the contours of the occupied land that Israel would call its own. But annexation is not a done deal. It can be avoided and, if not, must be reversed. We urge Prime Minister Netanyahu not to take a step that Israelis, their friends in America, and people around the world will regret for years to come. We urge President Trump to maintain the decades of bipartisan US policy that supports a two-state solution and a peaceful end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hadar Susskind President and CEO Americans for Peace Now and Shaqued Morag Executive Director Shalom Achshav

Swastikas are a symbol of hate used to represent mass genocide of millions of Jews , LBGTQ , persons of color , physically / mentally disabled , political opponents clergy , CHILDREN. Having this symbol in a yearbook no matter what the circumstances is a blatant display of ignorance and sends a message to students that the use of the swastika are acceptable . There are no excuses for swastikas to be in the yearbook. The yearbook is meant to be a keepsake , something to look back on and reminisce, something to show your children and grandchildren. Who would want to show your children swastikas being acceptable? Who would want to be reminded of genocide , hatred and bigotry? The principal offered stickers to place over the swastikas and stated in an interview aired on the news that he feels there is absolutely nothing wrong with the use of swastikas in the yearbook as he claims they are for educational purposes. There is not anything in the yearbook relevant to his claim or pertaining to learning. Let us educate the school system by signing the petition to remove this symbol of hate and never to be complacent with any symbol of hate . Stop desensitizing young adults and coercing them to believe symbols of hate are acceptable.

To remove the symbols of the Confederacy which traumatizes people of color. The monuments of an evil leader who fought to continue to enslave African Americans and treat them less than human. This action will give empowerment of true equality to black folks. BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!

Facial recognition technology can't tell the difference between people of color, and that’s a huge problem. In the hands of law enforcement agencies, which are eager to get their hands on and use this technology, facial recognition has an alarming tendency to misidentify people with darker skin. In essence, facial recognition technology codifies racial profiling into advanced AI systems. Last week IBM made the correct and moral decision to abandon their facial recognition technology, but they weren't the only tech players in the game. Amazon announced a pitiful one-year moratorium on selling facial recognition, while Clearview AI, one the more aggressive pushers of facial recognition, continues their ties with alt right-wing extremists.

It's important that The College of William & Mary's history with indigenous populations in the United States is recognized by the administration. It is essential that students on campus are given opportunities to learn about The College's history and that Native Students are supported. Let's be a better Tribe!

Stop using black faces in hoodies on ads for your services as it implies that drug addition is a BLACK problem. It is especially important in mostly white neighborhoods to NOT use these kinds of ads because it reinforces racist view unintentionally. At a minimum use both white and black faces in same ads so that it does not automatically cause people to think that the drug problem is a black problem. It reinforces stereotypes that we need to reverse in today's human societies.

This is important because they have a space for all of the other athletics in the school including basics like drama, football, and chess club, but they have failed to put together a spirit club. As we had a dance team about three years ago as spirit leaders, it only makes sense that we bring it back rather than put together a cheer team.