Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman has been strong-armed out of the military after more than 21 years of service -- and right now, he needs to know that he has the American people’s support. Back in February, Trump fired Vindman from his role as the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council -- and had Vindman escorted from the White House, along with his twin brother. Why? Because Vindman gave explosive testimony during the House’s impeachment inquiry -- and revealed shocking details about Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president, where he tried to extort Ukraine into investigating the Bidens. But Trump’s vengeful crusade didn’t stop there. Even after leaving the White House, Vindman has reportedly been subject to a “campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation” spearheaded by the president. And the White House even allegedly sought to block Vindman's promotion to the rank of colonel. Now, this Purple Heart recipient is leaving the US Army altogether -- because he believes his future in the armed forces “will forever be limited” by political retaliation from Trump and his allies. Vindman is a patriot. He felt, in his words, a “sense of duty” to tell the truth -- and no matter what Trump or his Senate enablers do, nothing can change the important truth that Vindman shared. Right now, we need thousands of concerned Americans like you to send Lt. Col. Vindman your support -- and thank him for standing up for what’s right, even when it cost him his livelihood.

This is important because Black people have been on the back burner of this country for over 400 years even though this country was built on their backs. It’s important for all Americans to face this reality with a willingness, acceptance, and sincerity to make a change in their behavior. The US Senate has the stature and authority to set an example for the US and the world that they are united in this reality and become role models for everyone.

This decision puts students, teachers, and families at risk and will threaten the health, safety, and quality of education for the Texas education sector. We must push TEA to reverse this decision.

For years the university has ignored the voices of students from their satellite campuses when they continuously ask for more funding and financial support. For years the university has ignored the voices of their out-of-state students - even those who would qualify for significant financial assistance if they were Michigan residents - and international students. For years Ann Arbor students have been uninformed of the hardships of the Flint and Dearborn students, thus unintentionally enabling the regents to continue silencing their voices and disregarding their requests. Today and together we stand - the bodies of previous and current students merge into one in hopes of a better tomorrow as we face sickness and an economic recession. Leaders and best, let’s set an example for other universities in this country by listening to those who represent our purpose as an institution of higher learning - the students. Let us rise from hardships together, helping one another. We are all affected by COVID-19 in various manners, and can utilize our empathy and understanding for a better future with upcoming generations, our now leaders and best. These are monumental times, where we are asking for a better world that we can actually build and fulfill. Let’s work together and cultivate genuine inclusivity, so that all students can confidently and proudly say “Go Blue!” when it’s their time to graduate.

Small businesses teeter on the edge of a cliff and millions of people are waiting to see if their unemployment benefits will end this month, while Jared Kushner’s multiple multi-million dollar family businesses found a way to cash in on the coronavirus pandemic through loans intended for companies that desperately needed those funds to survive. The Kushners are an integral part of the Trump administration and must not be allowed to abuse their power for personal gain, especially at the expense of others while we all deal with the economic hardships of the coronavirus pandemic. The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was established through the CARES relief programs Congress created to help small businesses owners weather the global coronavirus pandemic. Yet, several large entities that are part of the Kushner family conglomerate of corporations cashed in on these Small Business Administration (SBA) funds. According to the SBA—which recently released loan data on PPP loans only after significant public pressure—the Kushner family’s corporate entities received millions of dollars under the program, including between $350,000 and $1,000,000 for Observer Holdings, formerly run by Jared Kushner himself and now owned by his brother-in-law(1), another $350,000 to $1,000,000 for Esplanade Livingston, which houses the Kushner family Westminster Hotel in New Jersey (2), and between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 to Princeton Forrestal LLC which lists Kushner’s mom, brother, and sister as owners (3). While the Kushners and many other large businesses with access and ties to the White House raked in millions, Color of Change reports that 41% of Black business owners were denied any aid. (4) We know our country has discriminated against Black businesses for generations, denying loans, redlining shops, and discrimination. And we know that massive handouts to the wealthy and well-connected are what drives inequality across the board. The Kushner family must not perpetuate this inequality - return your funds now, and allow those who need it most—more diverse small businesses—to get relief. https://www.businessinsider.com/kushner-family-firms-received-millions-in-paycheck-protection-loans-2020-7 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/us/ppp-small-business-loans.html https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-small-biz-rescue-bailed-out-kushners-family-obamas-aides-and-other-political-elite/body https://colorofchange.org/press_release/first-covid-19-survey-of-black-and-latino-small-business-owners-reveals-dire-economic-future/

The hypocrisy of Senate Republicans is unbelievable. While our country faced an economic depression resulting from the coronavirus crisis, with small businesses struggling to survive and millions of Americans out of work, Republicans railed against the government offering aid, which they considered excessive government spending. Eventually, Congress did pass coronavirus relief bills, despite the roadblocks put up by the Republican-led Senate—and it also approved the Paycheck Protection Program, a fund to aid small businesses. But guess who actually benefited from the PPP program? Not mom and pop shops across America. And not Black-owned businesses—41% of Black business owners were denied any aid. No. It’s Republican donors and lobbyists who made off with millions and millions of dollars from a program intended to help small businesses, despite rules to prevent federal dollars being used for lobbying or political activities. And now, with the public health crisis getting worse, and no end in sight to the economic suffering of tens of millions, the Republican-led Senate is refusing to take action on legislation to provide real relief for working people. We will no longer allow our political representatives to funnel money to their cronies while we go without. We demand accountability. Republicans in Congress must publicly disclose which of their donors, lobbyists, and allies received funds from the Paycheck Protection Program.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a $660 billion fund approved by Congress that was intended to help small businesses during the coronavirus crisis. Yet actual small businesses found it nearly impossible to receive adequate PPP money: A survey of small business owners found that just 12% of Black and Latino business owners who applied for loans received what they asked for, with nearly half of them saying they would have to shut down their businesses. And they weren’t asking for a lot of money—two-thirds of them sought loans of less than $50,000. But there are companies that easily received money, and a whole lot of it: Donald Trump’s associates, donors, and firms working for him. The law firm of the lawyer who represented Trump during the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election got between $5 million and $10 million. The Trump Organization’s partner in a hotel and residential tower in Hawaii received a loan in the range of $2 million to $5 million. An energy drink company that donated six figures in corporate money to Trump’s preferred super PAC got a loan in the range of $5 million to $10 million. And a Republican opposition research firm employed by the Trump campaign got a loan between $350 thousand and $1 million. It’s clear that the Paycheck Protection Program did not benefit the small businesses for which it was intended but instead padded the pockets of the ultra-wealthy, the politically powerful, and the Trump-adjacent. As millions of Americans continue to suffer from this public health crisis and accompanying economic catastrophe, Trump and the GOP have been focused on handing over even more resources to the wealthy and well-connected. The United States Treasury Department, whose job it is to properly administer the Paycheck Protection Program, must ensure that the companies who gamed the system in taking out loans are required to pay back all of the money that they received.

During President Trump's visit to India in February 2020, mobs attacked minority neighborhoods leading to 46 deaths and displacing thousands. This tragedy along with discriminatory national legislation (including a religion-based system to grant citizenship) demonstrate that India's values of democracy, secularism, and human rights are under serious threat. **If your organization wants to be listed as a signatory, please email: [email protected]**

There is no way to keep students, teachers, staff, bus drivers and cafeteria workers safe if they report to school buildings. Until there is 100% assurance that children will not bring COVID-19 home from school, no school buildings should reopen in Florida. Remote instruction is feasible, and in cases where parents cannot handle instruction a tutoring program should be established to ensure that kids can keep learning. This can be accomplished state-wide or district by district. If families do not have computers or internet access, these resources should be provided by the Florida Department of Education, by federal funding, or by community foundations. Reevaluate this position in January 2021 and/or after an effective COVID-19 vaccine has been developed and tested and is widely available.

The Platform Recommendations can be found here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e29d73ca02c794ae43fc4e6/t/5edddb7fa357687217d1f8c3/1591597952565/DNC+Climate+Council+Recommendations++2020+06+08+Web+Final.pdf Climate change is an issue that affects broad coalitions of young people in the United States. The lasting effects of climate change will devastate the future economic prospects of young people, and in particular young people of color and native young people. With this in mind, we believe the recommendations issued by the DNC Council on the Environment & Climate Crisis are the most pragmatic solutions available. We implore the rest of our members on the YDA National Committee to call for a meeting to hold a vote, and ultimately vote in support of, the Young Democrats of America endorsing the DNC Climate Council's Recommendations for Energy and Climate Policy in the 2020 DNC Platform.

This is essential to maintain the health of our people and our economy during the corona virus pandemic.

Days after the WNBA announced it would take extraordinary steps to amplify the movement for Black Lives, U.S. Senator and co-owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream Kelly Loeffler, declared, "I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement" and that we should "remove politics from sports." The WNBA announced that it would spotlight Breonna Taylor's name on jersey's, "Say Her Name" on warm-ups, and "Black Lives Matter" on its basketball courts. Sen. Loeffler, a major supporter of President Trump, criticized the league for taking a stand and said they should put an "American flag on every jersey" as a "common-sense" solution. Former and current WNBA stars Sheryl Swoopes, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, Alysha Clark, and Sue Bird have all called for Sen. Loeffler's removal as an owner from the league. Basketball icon Sheryl Swoopes tweeted, "WNBA MUST do better." She's absolutely right. We need to stand with the WNBA in their bold support of the Black Lives Matter movement, especially when a U.S. Senator is trying to intimidate the women's basketball league to fall in line with President Trump's racist view of BLM. SOURCE: "Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler critical of WNBA's Black Lives Matter initiative," ESPN, July 7, 2020 https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29424379/dream-co-owner-kelly-loeffler-critical-wnba-black-lives-matter-initiative