The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor for Americans who have made exemplary contributions to the United States. Ruby Bridges has been fighting her entire life to fight back against racism, especially for children. She's an inspiration and role model to children and adults across the country, and she deserves to be honored as such. Books telling Ruby's story of racially integrating public schools in the south—including a book she wrote about her experiences—have been disputed or banned in schools across the country. It's the duty of our education system to teach kids the truth about our world while inspiring them to change it for the better. That mission is what Ruby Bridges embodied when at just 6 years old, escorted by U.S. Marshals through a crowd of violent protesters, she integrated an all-white elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1960. When Ruby took her first step into her new school she helped to usher in a new era of progress for America—one that Republicans are now trying to reverse. Republicans have launched an all-out assault on the free expression of minority voices and integral parts of American history. In a disturbing display of censorship, 2023 saw an unprecedented purge of nearly 2,000 books from school libraries across the country. These books primarily represented characters who are people of color or LGBTQ+, or tackled significant themes such as racism. These book bans are a blatant attempt to distort historical truths and silence the diverse narratives that are critical to understanding the full American experience. Tell President Biden: Ensure Ruby's story of bravery and triumph over racism is never forgotten. Sign the petition to award Ruby Bridges with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In January 2023, Jaahnavi Kandula was killed by Seattle Police Department officer Kevin Dave who was speeding through a pedestrian crosswalk. Following her death, it was revealed that SPD Detective Daniel Auderer made disparaging remarks about Jaahnavi. In the horrifying recording, Detective Auderer can be heard on the phone with another officer laughing and joking about Jaahnavi, cruelly describing her as just "a regular person" and dismissively stating that the city should simply "write a check" for her death. "She was 26, anyway. She had limited value," he is heard saying. We are still waiting for Officer Dave and Detective Auderer to be held accountable for Jaahnavi’s killing and the cruel, dehumanizing remarks made thereafter. But instead of facing consequences for his inhumane and unprofessional comments, the International Association of Chiefs of Police selected Auderer as a presenter for the International Impaired Driving and Traffic Safety Conference (IDTS), only quietly pulling his session after media outlets reported on it. The IDTS call for proposals says its goal is to “offer relevant, timely education and training to help attendees to do their jobs more effectively and make their agencies more successful.” Auderer’s disgusting remarks have eroded trust between the SPD and the Seattle community, and sparked righteous outrage from South Asian and allied communities across the country. IACP must do more than just pull Auderer from the program—they must explicitly denounce his behavior and commit to not amplifying him as a leader and educator in future IACP panels, workshops, and speaking engagements.

Since this conflict initiated, nearly 40,000 Palestinians (according to other sources, this number could reach close to 200,000, see information below) have been killed, over 90,000 wounded, and more than 1.7 million have been displaced from their homes, out of which numbers and for all categories above, nearly 50% are children including those under the rubble, and together 70% are women and children. The number of Palestinian children killed during this conflict since October 7th has been greater than the number of children killed in conflicts around the globe from 2019 to 2022 and it stands alongside the currently ongoing war in Sudan which began in April 2023, as it is also reminiscent of the killing rate since Rwanda in 1994 when comparing the total number of killed and injured civilians per day since the conflict began. The attack on children and women of this conflict is atrocious. It should not be allowed at this time of our human history and must be stopped immediately. On Wednesday 24th of July as Netanyahu prepared to address Congress, thousands of people gathered to protest his visit. Please read below: >"Over 130 Representatives and Senators decided not to attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the likely Democratic nominee for President, Vice President Kamala Harris — far exceeding the 58 members of Congress who skipped his speech in 2015. As Netanyahu attempted to justify the slaughter of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, asking Congress for bipartisan support to “finish the job,” the lone Palestinian American representative in Congress, Rashida Tlaib, defiantly held up a sign that read “Guilty of genocide.” https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2024/07/25/thousands-shut-down-the-capitol-to-protest-israels-genocide/?sourceid=1001761&emci=500e7860-a04a-ef11-86c3-6045bdd9e096&emdi=ea3eed58-a74a-ef11-86c3-6045bdd9e096&ceid=905615  From PalestinianSolidarityCC: • Based on Ministry of Health data, 351 martyrs and 893 injured arrived at hospitals from July 18-24. The Lancet estimates that roughly 186,000 Gazans have died due to the ongoing genocide since Oct. 7. Resistance News Network The Lancet • The virus which causes polio has been detected in six wastewater samples collected in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. (ScienceInsider) • Poliovirus is highly infectious and has a 15-30% fatality rate. Putting thousands of Gazans living in crowded displacement camps at-risk amidst an overwhelmed and destroyed health system. (Resistance News Network) • The Israeli military is building infrastructure along the “Philadelphi Corridor” which indicates plans for a long-term occupation of the Rafah crossing. (The Cradle) • Monday morning, Israel launched a new massacre in Khan Younis killing at least 70 and injuring more than 200. • The attack by tanks, aircraft and artillery came minutes after the IOF ordered an evacuation of the area.  Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee with nowhere to go. (Aljazeera), (The Cradle) https://www.instagram.com/palestinesolidarity.cc/?hl=en

Dear People and citizens of Long Island City: Please join together with us to help protect the life and home of the elderly. People who have no voice or ability to defend themselves in twilight of their life. Roswitha Kynast is such a person

“My friends who teach in the DC area are appalled that the teachers here give the kids candy. I mean why give them sugar??? One of (son)’s elementary school teachers gave them candy for handing in their purple folder EVERY morning. I had no clue until (daughter) started finding it in his backpack. He only eats a few candies, mostly chocolate so most would just go in his backpack but (daughter) is the exact opposite.” “I hope they stop giving out candy. I hate it so much.” “ First of all, I would LOVE non food rewards. I was shocked when we came here and both boys come home with pockets full of candy.” “I am so sick of the candy rewards and garbage food there! Even (daughter) was uncomfortable with the amount of candy given out during milestones last week.” “I wrote a note to the teacher the first week of school telling her that (son) wasn’t allowed to have candy in school. He came home telling me about all the sweet treats they had had in class (no special occasion). When I asked the teacher about it, she said, “oh yeah, I saw your note.” But she had just chosen to ignore my request.”

There's strength in numbers! Let's come together and urge our elected officials to do the right thing. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have a comfortable place to live owe it to those of us who are less fortunate. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the homeless situation in our beautiful county. If we allow their encampments to be torn down, where will they go? Please sign this petition so our county can give them a place to call home.

We’ve witnessed money from corporations with significant foreign ownership flowing into our elections, circumventing direct bans on foreign influence enshrined in federal law. Citizens United created a massive loophole for foreign interests to acquire stakes in U.S. corporations and then use that leverage to influence or control the corporation’s political activity, including campaign contributions, contributions to super PACs, and independent expenditures. Across the country, companies like Amazon and Airbnb, which have partial foreign ownership, have used their money to influence the outcome of elections and to advance political agendas in their favor. But we can stop it. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin is preparing to re-introduce a bill that would bar corporations with significant foreign ownership from contributing to candidates, parties, or committees (including super PACs) or from engaging in their direct election spending. Free Speech For People was instrumental in drafting and helping to pass this model legislation in Minnesota, San Jose, California, and Seattle, Washington. Now more than ever, we must do all we can to restore faith and confidence in our democracy. By banning multinational corporations from pouring unlimited sums of money into our elections, we are upholding the letter of the law and getting us one step closer to a democracy that is truly by and for the people.

The University of Colorado system is actively funding the genocide of Palestinian children, women and men. CU receives funding from organizations like Lockheed Martin that that continue to supply Israel with weapons to commit genocide and violate many UN resolutions. We are demanding that the University of Colorado divests from any company that has ties to Israel.

Ensuring the safety and reliability of public transportation in Chicago is paramount for the well-being of its residents and the city's economic vitality. A functional public transit system not only provides essential mobility for commuters but also reduces traffic congestion, pollution, and dependence on personal vehicles. However, recent disruptions and safety concerns on trains and buses not only undermine passenger confidence but also hinder productivity and increase the financial burden on commuters forced to seek alternative transportation options. Moreover, the unchecked behavior poses a broader societal issue, reflecting the need for improved mental health services and social support systems. By addressing these challenges through enhanced security measures with proper mental health training and regulating ride-sharing prices, Chicago can promote a safer, more accessible, and equitable transit experience for all residents, thereby fostering a thriving urban environment.

This petition will be delivered with the letter below. As of this writing, more than 50 organizations and 70 individuals have signed it. If you would like add your organizations to the letter, please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehxDE1egWy-bj2OBwGm1urZg363IfUYhj_DeMP4zZuZZzcLA/viewfor The letter opens, Dear Governor Shapiro, Legislators, In written testimony on road spreading of conventional drilling wastewater the DEP submitted to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, the agency said that “if a valid coproduct determination can be made that adequately compares brine to a commercially available product, even if it may not be as effective as other road-spreading products, it’s possible that oil and gas waste brine may continue to be spread as a dust suppressant. [emphasis added]” Given the scientific evidence of the danger road spreading poses, as well as the inability of the agency to manage oil and gas waste, continued road spreading is unacceptable. The undersigned organizations and individuals are calling for an outright ban on road spreading of all oil & gas waste in the Commonwealth. In 2022, the DEP issued a report ordered by Governor Wolf evaluating the agency’s oversight of the conventional drilling industry in Pennsylvania that declared, “A significant change in the culture of non-compliance as an acceptable norm in the conventional oil and gas industry will need to occur before meaningful improvement can happen.” The remark was based, in part, on shocking statistics that indicated that fewer than half of the conventional drillers operating in the state had filed production and waste reports in the previous five years. The yearly percentages told an even worse story. The rate of non-compliance was trending upward from 53.7% in 2017 to 61.8% in 2021. It was no surprise in March when Kurt Klapkowski told the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee that the figure for 2023 had risen to 86%. When a moratorium on road spreading of conventional drilling waste was imposed in 2018, some companies continued the practice by claiming a loophole in a program managed by the Bureau of Waste Management called the Coproduct program. Some of those drillers continued to report road spreading in their annual waste reports, so we know that at least 3.5 million gallons of highly toxic, radioactive drilling waste has been disposed of on our roads in the past six years. Given the degree of non-compliance, the amount that has gone unreported is surely much higher. Read the full letter at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehxDE1egWy-bj2OBwGm1urZg363IfUYhj_DeMP4zZuZZzcLA/viewform Photo credit: PA Environment Digest

Barnett worked at Boeing for nearly 30 years and reported concerns that he said could lead to “catastrophic” damage to management, who he says ignored his complaints and moved him to another part of the plant. Dean also raised concerns to management who then pressured Dean and his coworkers to downplay the defects that they found. And last month, Sam Salehpour, another whistleblower, told members of Congress that employees like Dean, Barnett, and himself who sound the alarm on safety concerns are “ignored, marginalized, threatened, sidelined and worse.” Salehpour even shared that he feared “physical violence” after coming forward. In the last three months, a Boeing plane door plug exploded on an Alaska Airlines flight; a Boeing plane suddenly nosedived mid-flight, injuring 50 people on a Latam Airlines flight; and a United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing when a wheel fell off the Boeing plane, damaging and crushing several cars in San Francisco. And in 2018 and 2019 there were two Boeing crashes that resulted in the death of more than 340 people. There are workers working tirelessly to inspect these Boeing planes to ensure they’re safe to fly, but then workers like Dean are ignored, intimidated into not reporting defects, told to falsify records, and retaliated against for speaking out so that planes can get out of the factory faster. One of John Barnett’s friends asked him if he was scared and he said, “No, I ain't scared, but if anything happens to me, it's not suicide.” And Joshua Dean’s family said Joshua was very healthy and it was his first time in the hospital. Dean’s doctor says he’s never seen anything like what happened to Joshua in his life. Boeing’s former CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, was fired and accused of creating a culture that put profits ahead of safety, notably telling Congress, "We don't 'sell' safety; that's not our business model." Over the years, Boeing has continued gaining a monopoly when it comes to the aviation industry. CEO David Calhoun raked in $22.5 million from 2022 profits, and last year the company made $18 BILLION in revenue. Yet journalists, investigators, and Boeing employees have said that Boeing has cut corners and prioritized cost-cutting over safety and employee concerns. The dangerous trend of Boeing aircraft accidents is alarming. The Federal Aviation Administration is already investigating whistleblower claims that Boeing knew of flaws and defects and covered them up to speed up production. And now, the Department of Justice can and must investigate the deaths of whistleblowers John Barnett and Joshua Dean. Will you take action now and add your name to the petition?

Noem thought her disclosure about shooting and killing her family puppy and goat would impress her far-right base—but most people have responded with shock and disgust regarding her cruel and heartless behavior. While the statute of limitations for crimes like animal cruelty has likely expired since the incident, that doesn’t mean Noem’s actions should go without consequences. Noem was first elected as governor in 2018 and has had multiple controversies—from intervening in her daughter’s real estate appraiser license to potential misuse of her state airplane. And the MAGA politician's lack of compassion and poor judgment extends into the policies and laws she backs, with Noem reporting a 100% anti-abortion voting record, including supporting an abortion law that doesn’t allow exceptions for incest or rape and advocating for cruel anti-immigration policies. This most recent stunt confirms what we already know—Noem isn’t fit to be in office. There is no excuse for what Noem did to Cricket. She may not think her tough-on-crime approach should apply to her own misconduct, but, together, we can hold her responsible. Sign the petition to call on her to step down IMMEDIATELY.