This is important because as James Baldwin wrote in 1965 “people who imagine that history flatters them (as it does, indeed, since they wrote it) are impaled on their history like a butterfly on a pin and become incapable of seeing or changing themselves, or the world.” There is a history that TAMU tells that flatters white Aggies, confirms the greatness of whiteness and informs the identity of TAMU. But the story that we tell about TAMU also causes injury. Black Aggies and other Aggies of color, past and present, know how TAMU’s racist past informs its racist present and that the university is the master of lip service and gradualism when it comes to dealing with that past and present. TAMU needs to confront this history and tell the truth so that Old Ags will know their history and future Ags won't be trapped in historical distortions that bend toward and confirm white supremacy. Again, I beg of you to say that without the valor and political will of formerly enslaved Black folks, Texas A&M University would not exist. Five years ago a PVAMU alum by the name of Sandra Bland died while jailed at the Waller County Jail. The cause of her death remains unclear, but what is clear is that she would not be dead if not for an encounter with Brian Encinia. As you probably know, Encina is a member of the TAMU class of 2008. By 2008, TAMU already had many diversity programs in place and a well established Department of Multicultural Services. In fact, I have argued multiple times that TAMU has long been a model for diversity efforts in higher education. However, these diversity efforts could not make Encina see Bland, a black woman, as a fellow citizen or a person whose rights should be protected. Instead, Encina criminalized her and escalated a minor traffic stop. Encina did not learn how to be anti-racist at TAMU. Sandra Bland is dead because of this. This is why I say that diversity is not enough, because it does not move us toward anti-racism. Students are protesting the university’s history and present racism. This racism is systematic and institutional. This is why any statement or redress must be systematic and institutional. Put more simply, Texas A&M University needs to institutionalize anti-racism. If not, we will be here again. Your peer at PVAMU, Dr. Ruth Simmons, is an example of leadership and forcing a university to reckon with its history. As you probably know, under her leadership at Brown University, she launched an inquiry of the university’s ties to the slave trade and slavery, which resulted in a lengthy report and creation of the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown Univesity. These efforts not only helped the university begin to reckon with its history but also the broader Rhode Island community. Students leave Brown University knowing this part of the history and while enrolled get an opportunity to grapple with this history. Texas A&M University likes to characterize itself as a world-class university. We now have an opportunity to go further and impact the broader Texas community and higher education world by taking a stand on racism by moving towards anti-racism. This requires a reckoning. I beg of you to lead the university in doing so. Gig’em, Maco L. Faniel Texts Referenced and others you should read: Baldwin, James. “White Man’s Guilt” in Baldwin - Collected Essays / Notes of A Native Son / Nobody Knows My Name / The Fire Next Time / No Name in the Street / The Devil Finds Work. The Library of America: New York, NY, 1998, 722-727. Bonilla-Silva, Eduardo. Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America. 2018. Dubois, William Edward B. Black Reconstruction. New York: Russell & Russell, 1962. Kendi, Ibram X. How to Be an Antiracist. 2019. Perry, Imani. More Beautiful and More Terrible: The Embrace and Transcendence of Racial Inequality in the United States. New York: New York University Press, 2011. Wilder, Craig Steven. Ebony & Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America's Universities. 2014.

Imagine a scenario in which a domestic dispute occurred between you and a partner. Which professional would you feel more comfortable speaking with? Which professional do you feel would be more capable of providing you resources for next steps? An armed officer? Or a plains clothed, unarmed social worker? Sign this petition to enact social workers into non violent roles in the community. A calming, unarmed presence, aimed to reduce escalation can decrease brutality between police and citizens, and in addition, can save lives.

People can’t move forward with life and stay positive through this horrible time if they are constantly worried about losing there home, not being able to pay for lights, internet for school, car payments for vehicles used to care for families, essentials toilet paper, dog food? When will they stop arguing about the tits for tats and do something. It continues to get worse and worse in this country yet no one is doing anything to help long term only in the moment!

Felons/Convicts No matter what they committed still have a right to vote because they too are citizens like an average citizen.

In light of the terrible history and racism of plantations, it is beyond time plantation be removed from our beautiful neighborhood. We want a community that is welcoming to people of all skin colors. Historically, “the term plantation signaled a large farm worked by enslaved labor.” There are so many areas within our culture and communities that continue the legacy of our racist history, but small changes like this matter in big ways. Please sign this petition if you are in favor of changing Porters Neck Plantation to remove the derogatory term “plantation” from its title. Porters Neck Point (or any other title) would be much more appropriate and equitable for all.

Maui residents need both safety from COVID infections and full employment. The only way to achieve this, is to bring in tourists that want to escape the COVID pandemic.

Without the pretense of an interest in an independent judiciary, Republicans should no longer be permitted to debase the federal courts to the detriment of all Americans for generations. Their appalling suggestion that judges should be Republicans is consistent with the party’s conviction that it should rule rather than govern. And they want to do so on behalf of less than a majority of Americans: primarily white, primarily male voter base. Carl Hulse (March 16, 2020 edition of The New York Times: McConnell Has a Request for Veteran Federal Judges: Please Quit) says: “Republicans are reminding the judges that it could be another eight years — 2029 — before they could leave under a Republican president.” I therefore urge every Republican Senator to publicly and irrevocably state he or she that – until after Inauguration Day January 2021 - will not sit on any confirmation hearings or, if not on the Committee, will not vote to approve any nominee to a federal court.

This is important because education is the foundation of society. If we're going to make real change in fighting racism, it needs to start in our public schools. This is important for all children, no matter their race. Children are open to learning from their beloved teachers. It's not enough for teachers not to be racist, they need to be anti-racist. They need to give in-depth lessons about America's shameful history and how systemic racism has lead to the current violence against black people we see today. Moreover, it's crucial that children see themselves in their teachers. More black and brown people need to be hired in Framingham schools to represent our diverse community but also to allow children to interact with a wide-range of backgrounds and experiences that those educators bring with them.

This is very important that this gets extended because still so many people are with out work. Jobs for everyone aren’t gonna come as easy as you think just because you didn’t extend the 600. Families are far behind and depending on this money for them to make it through. I know people who get unemployment who are constantly looking for work and can still not find it. Louisiana rate for the covid-19 are still going up. We need this help

Voting needs to be accessible to as many people as possible in order to boost voter turnout. Most people use and have access to personal electronic devices, and are willing to use these devices to vote in elections. Increasing voter turnout in this way, will provide a greater reflection of whom the people want to be their leaders moving forward. Election results would also be more efficient and effective. It is time to do away with our current antiquated voting process, and act as we are in the present, so that we can improve upon our future.

This is vitally important to the survival of our democracy. Four more years of a Trump administration will further erode the basic principles of our society and endorse the authoritarian character of his governing style.

The Town attempted to fly the Gay Pride Flag and DCR removed the flag and will not allow the Town of Nahant to fly the Gay Pride Flag during the month of June.