The U.S. has more than 260 embassies and consulates across the world. U.S. embassies started flying Pride flags during President Obama's administration. Donald Trump banned the practice during his presidency, and President Biden reinstated it. Now, MAGA Republicans want to bring back Trump's hateful reversal and send a message to LGBTQ+ people across the globe. One of the roles of our embassies is to project values around the world—including in countries that have yet to respect the dignity and equality of the LGBTQ+ community. The State Department and its ambassadors should project these values—and not be subject to the demands of hateful Republicans in Congress. Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in the U.S. have gone up sharply over recent years, with the FBI declaring a chilling 13.8% increase in reports based on sexual orientation and 32.9% increase in reported hate crimes based on gender identity. And globally, it is still illegal to identify as LGBTQ+ in more than 70 countries, with many people forced to seek refuge and asylum, fearing their physical safety or even their life. The Pride flag is not just a symbol of queer identity but also one of celebratory resistance and hope for freedom. By banning Pride flags from U.S. embassies, our government is allowing bigots to roll back LGBTQ+ progress and silence LGBTQ+ people and their allies—a foreboding warning not just for people in the U.S. but also LGBTQ+ people across the world. Sign the petition to allow U.S. embassies to fly Pride flags!

This topic of affordable housing is important because of the homelessness around Massachusetts that has been occurring. There is also inflation that is causing the prices of Massachusetts housing to increase at a sky rocketing price! Affordable housing is important so everyone has a place to live an thrive! Wouldn't you want to have somewhere to live, and be able to go at night to stay?

At the state level, Republicans have been eroding child labor laws across the United States within the last year—which has mainly looked like shifting guidelines on work hour restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds. In the past fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour division reported 835 cases of child labor violations affecting 3,876 minors, and 688 minors employed in violation of hazardous occupation, a 283% increase from nearly 10 years ago in 2015.

 The Department of Labor has called for employers to follow national labor law, but the department’s wage and employment division remains understaffed to take up cases to hold employers accountable, with the list only growing from shifting guidelines.
Many Republican-led state legislatures copy and paste their state-led strategy. If it happens in one state, it has the potential to be adopted by another—to the detriment of working people everywhere. In 2024, news of Republican dedication to tearing down and taking away any benefit working people have is commonplace. There's a reason for this: It's yet another part of Republicans' larger desolate vision for the future of America. Another push from the same MAGA Republicans who routinely try to rob senior citizens of Social Security, restrict access to domestic and social programs, and block Medicaid expansion This is part of a long-term plan to make labor cheaper while empowering corporations and CEOs to undermine workers' rights simultaneously.
The impact of these laws is just going to negatively impact children, particularly children of migrants who are often forced into the workforce early because of circumstances out of their control. The push to roll back these standards is just beginning, and we need to stop it in its tracks now. Image Credit: More Perfect Union

It is unacceptable that in the 10 years after lead contaminated water was discovered in Flint, Michigan—exposing millions of people to serious illness—the city still hasn't replaced the lead pipes that caused the crisis. But this isn't just an issue in Flint. Though the use of new lead pipes have been banned since the 1980s, it's estimated that there are 9.2 million lead pipes used in public water service lines across the country. Even just a tiny amount of lead can cause serious, lifelong damage to those exposed. Lead contamination in children is associated with learning and behavioral issues and long-term exposure can result in lifelong disabilities. And for adults, lead exposure is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function and even cancer. This is about more than just clean drinking water—it's about environmental justice. In Flint—a city with a majority Black and working class population—the water crisis has shown how easily government mismanagement can expose marginalized communities to environmental hazards.

The RNC and EX-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel has promoted LAWLESSNESS and the destruction of Democracy by promoting Trump. It was highly irresponsible for NBC executives to hire EX-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel. McDaniel has steadfastly stood by & promoted Trump, the WORST, most LAWLESS and CORRUPT President in History who incited riots & violence, causing 5 deaths by his brainwashed MOB of Supporters to make himself an UN-elected Dictator by stopping the certification of Democratically Elected Joe Biden. Here's a list of some of Trump's outrageous behavior: • Pathological Liar: Fact finders claim Trump made over 30,000 False & Misleading Statements while President. Invented the ‘Big Lie’ by claiming that he ‘Won the 2020 Election’ and the election was ‘Rigged’ & ‘Stolen’ without ANY proof. Accused Democrats of ‘Stealing the Election’ when it was HE & REPUBLICANS who tried to STEAL the election & subvert the will of the people • Threatened Election officials demanding they “find votes” to help him STEAL the 2020 election. • Obstructed & Blocked Congressional Investigations to prevent the American People from learning how he Violated his Oath of Office using unjustified claims of Executive Privilege and ordered Witnesses & Federal Employees not to comply with Congressional Subpoenas • Mob Boss Style Quid Pro Quo: As a smear tactic to preemptively destroy Biden as a potential 2020 Democrat candidate, Trump pressured the Government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations of former Vice President Biden, before Military Aid would be released • Campaign Finance Violations: Hush Money Payment to Porn Star Stormy Daniels by personal attorney / fixer, Michael Cohen “in coordination with and at the direction of” Trump days before the 2016 Presidential Election. • Mob Boss Threats; ‘If you come after me, I’m coming after you’ • Threatened “Death and Destruction” if he’s criminally charged in New York for Campaign Finance Violations • Implied General Mark Milley should be executed • Falsely accused Georgia election workers of stealing votes causing them to receive death threats • Corrupt Pardons: Used his pardon powers to reward political allies, corrupt public officials, accused war criminals and other controversial figures. Reportedly told officials he’d Pardon those who Broke the Law to build his Border Wall • Obstructed Justice on numerous occasions as detailed in the Mueller Report • 91 Criminal Charges; 34 felony counts (Campaign Finance Violations) in connection with hush money payments to a porn star… 40 felony counts for hoarding classified documents and impeding efforts to retrieve them….four (4) felony counts for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and 13 felony counts for election interference. [source: politico.com/interactives/2023/trump-criminal-investigations-cases-tracker-list] In addition, if re-elected Trump & his cronies have made it clear they intend to turn the Presidency into a Presidential Dictatorship using plans outlined in ‘Project 2025’. Trump and his cronies have openly stated they intend to “terminate rules, regulations & articles, even those in the Constitution”, invoke the “Insurrection Act” & declare “Martial Law” to Quash Protests, use “Shock Troops” to take over the government, replace 50,000 Federal Employees with Trump loyalists, eliminate Freedom of Speech and shut down media outlets which have been critical of him. He promised to ‘root out’ those who he thinks are ‘communists, marxists and ‘the radical left’. This means anyone who opposes him. Trump’s statements prove he intends to violate his Oath of Office, the United States Constitution and Citizens rights. Trump has proven to be a lawless pathological liar, narcissistic psychopath and a clear & present danger which the RNC is recklessly unleashing onto the American public by enabling, sponsoring and promoting on they’re ticket. This is just a sample of the outrageous behavior which EX-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel steadfastly stood by while doing everything possible to put Trump back in the White House as President. McDaniel's conduct should not be rewarded or given legitimacy by being hired by a reputable News organization like NBC. NBC Executives who hired Trump supporting EX-Chair of the RNC, Ronna McDaniel should be fired.

Ronna McDaniel, a 2020 election denier, Trump ally and former Republican National Committee chair, has just been hired by NBC to be a political commentator. Ronna McDaniel actively attempted to sabotage the 2020 election results and continues to sow doubt about the integrity of the 2020 election, claiming that the election was rigged and that mail-in voting allowed for fraudulent ballots to be cast, despite investigations proving this false. Being an election denier has literally paid off for McDaniel. Election deniers should be held accountable for their attempts to undermine our democracy, not rewarded with high-profile jobs. Upon the announcement, Carrie Budoff Brown, who oversees NBC News political coverage, claimed that McDaniel would provide “an insider’s perspective on national politics and the future of the Republican Party.” Election deniers should not be being platformed as trustworthy sources. It’s both irresponsible and wrong to reward her with this role. Sign the petition to demand NBC fire Ronna McDaniel as a political commentator now!

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential bid is dangerous for our country. Kennedy is only going to serve as a spoiler, pulling enough votes away from Biden in key swing states to tip the Electoral College to Trump and install a man who has been impeached twice and indicted four times in the White House. Kennedy doesn't have ballot access in enough states to win, but his extremist platform and risk to swaying the election towards Trump are causes for concern. His rejection of science and embrace of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories put more lives at risk the further they spread online. And if that's not enough to sound alarm bells, he's previously backed a 15-week federal abortion ban (which he's since tried to backtrack on).1 This combination of bad policy and even worse electoral impacts is why nearly all of the people who know Kennedy best—members of his own family—have spoken out against his deadly lies and called for him to end his campaign.2 Let's join them by building the online call for RFK Jr. to step aside before he helps Trump win. Sources: 1. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/13/rfk-jr-backs-15-week-federal-ban-on-abortion-00111017 2. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4245980-kennedy-family-members-call-rfk-jr-s-independent-bid-dangerous-to-our-country/ Photo: AP

Having backpacks in class is a way to make everything more organized and it’s faster to go to classes

So students have more time to do all the basic necessities before their next class.

The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, a bill introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and allies, would shorten the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours and increase overtime pay—doubling it for days that last over 12 hours. This bill is an opportunity to end the exploitation of working people and build an economy where the American dream is accessible to everyone. A 32-hour workweek isn't just about working less; it's about living more. And the evidence is clear—it's good for people and the economy. Studies show businesses flourish and workers' health improves with shorter workweeks. Less time spent working means healthier lives, stronger communities, and an economy where everyone thrives, not just the 1%. Sign the petition to shorten the workweek to 32 hours and make our economy equitable!

This initiative is significant as it addresses the needs of the youth population and the high rate of violent crimes in the area, which is significantly higher than the county average. Tailored support from the above non-profits and increased investment by governmental agencies can ensure that everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can thrive.

Section 1: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Section 3: This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification. The Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress in 1972 and since 2020 has met the three-quarters state ratification requirement necessary for it to go into effect. But because it was not ratified by states within a specific window of time, Republicans in Congress are blocking it from going into effect.  Champions in Congress, including Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Cori Bush, founded the historic Congressional Equal Rights Amendment Caucus and have been working to pass the ERA and have it enshrined into our Constitution. They introduced a joint resolution between the Senate and the House that would affirm the ratification of the ERA, but with Congressional Republicans blocking its passage, we need to show the overwhelming public support for the ERA and demand it be passed before Trump takes office.  The ERA would not have gotten to where it is today if it weren’t for the tireless efforts of everyday people over the past century—and we have to keep up the fight to demand Congress do its job and recognize the ERA as the 28th Amendment and get it published.  “We the people” in the Constitution should include all of us. Honor the century-worth of women and gender-diverse activists who have pushed the ERA forward. Sign the petition to demand Congress recognize the ERA NOW!