February 5, 2014 would have been the nineteenth birthday of slain teenager Trayvon Martin. While many recognized his birthday by recalling the sadness of another young Black male killed for no reason other than his skin color, promoter Damon Feldman marked the occasion by promoting a so called Celebrity Boxing Match between Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman and controversial gangster rapper DMX in poor taste. Instead of simply complaining about the injustices of the legal system and the exploitation of this young man’s murder, Sistas Inspiring Sistas would like to petition for the cancellation of Feldman’s insensitive attempt at entertainment.

In North Carolina, we have been hit very hard. Currently in the state there are 3 students that we know of who have been deported and 7 who are currently in Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA. These young men have been denied due process, and we are pleading that they are granted the necessary steps that will ensure they remain safe and sound in the United States. Yefri Bertin Sorto Hernandez, who is 19 years old (A# 206-766-187), was detained on his way to the bus stop by ICE officers on January 27, 2016, in Charlotte, NC. He is currently waiting for his Stay or Removal to be accepted. Yefri left El Salvador due to fear from gang activity. He has been separated from his mother for 13 years. Wildin David Guillen Acosta, 19 years old (A#206-799-049), was detained on his way to school. He was knocked unconscious by ICE officers who picked him up on January 28, 2016. His mother sent for him after various threats from gangs. A judge has denied his stay or removal on 3/18/2016. Pedro Arturo Salmeron, an 18-year-old ( A#206-794-982), was detained on his way to work with his father on January 26, 2016. Pedro currently has been denied a stay or removal but has a pending asylum case. Pedro was forced to leave El Salvador after receiving multiple threats by gangs. Bilmer Araeli Pujoy Juarez, an 18-year-old (A# 202-129-863), was detained on his way to work with his father on January 29, 2016. He has a stay or removal that is pending and has been granted a motion to reopen by Judge Holmes, yet ICE refuses to release him. Bilmer fled Guatemala due to threats from gangs, of which he has proof. He was significantly hurt by ICE and has severe sleep apnea. Santos Geovany Padilla-Guzman is an 18-year-old (A# 208-268-389) who was detained on his way to work on February 11, 2016. He has a pending asylum case with USCIS in Texas that was received on 3/11/16 and a motion to reopen with BIA pending, which was received on 3/11/16. He was forced to leave after his cousin was murdered by MS 13 gang members. These are just some of the few stories of the young men who are in danger of not only deportation but death if sent back to their home countries. Besides the 5 young men listed, there are also 2 more: Josue Alexander Soriano Cortez (A# 206-731-549) and Edwin Yonatan Alarez-Galvez (A#202-076-383). The undersigned ask the Department of Homeland security to stop the deportation of these students: Yefri Bertin Sorto Hernandez (A# 206-766-187), Wildin David Guillen Acosta (A# 206-799-049), Pedro Arturo Salmeron ( A# 206-794-982), Bilmer Araeli Pujoy Juarez (A# 202-129-863), Santos Geovany Padilla-Guzman (A# 208-268-389), Josue Alexander Soriano Cortez (A# 206-731-549), Edwin Yonatan Alarez-Galvez (A# 202-076-383). These students are low priority and should not be persecuted by ICE in the manner in which they currently are. If sent back, they will most likely face death due to the prominent gang activity in their home countries. Please Make a Call and Sign the petition to stop the deportation of students! Call Secretary Jeh Johnson: 202-282-8000 Call DC ICE @ (202) 732-3000 or (202) 732-3100 Sample Script: I am calling to urge ICE to stop the Deportation of Yefri Bertin Sorto Hernandez (A# 206-766-187), Wildin David Guillen Acosta (A# 206-799-049), Pedro Arturo Salmeron (A# 206-794-982), Bilmer Araeli Pujoy Juarez (A# 202-129-863), Santos Geovany Padilla-Guzman (A# 208-268-389), Josue Alexander Soriano Cortez (A# 206-731-549) and Edwin Yonatan Alarez-Galvez (A# 202-076-383). These students are low priority and should not be persecuted by ICE in the manner in which they currently are. If sent back, they will most likely face death due to the prominent gang activity in their countries. Thank you.

Dear Members of the Massachusetts Legislature and Joint Committee on the Judiciary, We are writing to express our strong opinion as citizens of Massachusetts that Bill 661, introduced by Senator Stephen Brewer (D), does not become law in our state. In light of the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida and the controversy surrounding the rights of George Zimmerman to have used the force that he did in the situation he created, we should not be moving towards expanding such laws in our state. Instead we should be finding ways to protect and make safer our communities and all the people who live here. Please reject Bill 661. We Stand Our Ground to move towards caring for humanity, not creating an environment that divides and frightens. Sincerely, Concerned Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Amazon’s Ring product has partnered with police to supposedly help domestic violence victims. But police have a history of escalating violence, rather than helping domestic violence victims. Amazon needs to stop partnering with police and listen to experts if they want to help families experiencing domestic violence.

We want to thank you for your integrity, compassion, and courage for providing Kansas’ required second opinion to allow late abortions in Dr. George Tiller’s practice. We know that the stories of many of the women you interviewed were heartbreaking and compelling and that you stood for them and for their physical and emotional health. We also know that you and your family have paid a terrible economic and emotional price for your sacrifice. On behalf of the women you helped and of millions of women you will never know, we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. We will work for a day when those who stand for women are celebrated.

In a country devastated by the deaths and injuries of hundreds of people, many of them unarmed, at the hands of police officers, drastic changes are needed in our approach to public safety. Deaths of individuals such as George Floyd, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, there has been widespread resolve to decrease the amount of police violence and brutality in our country. Mounting evidence shows that deaths at the hands of the police disproportionately impact people of certain races and ethnicities, pointing to systemic racism in policing. While most use-of-force incidents are not considered misconduct, civilian fatalities and injuries, particularly of unarmed individuals, can nevertheless harm the public’s trust in law enforcement.

In the wake of the resignation of Tim Mapes as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Illinois, we need a replacement who not only has strong executive skills, but who has "experienced firsthand the pervasive culture of unchecked sexual harassment that disempowers and silences women, especially women of color."* We need someone who has lived and worked for years knowing that the "Consequences for sexual harassment are few and far between in Springfield. But the political consequences for speaking out are almost guaranteed."* Having someone who has experienced both the harassment and the retribution for speaking out would be ideal. We need someone who can unite the disparate wings of the party. Someone who inspires. Someone who reflects our commitment to a strong statewide party and a better future for all. We know that person is Representative Litesa Wallace. We urge you to select Rep. Wallace to be the next Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

We call on you to ensure the safety and security of Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas, and to investigate the political persecution of the peace movement of the High Mountain Zone of El Carmen de Bolívar, Colombia.

We, the undersigned residents, businesses owners, and visitors of Hampden DO NOT WANT additional Residential Permit Parking (RPP) to be implemented in our Baltimore neighborhood. The expansion of RPP in Hampden will do nothing to alleviate parking issues in our neighborhood, either perceived or real. The expansion of RPP will only add to our neighborhood’s parking issues, creating preferential parking areas on public streets for some area residents, while taking the right to public on street parking away from others, and discriminating against homeowners and business alike. Please immediately withdraw any RPP legislation affecting Hampden from the Baltimore City Council’s docket.

State of Oregon require mandatory water testing for contaminates prior to hooking potable water supply into homes from private wells or surface water supplies.