Facebook says that hate speech and incitements to violence are banned and will be removed from their site. So why are they maintaining a page called “Riding Your Girlfriend Softly Cause You Don’t Want to Wake Her Up”? And another page about “throwing bricks at sluts” that includes a photo gallery of portraits asking “Bang or Brick”?

There has even been an organized effort to use Facebook’s own reporting system to flag these and other pages that encourage rape and violence against women so they’ll be taken down. But Facebook hasn’t done a thing.

Now, Change.org member John Raines is going straight to the top. He started a petition on Change.org telling Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to take down these pages and take a stronger stand against violence against women.

Will you sign John’s petition to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg? Sign on, and tell Facebook to remove pages promoting rape and violence against women now.

When 1 in 3 American women will be sexually abused and/or assaulted in her lifetime, pages like these — and the reactions they elicit — are downright scary. Tens of thousands of people have “liked” these pages. Some people even use them as platforms to share rape fantasies and receive explicit tactics for how to carry them out.

John has seen the devastating impact of sexual violence and rape firsthand, on his own family. That’s why he created this petition on Change.org to get Facebook to enforce its existing policies and to make it clear that content promoting rape and violence against women violates Facebook’s Terms of Service and won’t be tolerated.

Please sign John’s petition. Tell Facebook to stop providing a platform to promote rape and violence against women.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Shelby and the Change.org team

P.S. The Troy Davis petition that we emailed you about earlier this week is being delivered to the Parole Board today with more than 230,000 signatures from Change.org members, in advance of Troy’s final hearing on Monday. We’ll keep you updated.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stopped and Frisked : NYC Councilman on NYPD

09/15/2011 Nativegrl77

In May of 2010 New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams spoke out against the NYPD‘s”Stop and Frisk” policy and highlighted the prejudices of the system.

“If you have more melanin in your skin you are more likely to be stopped…we should be allowed to walk freely.” Councilman Williams

At this year’s Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn Jumaane Williams was inappropriately profiled and detained by the NYPD. Councilman Williams has written a special guest blog for us here at The Black Institute about the situation.

Read it and tell us what you think about how we can move forward towards change!

The BlackInstitute
http://www.theblackinstitute.org/

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Gays are “more dangerous” than terrorists? …Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign

09/15/2011 Nativegrl77

Human Rights Campaign

Rep. Sally Kern‘s latest anti-LGBT rant is hateful incitement against the LGBT community.

Tell Oklahoma‘s political leaders to denounce Rep. Sally Kern’s inflammatory remarks.

Send a letter now >>

Just last week, Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern told a talk show host that homosexuality is a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism.

Sorry, WHAT?

That’s right. Kern claimed that because young people learn that “homosexuality is normal and natural” and because they’re “bombarded” with it every day, it is “more dangerous” than terrorist attacks. It’s vile.

Tell Oklahoma’s governor and top legislators to immediately denounce Kern’s remarks without delay.

As if comparing gays and lesbians to terrorists wasn’t bad enough, in the same interview, Kern also blamed the AIDS crisis on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community – recycling the outdated, tired charge that gays are responsible for the epidemic, instead of calling for more support of programs to prevent new HIV infections.

Sadly, this story is all too familiar and Kern has been censured for unrelated but equally outlandish remarks before. Kern made anti-LGBT comments like these three years ago that were captured on tape. But in the three years since, we’ve learned all too well what words alone can do – especially from elected officials.

Worse, Kern couldn’t care less about keeping her vile views under wraps this time around. Instead, she’s written a book criticizing the efforts of people like you and me to confront right-wing hate like hers. She casts herself as a truth-teller, standing tall in the face of “angry homosexuals” who speak out time and again against her extremism.

We’ve called out Kern before for her hatred, but public statements that could potentially incite people to violence are completely over the line. Carmen, we can’t let this kind of hatred go unanswered.

Kern must be held responsible. Sign the letter to Oklahoma’s leaders now: “Kern’s comparison of homosexuality to terrorism is as offensive as it is dangerous. I call on you to immediately condemn her hate speech.”

Our campaign for equality has traveled a long road, Carmen. We’ve unfortunately circled back to Kern and her unique brand of hate once again, but with your help, this will be the last time we ever need to. Thank you for taking a minute to stand with us and speak out.

Keep it up,

Joe Solmonese
President

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

State Voter ID Laws Draw National Scrutiny … what about North Carolina

09/15/2011 Nativegrl77

ABC News’ Michael Ono reports:

The Department of Justice is reviewing, and has the power to reject a controversial new law passed in South Carolina that requires a registered voter to present a government -issued photo ID before his or her vote is counted.

Gov. Nikki Haley signed the bill into law in May and she’s not alone. Four other states have passed similar voter ID laws in 2011, including Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee and Kansas. But thanks to the DOJ, South Carolina’s law could still be rejected by federal officials.

And while other states have passed voter photo ID laws in the past, the laws passed in 2011 are by far the strictest with the exception of the law passed in 2005 by the state of Indiana.

Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act empowers the DOJ to review election laws passed in select southern sates as well as Alaska and some counties throughout the country. Crafted in a time of great racial stife, the act was meant to codify the power of the 15th Amendment, which forbids racial discrimination at the polling booth.

South Carolina, which is subject to federal review, is the only state to have petitioned the Obama Justice Department for approval while other states such as Texas opted to clear their law through the D.C. District Court, which is also permitted.

Critics of a stricter photo ID law argue that the requirement will make it tougher for poor and minority voters to cast their ballot while proponents call it a common sense provision.

Voters without the means to produce correct documents or the disabled can verify their identity through an affidavit but many still see the ID requirements as too burdensome.

“A number of state legislatures have taken up these bills and I think that it’s a growing concern nationally that the effect is going to be the suppression of the vote,” said Victoria Middleton, executive director for the South Carolina ACLU.

Republicans, in 2010, swept state legislatures across the country and have used the ensuing authority to pass various controversial measures, including laws that restrict funding to Planned Parenthood at the state level.

As for why the Obama Justice Department might be interested in the South Carolina law, fewer eligible minority voters could hurt the president because they tend to vote Democratic.

“These kinds of voter ID laws could make a difference on the margins and President Obama is fighting for every last percentage he can get,” said David Wasserman, a political analyst for the Cook Political Report.

As many as 11 percent of the voting population, or about 21 million people, do not have access to a government issued ID, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Still, studies highlighted by the Heritage Foundation show that photo ID laws have no effect on minority voter turnout.

Wisconsin College students voting in their local college towns might also have trouble voting because the new voter ID law in Wisconsin require the ID to show an address that matches their voting precinct when many students will have an ID that comes from their hometown.

“It’s a significant impediment to a lot more casual younger voters,” Wasserman said.

And the college city of Madison, Wis., generates the state’s largest number of Democratic votes, according to Wasserman.

Still, there are many who like the new voter ID laws and disapprove of the DOJ’s inquiry, arguing that the federal government has no business in “pre-clearing” state election laws.

“It’s a historical artifact of the civil rights era,” said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch. “The idea that South Carolina needs to be treated today by the federal government is absurd.”

Hans von Spakovsky, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said, “The kind of widespread discrimination that occurred just doesn’t happen today.”

Some Democratic politicians aren’t so sure. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois will hold hearings on the new laws today in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is the ranking Republican member on that Subcommittee and will attend the hearing.

~ Recent Post

Congress:the Republican led House is offering bills on the Floor to keep Govt from creating jobs or helping&passes it… -the Senate trying to complete action on H.J.Res.66 and H.R.2887, the FAA and Highway extensions

09/15/2011 Nativegrl77

CALL YOUR Representative … tell them to stop this insane behavior which is being led by Republicans in the House of Representatives

the Senate Convenes at 9:30am September 15, 2011

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business
for one hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each
with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the
final half.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of
H.J.Res.66, a joint resolution regarding Burma Sanctions and the legislative
vehicle for additional FEMA funds.
As a reminder, Senator Reid filed cloture on the Reid substitute amendment
#602 (the text of the Burma language and the FEMA language) and H.J.Res.66
during Wednesday’s session. Unless an agreement is reached, a cloture vote on
the Reid substitute amendment #602 will occur Friday morning. The filing
deadline for all first degree amendments to the Reid substitute amendment #602
and H.J.Res.66 is 1:00pm on Thursday, September 15^th.
We hope to reach an agreement to complete action on H.J.Res.66 and H.R.2887,
the FAA and Highway extensions during Thursday’s session of the Senate.
Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled.

2:41PM Senator Coburn just asked the following three consent requests which Reid
objected to:

1) Proceed to House passed bill, H.R.2887, Surface and Air
Transportation Extension bill, agree to a Coburn substitute amendment (4 month
FAA extension) and pass the bill, as amended;

2) Proceed to House passed bill, H.R.2887, Surface and Air
Transportation Extension bill, agree to a Coburn amendment repealing the 10
percent transportation enhancement mandate, and pass the bill, as amended;
and

3) Proceed to House passed bill, H.R.2887, Surface and Air
Transportation Extension bill, agree to a Coburn substitute amendment (6 month
surface transportation extension and repeal of 10 percent transportation
enhancement mandate, and pass the bill, as amended.

Senator Reid then asked the following consent which Senator Coburn objected
to:

Proceed to House passed bill, H.R.2887, Surface and Air Transportation
Extension bill, have only three amendments in order:

– Coburn (regarding transportation enhancements);

– Paul ( regarding limitation on highway trust funds); and

– Paul (regarding FAA funding levels)

That there be up to two hours of debate on the amendments prior to votes on
the amendments; that the amendments have a 60 vote affirmative threshold; and
upon disposition of the amendments, the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of
the bill, as amended, if amended.

12:36PM The Senate has reached an agreement to complete action on H.J.Res.66. At
approximately 4:00pm, the Senate will conduct 3 roll call votes in relation to
the following:

Coburn #610 (offset re: duplicative programs) (60-vote threshold)
Paul #613 (offset re: Foreign Aid)(60-vote threshold) and
Reid substitute amendment #602, as amended, if amended (text of Burma
language and additional FEMA funding language)(60-vote threshold)

If the Reid amendment #602, as amended, if amended, reaches the 60-vote
threshold, H.J.Res.66, as amended, will be agreed to. If the Reid amendment
#602, as amended, if amended, does not achieve the 60-vote threshold, the
cloture motions will be withdrawn and the resolution will be returned to the
calendar.

9:47am The filing deadline for all first degree amendments to the Reid substitute
amendment #602 and to H.J.Res.66, a joint resolution regarding Burma Sanctions
and the legislative vehicle for additional FEMA funds is 1:00pm today.

If your Senator has a germane first degree amendment and would like to
preserve his or her right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment
to the cloakroom prior to the deadline. If you have already filed, there is no
need to re-file.

VOTES

4:02pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Coburn amendment #610
(offset-duplicative programs) to the Reid substitute amendment #602 (FEMA and
Burma Sanctions) to H.J.Res.66; Not Agreed to: 54-45 (60-vote threshold)

4:34pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Paul amendment #613 (offset with
Foreign Aid funds) to the Reid amendment #602 (Burma Sanctions and FEMA) to
H.J.Res.66; Not Agreed to: 20-78 (60-vote threshold)

The Senate has entered into a consent agreement to complete action on
H.R.2887, FAA and Highway extensions. Following the roll call vote on the Reid
substitute amendment #602 to H.J.Res.66 (which will occur imminently), there
will be 10 minutes of debate and 3 roll call votes in relation to the
following:

– Paul amendment to H.R.2887(regarding limitation on highway trust
funds)(60-vote threshold)

– Paul amendment to H.R.2887 (regarding FAA funding levels)(60-vote
threshold)

– Passage of H.R.2887, as amended, if amended (majority-vote
threshold)

5:00pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Reid amendment #602 (Burma
Sanctions and FEMA) to H.J.Res.66; Agreed to: 62-37.

5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Paul Amendment to H.R.2887
(regarding limitation on highway trust funds) (60-vote threshold); Not agreed
to: 14-84.

5:51pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Paul amendment to H.R.2887 (regarding FAA funding levels) (60 vote threshold); Not agreed to: 36-61.

6:08pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.2887, the Surface and
Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011; Passed 92-6.

Confirmed Executive Calendar #358 Wendy Ruth Sherman – to be an Under
Secretary of State (Political Affairs).

Adopted S.Res.268, relative to the death of Senator Malcolm Wallop

Adopted S.Res.269, designating the week beginning September 19, 2011, as
“National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION
SHAME on Republicans for legislating against Labor Relations, Unions and Government … 232 -186 where is the outrage

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3:34 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 19, 2011.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.

3:32 P.M. – The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a report with regards to Iceland’s commercial whaling activities. – referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-54).

1:58 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group – Pursuant to 22 U.S.C 276d and the order of the House of January 5, 2011, the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group: Mr. Dreier, Mr. Lungren, Daniel E.,Mrs. Miller of MI, Mr. Smith of NE, Mr. Huizenga of MI, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Welch and Mr. Larsen of WA .

1:52 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Thursday, September 15, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, September 19, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 2587:: to prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstance

1:21 P.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 238 – 186(Roll No. 711).

1:11 P.M. – On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 189 – 235(Roll no. 710).

12:45 P.M. – The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

12:38 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bishop (NY) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment prohibiting the Act from limiting the National Labor Relations Board’s authority to order an employer to maintain or restore jobs within the United States that have been or will otherwise be outsourced to a foreign country in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.Mr. Bishop (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

11:17 A.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate onH.R. 2587.

11:16 A.M. – Rule provides for consideration ofH.R. 2587with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and the Workforce now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted.

11:15 A.M. – Considered under the provisions of ruleH. Res. 372.

11:14 A.M. – Mr. Woodall filed a report from the Committee on Rules onH. Res. 399.

H.R. 2867:: to reauthorize the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, and for other purposes

11:13 A.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 – 21(Roll no. 709).

11:06 A.M. – Considered as unfinished business.UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 372:: providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2587) to prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstance

11:05 A.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 239 – 176(Roll no. 708).

11:04 A.M. – ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE NUMBER OF HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of Rule XX, the Chair announced to the House that, in light of the administration of the oath the gentleman from Nevada, the Honorable Mark Amodei and the gentleman from New York, the Honorable Bob Turner, the whole number of the House is adjusted to 434.

10:50 A.M. – OATH OF OFFICE – Representative-Elect Mark Amodei, Second District, State of Nevada and Representative-Elect Bob Turner, Ninth District, State of New York, presented themselves in the well of the House for the purpose of taking the Oath of Office which was administered by the Speaker of the House.

10:46 A.M. – The House received a message from the Clerk. The Clerk transmitted to the House a scanned copy of a letter received from Mr. Robert Brehm and Mr. Todd Valentine, Co-Executive Directors, New York State Board of Elections, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the Special Election held September 13, 2011, the Honorable Bob Turner was elected Representative to Congress for the Ninth Congressional District, State of New York.

10:45 A.M. – The House received a message from the Clerk. The Clerk transmitted to the House a scanned copy of a letter received from Mr. Scott Gilles, Deputy Secretary of Elections, on behalf of Nevada Secretary of State, the Honorable Ross Miller, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the Special Election held September 13, 2011, the Honorable Mark E. Amodei was elected Representative to Congress for the Second Congressional District, State of Nevada.

H. Res. 372:: providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2587) to prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstance

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 234 – 177(Roll no. 707).

9:18 A.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate onH. Res. 372.

9:16 A.M. – Considered as privileged matter.

9:02 A.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Scott of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

9:00 A.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield, Illinois.The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.