LBJ Signing the Civil Rights Act of 1968

This month, we celebrate the anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII of the Act is commonly known as the Fair Housing Act.

Like all African American history, this milestone of the Civil Rights Movement is inextricably woven into the fabric of our entire nation – because prior to the passage of the Act it was legal to discriminate in housing based not only on race and color, but also on the basis of religion, national origin and sex.

When we open our doors in fall of 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will provide a home for this kind of shared national history –– presenting the people and events that shaped our country to life through an African American lens.

As we quickly approach the Museum’s opening, your support is vital. I hope you will consider making a special gift of $ 40 or more today.

The Museum will provide the opportunity for visitors from across our nation and around the world to learn about the entire African American experience –– from unspeakable horrors like slavery to soaring triumphs like the passage of the Fair Housing Act.

But first we must raise $250 million from private sources to match the public funds approved by Congress – so that we can complete construction of the Museum building, finish assembling our collection of historical and cultural artifacts, and launch our opening exhibitions and other programming.

Please help put us over the finish line with a special donation today!

Your continued support will help ensure that the Museum fulfill our mission to educate all Americans about our shared heritage … spark constructive conversations on race and foster reconciliation … and advance our understanding of who we are as a nation and how we can build a brighter future together.

Thank you for whatever additional support you can give to help provide the kind of home that our African American history and culture deserve.

All the best,

Lonnie Bunch
Founding Director

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Washington State: Four days to make a difference in critical House election

04/25/2015 Nativegrl77

This year there is a critical Special Election in the 30th Legislative District that will have huge implications for our state. Representative Carol Gregory was appointed to the House of Representatives in January after being selected by the 30th District PCOs.

Now, Carol must fight to retain her seat this November, and she needs your help.

Carol’s race is the only legislative race in the state this year, which means the Republicans are focusing all of their energy on defeating her. The Democratic majority in the House hinges on Carol’s election in November.

Will you support Carol’s campaign and help us win this critical election and protect our state?

A former schoolteacher and current Federal Way School Board member, Carol Gregory is a born-and-raised Washingtonian. She has extensive experience in education, government, community leadership, and the Democratic Party. Her public service includes working as President of the Washington Education Association and in various government positions, including eight years in Governor Booth Gardner’s Administration. Carol has also specialized in workforce training and economic development, working for the Small Business Improvement Council and as a representative on the Seattle/King County Workforce Development Council.

Carol’s roots are deep in her community, and she is the right person to represent the 30th District. Even though her seat has been held by a Democrat for the past two years, many still consider the 30th to be a true swing district, and her Republican opponent can be expected to run an expensive campaign, as they seek to pick up this seat.

In short, the right wing is going to throw everything they have at Carol. And the only way to continue to strengthen our families and middle class and ensure we are building a better future for our kids is to elect Carol Gregory this November.

Please join me and show Carol she has grassroots support to fend off the Republican attacks and win in November.

Please click here to support Carol’s campaign with a gift of $100, $50, $25 or whatever you can afford today. Your early support will be key to Carol’s success in November, and she is grateful for contributions of any size.

Please pitch in today, and help us win this critical election. The fate of our state depends on it.

Thank you for standing up for our shared values,

Jaxon

P.S. Carol has just four days to raise money until she reports back to Olympia for the special legislative session.

Please make your contribution today, before the fundraising freeze kicks back in!

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Weekly Address: Fighting for Trade Deals that Put American Workers First

04/25/2015 Nativegrl77

In this week’s address, the President laid out why new, high-standards trade agreements are important for our economy, our businesses, our workers, and our values.These new trade deals are vital to middle-class economics — the idea that this country does best when everybody gets their fair shot, everybody does their fair share, and everybody plays by the same set of rules.The President has been clear: Any deal he signs will be the most progressive trade agreement in our history with strong provisions for both workers and the environment. It would also level the playing field — and when the playing field is level, American workers always win.

Watch the President’s Weekly Address here.

Right As Republicans Vote Against Equal Pay, New Evidence Reaffirms the Gender Wage Gap ~repost

04/25/2015 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Right As Republicans Vote Against Equal Pay, New Evidence Reaffirms the Gender Wage Gap

Last night, only a week after the Republican National Committee claimed that all Republicans support an equal wage, Senate Republicans unanimously voted to block the Paycheck Fairness Act. The bill, which failed to advance despite achieving a majority of 52 votes in favor, would ban salary secrecy and tighten rules to try to narrow the persisting wage gap between men and women.

This isn’t the first time that the GOP has blocked bills that require equal pay for equal work over the years. They usually claim that the gap isn’t as large as stated and that provisions are already in place to protect women workers. But we know those claims to be untrue: the gender wage gap can’t just be explained away and discrimination against women is likely at least partly to blame.

What’s more, this morning the Census Bureau released new numbers on the earnings of men and women that proves that the GOP’s position on equal pay remains out of touch. In 2013, according to the Census, the average woman who works full time makes 78 cents to every man’s dollar, just a single penny improvement from the 77 cent wage gap in 2012. As the chart below depicts, in 2013 median earnings for men were $50,000 while median earnings for women hovered at just $39,200.

CREDIT: Census Bureau

We already know that the claim that the gender wage gap is a myth is a myth itself. The new evidence shows that the problem isn’t getting any better — in fact, for the last decade, there has been little progress on closing the wage gap. The Paycheck Fairness Act is one of many policies that would help address this gap, and more broadly help increase economic opportunity for women and families.

BOTTOM LINE: With their latest vote to block equal pay for equal work, Senate Republicans continue to ignore the facts about the gender pay gap and continue to reject policies that would help women and families succeed. New data from the Census Bureau released today proves that point by showing the wage gap hasn’t budged. If conservatives really supported women, they would stop paying lip service to women on the one hand, and voting against policies to help women and families on the other