Monthly Archives: September 2015

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

re: Mckinney police violence


McKinney Police Officer Eric Casebolt violently arrested and assaulted Dajerria Becton and other Black teens for attending a pool party.

DejarriaBecton, graphic image.

Urge local officials to immediately fire and charge Officer Casebolt with assault and battery:

Join Us

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A policeman rips the American flag away from 5-year-old Anthony Quinn, having already confiscated his ‘No More Police Brutality’ sign. Jackson, Mississippi; ca. 1965


Miep's avatarI hope to be remembered for my atrocities!

vac8lFr The guy in the background looks justifiably shocked. And yet is doing nothing.

In the South during the civil rights movement, the American flag was a potent symbol of support for racial integration (and support for federal law). Southerners who believed in racial segregation displayed Confederate flags instead. People were pulled from their cars by policemen and beaten simply for displaying an American flag on their license plates. So the simple act of a small child carrying an American flag represented defiance of Mississippi law and custom.

Anthony and his mother were arrested and hauled off to jail, which was a cattle stockade at the county fairground, since the city jails were already full of protesters. The Quinn protest was organized by COFO (Council of Federated Organizations), an umbrella organization responsible for most civil rights activities in the state. Today Anthony lives in Florida. I believe he is a lawyer…

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Defining Our Future


By

On National Voter Registration Day, A Look At The Importance Of Registering To Vote

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and like all the best holidays it’s easy to celebrate! Today you can visit this website to register to vote or check your state’s Secretary of State or State Board of Elections website, which may allow you to check your status, update your address, or register to vote. Then, spread the word!

The United States has notoriously low levels of voter turnout and things aren’t looking up. In the 2014 midterms, our most recent national election, voter turnout was the lowest ever recorded since the Census Bureau began collecting voting data in 1978. In 43 states, less than half of eligible voters actually turned out.

Even more drastic is the significantly lower turnout rates among low-income Americans and people of color. White, affluent voters continue to be overrepresented in American elections and this can have a big effect on public policy. According to a report from Demos, non-registered people were far more progressive than registered voters on every issue examined, from free community college to raising the minimum wage. By excluding so many eligible voters, our political system tunes out a diversity of viewpoints in our electorate that has a big effect on public policy. For more on the turnout gap, check out this report.

One important step in closing the turnout gap is getting people registered to vote. This is a particularly important National Voter Registration day because 2016 is the first year in United States history that the Rising American Electorate—young people, people of color, and unmarried women—are expected to cast over half of all the ballots in the election. About 57 percent of the eligible-voter population is a part of the Rising American Electorate, but a huge portion of that group is not registered to vote. In fact, in 2014, more than four in ten RAE members were not registered to vote. The chart below gives a more detailed breakdown:

BOTTOM LINE: Registering to vote is an important step in ensuring that our voting population is actually representative of the American population. Representation starts with registration, so celebrate National Voter Registration Day!

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 9/22 ~~ the House


HCHumanRight0108The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, September 22, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, with the time until 11:00am equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees. At 11:00am the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.36. Senators should expect a second vote relative to the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2685, Defense Appropriations, upon reconsideration.

Tuesday, September 22 at 11:00am – Up to 2 roll call votes

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.36, Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2685, Defense Appropriations, upon reconsideration.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.36, Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act; not invoked: 54-42.
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2685, Defense Appropriations, upon reconsideration; not invoked: 54-42.

Legislative Business

Passed Calendar #175, S.1632 – requires a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram, with Lankford amendment and committee-reported substitute amendment, as amended.

Passed Calendar #194, S.986 – Albuquerque Indian School Land Transfer Act.

Passed Calendar #233, S.1170 – Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2015.

Agreed to S.Res.263 – National Retirement Security Week.

Agreed to S.Res.264 – designating September 23, 2015, as “National Falls Prevention Awareness Day”.

Agreed to S.Res.265 – honoring the life, accomplishments, and legacy of Congressman Louis Stokes.

Completed the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business H.R.3134, Planned Parenthood Federation of American Funding Moratorium (Republican request).

Completed the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business H.R.3504, Born Alive Abortion Services Protection Act (Republican request).

Executive Business

Confirmed by voice vote Executive Calendar #298, Kathryn Matthew, to be Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities.

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of September 22, 2015

Last Floor Action:
4:06:04 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on September 24, 2015.
4:00:04 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
4:00:28 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Barbara Comstock to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
4:00:53 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Cloer, Chaplain, United States Navy, Office of the Chief of Navy Chaplains, Washington, DC.
4:02:28 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
4:02:33 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Smith of NJ to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
4:03:11 P.M. H. Res. 50 Mr. Smith (NJ) asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
4:03:33 P.M. H. Res. 50 Considered by unanimous consent. H. Res. 50 — “Calling for the release of Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who was captured by Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine and has been held illegally in a Russian prison since July 2014.”
4:03:48 P.M. H. Res. 50 An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Smith (NJ), to the text of the resolution.
4:04:13 P.M. H. Res. 50 On agreeing to the Smith (NJ) amendment; Agreed to without objection.
4:04:25 P.M. H. Res. 50 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
4:04:30 P.M. H. Res. 50 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:04:31 P.M. H. Res. 50 An amendment, offered by Mr. Smith (NJ), to the preamble.
4:05:31 P.M. H. Res. 50 On agreeing to the Smith (NJ) amendment; Agreed to without objection.
4:05:32 P.M. The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 22, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 2051 with an amendment and that the Senate passed S. 1109.
4:06:01 P.M. Mr. Smith (NJ) moved that the House do now adjourn.
4:06:03 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
4:06:04 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on September 24, 2015.