All posts by Nativegrl77

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Michael Dunn is Guilty … ColorOfChange.org

02/21/2014 Nativegrl77

Contribute $5 to the fight to repeal “Shoot First” laws nationwide.

“I believed he was guilty.” —Juror No.4 (“Valerie”)

This past weekend a Florida jury failed to convict Michael Dunn for the murder of Jordan Davis. Now, juror No.4 has broken her silence and confirmed that it was the issue of self-defense that lead some jurors to detract from the overwhelming majority who wanted to convict Dunn of first-degree murder.¹ Florida’s so-called “Stand Your Ground” law was mentioned to the jury during their instructions when Dunn’s defense lawyer said his client had a right to “stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force.”²

Anywhere there is a so-called “Stand Your Ground” or “Shoot First” law we are poised to see miscarriages of justice like we have witnessed in Florida. These laws provide immunity for vigilantes who neglected their duty to retreat. And when you add deep-rooted racial prejudice like Dunn’s,³ they become even more dangerous as a threat to Black youth, who these shooters profile as “thugs” and criminals.

Can you pitch in $5 or more today to make sure ColorOfChange has the resources to fight and win repeal of “Shoot First” across the country?

Because of “Shoot First” we saw a jury fail to convict Dunn for the murder he actually committed just a day before what would’ve been the 19th birthday of his victim, Jordan. Had it not been for “Shoot First”-influenced instructions in Dunn’s trial, we might have seen justice completely carried out for all of the charges against Dunn and not a select few.⁴

Florida’s “Shoot First” law is the product of an obsessed right-wing gun industry lobby — those who have no actual concern about public safety or self defense. It’s because of their work to increase profits for this industry that “Shoot First” is becoming a refuge for shooters in states with susceptible political leadership across the country.⁵

We have to demand accountability from our elected officials around the dangers of “Shoot First”: we’re urging elected officials to repeal these dangerous laws that put everyone at risk. We will provide support to the officials that have the courage to fight for us and we will increase pressure on those that don’t.

Help stop the next Michael Dunn: please make a contribution of $5 or more today.

Thanks and Peace,

–Rashad, Matt, Arisha, Aimée, William, Johnny and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team February 20th, 2014

References

1. “Florida ‘loud music’ trial juror: ‘I believed he was guilty’,” CNN, 02-19-14 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3300?t=6&akid=3307.1174326.HhLY-I

2. “How To Make Sense Of The Michael Dunn Verdict,'” ThinkProgress, 02-15-14 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3299?t=8&akid=3307.1174326.HhLY-I

3. “Michael Dunn Takes Stand, Racist Letters Take Center Stage Online,” The Root, 02-11-14 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3301?t=10&akid=3307.1174326.HhLY-I

4. “Fla. man faces 60 years for shooting at teens,” USA Today, 02-16-14 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/3302?t=12&akid=3307.1174326.HhLY-I

5. “ALEC and the NRA: Profiting from gun violence,” ColorOfChange campaign, 01-04-13 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/2834?t=14&akid=3307.1174326.HhLY-I

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Space Is Limited! Register Now for the National Geographic Photo Seminar in Seattle

02/21/2014 Nativegrl77

Storytelling Photography
New Photography Seminar

Learn how to take your skills to the next level and create memorable, powerful visual narratives. Photographers Melissa Farlow and Ami Vitale will show you how to build a photo essay that reflects people, places, and moments in an authentic, meaningful way while showcasing your own unique style. View amazing images and see your skills improve in just one day!

Sunday, March 16
Seattle Public Library Seattle, WA 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
$195 per person Includes lunch

Melissa Farlow has photographed numerous projects for National Geographic, including magazine and book assignments. Farlow began her career working on newspapers. She won a shared Pulitzer Prize while working in Louisville, where she also won a National Headliner Award. She was recently honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indiana University School of Journalism and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.

Ami Vitale‘s journey as a photojournalist has taken her to more than 80 countries. Her photographs have been exhibited around the world in museums and galleries and published in international magazines including National Geographic. Her work has garnered multiple awards from prestigious organizations.

Black History

the Senate off until 2/24 CONGRESS 2/21 the House

02/21/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, February 24, 2014.

Following the prayer and pledge, Senator King will be recognized to deliver Washington’s Farewell Address.

Upon conclusion of the reading, the Majority Leader will be recognized and then the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

On Wednesday, February 12^th, cloture was filed on the following items in the order listed:

– Executive Calendar #564 Jeffrey Alker Meyer -to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut

– Executive Calendar #564 #570 James Maxwell Moody, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas

– Executive Calendar #564 #566 James Donato – to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California

– Executive Calendar #564 #567 Beth Labson Freeman – to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California and

– Motion to proceed to S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014.

At 5:00pm on Monday, February 24^th, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #564, the nomination of Jeffrey Alker Meyer to be US District Judge for the District of Connecticut with up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Meyer nomination.

If cloture is invoked on the Meyer nomination, there would be up to 2 hours for post-cloture debate. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate would proceed to a vote confirmation of the nomination, then proceed to the next cloture vote and repeat the process for the remaining nominations in the list above. Following disposition of the Freeman nomination, there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S.1982.

While up to 9 roll call votes (5 cloture votes and 4 confirmation votes) are possible Monday evening, we anticipate that after three votes, the remaining will resume sometime Tuesday morning.

Likely votes Monday at 5:30pm:

– Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564 Jeffrey Alker Meyer -to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut

(up to 2 hours of equally divided debate, likely one hour)

– Confirmation of Meyer nomination

– Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #564 #570 James Maxwell Moody, Jr. – to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

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Last Floor Action:2/21
11:05:02 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 2(b) of H. Res. 475.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 25, 2014.

11:00:18 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:23 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:00:52 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Gene Hemrick, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
11:02:00 A.M.		The Chair announced that pursuant to section 2(a) of H. Res. 475, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
11:02:10 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:02:10 A.M.		The House received a communication from the Honorable Allyson Y. Schwartz. Ms. Schwartz submitted her resignation from the Committee on the Budget. The resignation was accepted without objection.
11:03:25 A.M.		The House received a communication from The Honorable Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Mr. Shuster notified the House that on February 11, 2014, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session to consider resolutions to authorize 17 lease prospectuses included in the General Services Administration’s FY2014 Capital Investment and Leasing Programs and transmitted copies of the adopted resolutions.
11:05:02 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 2(b) of H. Res. 475. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 25, 2014.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Voices of the Xingu: Antonia Melo

02/20/2014 Nativegrl77

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Voices of the Xingu: Antonia Melo, Amazon Warrior

“We won’t let our rivers in the Amazon be sacrificed!” – Antonia Melo

If you’re reading this it’s quite likely that you know by now that the Brazilian government is planning to build what would be the world’s third largest hydroelectric dam on one of the Amazon’s major tributaries, the Xingu River. The Belo Monte dam would divert the flow of the Xingu and devastate an extensive area of the Brazilian rainforest, displacing over 20,000 people and threatening the survival of indigenous peoples. For the past 25 years, Antonia Melo da Silva has been at the forefront of this battle fighting for justice, rights, rivers and the rainforest.

Watch the video and read the rest on Eye on the Amazon »

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

greenpeace Activists open Milan Fashion Week

02/20/2014 Nativegrl77

Right now, a team of Greenpeace volunteers are hanging from the ceiling of Italy’s oldest and most magnificent shopping center in Milan to demand toxic-free fashion. You can watch the action live, click here.

These activists are opening Milan fashion week in style and sending a clear message to luxury brands like Versace that are using hazardous chemicals to make their clothes: Detox now!