Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Demand Discover take immediate action and cut off hate groups from their financial service platforms.

02/17/2018 Nativegrl77

Discover is funding white supremacist groups similar to the one that gave Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz weapons training.

Demand Discover take immediate action and cut off hate groups from their financial service platforms.

Dear Friends.

What happened in Parkland, FL was an act of terror. As we watched in horror and heartbreak at yet another school shooting, those feelings were magnified when it was revealed the culprit was a member of a white supremacist organization.¹

These groups are emboldened. From Charlottesville, to the Trump administration’s slashing of federal funding to groups fighting right-wing violence, hate groups have gotten more extreme and more violent.² We know from the murders at Emanuel AME Church to the murder of Heather Heyer and now the the murder of 17 high school students on Valentine’s Day that these aren’t one off events but part of a larger trend of white supremacist violence that companies like Discover are complicit in.

Through Discover’s online financial service platform, at least 85 hate groups are able to accept donations and generate revenues that are used to fund their activities. Everything from their websites, to recruitment events, to buying weapons for the members can be done because of the easy access to funds companies like Discover are providing them. But together, we have the power to get Discover to cut these groups of for good.

Demand Discover take immediate action and cut off hate groups from their financial service platforms.

As you probably already know from our Blood Money campaign last year, these groups are able to build websites, recruit new members, hold weapons trainings and send their members to violent rallies like “Unite the Right” all because they can accept payments with the help of corporations and online platforms, like Discover.

Last year, you joined with us to get corporations like PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express to cut off a number of violent and dangerous hate groups. But Discover refused to act, and now the pressure is mounting on them.³ These hate groups cannot be allowed to continue to grow and wreak terror over our communities. Discover should not be profiting from and enabling hate groups.

The violence driven by these hate groups in the last couple of years has been striking, with a steady increase in violence each of the last two years.⁴ Last year alone saw a doubling of the number of murders carried out by white supremacists.⁵ And since 2014, members of the alt-right have murdered or injured 110 people.⁶ These numbers are tragic and fail to capture the volume of terror they are causing in marginalized communities around the country.

Tech and finance companies like Discover have a responsibility to ensure that their platforms are not used to elevate, normalize, or fund voices that enable or encourage this kind of violence and discrimination.

Demand Discover take immediate action and cut off hate groups from their financial service platforms.

Until justice is real,

–Evan, Rashad, Arisha, Brandi, Johnny, Jade, Future, Corina, Chad, Mary, Saréya, Eesha, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References:

1. “Accused Parkland Shooter Nikolas Cruz Was a Member of White Supremacist Group,” Time, 15 February 2018 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/20582?t=8&akid=9253%2E1174326%2Elx5yKu

2. “Trump cuts funds to fight anti-right wing violence,” The Hill, 14 August 2018 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/20591?t=10&akid=9253%2E1174326%2Elx5yKu

3. “Blood Money,” Color Of Change, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/20592?t=12&akid=9253%2E1174326%2Elx5yKu

4. “FBI: US hate crimes rise for second straight year,” BBC, 13 November 2017 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/20593?t=14&akid=9253%2E1174326%2Elx5yKu

5. “ADL Report: White Supremacist Murders More Than Doubled in 2017,” Anti-Defamation League, 17 January 2018 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/20594?t=16&akid=9253%2E1174326%2Elx5yKu

6. “The Alt-Right is Killing People,” Southern Poverty Law Center, 05 February 2018 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/20595?t=18&akid=9253%2E1174326%2Elx5yKu

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stand with Domestic Violence Survivors

02/17/2018 Nativegrl77

Friend, on a day that celebrates love, too many domestic violence survivors will spend Valentine’s Day in terror that their abusers will use their guns to do more harm. Right now, a deadly loophole exists that doesn’t prevent domestic abusers from buying guns unless they have been married to, lived with, or share a child in common with their victims.This “boyfriend loophole” leaves dating partners unprotected from domestic abusers with guns.

This gap in federal law has become increasingly deadly, and today, women are just as likely to be killed by dating partners as by spouses. That is why it is critical you write to your representative and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 3207 — a bill that would close the “boyfriend loophole” and keep guns away from domestic abusers and stalkers

Lawmakers should be doing e Tell your representative: Co-sponsor H.R. 3207 verything they can to make sure that domestic violence survivors are safe from their abusers on Valentine’s Day — and every other day for that matter. Carmen, on this Valentine’s Day, will you send your message? Send your representative a message and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 3207!

Thanks for all that you do to stand alongside domestic violence survivors — now and always.

Sarah Trumble
Deputy Director, Federal Affairs
Everytown for Gun Safety

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, available 24/7, for confidential assistance from a trained advocate.

~ Culture & History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture – repost

02/17/2018 Nativegrl77

NEW ACQUISITION: 19th Century Slave Cabin from Point of Pines Plantation, Edisto Island, S.C.

19th Century Slave Cabin, Point of Pines

The 19th century slave cabin that was recently transferred from Edisto Island, S.C. to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture’s collection. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture has acquired a slave cabin from the first half of the 19th century, currently located at Point of Pines Plantation on Edisto Island, S.C. The Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society donated it to the museum after receiving it originally from the Burnet Maybank family, the current owners of the plantation.

The one-story, rectangular, weatherboard-clad cabin was dismantled piece by piece at its original location, removed from the Point of Pines Plantation and is now being preserved. Once preservation is completed, it will be transferred to the NMAAHC collection. Smithsonian representatives were present during the deconstruction to conduct additional research on the structure and those who lived there.

The reconstructed cabin will be on view in the “Slavery and Freedom” exhibition when the museum opens in late 2015. This exhibition will focus on the crucial role slavery played in the making of America and its impact on generations of enslaved Africans and their descendants.

NEW APPS: View NMAAHC and Changing America: To Be Free

Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and the March on Washington, 1963

Now extended until September 7, 2014!

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in collaboration with the National Museum of American History (NMAH) is presenting an exhibition, featuring historic photographs, paintings, new film footage and objects, that explores the historical context of these two crucial events, their accomplishments and limitations, and their impact on the generations that followed.

The exhibition will be on view through Sept. 7, 2014 in NMAAHC’s temporary gallery on level two at American History, 14^th St NW and Constitution Ave NW. Metro: Smithsonian or Federal Triangle.

For more information, visit www.nmaahc.si.edu.

While the Smithsonian’s newest museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is currently under construction, its building and content can be explored in the palm of a hand. The museum has unveiled two free mobile phone apps, “View NMAAHC” and “Changing America: To Be Free,” that allow the public to virtually experience the museum before its opening in 2015.

To see what the museum will look like when completed, the “View NMAAHC” augmented-reality app will give the public a peek into the future. Users who are visiting the museum’s Washington, D.C., construction site can view a three-dimensional architectural model of the building. Other immersive experiences, available to all users regardless of their location, include a 360-degree view of the museum’s site and an architectural fly through of the museum’s interiors.

For those curious about how individuals across the nation reacted to the Emancipation Proclamation, the “Changing America: To Be Free” app commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation by providing personal accounts of those who were affected by President Abraham Lincoln’s executive order. This app offers users the ability to search, sort and read personal stories from across the North, South and border states from men and women of all ages. The app is a digital component of the museum’s current exhibition, “Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and The March on Washington, 1963,” on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History until Sept. 7, 2014.

The “View NMAAHC” app is currently available for iPhone, iPad and Android and is available for download from the App Store or Google Play.

The “Changing America: To Be Free” app is available for the iPad from the App Store or Google Play, and will soon be available for iPhone and Android.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

“Anglo-American Heritage”

02/16/2018 Nativegrl77

Clarise McCants, Color Of Change

Jeff Sessions doesn’t even care if he looks racist anymore–he has to go.

Yesterday, he gave a speech at the National Sheriffs Association winter meeting– and once again his words were racist and disturbing. During the speech he proudly praised the work of law enforcement saying, “The office of sheriff is a critical part of the Anglo-American heritage of law enforcement.”¹ Yes, he really said that–affirming the role law enforcement has played in upholding white supremacy since the era of slave patrols.

This bold and overt racism should not be ignored or dismissed–because Sessions has the power of the entire federal law enforcement body to back up his remarks. In the past year that he’s been appointed as Attorney General, Sessions has completely destroyed all progress made through the Justice Department. However, he is only able to hold such power because he has a law license. Sessions would not have his job if the Alabama State Bar revoked his license to practice.

That’s why over 60,000 Color of Change members have signed the petition demanding the Alabama State Bar revoke Jeff Sessions’ right to practice law. Carmen, your name is missing. Will you sign today?

Until justice is real,

Clarise and the rest of the Color of Change team

P.S. Check out the original email we sent:

References

1. “Sessions invokes ‘Anglo-American heritage’ of sheriff’s office,” CNN News, 02-12-2018 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/19627?t=6&akid=9132%2E1174326%2E_RT4AH

Jeff Sessions is not fit to be Attorney General, and with his racist ideology, he has no place to in the country to serve justice.

Alabama State Bar must take away Jeff Sessions’ license to practice law.

TAKE ACTION!

Jeff Sessions is a liar, a racist, and a white supremacist. Last week, Sessions testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and one thing is clear — enough is enough. Sessions’ entire political career has been to undo major progress hard fought and won from decades-long work by Black people and communities of color. And he continues to spread so many untruths just to maintain power that keeps him in close proximity to the ugliest and most dangerous White House administration. Sessions does not represent and never will represent any symbol of fairness and justice.

Jeff Sessions holds a prominent law license from the state of Alabama that gives him the power to be Attorney General. He should not be the Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice and he has no place in this country to practice law.It is long overdue to finally shut down his power and access as well as stop the harm that he continues to inflict. And the way we’re going to do it is by getting him disbarred from the Alabama State Bar. Bar associations are responsible for issuing licenses for lawyers to practice but just as importantly ensuring that the integrity of how lawyers use their role is upheld.

The Alabama State Bar should not allow Jeff Sessions to keep a license to practice law. He is dishonest and corrupt. It’s time to disbar him today.

Jeff Sessions has spearheaded Trump’s entire Law and Order agenda. As Attorney General, Sessions has built a false, racist narrative that crime has exponentially increased across the U.S. Right after being sworn in as Attorney General, Sessions said national crime rates were the highest they’d ever been–but it was a lie. According to FBI data, the national rate was decreasing.¹ Sessions is following the eerie and distorted words of Trump who said, “In many of our biggest cities, 2016 brought an increase in the number of homicides, rapes, assaults, and shootings.”² This in and of itself is a violation of the Alabama Bar Code of Ethics — Sessions is actively engaging in dishonesty as a chief law enforcer. This ignites fears and sets up a big platform for ruthless policies that directly impact Black people and many other marginalized groups.

This white supremacist narrative of Black people and immigrants as violent and dangerous has led to extreme changes and further violates another ethics code of being prejudice and bias. Sessions was determined to bring back the war on Black people by restarting the “War on Drugs.” This includes pushing prosecutors to issue the most severe punishment against people who commit drug offenses, giving local police departments more power to arrest and surveil with access to militarized equipment. He’s against any form of police accountability and has eliminated consent decrees. Sessions even went after Sanctuary cities by threatening to withhold federal funding for refusing to comply with harsh immigration laws. And Jeff Sessions reversed the ban on federal private prisons. Sessions said, “the ban on private prisons hurt the prison system’s ability to meet the future needs for housing.”³ This, of course, is all code for locking up more people for profit. This list goes on and on, and it will continue as long as Sessions has the power to keep his license.

Jeff Sessions does not represent the people. His job is to only target and criminalize our people. Alabama State Bar must take away his license now.

We already know who Jeff Sessions is. It is not just lies — but he is unapologetic in wanting to dismantle democracy and destroy the rights of all our communities. Plain and simple he is a White man with a lot of privilege and power he doesn’t deserve. He is incapable of upholding the integrity of his position in the U.S. Department of Justice. Jeff Sessions has abused his power long enough.

Sign the petition.

Until justice is real,

Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Anay, Clarise, Enchanta, Malaya, Kristen, Katrese, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References:

1. “The ACLU says Trump’s executive order on crime aims to “stop national trends that don’t exist”,” Quartz, 02-09-2017 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/9697?t=13&akid=9132%2E1174326%2E_RT4AH

2. “Sessions calls rise in crime a ‘dangerous permanent trend,’ but FBI data shows rate consistently falling,” Yahoo News, 02-09-2017 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/9698?t=15&akid=9132%2E1174326%2E_RT4AH

3. “Justice Department Keeps For-Profit Prisons, Scrapping an Obama Plan,” New York Times, 02-23-2016 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/7973?t=17&akid=9132%2E1174326%2E_RT4AH

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Separate but Equal ?

02/15/2018 Nativegrl77

” O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath ~
America will be! “

From: Let America Be America Again

by Langston Hughes

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Separate Is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education marked a turning point in the history of race relations in the United States. On May 17, 1954, the Court stripped away constitutional sanctions for segregation by race, and made equal opportunity in education the law of the land.

Brown v. Board of Education reached the Supreme Court through the fearless efforts of lawyers, community activists, parents, and students. Their struggle to fulfill the American dream set in motion sweeping changes in American society, and redefined the nation’s ideals.

The end of the Civil War had promised racial equality, but by 1900 new laws and old customs created a segregated society that condemned Americans of color to second-class citizenship.

As African Americans and other minority groups began the struggle for civil rights, they strengthened their own schools and fought against segregated education.

Beginning in the 1930s, African American lawyers from Howard University law school and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People campaigned to dismantle constitutionally-sanctioned segregation.

In the early 1950s, African Americans from five different communities across the country bravely turned to the courts to demand better educational opportunities for their children.

In 1954, under the leadership of Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Supreme Court produced a unanimous decision to overturn Plessy vs. Ferguson and changed the course of American history.

Today, thanks in part to the victorious struggle in the Brown case, most Americans believe that a racially integrated, ethnically diverse society and educational system is a worthy goal, though they may disagree deeply about how to achieve it.

From: http://americanhistory.si.edu