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ICE agents beat 17-year-ol​ds …Gabriela Garcia, Change.org


Change.org
                          Stop the deportation of Julio and Adolfo, cousins who were beaten at age 17 by immigration agents, before Sunday.                       
      Sign Romy’s Petition

C –

Julio Diaz Sales and Adolfo Garcia Diaz were 17 years old when immigration agents busted down the door of their Miami-area home. Julio and Adolfo say they were handcuffed, thrown on the floor, and beaten in the face and chest.

Only it was all a mistake — Julio and Adolfo had not committed any crimes. Immigration agents later admitted they broke into the wrong house as part of a sting operation.

Despite all this, immigration officials are set to deport Julio and Adolfo out of the U.S. on Sunday. Their attorney, Romy Lerner, knows that Change.org members have helped stop dozens of other last-minute deportations, and she thinks the only chance the boys have is to rally public support.

Romy started a petition on Change.org asking ICE Director John Morton to intervene and let Julio and Adolfo stay in the U.S.

Click here to sign Romy’s petition before Julio and Adolfo are deported on Sunday.

Their injuries were so bad that the immigration center’s director immediately started an investigation into what happened. But Romy says immigration agents apparently showed little concern for the boys’ injuries.

“No agent was hurt,” wrote one immigration agent in an email obtained by Univision. “I’m not sure what happened with the bad guys, but who cares what happened to them anyways?”

The “bad guys” were Julio and Adolfo — two 17-year-old boys mistakenly caught up in a botched raid.

Julio and Adolfo came to the U.S. from Guatemala as children. While they entered the country without documentation, they’ve worked hard in America and don’t have any criminal record.

Despite ICE’s initial mistake in targeting the boys, their subsequent beatings, and their otherwise clean backgrounds, Julio and Adolfo have until only Sunday before they’re deported back to Guatemala.

Romy Lerner, the boys’ attorney, has represented many people facing deportation. When she sees what Julio and Adolfo have been through, she fears that the immigration system will continue to fail her clients. She’s hoping to rally support for the cousins in their final days before they’ll be forced to leave the U.S.

Click here to sign Romy’s petition to stop Julio and Adolfo’s deportation scheduled for Sunday.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Gabriela and the Change.org team
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Kendra Obom, a young worker, asks Candidate Rob Mckenna about his stance on the Reproductive Parity Act … he says, “Get a Job”


“Why don’t you go get a job?”

That’s what Republican Rob McKenna said to Kendra Obom when she asked him for his position on the Reproductive Parity Act. Not only was McKenna’s reaction callous and insulting, his stereotype was wrong.

Kendra Obom works with youth at the YMCA.

Right now, more than 288,000 Washingtonians are unemployed. They are construction workers, educators, and manufacturers. They are friends, family, and neighbors. They are women and men.

Our new video, “288,000” asks the question McKenna created with his response: if McKenna will ignore people he thinks are unemployed, will he answer questions from those who have jobs?

Watch “288,000,” then send in your questions for Rob McKenna.

With more than 288,000 Washingtonians out of work, we are looking to our elected official and candidates to present a real plan to create jobs in Washington. McKenna’s response won’t put anyone back to work.

Thankfully, Jay Inslee has a plan to build a working Washington – through innovation and clean energy – that will help rebuild the middle class. We need our next governor to listen to the unemployed, and focus on their priorities, if they are going to have a chance to “go get a job.”

When given the opportunity to show remorse for his treatment of Kendra Obom, McKenna doubled down on his attack, calling her “demeaning.” The only person who was demeaning was Rob McKenna; his comments were demeaning to women and the unemployed workers of Washington.

Help keep Rob McKenna honest by sending in your questions and telling him to stand up for middle class families:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/askrob

Sincerely,

Benton Strong
Communications Director
Washington State Democrats

~ Recent Post

Congress: the Republican led House – both Chambers Back on 5/14 – the Senate will consider HR2072,the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act


the Senate will Convene at 2:00pmET May 14, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • It is the Majority Leader’s intention to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act on Monday. As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072 during Friday’s session.
  • At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:
  • Confirmation of the Russell nomination
  • Confirmation of the Tharp nomination and
  • Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

—————-

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 11, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

. -The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 15, 2012.11:03:23 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.11:03:01 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.11:01:34 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.11:01:22 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.11:00:59 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day

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President Obama Speaks


May  8, 2012 by    

President Obama delivers remarks at the 18th Annual Gala of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. May 8, 2012.

Apr 20, 2012 by    

The President is deeply committed to seeing Sudan and South Sudan become two economically prosperous states living side-by-side in peace.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture, ~ Recent Post

House Votes Thursday on Deep Cuts to Health Care, Food Stamps, Child Care and More


National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
Take Action: Tell Your Representative to Vote NO
                Protect millions of women and families from the harsh spending cuts the House is voting on this week.
Take Action

They just never stop.
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the budget blueprint introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The Ryan budget calls for drastic cuts in programs that low-income women and their families depend on to meet their basic needs — and trillions of dollars in additional tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and corporations.
This week, the House will vote on a bill to implement the Ryan budget by slashing Medicaid, Food Stamps (SNAP), child care, and more, and dismantling the Affordable Care Act.
Please contact your Representative TODAY and tell him or her to vote against these devastating cuts!
The bill the House is scheduled to vote on this Thursday, H.R. 4966, would:

  • Let states reduce eligibility standards for Medicaid, which women disproportionately rely on for health care coverage, and for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
  • Dismantle the Affordable Care Act, by eliminating funding for state health exchanges and community-level preventive and public health initiatives, and by reducing access to affordable health insurance coverage by discouraging the use of premium tax credits.
  • Terminate the Social Services Block Grant, which gives billions of dollars to states to support seniors and children, including critical funding for child care assistance.
  • Cut Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits, reducing monthly benefits almost immediately for about 44 million people and denying benefits altogether for as many as 2 million more.
  • Eliminate eligibility for the refundable Child Tax Credit for many immigrant families.

These cuts are serious, and they’re dangerous. The well-being of millions of American women and their families is at risk, and we need your help today.
Tell your Representative to vote against these unfair and irresponsible measures!
Our Representatives have to hear that we won’t stand for balancing the budget on the backs of women and their families — and that millionaires and corporations have to start paying their fair share of taxes.
Sincerely,
Joan Entmacher Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center    Judy Waxman Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National Women’s Law Center   

P.S. Your generous donation allows us to continue to do our work on behalf of women and their families. Please support our work on the budget and other critical issues today.

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