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Cristian Fernandez is only 12 years old. And if Florida prosecutor Angela Corey has her way, he’ll never leave jail again. Cristian hasn’t had an easy life. He’s the same age now as his mother was when he was born. He’s a survivor of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. In 2010, Cristian watched his stepfather commit suicide to avoid being charged with abusing Cristian. Last January, Cristian was wrestling with his 2-year-old brother, David, and accidentally broke David’s leg. Despite this, their mother left Cristian with his brother again in March. While the two boys were alone, Cristian allegedly pushed his brother against a bookcase, and David sustained a head injury. After their mother returned home, she waited six hours before taking David to the hospital. David eventually died. Now Cristian is being charged with first degree murder — as an adult. He’s the youngest person in the history of his Florida county to receive this charge, and his next hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. Melissa Higgins works with kids who get caught up in the criminal justice system in her home state of New Hampshire. When she read about Cristian’s case, she was appalled — so she started a petition on Change.org asking Florida State’s Attorney Angela Corey to try Cristian as a child. Please sign Melissa’s petition immediately before Cristian’s hearing tomorrow. As part of his prosecution, Cristian has been examined by two different forensic psychiatrists — each of whom concluded that he was “emotionally underdeveloped but essentially reformable despite a tough life.” Cristian has already been through more than most of us can imagine — and now the rest of his life is in the hands of a Florida prosecutor who wants to make sure Cristian never leaves jail. The purpose of the juvenile justice system is to reform kids who haven’t gotten a fair shake. If Cristian is sent to adult prison, it will be more than a tragedy for him — it will also be a signal to other prosecutors that kids’ lives are acceptable collateral in the quest to be seen as “tough on crime.” Cristian’s next hearing is in just 24 hours. State’s Attorney Angela Corey needs to know that her actions are being watched — please sign the petition asking her not to try Cristian as an adult: http://www.change.org/petitions/reverse-decision-to-try-12-yo-cristian-fernandez-as-an-adult Thanks for being a change-maker, – Michael and the Change.org team |
Tag Archives: Florida
“Democrats intentionally steal elections.” says, Maine’s State GOP Chairman Charlie Webster
You need to know this: Republican governors and state legislatures are working to pass laws to suppress voter turnout in 2012. Texas, Wisconsin and Florida have already passed legislation including restricting early voting. Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maine might be next.
These are all crucial swing states in 2012. If Republicans can prevent Democratic voters from exercising their right, we could lose the White House. And we could lose the Senate. It’s that simple.
Republicans can’t win on the merits – look how unpopular their plan to kill Medicare is. But they might very well capture the Senate if they keep Democrats from voting. I need your help to fight back now. We need 100,000 people to stand with us and draw attention to the undemocratic actions of these Republican state legislators and governors. Will you add your name?
After you’ve signed, be sure to forward this email to friends. All Democrats need to join together and draw attention to these disgusting Republican tactics. We won’t stand quietly by while they try every trick in the book to steal an election. It’s undemocratic, and it must end.
Sincerely,
Guy Cecil
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Florida Governor Signs Welfare Drug Screening into Law
By Amanda Geronikos
Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:11:56 GMT
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed new legislation requiring welfare applicants to take drug-screening tests.
The new law, which goes into effect July 1, will require the Florida Department of Children and Family Services to perform drug tests on adults applying to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Welfare recipients will be responsible for the cost of the screening, but will regain the money in their assistance if they qualify. Those who fail the drug test may deligate another person to receive the benefits on behalf of their children.
Some Democrats are furious over the new legislation. CNN reports that one Democrat even deemed the bill “downright unconstitutional.” “‘Indeed, investigating people when there is probable cause to suspect they are abusing drugs is one thing,’ Rep. Corinne Brown said in a joint statement,” as mentioned by CNN. “‘But these tests amount to strip searching our state’s most vulnerable residents merely because they rely on the government for financial support during these difficult economic times.'”
Can a simple drug test truly be considered “strip searching” though? Employers perform drug tests on their most loyal employees all the time.
Gov. Rick Scott says it’s “’unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,’” as noted by CNN. “’It’s the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don’t want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs.’”
Do you think welfare applicants should be required to take drug tests? Sound off here.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of XFINITY.
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Falsely accused …change.org
In the next few weeks, the Walmart Corporation will help decide if three activists live or die.
See, Walmart relies on cheap subcontractors across the developing world, many of which force workers to toil in unimaginable conditions.
Three Bangladeshis, Kalpona Akter (pictured at right), Babul Akhter, and Aminul Islam, had been fighting to help the workers at some suppliers in their country.
Rather than treat workers fairly, these suppliers have filed false criminal charges against the trio.
The accusations are demonstrably false. For example, the supplier claims that Kalpona and Babul destroyed property on a day when multiple witnesses saw them at a meeting 35 kilometers away.
But so far, that hasn’t mattered. Kalpona, Babul, and Aminul were imprisoned and tortured for their activism. They now await a sham of a trial that could begin as soon as June 1st. If it doesn’t go well, they could be sentenced to death — and once the trial begins, the process is almost impossible to reverse.
If Walmart demands that the suppliers drop the charges, the activists will likely go free. But there are only two weeks until the window for intervention closes.
Let’s create a huge uproar that shows Walmart executives that customers around the globe are watching their decision. Please sign the petition calling on them to demand that false charges be dropped immediately:
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-walmart-intervene-before-labor-activists-are-sentenced-to-death
Thanks for taking action,
– Patrick and the Change.org team
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Congress: back in Session (2pmET) -the Republican led House -the Senate
The Senate Convenes at 2pmET May 2, 2011
Following any leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business for debate only until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following:
– Calendar #74 Roy Bale Dalton, of Florida, to be US District Judge for the Middle District of Florida and
– Calendar #76 Kevin Hunter Sharp, of Tennessee, to be US District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee.
There will be one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.
Upon the use or yielding back of time, at approximately 5:30pm, Calendar #74 will be confirmed by unanimous consent and the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of Calendar #76.
Senator Reid filed cloture on S.493, the Small Business Jobs bill, and on the nomination of John McConnell, of Rhode Island, to be United States District Judge for the District of Rhode Island.
Votes:
62: Confirmation of Calendar #76, Kevin Hunter Sharp, of Tennessee, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee;
Confirmed: 89-0.
Unanimous Consent:
Confirmed Calendar #74, Roy Bale Dalton, of Florida, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 2, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION
7:42 P.M. – The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 3, 2011.
On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
Mr. Burton (IN) moved that the House do now adjourn.
7:28 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed with Special Order Speeches.
7:27 P.M. – Mr. Reed filed reports from the Committee on Rules, H. Res. 236 and H. Res. 237.
6:54 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
H.R. 1423: to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 115 4th Avenue Southwest in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the “Specialist Micheal E. Phillips Post Office”
6:52 P.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 – 0 (Roll no. 278).
6:28 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.
6:27 P.M. – UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
H.R. 362: to redesignate the Federal building and United States Courthouse located at 200 East Wall Street in Midland, Texas, as the “George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush United States Courthouse and George Mahon Federal Building”
6:26 P.M. – Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
6:15 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 362.
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Mr. Hultgren moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
H.R. 1423: to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 115 4th Avenue Southwest in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the “Specialist Micheal E. Phillips Post Office”
6:14 P.M. – At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
6:02 P.M. – DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1423.
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Mr. Lankford moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
6:01 P.M. – The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. today.
6:00 P.M. – The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 2.
2:13 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
2:03 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:02 P.M. – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mrs. Miller of MI to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:00 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Andrew Walton, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
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