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Racial Justice
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Victory!Minneapolis District AttorneyRAISE THE DEGREEDerek M Chauvin is a Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd on Memorial day. May 25, 2020. The chokehold he used isn't even LEGAL in MMA, because it can kill someone in MINUTES. He has done this so many times against Latinos, Native Americans, and Black people. In 2008 he shot an unarmed Black man, he was one of the officers that helped MURDER Wayne Reyes, a Latino man, with SIXTEEN bullets. He is guilty. People of color will not be silenced by this system any longer.
ALLIE M2,999,6475/29/20
Victory!Federal Bureau of Investigation, President of the United States, Keith Ellison, The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Mayor Jacob FreyJustice for George FloydGeorge Floyd was murdered on Monday, May 25th, by a police officer putting his knee on his neck for almost 9 minutes. After he said I can't breathe. After bystanders begged him to stop. After he went limp. After he checked his pulse. The knee stayed. This is an extremely disturbing video but it is a constant reality for Black people existing in this country. If you have not seen the video, I would caution you with a trigger warning. The officers involved have been fired and the FBI has been called for an independent investigation. We must do our part to ensure that George Floyd receives the justice he deserves. Please sign this petition addressed to the FBI, The President, The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Mayor Jacob Frey, & Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (formerly: DA Mike Freeman). An email on your behalf will be sent to all of the above. We ask for the quick arrest, and indictment of the officers involved. Derek Chauvin: 2nd Degree Murder update 5/29: Chauvin has been brought into custody & charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas K. Lane: Accessory to 2nd Degree Murder The lawyer representing Floyd’s family is civil rights attorney Ben Crump. His account is a great resource. Update: The Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison has taken over the prosections in George Floyd's case. Please call (651) 296-3353 or (800) 657-3787 and tell him to arrest and charge these former officers for the Murder of George Floyd. Please scroll down to posted updates for ways you can spread the word, numbers you can call, and updates on the investigation. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" - MLK
Erica Fagundes1,609,7535/26/20
Victory!Mayor Jacob FreyJUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYDON THE EVENING OF MAY 25TH, 2020, GEORGE FLOYD WAS SLOWLY AND MERCILESSLY KILLED BY 4 MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS WHILE BEING VIDEO TAPED BY CONCERNED CITIZENS BEGGING THEM TO STOP. FLOYD WAS SURROUNDED. HE WAS PLEADING WITH THEM, AS DEREK CHAUVIN’S KNEE PINNED DOWN HIS THROAT. FLOYD SAID, “I CAN’T BREATHE, I CAN’T BREATHE.” HE THEN BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, BUT WAS CONTINUALLY CHOKED UNTIL HIS NOSE BEGAN TO BLEED, AND HIS LIFELESS BODY WAS SHOVED ONTO A STRETCHER, AND INTO THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE. This is an open to demand to Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey, Hennepin County Attorney Michael O. Freeman, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions to ARREST, and INDICT the involved officer’s involved as follows: Derek Chauvin: 2nd Degree Murder Tou Thao, and the other two unidentified officers: Accessory to 2nd Degree Murder The enraged and sickened citizens of this state applaud the Minneapolis Police Department’s swift termination of these officers, but this is so far from enough to be consider justice. The police force are supposed to be people our communities trust to protect us, but as of now, they seem little more than the future murderers of our black brothers and sisters. True justice would have been George Floyd never being killed in the first place. The only compromise we are willing to accept is treating his killers as the senseless criminals they are. We realize you are investigating this matter as we speak, but there is a reason this petition exists, even with that knowledge. We don’t trust you to bring this to justice without our explicit anger expressed to you in overwhelming numbers. We have seen this very injustice go unchecked over and over for years upon years. We believe that all of the evidence needed for indictment is in the video of the incident. No extenuating circumstances could detract from the relevance of that damning footage. We implore you. Show us we are wrong not to trust you. Hold these former officers accountable to the rule of law.
Andrew Bailey3,415,1925/26/20
Victory!Bloch CompanyDemand Bloch ballet start including women of colorDancers of color are often told to obtain brown pointe ballet shoes (the hard-toed lace-up shoes you probably associate with ballet), and not the traditional pink. But few manufacturers make brown pointe shoes - not only is there very little diversity in ballet itself, but what exacerbates the issue is that there is often zero diversity in shoe shades. If you don’t fit the one shade of shoe color, you automatically feel like you don’t belong. Bloch, one of the largest and most well known suppliers of ballet pointe shoes, needs to start producing pointe shoes that are made for more than those who have a white or tan skin tone. Ballet dancers of color are forced to buy hundreds of tubes of cheap foundation and spend hours caking it on their shoes. Virginia Johnson, the artistic director of the Dance Theater of Harlem, told The New York Times, “This isn’t about shoes, this is about who belongs in ballet and who doesn’t.” But now one of the largest distributors of ballet pointe shoes has announced that it will start producing shoes in bronze and brown to match the skin tones of a more diverse audience. Demand Bloch follow their lead and start making a diverse range of shades for their ballet pointe shoes - every person deserves to feel included in something they love.
Campaigns Lab169,02911/8/18
Victory!Don Kleine 402-444-7040, Pete Ricketts, Brenda BeadleLet The Grand Jury Decide Not Don KleineOn May 30, 2020 James Scurlock (22 years old) was shot by Jacob Gardner, while protesting for justice and equality in Omaha, Ne. This young man was killed by Jacob Gardner who owns The Hive & Gatsby's Bar. Today, only 3 days later, the Attorney General, Don Kleine, stated Jacob Gardner doesn't have a CCW, believes this was a "senseless crime" and reiterated that Nebraska law doesn't allow "use of deadly force to protect your property", however, no charges are being filed because "there was consensus among law enforcement that Gardner's actions were justified". The same officers that are being protested against. We, the citizens of Omaha, are demanding the Grand Jury have the opportunity to decide if charges will be filed, not Don Kleine or his office. https://www.facebook.com/john.knicely.3/videos/265347877914902/ https://www.wowt.com/content/news/Omaha-protests-Police-report-more-than-100-arrests-after-Sunday-night-curfew-570925571.htmlGrand Jury For James152,5576/1/20
Victory!Students, GradSGive this man his diplomaEver Lopez was wearing a Mexican flag during his graduation and didn’t receive his diploma. This is unacceptable, this man worked his butt off for HIS diploma.jackie _103,7376/3/21
Victory!The Oxford UnionShame on the Oxford Union, We Demand Justice!From the Oxford University Africa Society: Our attention has been drawn to an incident at the Oxford Union Society on the evening of 17th October 2019 involving Mr. Ebenezer Azamati, a visually impaired Ghanaian MPhil student in International Relations at St. John’s College and an active member of the Oxford University Africa Society (OUAS). Our attention was first drawn to this incident by an article in the Oxford Student, by Mr. Azamati himself, and by various pained accounts from witnesses. First, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent, unjust, inhumane, and shameful treatment of Mr. Azamati at the Union Chambers by a Union staff. No Oxford student / Union Member deserves to be treated in that manner, not least a visually impaired one. Mr. Azamati is deserving of his place as much as anyone else enrolled here. Our understanding is that Mr. Azamati, was forcibly and violently prevented from re-entering the Union Chambers, and subsequently, forced to leave the debate Chamber after simply exiting and re-entering when the program had not even begun. Even if he had re-entered when the debate had started, such poor treatment through violent means remains unjustifiable. Assuming that the rules for re-entry prevent anyone from stepping into the chamber at a stipulated time before sessions begin, it is only out of courtesy, out of consideration to a fellow Union member and beyond these, out of a needed awareness of the physical needs of Mr. Azamati, that he should have been treated far more courteously and with dignity. He should have actually been helped to resume his seat inside the Chamber. Should the debate have even begun already, the Union ought to have a well thought out procedure for a situation where a physically impaired individual may need to exit and resume their place within your chamber. What is more disturbing is that, after the terrible treatment meted out to Mr. Azamati, Brendan, the President of the Union who was absent at the scene of the incident personally lodged a complaint against Mr. Azamati for violent behaviour. This is a shocking response given that he was not, in fact, the perpetrator of violence but rather a victim. Mr Azamati was not allowed to bring his witnesses to the unfair hearing that concluded with suspending Mr. Azamati’s Union membership till May 2020. Our Demand are as follows: An unreserved public apology to Mr. Azamati by the Oxford Union and the President, Brendan McGrath; The recantation of Mr. Azamati’s ban and a reinstatement of his Oxford Union membership; Adequate punishment of the security personnel who assaulted Mr Azamati; Compensation agreed with Mr. Azamati; and The resignation of Brendan McGrath as President of the Oxford Union. Please sign the petition and show your support! Thank you. For more information, here are a few articles that provide some more context on the incident: https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2019/10/27/blind-man-dragged-from-union-debate-chamber-by-staff/ https://www.myjoyonline.com/world/2019/November-14th/oxford-union-president-must-resign-following-treatment-of-ghanaian-afrisoc.php Signed,Oxford University Africa SocietyYannetra Raldon65,18311/15/19
Victory!Federal Bureau of Investigation, Joe DetersJustice for ChristopherIf You Guys Would Like To Send Emails Criminal Division- Mark.Piepmeier@hcpros.org Criminal Division Assist.- Rick.Gibson@hcpros.org Investigators- McKinley.Brown@hcpros.org My brother Christopher Terrell was gunned down by 2 caucasians claiming to be contractors on December 11,2015. His assailants were never charged due to their connections with Cincinnati Police Department. Christopher was walking to his grandmothers house after leaving a friends house when the killing took place. The Cincinnati Police Department attempted to say it was a robbery on Christopher’s part although there wasn’t a gun found on the scene. Multiple witnesses came forward and said Christopher didn’t have a gun but were turned away. Some of the witnesses who were minors at the time were threatened to not to say anything or they could be charged with his murder. Christopher was a young , loving , outgoing individual. He was way before his time some people may say. When he died his community also died with him. Christopher had his flaws just like any other teenager, he may not have presented himself in the best light but he didn’t deserve to die the way he did. You may not approve of the way he carried himself or what he chose to display to the world but his life was taken simply out of hate. Even if I don’t get justice I want the world to know what happened to him. He left behind 1 brother and 5 sisters, 1 in which he never got to meet. All Black Lives Matter not just the ones that are being publicized Cincinnati Prosecutor’s Office (513) 352-5333 Lets also factor in after meeting with an officer regarding the case ,she stated it was definitely a murder but couldn't do anything about it. I’ve decided to keep the officer’s name hidden due to the fact that it would put her in harms way.Taylor J370,3556/4/20
Victory!Bill LeeJustice for Pervis Payne:Pervis Payne is facing execution December 3rd. Payne is 100% innocent. They haven't done a DNA test on the victim which would prove his innocence. Payne is a disabled man with an intellectual disability. He was 20 years old when he stumbled upon a murder scene in June of 1987. He was shocked and tried his best to help the victim but he was mistaken as the attacker. He described it as the worst thing he's ever seen in his life. He was later arrested in February and after prosecutors evoked racist stereotypes to paint Payne as a violent and hypersexual black man who attacked a white women while on drugs, he was put in jail. No evidence supports this theory, those who knew Payne described him as kind and respectful, he never had a criminal history and often helped out at the church. Because of his disability, Payne was not able to fully participate in his defense and was not a strong witness on his own behalf. At the time of his trial, Payne’s disability was not recognized, but doctors have since confirmed through testing that Payne has an intellectual disability. The State argued that the crime took place exclusively in the kitchen, where Payne found the victim. But that doesn’t explain why the victim’s bedding is extensively bloodstained. Payne lives with an intellectual disability, which means it is unconstitutional to execute him. Growing up Payne struggled in school and, despite his best efforts, was not able to graduate. His teachers say he put in a lot of effort, but had difficulty learning to read, spell, and do math. Payne’s family say he is not able to follow complicated instructions, including driving to new places. Growing up, he had trouble with chores like cooking and doing laundry, and needed help feeding himself until he was 5. The use of racial stereotypes used against Payne often leads to wrongful convictions and sentencing. The prosecution hid the fact that they never did a DNA test on a bloodstained bed sheet which would prove Payne's innocence. Payne would've had no reason to hurt someone let alone murder them. The victim’s ex-husband had a history of abusive behavior, including physically, mentally, and emotionally abusing the victim during their marriage. At the time, investigators excluded him as a suspect because he was serving a sentence for aggravated assault at Fort Pillow State Penitentiary, a minimum security prison, at the time of the murders. However, an employee of the prison has since admitted that it was common for minimum security inmates to leave the prison during the day without repercussions, meaning it would have been possible for him to visit the victim and potentially perpetrate the crime while serving his sentence.Additionally, a man was seen running from the crime scene shortly before Payne discovered Christopher in her apartment. Both Payne and another eyewitness also saw this man.Kaylee Marandino292,2607/24/20
Victory!Minneapolis Police DepatmentCharge Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng with MURDERNo need to explain, everyone has seen the video of George Floyd being MURDERED by Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng while Tou Thao stood by and let it happen! BEING FIRED IS NOT ENOUGH!!!! These four “men” need to be arrested and charged with MURDER!! We need to stand together and bring justice to not only Mr. Floyd... but his whole family, friends ,and more importantly his children.Sign and share this petition so Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are put where they belong!
Alexander Villareal38,4955/27/20
U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Joseph R. BidenAbolish Columbus Day and Make it Indigenous Peoples Day Nationwide.Dear United States Senate, United States House of Representatives and President Joseph R. Biden: As an Italian-American I have a deep respect and admiration for the many Indigenous cultures. Christopher Columbus does not represent me nor does he represent any Italian or Italian American. He does not represent what America stands for. Columbus was not a hero and making him one is a mockery to Italian Americans and much worse, a racist sting to Indigenous peoples. He was a man who forced death or Christianity on the Taino people of the Caribbean. Columbus treated the Taino people brutally, torturing them, and sending them into slavery including the sexual slavery of children. The Taino people never recovered from the Spaniards' brutality. To continue celebrating Christopher Columbus is to condone the mistreatment and genocide of Native peoples. Therefore, let us pursue a more virtuous United States where the original habitants of this beautiful land are respected and are allowed to finally begin to heal from the centuries of oppression, genocide, and racism by eliminating Columbus Day and renaming it Indigenous People's Day nationwide. Schools and children's books will no longer glorify Columbus. Libraries will toss out books that glorify Columbus so that false information doesn't continue to spread. School children will learn the truth, that Columbus only went to the Caribbean and that he enslaved the Indigenous people there. Indigenous Peoples Day will be a day to discuss the various Native American cultures through media and our school systems.
Megan DePerro3,8736/13/20
Save St John's Cemetery - No Buried Histories of White Supremacy!ATTENTION DENTON COUNTY RESIDENTS: Did you know that racism during the early 20th Century led to the ouster and erasure of an African American freed-persons community in Pilot Point? This community’s long forgotten and now hidden cemetery remains as the primary evidence of the St John's Community's existence but racism continues to bury its memory to this day. Initially a burial site for enslaved Africans who died on the “Old Bonner” plantation in Denton County, St John’s Cemetery was later used by freed persons after the civil war who established their community nearby. In 1918, however, white landowners executed a land deal with fraudulent boundaries that unlawfully incorporated the cemetery and church. Over the next two decades, burials in St Johns cemetery began to dwindle as the property was included in subsequent sales among white landowners which left the site “landlocked” and inaccessible to the African American community. By the time land boundaries were corrected in the 1960s, St John’s cemetery and the community associated with it had been largely forgotten. Although there is little documented history regarding the community’s sudden disappearance, scholars investigating the fraudulent land sales have noted the upward trend of white supremacist violence in the adjacent Pilot Point and Denton communities during the same time period which subsequently led to the forced removal of a Black Denton community known as Quakertown. Research into the St. John’s community remains ongoing but hindered by a lack of access to the cemetery. According to County Commissioners, they have spent more than $100,000 in tax payer funds on maintenance of the St John's Cemetery over the last decade (a claim still largely under scrutiny by local activists and researchers who have documented substantial neglect of the site and its unique history). Meanwhile, county commissioners and historical commission staff have refused to engage with emerging research outlining the county's historic role in facilitating the forced removal of the freedpersons who established St Johns. Additionally, they continue to hinder the efforts of activists and researchers working to expose this history. SIGN THIS PETITION (Denton County Residents only) to demand that county officials take real, meaningful action to honor the history and lives associated with the St Johns community. If tax payers are funding maintenance of St John's Cemetery, then we demand the county take possession of the long abandoned property thereby makin it public property which should be accessible to the living descendants of those buried therein, the researchers uncovering the truth about the community’s erasure, and the public at large so that we may all have oversight of its care and access to the history recorded within it. ************************************* Learn more about those buried (and find your ancestors) in St John's Cemetery here.WANT TO HELP?- Sign (Denton County Residents Only) and Share this petition!- Attend Commissioners Court on Tuesday’s at 9 am. - Share Info w/ Others.- Participate in clean up events!- Join weekly demonstrations on the historic Denton Square (Sundays at 4pm.)
Jessica Luther Rummel576/7/24
Redesignate Arlington House as a National Historic SiteIn 2021, descendants of enslaved and free ancestors who lived, worked and died at Arlington House plantation came together for the first time since 1861. We raise our voices in unity calling for the National Park Service site known today as Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial to be redesignated as Arlington House National Historic Site. Our goal is add to the interpretation of Arlington house by giving equal attention to all who lived there. Congress named the site, only Congress has the authority to redesignate the site. The Washington Post published an OpEd by descendants of the Lee and Syphax families in the fall of 2022. So why redesignate the site? In a 2022 press release, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said "If we are serious about ending racial disparities, we need to stop honoring those who fought to protect slavery." The Lee story is only one of many stories that should be interpreted at the site. The Custis-Lee family members were enslavers who owned dozens of enslaved people. The enslaved at Arlington House served their enslavers, managed the day-to-day operations, and cared for the property both before and after it was seized by the U.S. Army to protect the Nation’s capital when the Civil War began in 1861. How can you help? 1) Please sign this petition. 2) Share the petition with others. Raise your voice alongside ours calling for the site redesignation. 3) Send a note to your elected officials in Congress. Seek their support and co-sponsorship of the legislation. Visit the our online interactive petition mapper at https://tinyurl.com/ARHOredes to connect with your elected member of Congress and see the distribution of petition signers. Help us raise awareness of our elected officials nationwide who can engage in a long over-due reexamination of this iconic public symbol by recognizing the importance of sharing the entire narrative of everyone who is part of the history at the site. BackgroundArlington House is located in northern Virginia on a hill overlooking the nation's capital. The plantation house was constructed by George Washington Parke Custis on an 1,100-acre plantation between 1802-1818 to honor the first President of the United States, George Washington, who also was Custis' step grandfather. The construction was done by some of the more that 3-dozen enslaved people inherited by Custis who were part Martha Washington's dowery. They were taken from Mount Vernon to establish what was first known as Mount Washington and later was named Arlington House. In 1831, Custis' daughter, Mary, married Robert E. Lee. It was in the plantation house in April 1861 where Lee resigned his commission in the U.S. Army. Despite efforts to delay his responsibility as Executor of his father-in-law’s will, Lee, was required by the court to manumit the people who were enslaved by the Custis family. He signed the manumission document on December 29, 1862, just a few days before the Emancipation Proclamation was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln. In 1972, the U.S. Congress passed legislation renaming the National Park Service site, located within the Arlington National Cemetery, as a memorial to Lee.Stephen Hammond4,4327/23/22
Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell, Michelle WuSemi-comatose on the ground w/nothing in his hands, police fired 30+ times at point-blankSemi-comatose on the ground with nothing in his hands, police fired 31 bullets at point-blank, killing Juston Root. He posed NO conceivable THREAT. To date ZERO #transparency and ZERO #accountability. No body camera footage of the killing. CAN WE COUNT ON YOU to sign our petition? Help us make a difference by calling on Mr. Joshua Levy Acting U.S. Attorney for the district of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell to appoint an independent investigation into Juston's death! Click here to sign our petition. Semi-comatose on the ground with nothing in his hands, police fired 31 bullets at point-blank, killing Juston Root. He posed NO conceivable THREAT. To date ZERO #transparency and ZERO #accountability. No body camera footage of the killing. CAN WE COUNT ON YOU to sign our petition? Together, we can show our elected officials that an independent investigation is imperative! On Feb. 7th, 2020, Juston was just outside the mental health center where he received treatment for 8+ years, located in Boston at the campus of Brigham & Women's Hospital. He had an oversized clear plastic paintball marker in his waist. One of the hospital's security guards had a conversation with Juston and concluded that something was "seriously off' with him. They shook hands and Juston walked away. The Boston Police were called with a report of a person with a gun. When officers arrived, one of them used deadly force immediately, injuring Juston. He limped to his car, one of his legs was bleeding badly, he got in his car and drove away slowly. The Boston Police ensued a car chase, and minutes later Juston's car crashed. He staggered out (leaving close to 2000cc approx. of blood on his car seat), dropped to the ground nearby, covered in blood. A trained EMT passerby rushed over to give him aid, she described his condition as “lights off, no one home”. Moments later, the Police arrived, yelling at her to get away from him (Juston). Seconds after she ran one officer kicked Juston, and then the six officers shot 31 bullets from point blank range, killing him instantly. He posed no conceivable threat to the officers or the public. He was unarmed and had nothing in his hands. The Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey exonerated these officers in just 30 days. Critical evidence and important witness statements were left out of the DA's final report, including the former EMT who was there right before Juston was shot to death. The police have not released any footage of the actual shooting. The report says only one officer had a body camera on and filming, but their arm obstructed the lens just before the officers fired. The report is wholly inadequate and far from transparent. The only way to the truth is through an impartial independent investigation. Thank you for your support! http://www.JustonRoot.com Twitter: @JustonRoot
The Root Family22,2919/6/20
Ed Ross, Tammy Bergstorm, Peter Meijer, Gretchen WhitmerJustice for Thurman KingROCKFORD, Mich. — A little over two years ago, Thurman King was on his way home from work when a cop started to follow him. Within a matter of minutes, King would be thrown to the ground by police, handcuffed and eventually taken to jail on charges that a prosecuting attorney would dismiss "in the interest of justice," months later. "All it takes is a falsified police report and you find yourself in essence fighting for your life," King, 55, said. "It affects you financially, emotionally... it shouldn't happen to anybody." King,, was arrested in the driveway of his home in Rockford, a predominately white suburb. Officer Zachary Abbate said he was pulling King over for his license plate light being out and for running a stop sign, but Abbate's dash camera video showed King stop. Attorney Stephen Drew said incidents like this "generally don't happen in a vacuum." Drew filed a federal lawsuit on King's behalf last month against the city, its police department and the two officers who arrested him. "It's very troubling that an officer is willing to put in writing in a police report something that by video evidence is absolutely false," Drew said. "That can be due to a culture, and if it is due to the culture of the Rockford Police Department, then we would expect some accountability, but we'll just have to see."Rockford officers falsely arrested and unlawfully jailed King stemming from an unlawful traffic stop. The city and police department are named for their allowance of "improper stops and stops based on racial profiling," among other things. The city declined an interview The traffic stop It was nearly 11 p.m. on March 20, 2019, as King made the drive home from work. Abbate, who is white, followed him for several blocks, which can be seen in his dash camera video. "As I approached my home, he activated his lights. So, I immediately became concerned because I knew I hadn't done anything wrong," King said. King pulled into his driveway, fearful of the officers intent. "I wanted to get somewhere safe," he said. King said one of the first things Abbate said was that he knew who King was. When Abbate said he was pulling King over for not stopping at the stop sign, King said he became more fearful. "I know I hadn't run the stop sign, and so I'm extra scared now. So, I started calling for my fiancée, in the house, you know, yelling for her," King recalls. "Within seconds, I'm on the ground." Video shows Abbate force King to the ground. A second officer, Jason Bradley, cannot be seen on camera, but according to the lawsuit, both officers detained King. At several points King tells the officers "I can't breathe," to which one replies, "if you're talking, you're breathing, pal." King was unable to speak to his fiancé before he was taken to jail, where he'd spend the next 14 hours. According to the lawsuit, King had multiple injuries from the officers, including to his head and He faced three charges, including a felony for resisting and obstructing an officer. "They built up some charges to justify the lie that [Abbate] told to stop him in the first place," Drew said. "That needs to be addressed." 'Constant reminders' Several months later, a Kent County prosecuting attorney dismissed all the charges against King after reviewing the evidence. "After he had been put in jail for 14 hours. After he had to hire an attorney. After he had to go through all of that and the embarrassment, the mug shots," Drew said. King says what he went through that night continues to impact him. The arrest in some ways took away his dignity, he said. "It has taken its toll on me, but by the grace of God, I'm still standing," King said. King says hearing about the deaths of George Floyd and Daunte Wright at the hands of Minnesota police officers, instantly causes him to relive his arrest. He changed his work hours to avoid driving home at night. The Leadership in Rockford Michigan has made it clear from the statements made to MLive that it supports the actions of 2 officers that violently and unlawfully arrested a innocent man on his way home from work. Not only did the officers arrest Mr. King illegally, they then falsified police reports committing a felonious act. Fortunately the police officers dash camera recorded this unlawful and violent attack against Mr. King and the prosecutor dismissed all charges against Mr. king (for the sake of justice)Dash camera showed the officers had fabricated the reason for the stop and lied on the official police report. A law suit has been filed with western district court on Mr.Kings behalf. We can not allow our community to be terrorized by our elected leaders and the police that are that are supposed to protect us. The recent public comments made by City leaders defending the 2 officers horrible actions are unacceptable by anyone’s standards. We would like to call on City Council members Edward Ross, Tammy Bergstrom, Terry Konkle, Cheryl Scales and Dale Dalman to do what they were elected to do. It’s time for change. It’s time for justice. The leadership and Police in Rockford Michigan Have terrorized our community long enough. We demand our leaders and police be held accountable .We ask that Chief of Police David Robinson and City Manager Thad Beard be terminated and new leadership found Immediately. We Demand Criminal charges be brought against the two officers involved in the King incident. We also ask that the state attorney conducts a full investigation into the Rockford Department Of Public Safety. https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/civil-rights-lawsuit-exposes-rockford-dps-traffic-stop-quota/amp/ https://www.wzzm13.com/amp/article/news/rockford-police-sued-for-unlawfully-arresting-jailing-resident-after-traffic-stop/69-e215d4eb-1689-427b-b4ad-98bad06659bf
Brad De Young1,9595/17/21
NC Senator Jeff Jackson, North Carolina State House, NBC, ABC, United States Supreme Court, Michelle Obama, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alma Adams, Richard Burr, Human Rights Campaign, Departm...Stop hit and run drivers who kill Innocent people from receiving bond in North Carolina.My daughter was involved in an hit and run accident On February 17, 2020 that caused her to lose her life at the scene. A witness was able to identify the suspects and they were arrested several hours later. Mr. Himes and Ms. Kerr were able to post bond 10 hours later and given no conditions on their bond. As of February 18, 2020, the suspects have been out on bond with only a 30 day suspension on Mr. Himes drivers license. Man charged with involuntary manslaughter, DWI after teen killed in northwest Charlotte crash Accident report shows that Mr. Himes was traveling approximately 76 mph in a 35 mph zone while Ms. Wilson was traveling approximately 16 mph making a left hand turn. Mr. Himes and Ms. Kerr were indicted on charges of manslaughter several days later after posting bail of just 10,000 dollars. Currently, they are free in the community to cause harm to more individuals with their reckless behavior. The mother of Maniche Wilson, the 17 year old that was killed in the accident is devoted to change the law in North Carolina concerning drunk drivers who cause fatalities and to deny bond in front of a magistrate judge to keep the offenders in jail.LaChelle Walker245,4445/27/20
Andrew M. CuomoFree Greg Mingo: Help bring an innocent man homeUPDATE 9/3/2021: My uncle's sentence was commuted by Gov. Cuomo on his last day in office! Greg comes home September 16th! Please consider contributing to help ease his return after 40 years in prison. My family and I are so grateful for all your support. ---- My uncle, Greg Mingo, has been in prison my whole life for crimes he didn’t commit. In 1981, he was wrongfully accused and charged, along with two others, in a robbery and double murder that took place in Queens one year earlier. Despite initially being offered a plea deal, Greg maintained his innocence the entire time. He has now been in prison for 40 years. My life has been shaped by my uncle’s incarceration. Uncle Greg missed my birth, but when I was four, my parents moved to Westchester, NY so we could be closer to where he was imprisoned. I’ve felt his absence in every milestone of my life since then. He missed my graduations from high school and Harvard. He could not be there on my wedding day. And for what? There was no physical evidence in the case against Greg, and his court-appointed defense lawyer failed to present an alibi witness who had agreed to testify on his behalf. Only a Black man in New York in the 1980s could have been convicted on such thin allegations and sent away for so long. The average time served in state prison for a murder conviction is 15 years. Greg’s sentence of 50 years to life is staggering; what some refer to as “death by incarceration.” Uncle Greg grew up in a system rife with injustice. Just five months after sentencing Greg, Queens Supreme Court Justice Thomas Agresta used the N-word in open court in reference to a Black defendant. His gross, public ethical violation was so egregious that Justice Agresta was censured a year later, and has since been used as an example in legal scholarship on judicial misconduct and community harm. Greg is an inspiration to me and countless people who have crossed paths with him. In the past 40 years, he has taken every opportunity to improve himself and help others. He has served as a peer counselor, legal research instructor, and led numerous workshops on aggression replacement training and domestic violence prevention. He’s also completed college-level courses that transformed his world view and fueled his aspirations for the future. Every day I worry for my uncle. Uncle Greg isn’t eligible for parole for another 11 years. His innocence is known by his family, his supporters and his legal team. It will be proven in a court of law one day. But until that day comes, nothing is more important than this: Greg Mingo needs to come home. Inspired by my uncle’s story, CUNY law students are assisting Greg with filing a clemency application, calling on Governor Cuomo to show compassion for Greg and release him from prison. How You Can Help Greg Mingo’s family and supporters have set up this petition to gather signatures to advocate for his clemency. Please add your name (and address if you live in New York) to call for his release. For more info on how to get involved, please email info@freegregmingo.com or go to freegregmingo.com. * Please note: Including your address with your name—especially authentic New York State addresses—is a HUGE help. Because hearing from his own state residents will carry even more weight for Gov. Cuomo, it will boost Greg’s chances of freedom. I sincerely thank you for taking the time to learn about someone who means so much to my family.
Ava Nemes144,25110/19/20
Victory!NCCU Board of TrusteesChange the Name of McLean Residence HallFormer Gov. of NC Angus W. McLean is the current namesake of a building on the campus of NCCU, despite his well-documented racist past. Gov. McLean began his career in politics in 1898 as a member of the Democratic Party during a time when the Party employed racist rhetoric, fraud, and violence to regain political control across the state. As Governor, McLean approved disproportionate funding for predominately white public colleges and universities and did not appoint a single African American to the NCCU Board of Trustees. Taking McLean's name off the residence hall is an important way for NCCU to reject the values of white supremacy and racial segregation and the representation of those values on our campus. When we honor Angus McLean by keeping his name on a residence hall at NCCU, we honor a man whose values in support of white supremacy and racial segregation contradict those of our university. DM @nccusga on Instagram for a complete list of facts and sources about Gov. McLean's racist past.
Manuhe Abebe4691/31/22
U.S. House of Representatives, United Nations, U.S. Senate, Democratic National Committee, Nancy PelosiHands Up ActMy name is Travis Washington. I received my M. A, degree in Higher Education and Administration from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in May 2019. I have been politically involved, from registering people to vote, to working in the Springfield Capitol. We know how so many people of cultural minorities constantly fear leaving their household. This fear in our lives far too often comes from individuals working in public safety who harm people. Every single week we hear about another unarmed innocent vulnerable human being shot by the police. This has increased the trauma and fear that has made people of color scared to leave their homes. We need legislation now that prohibits police officers from shooting unarmed citizens. If there isn’t a weapon found after someone has been shot (therefore, unarmed) by a police officer, then I propose that the officer should receive a mandatory 15-year prison sentence. We have seen over and over police officers get off, even with videotape footage of citizens having been shot by police officers. This is a new form of lynching. I am pleading with you to propose a bill that protects people who have every right to feel threatened by law enforcement. We always say we need more training for those involved in public safety, and there are increasing policies and laws that mandate that police officers have “body cameras” on them. Those measures do not address the whole problem, not when the individual officers who shoot unarmed victims aren’t punished. Senator, we are in a crisis where relationships between people of color and police officers are deteriorating beyond the critical level. In order to build any sort of positive relationships again, we need laws to keep a balance in the lives of all the public. I might even suggest this as a title for this proposed legislation: the Hands UP ACT. I will be emailing this to all of your colleagues in the U. S. Senate, members of Congress, State Governors. Once this petition receives enough attention. My goal is to speak before the House of Representatives or the United Nations during a committee hearing to bring attention to this policy. Thank You !! Justice for Andres Guardado, Adam Toledo, Sean Monterrosa, Terence Crutcher, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Jacob Blake, Michael Brown, Antwon rose, Aiyana Jones, Daniel Shaver, Marcellis Stinnette, Jayland Walker, Frederick Holder, Stephon Clark, Tony Robinson, Donovan Lewis, Aderrien Murry, and Tarika Wilson. Instagram Travvy007
Travis Washington2,743,10912/20/18
Georgia State House, Georgia State Senate, President of the United States, U.S. Senate, United States Supreme CourtSave Matthew Baker from Execution for a Crime He Didn’t CommitMatthew Baker (pictured above) could be executed for someone else’s crime. October 27, 2016 Matthew Hicks, 18, Keith Gibson, 29, and Sophia Bullard, 20, were shot and killed following a bonfire party. Destiny Olinger, 20, was found inside the home suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She died two days later at the hospital. Jacob Kosky pleaded guilty to the crimes claiming mental insanity to avoid the death penalty and is currently serving 4 life sentences in Augusta State Medical Prison in Georgia. Matthew Baker was arrested the following morning after the incident. He told the police he saw what happened, but didn’t have any part in it. However, they still decided to arrest him and charge him the exact same as Jacob Kosky. He has been sitting in the Henry County Jail for SEVEN YEARS waiting for trial. His options are to go to trial and potentially face the death penalty or sign a plea of four life sentences. According to his pre-trial hearings, no evidence or DNA connects him to the scene of the crime. Only one of the two firearms used was recovered and it was connected to Jacob. Matthew had no prior knowledge of what was going to happen when he approached the house moments before the shooting. Jacob also threatened him at gunpoint to not call 911. However, the state wants to paint Matthew in the image of a calculated criminal instead of a witness who’s life was also threatened. His public defense team has dwindled down to one person and they’ve told him the best they could do is get him life in prison despite the remarkable lack of evidence incriminating him. They also expressed an extreme disinterest in taking him to trial. This story will make your head spin. For more information, read this article. Please help save Matthew! SIGN this petition, DONATE HERE to his legal fund and FOLLOW @justiceformatthewbaker on Facebook/Instagram to follow this journey to justice.
Sarah Brielle Johnson57,9537/18/21
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