Constitutional Rights Blog: Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 30 2021

If you do not believe that free speech is a necessity of life: please leave this blog now officially and legally as of reading this, your obligation to this statement is formally required.

Freedom of speech is understood to be fundamental in a democracy. The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights.

The author of the Constitutional Rights Blog does not affiliate with any other organization or people on the internet or the world for that matter. I have been saying this since I first logged on to the internet. Just because I like organizations like the ACLU; does not mean I believe in everything they believe in or stand for. Just like in our great country when we vote; we will never believe in everything the candidate we vote for; believes in or stands for. That does not mean we should not vote.

I make typos allot. I do not get paid to do this. I do not have a editor or anyone working for me at all. Sometimes it may take me more than one day to finish a article.

I posted this on my art blog on October 11, 2015 on my art blog. Since I have decided to post Normal petitions and articles here; I will post it here. I donate to Normal; once a year. Normal is American earned freedom and INDEPENDENCE; in action.

Although I have not used Marijuana since high school and shortly after high school. Since I have mentioned it here on my blog yesterday; I have decided to support the legalization of Marijuana online. I signed up with these folks : http://marijuanamajority.com/

Growing up as a police officer's son in the 1970's I had my life threatened many times just for being a police officer's son; hence I hate all crime and have avoided it all my life. I definitely do not support the breaking of any laws; so until it is legalized; I hate even the thought of having anything to do with Marijuana. In fact any mention of Marijuana to me or any of my loved ones repulses me beyond belief; to the point of which makes me physically ill. I will always feel this way until Marijuana is legalized. I advise you take up this frame of mind also to protect yourself and the ones you love; if Marijuana is illegal where you are.

Posted here on February 17 2021. It is unconstitutional to let police arrest people for marijuana; since it is legal in so many states in our country. I see it all the time in the news; presented as a celebration by the police; posing so proudly next to the marijuana. Mean while just a few miles away; marijuana can be purchased completely legally. It reminds me of the lynching's of the old south. When the slaves were freed; they thought all of their problems were over. What they did not anticipate was; white men lynching them with no legal or rationale reason at all. I am behind any federal legislation to make marijuana legal for all of America; to keep these heinous crimes of arresting people for marijuana, from being committed in the name of the law. Release them all in the USA; arrested for marijuana and expunge their records.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 11 2021

Alabama Republican busted looking at trans adult pics online after voting against trans rights

State Sen. Tom Whatley used his work account to show his appreciation of a "faerie princess."

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Read more here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/03/alabama-republican-busted-looking-trans-adult-pics-online-voting-trans-rights

Alabama workers suffer during COVID-19 due to state’s systemic failures

Alabama’s failure to invest in public services and past pro-worker laws has long made the state an inhospitable place for low-income communities of color, and these same communities have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Now there is evidence to suggest that frontline workers of color in Alabama may take decades to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

TAKE ACTION: https://action.aclu.org/signup/pm-support-marijuana-legalization

SUPPORT EQUITABLE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Take action today and tell Congress to vote YES on just marijuana legalization as soon as soon as possible. Sign the petition today.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 13 2021

Hurray! Alabama; once again you have proven, your lost grip on reality.:

Alabama GOP to give Trump framed resolution calling him one of the ‘greatest’ presidents in history

The resolution also cites Trump’s handling of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and other accomplishments.

March 13, 2021

Another winner for the right wing.:

Trump prophet Jeremiah Johnson who predicted 2020 victory ends ministry

BY LEXI LONAS - 03/13/21 03:41 PM EST

The move comes after Johnson faced backlash from fellow evangelicals after he apologized for prophesying that Trump would win the 2020 election, according to the newspaper.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 16 2021

From: https://davidpakman.com/2021/03/march-15-2021/

Right Wingers FURIOUS That Biden is Vaccinating So Many People

Coronavirus vaccines in the United States are becoming more readily available and the nation keeps setting records for vaccines administered per day. On Saturday, there were a record 4.5 million immunizations and the average per day now is up to 2.4 million. President Biden made an announcement at the end of last week, saying that every American adult will be eligible for a vaccine starting May 1st. The promise still stands to get every American adult who wants one their first vaccine dose by the end of May. This timeline has been moved up dramatically and it suggests life could get back to pretty much normal by around the Fourth of July holiday. Biden said as much during his address to the nation, saying this year’s Independence Day can include unmasked small social gatherings among vaccinated people.

Right-wing media doesn’t know how to report on Biden’s successes regarding vaccine distribution. Radio host Mark Levin went on Fox recently and said “this speech that Joe Biden gave is the most disgusting, propagandistic speech, that a demagogue, even a politician, has given.” Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham chatted about the speech during the hand-off between their programs and Ingraham said, “it seemed a tad like a funeral for America,” prompting Hannity to laugh. Later during Ingraham’s show, a guest said it was “unamerican” for Biden to pick Independence Day as the day life can go back to normal but she failed to make the case as to why. If this is going to be right-wing media’s strategy for covering the Biden administration, then they’re going to be in for a long four years.

Sorry, Trump Doesn't Deserve Credit for Vaccines

Donald Trump has been trying to take credit for coronavirus cases plummeting in the United States, in part due to the three vaccines becoming more widely available across the country. The office of the former president released a tweet-like statement last week that read, “I hope everyone remembers when they’re getting the COVID-19 (often referred to as the China Virus) Vaccine, that if I wasn’t president, you wouldn‘t be getting that beautiful ‘shot’ for 5 years, at best, and probably wouldn’t be getting it at all. I hope everyone remembers!” President Biden and many Democrats have given some credit to Trump for Operation Warp Speed, which helped deliver vaccines in record timing, however when it came to an actual game plan for distribution, the last administration left the new one high and dry.

The Trump White House lacked a plan for getting vaccines into people’s arms. They wanted to leave it up to the states, as was their plan for basically everything else surrounding COVID-19. The former administration also lacked a plan to get Congress to pass funding for the states to be able to administer the vaccines. This was made worse by the fact that Trump was not concerned one bit with coronavirus in the final days of his administration, instead dedicating his time to wallowing over his reelection defeat. Now, Biden has overseen a dramatic drop in cases and the scaling up of immunizations to an average of 2.4 million vaccines administered now in the US every day.

Absolute Lunatics BURNING MASKS at Deranged "Protest"

Last week, people gathered outside the state capitol building in Boise, Idaho to hold a mask burning ritual. Dozens of men, women, and children gathered around a fire and threw their cloth and medical-grade masks into the blaze. The mask-burning made no sense for a number of reasons, chief among them because the US still gets around 50,000 new coronavirus cases per day and 1,500 daily deaths. But also, Idaho doesn’t even have a mask mandate so it’s not like there was anything for people to be protesting. To make matters worse, many of these masks should not be getting burned in close proximity to people because the fumes can be toxic. There were layers upon layers of stupidity with this event in Boise, Idaho.

The rush to file legislation at the Capitol before Friday’s deadline confirmed what we’ve been warning about: the priorities of Republican lawmakers who control the Texas Legislature are just screwed up.

Watch above article here: https://davidpakman.com/2021/03/march-15-2021/

I have talked about Texas Freedom Network many times online. I am a huge long time fan of this great organization and there efforts for separation and church and state. I added them to links today. Their email caught my eye this morning.:

Taking Texas Backward

From: https://tfn.org/ March 16 2021

We’re still reviewing the torrent of right-wing legislation filed for the session, but we have already identified dozens of misguided and hateful bills that will take Texas backward. They include bills that would: open the door to and in some cases even require discrimination against LGBTQ Texans, further limit access to abortion care or ban it altogether, make it even harder to vote, especially in communities of color, and undermine the ability of local governments to take action on critical issues like police reform and paid sick leave for workers.

It’s as if Republican lawmakers didn’t know that COVID has killed more than 45,000 Texans over the past year and that millions of Texans were left to shiver -- or die -- in the dark during a deadly winter storm just weeks ago. No, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick and other Republican leaders at the Capitol are intensely focused on fighting the culture wars, suppressing the vote and leaving working Texans struggling to take care of their families in moments of crisis.

The Texas Freedom Network is already mobilizing activists, educating the news media and lobbying hard at the Capitol to stop these bills. And we are demanding that state leaders focus on measures to protect Texans from COVID and prevent future catastrophic power failures.

Moving Texas Forward

But we are not just playing defense anymore. TFN is also working with coalition partners to champion important legislation that would move Texas forward. Some key examples:

HB88/SB161, the George Floyd Act, a first step toward holding police officers accountable for their behavior, save lives and improve policing in Texas

HB3860/SB1540, which would update the state’s nondiscrimination laws to include protections for LGBTQ Texans

HB4389, the Abortion Is Health Care Act, which would repeal numerous laws passed in the last 40 years making abortion access difficult or even impossible for many Texans

HB2679, which would require school districts to offer medically accurate, comprehensive sex education for Texas students

We’re not naive. We know passing this legislation will be very hard. But the close 2018 and 2020 elections showed that the Republican hold on Texas over the past three decades has never been weaker. So now is the time to show Texans that they have a real choice in this state -- a choice between a proactive, progressive agenda that addresses the needs of all Texans and the divisive, hateful and misguided agenda that failed Republican leaders continue to push.

Working with a growing coalition of progressive partners and legislators, TFN is building a movement to move Texas forward.

Grits

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

Data: When Texas ↓ pot prosecutions, the system focused more on violent crime

Grits has been tracking what I've has called "The Great Texas Hemp Hiatus," referring to the Texas Legislature's legalization of industrial "hemp," requiring a THC test to prosecute for marijuana possession. It was ostensibly a legislative accident, but it appears the change is going to stick: No legislation was filed to remove the testing requirement when the bill filing deadline passed on Friday.

In 2018, by contrast, there were 87,618 misdemeanor drug cases in 2018. That's a 55% drop from before the new testing requirement was implemented.

Marijuana has been one of the most common charges Texans are arrested for in recent years. In 2020, though, more people were arrested for Class C misdemeanors at traffic stops (41,731) than were prosecuted for marijuana possession.

I am a long time fan of Alabama Shakes and Brittany Howard. Brittany Howard is very amazing and I am glad to see she has won a Grammy.

From Lady Gaga to Rachel Maddow: LGBTQ artists picked up 8 Grammy Awards last night

Brandi Carlile, Lady Gaga, Brittany Howard... and even Rachel Maddow picked up awards at the Grammys last night.

March 15, 2021

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 17 2021

Are we supposed to be comforted that the Rangers who just hired their 1st black man and woman Rangers recently? I may not have that story exact but it is something like that.

: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/08/18/in-historic-law-enforcement-move-texas-rangers-elevate-two-women-to-captain-for-first-time/

Sorry I am suspicious of the Rangers; they are usually way over the top; and like over kill, to me. Like I said about a year ago here: they seem to take cases that seem way too far fetched; compared to local police. What do I know; my father was a police officer 24/7, for my whole life, it seems like. There is definitely something wrong here. We have too many closed minded, backwoods kind of folks here. They mix all politics with religion here as a rule; that is one way to look at it , at least. Separation and church and state is hated either openly or in secret. I have mercy on them because I like to see the good in people first. A simple way of looking at things; makes me envy them a little. I think the worst cases of closed mindedness here; could benefit with therapy.

I quote myself from: Constitutional Rights Blog Updated February 17 2021:

It is unconstitutional to let police arrest people for marijuana; since it is legal in so many states in our country. I see it all the time in the news; presented as a celebration by the police; posing so proudly next to the marijuana. Mean while just a few miles away; marijuana can be purchased completely legally. It reminds me of the lynching's of the old south. When the slaves were freed; they thought all of their problems were over. What they did not anticipate was; white men lynching them with no legal or rationale reason at all. I am behind any federal legislation to make marijuana legal for all of America; to keep these heinous crimes of arresting people for marijuana, from being committed in the name of the law. Release them all in the USA; arrested for marijuana and expunge their records.

Does anyone know if this was actual marijuana? Has it been tested?

Seven Jail Workers Put on Leave After Death of Black Man Held Over Marijuana

3/16/21 AT 7:51 AM EDT

Seven Texas detention employees have been placed on leave after the death of a Black man in custody.

The Collin County Sheriff's Office said on Monday that 26-year-old Marvin D. Scott III, of Frisco, died Sunday while he was in custody at the Collin County Detention Facility in McKinney.

Officers from the Allen Police Department had arrested Scott earlier on Sunday and transported him to the jail, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

Scott's cause of death has not been released.

Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner referred the matter to the Texas Rangers, who are investigating the death.

The sheriff placed seven detention employees on administrative leave "as a matter of policy" and ordered an internal administrative investigation, the sheriff's office said.

"The Sheriff's Office will not release additional information while the Texas Rangers are investigating," it added in the news release.

In a statement to Newsweek, a spokesman for the Texas Rangers said: "At the request of the Collin County Sheriff's Office Texas Rangers have been requested to investigate an in custody death. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is currently available."

Nick Bristow, a spokesman for the Collin County Sheriff's Office, told Newsweek that Scott's arrest was for alleged possession of marijuana under two ounces.

The offense is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in prison or a fine of up to $2,000.

From: https://www.kxan.com/denied-evidence/collin-county-sheriff/

There have been 17 in-custody deaths involving the Collin County Sheriff’s Office since the law allowing police agencies to withhold information if a suspect dies in custody went into effect. The agency has a two-year retention schedule for open records requests made to the agency. Since 2016, there have been three in-custody deaths involving the agency. One request was withheld under the open records exemption.

Joseph LaFollett was arrested by the Collin County Sheriff’s Office for possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. While in county jail, he attempted but was unsuccessful in committing suicide by means of a trash bag over his head. Investigators later learned LaFollett made comments on recorded jail calls stating the suicide thing didn’t work and that he would have to try harder next time. LaFollett was on level three suicide watch in a two-man cell. However, a week after the first suicide attempt, the other cellmate was not present. LaFollett engineered his mesh laundry sack with a hole to go over his head as a ligature and used the top of the bunkbed’s frame to hang himself. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Cause/manner of death: Hanging, strangulation. He died on Aug. 26, 2017.

Requested documents: On March 14, 2018, an attorney asked for certified copies of all prior arrest reports for Joseph LaFollett.

Agency response: On March 27, 2018, the county said three arrests (two from 2017 and one from 2008) resulted in something other than a conviction or deferred adjudication and thus could be withheld.

Attorney General ruling: On June 1, the Attorney General said the sheriff’s office could withhold some information

Authorities investigating after man dies in custody at the Collin County jail

Marvin David Scott III, 26, died Sunday after he was arrested by Allen police and taken to the detention center.

5:15 PM on Mar 15, 2021 CDT

Authorities are investigating after an inmate died at the Collin County jail.

The Collin County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that Marvin David Scott III, 26, died Sunday while he was in custody after his arrest earlier in the day by Allen police on a marijuana possession charge. His cause of death has not been released.

The Texas Rangers are investigating Scott’s death.

Seven detention employees were placed on routine administrative leave as a result of the death, and the sheriff’s office is also conducting an internal investigation.

Thanks to David Pakman for the lead on this story.

Facebook Has Helped Sow Doubts About Covid Vaccines

March 17, 2021, 5:30 AM EDT

The Trump ban followed years of criticism that Zuckerberg allowed the ex-president to run rampant on the site, and after months of pressure from civil rights groups and Facebook’s own employees to take action in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Although he cracked down on Trump, Zuckerberg took no action against Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, after Bannon called for the beheading of two U.S. officials late last year. Facebook also famously allowed the site to be a playground for Russian disinformation campaigns during the 2016 election.

This week’s Al Franken Podcast. Let me tell you why. IT’S THE BEST ONE I’VE EVER DONE!!! My guest is Heather McGhee, a force in progressive politics for years, fighting for racial and economic justice. While I was in the Senate, I worked with Heather on issues like predatory lending.

Heather has written a stirring, powerful new book, The Sum of Us, which argues that whites in our country have been sold the idea that our economy is a zero-sum game.

But as Paul Wellstone said, “We all do better when we all do better.” And that’s what this episode of the Al Franken Podcast is all about. I do hope you’ll give it a listen.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 18 2021

Quote of the Day from Texas Freedom Network:

“I am considering, as I said I’d be a fool not to, to consider the honor to go into the position of politics, as the governor of Texas. But I honestly have to ask myself, 'How can I be most useful?' And maybe that’s as a free agent.”

Matthew McConaughey on running for Governor of Texas.

Because of my last post and because I just got a email from Norml I will post the following:

Sign this petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/take-action-now-to-legalize-marijuana

Take Action NOW to Legalize Marijuana!

For far too long, Texans have suffered under marijuana prohibition. Millions have been arrested, lives have been derailed, families have been torn apart, and valuable law enforcement resources have been squandered.

It's time to repeal marijuana prohibition in Texas!

Join us in calling on Governor Abbott and our state lawmakers to pass legislation establishing a legal market for marijuana.

Currently, sales of marijuana are illegal, relegating consumers to the multi-billion-dollar black market industry. Not only are products unregulated (and sometimes unsafe), but Texas is missing out on desperately needed tax revenue. Our state would be better off regulating marijuana, ensuring that products are tested, labeled, and sold by licensed businesses.

Estimated state tax revenue is $1 billion and consumers will be able to rely on Texas-grown and Texas-tested cannabis, rather than risky illegal imports.

Sign this petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/reduce-penalties-for-marijuana-possession

Thank you for your service and leadership.

I'm writing about current marijuana policies, which are failing our state, local communities, and individual families. Arrests for marijuana possession waste valuable law enforcement resources and can derail a person's life, causing far more harm than using marijuana ever could. In 2018, more than 62,000 Texans were arrested and an estimated 41,000 ended up with permanent criminal records that hinder their access to education, employment, and even housing.

It's time for a change. I hope I can count on you to help pass meaningful legislation reducing penalties for low-level marijuana possession. We should eliminate the threat of arrest, jail time, and permanent criminal record for small amounts.

Again, thank you for your service to our district and for your leadership in our state.

Sign this petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/contact-your-legislators-about-expanding-the-compassionate-use-program

It is time that our state joined the majority of other states in protecting the sickest among us from arrest and prosecution for using medical marijuana when their doctor recommends it. The laws in other states are helping seriously ill individuals across our country by relieving the nausea associated with chemotherapy, and by easing the pain and burning associated with neuropathic pain. The current Texas Compassionate Use Program is currently very limited, and all patients deserve safe, inclusive access to treatment options for additional ailments currently not included.

In addition to working to treat illnesses and conditions that have proven difficult to relieve, medical marijuana laws appear to help wean patients off much more addictive and deadly drugs. Usage rates of highly addictive and dangerous drugs in other states decreased when broad access to medical marijuana was established.

Many Texas patients are having to move their families to legal states to gain access to the medicine they need, when they should be able to stay in their homes and have the option to utilize our TCUP Program.

Please support efforts to make the Compassionate Use Program more inclusive for more patients with chronic and debilitating conditions.

Thank you for your time and public service.

Sign this petition here: https://www.texasnorml.org/take-action-penalty-reduction/

As of writing this letter, over 39 states have legalized cannabis in some form, while Texans are being left behind. The majority of people who utilize cannabis are non-violent offenders. However, our state continues to allow patchwork policy from city to city, and county to county. For example, big urban counties have been embracing approaches to marijuana and other drug crimes intended to divert people away from jail or prison.

In Dallas County, first time misdemeanor marijuana cases are dismissed automatically. In Fort Worth, first time offenders can have their cases dismissed after testing clean for three months. In Austin people aren’t even getting cited for small amounts. In contrast, for most rural and smaller cities, the same arrest causes a trip to jail, suspension of drivers license, and a lifetime of hindered access to student loans, housing, jobs, and more.

The majority of Texans see these laws are not working anymore, and we need state reform to streamline procedures for law enforcement. These laws aren’t working for prosecutors, they aren’t working for the tens of thousands of people across our state who are arrested annually.

I respectfully ask you to seriously consider supporting any bill which follows this trend. Thank you for your support to our state.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 19 2021

From: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/marvin-scott-iii-in-custody-jail-death-collin-county-sunday-texas/287-00c14d7d-479f-44ac-8dfc-7ea77a98c970

Collin County sheriff describes events that led to Marvin Scott's in-custody death

Updated: 10:23 AM CDT March 19, 2021

Scott was taken into custody Sunday by Allen police, who said he was arrested for alleged possession of marijuana under 2 ounces, which is a class B misdemeanor. He was taken to the hospital for treatment before being transported to the Collin County Detention Facility around 6 p.m.

Skinner said while in the jail's booking lobby, Scott exhibited some "strange behavior," so detention officers tried to secure him to a restraint bed. He said during the process the officers used pepper spray once and also placed a spit mask on his face.

About four hours later, around 10:30 p.m. while being placed on the restraint bed, Skinner said Scott became unresponsive. Nursing staff called an ambulance and transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The incident started with security personnel at the Allen outlet mall alerting Allen police to Scott in the parking lot. Merritt said police were initially called because of the suspected smell of marijuana. According to the attorney, Scott was incoherent when approached by officers which likely led them to take Scott to Texas Health Presbyterian in Allen. Merritt said a doctor signed off that Scott was "fit to be incarcerated."

Scott was taken to the Collin County jail where, the attorney said, Scott suffered several mental health episodes. Merritt said seven detention officers with the Collin County jail tried to restrain Scott into his cell. Merritt said the use of force by the detention officers against Scott was overly physical.

"They took him to jail, and in that jail, he was killed and the men who participated in that, their acts were criminal," said Merritt.

Merritt said the initial autopsy showed that Scott's death may have been heart-related. WFAA is seeking to independently review the coroner's findings. The family and attorney intend to hire an independent forensic examiner to determine the cause of death.

Merritt said Scott should have been taken to a treatment center instead of the jail. The family told WFAA that Scott was working to address his mental health challenges. Scott's father Marvin Sr. said his son was coming to terms with his mental health.

I am still getting a best of email from Daily Kos. This is a story I just read from that email:

Killing spree at Atlanta massage parlors follows a year of heightened anti-Asian racism

Wednesday March 17, 2021 · 8:35 AM CDT

The same night as the killings, Donald Trump did a phone interview with Fox News in which he called COVID-19 the “China virus,” as he has done repeatedly over the past year. During that time, there have been 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents, according to data collected by Stop AAPI Hate.

Of the 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents cataloged by Stop AAPI Hate, 68% targeted women.

This web page makes me think I should have some Asian rights links in my posts. I would like to thank Jim Hightower for lead to this page:

Go here for links: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a35862857/stop-asian-hate-organizations-to-support/

Organizations to Support in the Fight Against Asian Hate:

MAR 17 2021, 4:52 PM EDT

Red Canary Song

Butterfly

SWAN Vancouver

Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity

National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence

Womankind

AAPI Women Lead

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta

Asian Law Caucus

Chinese Progressive Association

Asian American Feminist Collective

Asian Pacific Environmental Network

Asian Prisoner Support Committee

APIENC

CAAAV

Stop AAPI Hate

AAPI Community Fund

Desis Rising Up and Moving

Asian American Advocacy Fund

Jahajee Sisters

Asian Immigrant Women Advocates

Asian Mental Health Collective

South Asian Workers' Center

Sakhi for South Asian Women

Chinatown Community for Equitable Development

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

#HATEISAVIRUS

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Korean American Community Foundation

SEARAC

South Asian Americans Leading Together

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 21 2021

DEMAND ICE #FREEMAURA:

Sign this Petition here: https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/78531/action/1

Maura fled to the U.S. from Mexico to escape relentless, transgender-based violence and abuse. Originally from Nicaragua, she spent half her life in the U.S., attending high school in San Diego, holding numerous jobs in the hospitality industry, and building a community that accepts her as a trans woman.

Maura is seeking humanitarian protection to be able to stay in the U.S. She faces significant risk if returned to a country she has not known for decades. Nicaragua is not safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, particularly trans women.

For nearly two years, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained Maura at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California, where she is suffering from abuse, a lack of adequate medical care, and possible exposure to COVID-19.

With her life at risk, Maura should be free to seek protection without detention. Take urgent action to stop this injustice now: Urge the ICE San Diego Field Office Director to release Maura immediately.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

Arrested for pot, then dead; capital murderer sent out to write tickets; fired cops won't stay fired; bail-legislation updates, and other stories

Say his name, folks: Marvin Scott. Arrested for marijuana by the Allen Police Department, the 26-year old man died in the Collin County Jail on Sunday while being forcibly restrained by seven detention officers. Scott was schizophrenic, but its unclear if he was being treated at the jail under mental health protocols. This is a bad one. Over marijuana!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 23 2021

Thanks Collin County; for helping human rights in Texas, by drawing attention some serious subject's.

Lost in Lockup: Last year, prisoners in Bexar County and across Texas died in record numbers

Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 12:10 pm

To be sure, the deaths continue. Texas jails and prisons have already reported 152 prisoner fatalities so far in 2021, according to TJI’s analysis. Reports are still trickling in from the reporting facilities, making it too early to tell whether the state is on a similar trajectory of custodial deaths this year, Moravec said.

Just last week, another name was added to the list: Marvin David Scott III. After a marijuana arrest, Scott — a 26-year-old schizophrenic man — died while being forcibly restrained by seven officers in Collin County Jail, pepper-sprayed and placed under a spit hood.

Scott’s family has called for more transparency in the case, pointing out that they weren’t even notified of a press conference called by county officials to discuss the death.

I would vote for Lee Merritt.

CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY LEE MERRITT ANNOUNCES BID FOR TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL

March 23, 2021

A prominent civil rights attorney who has represented several families of Black victims killed by police officers has announced he will run for Texas attorney general.

Lee Merritt announced last weekend that he will challenge current Attorney General Ken Paxton. Merritt has become a national name representing families of victims killed by police including Botham Jean, who was killed in 2018 by former police officer Amber Guyger.

Merritt, who is representing Scott’s family, believes the sheriff’s office did not follow the correct mental health protocols as they restrained Scott to a bed and put a spit hood on his face to keep him from spitting at the officers.

Texas Ranks No. 1 When It Comes to Medical Malpractice Payouts, Not So Much for Healthcare Coverage

MARCH 23, 2021

Texas has the worst healthcare industry in the nation, according to a Sept. 24, 2018 Healthline report, due to our high uninsured rate, tough Medicaid regulations, and lack of services. Texas also “has some of the highest rates of disease and death” in the nation. But it is probably going to be somewhat a relief for some doctors and patient families to hear that we also rank number 1 when it comes to payouts for medical malpractice lawsuits.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 24 2021

From: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/family-of-man-who-died-while-in-custody-at-the-collin-county-jail-speaks-out/2586931/

COLLIN COUNTY

Scott's Family Wants Answers After In-Custody Death at Collin County Jail

Marvin Scott III died while in custody at the Collin County jail.; his family continues to plead for answers and ordered an independent autopsy

Published March 23, 2021 • Updated on March 23, 2021 at 7:46 pm

During a press conference in the lobby of the Collin County courthouse, the family of 26-year-old Marvin D. Scott III made it clear they want answers as to how their son died while in custody at the Collin County jail.

"We want to know, how did my son die? We want answers!" said Marvin's mother, LaSandra Scott, during the news conference with her family behind her.

The family's attorney Lee Merritt said they hired a forensic pathologist to conduct an independent autopsy to investigate for themselves what happened.

Dr. Amy Gruszecki, a forensic pathologist with American Forensics in Mesquite which conducts autopsies for 30 counties and independent examinations, performed the second autopsy.

She said, based off of her experience, the first exam conducted by the Collin County medical examiner was, "thorough, it was as how I would have done it."

Gruszecki said she observed one bruise on Scott's left arm and a mild heart enlargement.

Scott was restrained while in jail, and Gruszecki's preliminary reports suggest it could have played a role in his death.

"The investigation and history that is available to me so far is that he was restrained and had a spit hood on his head, so the physical struggle of the restraint as well as the possible asphyxia from the restraint would likely be causes of his death and a negative autopsy, meaning no injuries, no blunt force trauma is consistent with that," explained Gruszecki.

She said all of this would be considered once the report is final. Gruszecki also said she's ordered a toxicology report, which could take weeks.

She said Scott's hyoid bone, which is in the neck area, had been removed which Gruszecki said is not unusual for primary autopsies, and she has done the same in the past to save it for evidence.

The Arrest

Officers from the Allen Police Department arrested Scott on March 14 for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana, Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner confirmed in a news conference last week.

Merritt said a security officer noticed the scent of marijuana while Scott was at the Allen Premium Outlets. He was also having what appeared to be a mental health crisis.

Scott's mother said her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia two years ago, but hadn't had an episode in about a year.

"When we got him okay with his medication, he was starting to take them and fell off and felt like if he would use marijuana, it would benefit him more," said LaSandra Scott who said her son had been doing well for a year.

Merritt said an Allen officer recognized Scott was experiencing a mental health issue and took him to a hospital, but said in previous interactions with police, Scott was taken to a mental health facility.

Scott was later released to the Collin County jail, something his family continues to question.

"Why, why, why was he given medical clearance?" asked Scott's mother.

While in custody at the Collin County Jail, the sheriff said Scott appeared to, "exhibit some strange behavior," which prompted detention officers to secure him onto a restraint bed. The county said officers used pepper spray and attached a spit mask on Scott's face.

Scott became unresponsive shortly after 10 p.m., Skinner said. He was taken to a hospital by paramedics where he was pronounced dead.

Merritt said there is video of what happened, they haven't seen it yet, but the family described what they were told.

"He was placed in a restraint chair for 11 minutes, then moved to a restraint bed after being sprayed with mace, a knee was placed on his arm, and a pressure point tactic was preformed under his chin," explained his mother. "There were reports of Marvin having highs and lows related to strange behaviors, that's to be expected with schizophrenia."

Scott's family wants to see the video and wants to know if life-saving interventions took place before EMS arrived. They want to know what time an ambulance was called, if officers who handled Scott had mental health training, or if there was a health specialist on hand.

Skinner didn't comment on whether detention officers knew Scott’s history of mental illness but said that will be part of the investigation. The sheriff also said there are protocols that they follow when it comes to mental health response but he did not elaborate.

The family is asking for the seven detention employees who are currently suspended on administrative leave to be arrested.

“When we spoke with the district attorney the other day he explained he would need a cause of death and medical examiner's report in order to issue a warrant for the arrest," said Merritt.

The family said they're just most upset with the process and claim they received a text message about Scott's death the day after.

Scott was living with his father at the time. Merritt said his father was upset that he didn't receive a phone call about his son's arrest and said he believes he could have explained his son's condition to authorities.

Sister of Marvin Scott III Says His Family Wants Answers About HIs Mysterious Death In Custody

The 26-year-old man died while being held in a Texas jail. But LaChay Betts says law enforcement is not being transparent.

Published 330 p.m. March 24 2021

BET.com: At this point what would constitute justice for your brother, your family and yourself?

Batts: My idea of justice is to hold everybody involved accountable for their actions. Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Allen Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and even the Texas Rangers. There are still actions that were taken that should lead to the officers at the Collin County Detention Facility employees being arrested. All of their actions contributed to my brother’s death.

BET.com: What can the Collin County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney’s Office do to better explain what happened to Marvin on March 14 and thereafter?

Batts: They can hold the seven [Collin County Detention Facility] officers accountable, release the footage from that night, and release the names of all the officers immediately. If I was one of them I would put my badge on the desk and quit. I couldn’t stand for something that’s not right. I understand that it’s all about protecting their system but when does it become about doing what’s right?

What is wrong with people? Texas Rangers have a job here in Texas but they are not internal affairs. This is Texas and we are a free state of the United States; last time I checked. We have internal affairs here and they are good people that want to help; granted you have to be beat up pretty bad to even have a case but they are there and ready to fight for freedom. I quote myself from: Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 17 2021 Are we supposed to be comforted that the Rangers who just hired their 1st black man and woman Rangers recently? I may not have that story exact but it is something like that. : https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/08/18/in-historic-law-enforcement-move-texas-rangers-elevate-two-women-to-captain-for-first-time/

Wylie Officer Fatally Shoots Armed Suspect Who Apparently Killed Woman, Police Say

March 17, 2021 at 2:30 p

According to police, the officer found two people lying on the ground near the crash scene — a woman with a serious bodily injury and a man with a rifle.

Police say while the officer was trying to help the woman, the man refused to drop the rifle, leading to the officer firing at him.

Both the man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities are not yet known.

Wylie police requested the Texas Rangers to conduct an independent investigation.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 25 2021

From: https://www.collindemocrats.org

PROTESTS CONTINUE IN SUPPORT OF MARVIN SCOTT III

The Collin County Democratic Party continues to follow with great concern the death of Marvin David Scott III, who died while in the custody of County Sheriff Jim Skinner and the Collin County Detention Center on March 14, 2021.

Please see our Press Release, published on March 18, 2021, as well as numerous social media updates. Mr. Scott's family continues to protest, with more and more Collin County residents joining to march alongside them. The CCDP fully supports the demands of the Scott family and their attorney, and the Collin County Chapter of the NAACP, in seeking a full investigation and appropriate prosecutions in this matter, as well as changes in local law enforcement to ensure that no one ever dies in detention again. HIS NAME IS MARVIN DAVID SCOTT III SAY HIS NAME: https://www.collindemocrats.org/statement-on-death-of-marvin-david-scott-iii/

Private Facebook group for cops full of racist & transphobic posts revealed

“Someone needs to shoot this thing!!”

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

A private Facebook group for Pennsylvania police officers and elected officials has been revealed to be a hotbed of transphobic and racist content.

Dozens of posts demeaned Levine, calling her names like “it” or “freak” with one now-retired officer posting, “Someone needs to shoot this thing!!”

Other posts defended police brutality, mocked racial justice protestors, and used plainly racist language. Several of the officers who have posted the content have been the subject of complaints or previous investigations of unnecessary violence or racial profiling.

Colorado shooter Ahmad Alissa posted anti-LGBTQ content on social media

Ten people died during Alissa's mass shooting spree.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

He regularly used the words “fag” and “faggot.”

In July, Heavy reports, he mocked Microsoft’s rainbow-colored Xbox logo, sharing a graphic of it with “F**box loses PS4 wins” along with laughing emojis.

In another post he wrote, “God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve just saying.”

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 26 2021

My wife going on 40 years now; is a US Army Veteran and a excellent business minded employee. So this one is for her and everyone like her:

Sign this petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-to-congress-close-the-wage-gap-pass-the-paycheck-fairness-act

Sign the petition to Congress: Close the wage gap -- pass the Paycheck Fairness Act

On average, women earn 81 cents for every dollar a man makes. In other words, the salary for a man is roughly 19 percent higher than the salary for a woman.

The figures are even worse for women of color. Black women earn only 63 cents and Latinas only 55 cents for each dollar earned by a white male.

This is today, this is now!

Gender-based wage discrimination remains a problem in the workplace despite enactment over 50 years ago of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women in the same workplace who perform substantially equal work, because there are no assurances that wage discrimination is being enforced.

It is past time Congress corrected this discriminatory wrong. To close the pay gap, we need good public policies. Encouraging women to negotiate a higher salary doesn’t do much if there are institutional and structural barriers that prevent them from earning their value.

Congress must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Patty Murray, will help secure equal pay for equal work for all Americans. The bill would update the Equal Pay Act, which has not been able to achieve its promise of closing the wage gap because of limited enforcement tools and inadequate remedies.

This wage gap ends now and it ends with the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Sign the petition: Demand Congress end the discriminatory pay wage gap by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Participating Organizations:

Coalition on Human Needs

Consumers United for Fairness

Daily Kos

Demand Progress

Go for Broke for Veterans

The Juggernaut Project

People For the American Way

Progress America

Progressive Reform Network

Washington Senate Democratic Campaign

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 28 2021

Independent Autopsy Shows Marvin Scott III Likely Died from Restraint, Asphyxiation

March 25, 2021

“So the physical struggle of the restraint, as well as the possible asphyxiation from the restraint would likely be causes of his death,” Gruszcki said. “And a negative autopsy — meaning no injuries, no blunt-force trauma — is consistent with that.”

“He was placed in a restraint chair for 11 minutes then moved to a restraint bed after being sprayed with mace,” Lasandra said. “A knee was placed on his arm and a pressure-point tactic was performed under his chin.”

“We want to know how did my son die,” Lasandra said.

Georgia's Governor Signed Voting Restrictions Into Law In Front Of A Slave Plantation Picture

The Republican governor signed it under a painting of a place where Black people were once enslaved.

Posted on March 26, 2021, at 3:35 p.m. ET

Kemp signed the bill under the image "of a notorious slave plantation in Wilkes County, GA."

The painting appears to depict a brick house on the Callaway Plantation in Washington, Georgia, which was once a 3,000-acre plantation owned by a family of enslavers and is now open for public tours.

According to historical accounts, the family owned dozens of slaves. The Callaway name appears several times on a 2003 list of the largest slaveholders as per the 1860 US Census Slave Schedules for Wilkes County, Georgia.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 29 2021

Sign and send to Congress: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-to-congress-fight-back-against-transphobic-state-legislation-pass-the-equality-act

Fight back against transphobic state legislation. Pass the Equality Act.

Here are some quick tips when writing a personal letter:

Keep your letter short and to the point;

Tell them that you are a constituent;

Remind them that LGBTQ+ people deserve the same rights that Congress must protect;

Urge them to protect that right, while also protecting the health and safety of their constituents.

Sign Petition here: https://norml.org/new-york-demand-support-for-equitable-marijuana-legalization/ and here: https://norml.org/act/new-mexico-marijuana-legalization-effort/

March 28, 2021

This message is unlike any I have sent you before. For once, I’m not asking you to contact your lawmakers to take federal action. I’m not even asking you to contact your own state lawmakers.

This is about what you can do right now to advance marijuana policy reform efforts in New York and New Mexico, as lawmakers in both states are anticipated to move forward this week with adult-use legalization.

In New Mexico, the Governor has commenced a special legislative committee to place legislation on her desk in the coming days. In New York, leaders are expected to rapidly move forthcoming legislation to allow adults to possess, buy, and home-cultivate marijuana.

It doesn’t get any more important than this. In fact, the successful passage of legalization in New York alone would represent a massive shift at both the state and federal levels. Right now, six percent of US House members represent New York State, and seven percent of all Congressional House Committee and Subcommittee Chairs are from New York. Ending marijuana prohibition in the Empire State will turn a lot of those lawmakers into strong allies.

So here is our ask to you: Send our action alerts to your friends, family, old schoolmates, casual acquaintances, that person you met once, or ANYONE else you know who lives in one of those two states and urge them to contact their lawmakers right now!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated March 31 2021

BECOME A GRASSROOTS CO-SIGNER OF ELIZABETH WARREN’S, PRAMILA JAYAPAL’S AND BRENDAN BOYLE’S NEW WEALTH TAX:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/become-a-grassroots-co-signer-of-elizabeth-warrens-pramila-jayapals-and-brendan-boyles-new-wealth-tax

This pandemic has shone a spotlight on increasing levels of income and wealth inequality. Over the last twelve months, as tens of millions of people have lost their jobs, and as 25 million people have contracted COVID-19, with more than 500,000 people dying from the virus, America’s billionaires have never had it so good.

According to research from Americans for Tax Fairness, America’s 660 billionaires have seen a 44% increase in their wealth since last March―totaling $1.3 trillion.

Now, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Brendan Boyle have introduced the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act, a wealth tax, which would raise $3 trillion over 10 years―and would only apply to fortunes of $50 million or more.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 01 2021

Take action now to RECLAIM, REPAIR, and RESTORE public lands!: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/take-action-now-to-reclaim-repair-and-restore-public-lands

Many Americans think that once a national park is created, every acre of it is publicly owned and therefore permanently protected. That, however, is not the case. Countless acres of land around — and even inside — our national parks are privately owned.

While many landowners are good stewards who love our national parks, forests, and recreation areas as much as you and I do, privately owned land can divide parks and people in profound ways.

That's why, since 1972, The Trust for Public Land has worked to secure private land in and near national parks and add it to park boundaries. Together with Americans like you, we have protected and put into public ownership more than 3.7 million acres of land and completed more than 5,400 park and conservation projects.

But as the stress on our national parks has grown, especially in recent years, so has the need for support from Americans like you.

Sign to join the Trust for Public Land's and tell President Biden that you support efforts to protect and connect our national parks, monuments, forests, recreation areas, wilderness areas, greenways, and community parks.

Our Message to President Biden :

Like the majority of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, I care deeply about our public lands, and I pledge my support to protect and connect our iconic national parks and monuments, forests, and seashores. Public lands and parks unite us, and access to parks and open space is a fundamental right of every American. Please know that I am one of the American people who are coming together to ask you to reclaim, repair, and restore our natural areas for people now and for generations to come, and ensure that our public lands are kept in public hands.

Send letter here: https://www.texasnorml.org/take-action-penalty-reduction/

Polls show that a strong majority of Americans believe people shouldn’t be jailed for possessing marijuana. I count myself among that majority.

It is past time for our state to stop imposing the stigma of a criminal conviction and possible incarceration on possession of a personal use amount of a substance that more than 100 million Americans admit to having used. Not only is marijuana being widely used, it is also less toxic and less addictive than alcohol. In addition, unlike alcohol, marijuana use is not linked to violence or risk taking. And, while more than 37,000 Americans die from alcohol-related causes each year, marijuana use is not associated with increased mortality.

I hope you agree our marijuana penalties are grossly out of proportion to the severity of the offense. Can I count on you to work to reduce the penalty for possessing an ounce of marijuana to a non-criminal fine?

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 For cruelty's sake: Texas prisons lose money every year to keep prisoners picking cotton, other field crops

TDCJ officials have testified under oath that having prisoners pick cotton in the summer heat is "essential" to the agency's operations. But we learned recently the agency is actually paying for the privilege of doing so. It'd be cheaper to buy it on the open market.

Over the last five years, according to a recently released state audit, the agency lost money every year on cotton and other non-edible field crops, spending $6.83 million more over five years than they'd have paid to simply purchase the products.

It's worth mentioning, Texas is one of only three states where prisoners are paid nothing for their work, so we're essentially saying TDCJ can't turn a profit on these operations using slave labor.

Even so, profit shouldn't be the biggest concern and arguably prioritizing it is a holdover from the convict-leasing era. A few years ago, Ohio closed all its prison farms on the grounds that it made no sense to train prisoners for agricultural jobs when that's not the type of work most enter upon release.

Check out [Cotton Picking Time in] Tulia, TX, a tune about TDCJ field workers written by my pal Jeff Frazier back in the day and sung by the great Malford Milligan.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 02 2021

From: Collin County Democrats: Collindemocrats.org

UPDATE: MARVIN D. SCOTT III DEATH

SHERIFF PLEADS FOR PATIENCE; FAMILY WANTS ANSWERS

Marvin Scott III

Marvin Scott III died while in custody at the Collin County Jail on Sunday, March 14 and questions linger about what occurred. From activists to the family’s attorney, Lee Merritt, members of the community have called for law enforcement to answer their most pressing question: how did Marvin die? A question that remains unanswered, now three days after his funeral in St. Louis attended by a bereaved family.

Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner has pleaded for patience until an internal investigation is completed. Scott’s family claims his untimely death was a result of excessive force, where seven officers restrained Scott, who has a history of mental illness, while employing pepper spray and a spit hood. According to McKinney activist Elizabeth Michel no information has been released on the investigation and no information has been released on the status of the seven officers involved who were placed on paid administrative leave.

Merritt reported that an independent autopsy, paid for by the Scott family, confirmed that Marvin’s death was likely caused by restraint and asphyxiation. This has only amplified demands to arrest the #CollinCounty7 and to release the video of the incident.

Law enforcement officers have been patrolling the parking lot around the jail in an apparent attempt to intimidate demonstrators, according to Michel. A 12-foot chain-link fence was erected along with several spotlights and a road sign. Doors into the detention center have been locked so that those attending vigils for Scott can no longer use the restroom.

Sign the petition here: https://act.demandprogress.org/sign/sign-petition-tell-congress-investigate-chevrons-ties-myanmar/

Tell Congress to investigate Chevron’s ties to Myanmar!

Petition to Congress:

Chevron has natural gas contracts in Myanmar and could be funding the military coup that is now indiscriminately killing innocent Burmese people, including children. We demand a congressional investigation into Chevron’s natural gas contracts in Myanmar!

In Myanmar, the military junta that took over after a coup is now shooting into people’s homes and killing innocent children.1 What we know is horrific: the military overturned an election, took over the country, shot at peaceful pro-democracy protesters, and is now just indiscriminately killing innocent civilians.

Meanwhile, despite US sanctions, oil and gas giant Chevron has investments in Myanmar that may be funding the military junta, potentially enabling the murder of innocent people.2

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to investigate Chevron’s ties to Myanmar!

Chevron has been operating natural gas production in Myanmar for years. Their recent contracts are set to expire in 2028. But now that the military has overthrown the government in a coup, it’s possible that the money Chevron pays to do business in Myanmar is going straight into the pockets of the military junta,3 and could be used against the people of Myanmar.

The US has already imposed sanctions against some Myanmar business conglomerates as a response to the coup and the shooting of protesters, but some business links appear to not be included. Natural gas production is a major source of revenue for the military junta and enables their misrule. That means that Chevron could be bypassing US sanctions and helping to arm and sustain the military junta that is now indiscriminately shooting into people’s homes and killing children.

We need to know more about Chevron’s ties to Myanmar. We owe it to the people in Myanmar fighting for freedom and democracy. That’s why it’s crucial that Congress get involved and get to the bottom of this.

Send letter here: https://www.texasnorml.org/take-action-medical-cannabis/

Seriously ill patients need safe, legal access to medical marijuana

I write to respectfully request that you support efforts to make medical marijuana available to seriously ill patients in our state. Numerous health and medical organizations — and the public at large — support allowing patients with debilitating medical conditions to have access to marijuana with doctors’ recommendations.

Research has proven that medical marijuana works in many situations where other drugs have failed. It has been effective for ailments such as debilitating pain, nausea, appetite loss, and much more. Further, it is far less harmful and presents fewer negative side effects than other prescription drugs, especially painkillers. Providing safe, legal access to medical marijuana is vitally important to seriously ill patients with nowhere else to turn.

Roughly three-quarters of Americans now live in a state with laws protecting patients who benefit from the medical use of marijuana. But, unfortunately, many people in our state still must choose between medicine vital to their well-being and operating within the law. They deserve every opportunity to have a normal quality of life, and you can help provide it for them. Please support efforts to allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana with the recommendation of a physician.

Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 03 2021

I read Al Franken's ( https://alfranken.com/ )emails and have always thought he is a great democrat.

Dear Person Who Still Reads My Emails,

Exciting news! I’ve launched my first YouTube video. It’s about the filibuster and voting rights, and, between you and me, it’s terrific!

Please give it a look. If you don’t enjoy it, you can stop opening my emails! That’s how confident I am that you’ll like it!

There! That was short and sweet, huh?

All the best,

Send letter here: https://www.texasnorml.org/take-action-penalty-reduction/

Marijuana Decriminalization is a Trend Texas Should Follow

I respectfully ask you to seriously consider supporting any bill which follows this trend. Thank you for your support to our state.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 04 2021

The above photo is from: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/03/17/man-who-died-in-collin-county-jail-was-having-mental-health-crisis-attorney-says/ It is a good read if you want to check it out.

I took photos of the jail back around 2004 when I was taking photography class at Collin Collège; with a famous photographer professor. I got a A in that class. Just after I took those photos I noticed a Collin County sheriffs vehicle following my car as I left. When I took those photos it was raining. The rain and the photos matched exactly as if they were meant to be. Many people have died at the Collin County Detention facility not to mention the jail before it was built. It is a somber reminder of days gone by and the clinging of the barbaric law as a way of governing people through fear.

Collin County is a result of a police state. I posted a story years ago that best describes that. The story was about the incredible amount of people here that reports things to police; more than anywhere in the USA. The reason so many people report suspicion of crimes here, to the police; is because they are afraid of the police. You feel safe here and at the same time you are at the mercy of the paranode people here; that have a overwhelming fear of the police. That is why I have posted the quote by: Franklin D. Roosevelt from the first inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, many, many times online: - "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days."
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_Franklin_D._Roosevelt

I have protested the miss diagnosis of psychiatric disorders many, many times on the internet. The internet is riddled with them.

She said in here : https://www.bet.com/news/national/2021/03/24/marvin-scott-iii-death-texas-custody-sheriff-sister-family-answers.html

Batts called her brother “my road dog. He picked up my boys from school every day, they spent the night at his house and we would go out together.

There is no way a human being could accomplish all this as a schizophrenic. If you look up schizophrenia in reputable places you will see what I am trying to convey.

As always; I am just trying to help people. I can post articles all day but when I make comments I do my best to be as accurate as possible, without my own emotional comments. I try never to get emotional or personal especially in a case like this that has transpired where I live. I do not get paid for this or have editors. I make many typos that go uncorrected; that is the nature of this type of work. If you still read my posts; then I thank you. I do my best and that is all I can do.

From: https://nypost.com/2021/04/02/texas-guards-fired-for-in-custody-death-of-marvin-scott/

7 Texas guards fired for in-custody death of Marvin Scott

April 2, 2021 | 4:23pm | Updated April 2, 2021 | 4:31pm

Seven Texas jail guards have been fired in connection with the in-custody death of a schizophrenic black man — who was restrained, pepper-sprayed and covered with a spit mask, sheriff’s officials said.

Marvin Scott III, 26, died on March 14 at the Collin County Jail, where he was in custody on misdemeanor marijuana possession charges.

“Evidence I have seen confirms that these detention officers violated well-established Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures,” Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner said in a statement announcing the terminations of the detention officers Thursday. “Everyone in Collin County deserves safe and fair treatment, including those in custody at our jail. I will not tolerate less.”

Cops first transported Scott to a hospital in Allen, where he was arrested, because an officer recognized he was likely having a mental health crisis, an attorney for his family, S. Lee Merritt, told KXAS.

Scott was treated in an emergency room for about three hours before he was released and taken to the county jail. Once in the booking area, the man whose family said he had been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia started “exhibiting some strange behavior,” Skinner reportedly said at a March 19 news conference.

That prompted several officers to strap Scott to a restraint bed and pepper-spray him. A spit hood was also put over his head about four hours after he was booked, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Scott, a resident of Frisco, was later rushed to a hospital upon becoming unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead.

The county’s medical examiner is expected to release Scott’s autopsy in coming weeks, but an independent review by a pathologist found he likely died from being restrained and asphyxiation, KXAS reported.

The seven officers who were booted included a captain, a lieutenant and two sergeants, the Dallas Morning News reported. They have not been publicly identified.

Skinner said an eighth officer has submitted his resignation.

An investigation by the Texas Rangers is ongoing, Skinner added.

Scott’s mother told the station he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia two years earlier but had not experienced a mental health crisis in a year.

“When we got him OK with his medication, he was starting to take them and fell off and felt like if he would use marijuana, it would benefit him more,” LaSandra Scott said.

Scott’s funeral was held Tuesday in St. Louis, where he grew up, WFAA reported: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/it-hurts-marvin-scotts-family-buries-him-in-st-louis-while-collin-county-investigators-look-into-his-in-custody-death/287-f6d42c76-53ba-4cc2-85a7-25aa130c3314

“We are pleased with the decision and consider this progress, the first step of many more to come,” Scott’s family said in a statement Thursday. “Next, these former officers need to be arrested and brought to justice.”

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 06 2021

Sign the petition here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-bidens-first-judicial-nominees-are-a-great-first-step-lets-keep-going

Sign the petition: Biden’s first judicial nominees are a great step. Let’s keep going.

On March 30, President Biden announced his intent to nominate 11 judicial nominees, 10 to serve as Federal Circuit and District Court judges, and one to serve as the Superior Court Judge for the District of Columbia.

Among Biden’s nominees are three Black women nominated for Federal Circuit court vacancies, including Ketanji Brown Jackson, who, if confirmed, would fill Attorney General Merrick Garland’s former role on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The slate includes nominees with a breadth of professional experiences, including public defenders. Out of all 11 candidates, there are nine women, seven of whom are women of color.

Appointing diverse judges—both in terms of demographics and professional experience—is crucial to addressing disparities in our courts, regarding both representation on the bench and the decisions judges hand down. Biden’s initial slate is a great first step, but we still face a deficit of Latinx, LGBTQ+, Indigenous, Muslim, and disabled candidates, in addition to nominees with civil rights backgrounds.

We know these nominees face an uphill battle against Republican senators and the existing barriers in our courts that keep marginalized and underrepresented candidates out. That’s why we must urge the Biden administration and U.S. Senate Democrats to continue to loudly advocate for these nominees and put forth more diverse candidates.

Sign the petition: The initial slate of judicial nominees is very promising. Keep up the momentum and continue to nominate traditionally underrepresented candidates from a breadth of backgrounds.

President Biden and U.S. Senate Democrats

Our Message to President Biden and U.S. Senate Democrats :

Thank you for translating your commitment to diverse judicial nominees into real action. The initial slate of 11 nominees is a fantastic first step, and there’s still more we can do. Please ensure that in future slates, you nominate candidates with civil rights backgrounds, candidates with careers as public defenders and in nonprofit organizations, and Latinx, LGBTQ+, Indigenous, Muslim, and disabled candidates.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 07 2021

[Sign now] : https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/sign-now-100000-citizen-co-sponsors-needed-to-pass-amy-klobuchars-robocall-ban-bill

100,000 Citizen Co-Sponsors needed to pass Amy Klobuchar's Robocall Ban Bill >>

Amy Klochuchar is SPEARHEADING a new bill to BAN ROBOCALLS FOREVER >>

“Most Robocalls aren’t just annoying, they’re illegal.” - Amy Klobuchar

Sign Congressional Hispanic Caucus's BOLD PAC's petition TODAY as a Citizen Co-Sponsor for Amy Klobuchar's Robocall Ban Bill! >>

You’d think Amy Klobuchar’s Bill would get bipartisan support...

But Special Interests controlling the GOP are trying to KILL THIS BILL.

We need 100,000 Citizen Co-Sponsors to FORCE the Senate to pass this critical bill.

This isn’t just about banning annoying robocalls. Robocalls use sinister tricks to TARGET the elderly, STEAL credit card info, and PREY on vulnerable Americans with total scams.

So we are ecstatic to see that Amy Klobuchar is laying down the hammer on this horrible practice.

So, please sign now. Amy Klobuchar needs public support! And since this is not a famous bill, your signature makes an even bigger impact. So sign now!

Did you ever think you do not matter or your entire race? Maybe it does not mean anything in history or the bleak future. Maybe all of this surrounds one race only. I know you have heard it before but maybe the future only has to do with the Jews. Whether or not the Jewish folks suffer or not means how it is going to go. One thing I have realized in my little time of examining the Jewish people is; the whole world gets it, not just me. As far as I see; the Jewish people are treated well as a race; as rightfully they should be. Also they seem to be the victims of envy and hate. They are watching. Are they watching like the eyes of Texas? Read more here: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2020/08/16/ut-drum-major-says-she-wont-lead-the-eyes-of-texas-when-football-returns/ :

From: https://komonews.com/news/local/redmond-man-pleads-guilty-to-hate-crime-charges-for-threatening-journalists-advocates

Redmond man pleads guilty to hate crime charges for threatening journalists, advocates

by KOMO News Staff Wednesday, April 7th 2021

SEATTLE – A Redmond man who is a leader of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division pled guilty Wednesday to federal conspiracy and hate crime charges for threatening journalists and anti-Semitism advocates, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

According to the DOJ, Cameron Shea, 25, and three co-defendants were charged with conspiring to identify journalists and advocates to threaten them in retaliation for their work exposing anti-Semitism.

The group created posters with Nazi symbols and threatening messages to deliver to the people the group was targeting.

Shea ordered members of the group to post the posters at the homes of journalists in several cities including Tampa, Seattle, and Phoenix. Shea also mailed posters to several victims including a member of the Anti-Defamation League that read “our patience has its limits... you have been visited by your local Nazis,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office says.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 08 2021

[Add your name]: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/add-your-name-its-time-for-a-wealth-tax-to-make-ultra-millionaires-and-billionaires-pay-their-fair-share

It's time for a wealth tax to make ultra-millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share! >>

Sign Working Families Party's petition today. If there was ever a time for the billionaires to pay their fair share, it’s now.

America’s tax system is so ridden with loopholes and special breaks that families in the top 0.1% pay about 3.2% of their wealth in taxes while the bottom 99% pay a little over double of that in taxes.

The gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans is wider than ever. And it gets even more stark when you factor in race: the 400 richest Americans own more wealth than all Black households plus a quarter of Latino households combined.

The coronavirus and the economic crisis that followed have only worsened this wealth gap. Billionaire wealth now stands at $4.2 trillion, which is 40 percent higher than before the COVID crisis began. Meanwhile, millions remain unemployed, and families struggle to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

We urgently need to address the growing power of billionaires, corporations, and their lobbyists as they rig the system and rules in their favor.

Add your name as a co-sponsor of Working Family Party's Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act. It's time for a wealth tax to make ultra-millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share. Let's fight to get this done. >>

Send letter here: https://www.texasnorml.org/take-action-medical-cannabis/

Seriously ill patients need safe, legal access to medical marijuana

Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter.

In a span of hours, Alabama Republican goes from denying an affair to apologizing for it

Daily Kos Staff Wednesday April 07, 2021 · 5:52 PM CDT

On Tuesday night, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill denied allegations that he carried on a “sordid” affair with a Montgomery woman named Cesaire McPherson. McPherson detailed “a number of sordid accusations” about an affair she and Merrill had that lasted at least 16 months. McPherson also accused the Alabama Secretary of State of making racist comments. On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Merrill denied all of the claims, saying that McPherson was a stalker who he had to cut off online because she was obsessed with him. Merrill is married with two children and is a Republican who promotes all kinds of “family values” hooey.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 10 2021

Normal sends me these again and again and want me and you to send them when crucial bills are going through. I guess we won 2 big bills recently here in Texas and New York went legal. Just think Marvin Scott would have never died if the laws were changed.

Sign this petition here: https://www.texasnorml.org/take-action-penalty-reduction/

I respectfully ask you to seriously consider supporting any bill which follows this trend. Thank you for your support to our state.

Sign the petition NOW.: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-we-must-end-the-war-on-marijuana-and-demand-congress-to-pass-the-more-act

We must end the war on marijuana and demand Congress to pass the MORE Act

#ICYMI New York just became the 16th state to legalize marijuana in America. The legislation not only legalizes possession of the substance, but also regulates sales and bars police from searching vehicles due to smelling marijuana.

The most compelling provision is the expungement of past marijuana convictions. America’s war on drugs provided the mechanism for decades of policing, brutality, and mass incarceration. Someone is arrested for a marijuana offense every 58 seconds. Just in 2019, there were 545,601 marijuana arrests in the country and 92% of these arrests were for marijuana possession alone — not for sale or manufacturing.

In the U.S., there are more arrests for marijuana possession each year than for all violent crimes combined. These arrests disproportionately target Black and brown people. Overall, Black people are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana-related offenses than white people.

While this is a major win for cannabis advocates locally, we must continue applying pressure for Congress to pass legislation on the federal level.

Millions of people have been impacted by the war on cannabis. Hundreds of thousands of Black and brown people are imprisoned, torn from their families, no longer qualify for federal student aid, lose their right to vote, and then struggle to financially sustain themselves when they are released. It is time for this bogus war to end.

We must act now for so many black and brown people facing the injustice of minor marijuana offenses. Add your name to urge Congress to pass the MORE Act.

The MORE - the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement - Act would decriminalize cannabis for adults by removing it from the list of controlled substances, eliminate related criminal penalties, and take several other major steps toward criminal justice reform, social justice, and economic development.

On December 4, the House passed the MORE Act. However, the new Congress was sworn in back in January, so the process has to start over again.

Now is the time to ask your Congressional reps and Senators to bring this legislation back to Congress. Sign the petition to pass the MORE Act.

Another provision of the legislation creates the Cannabis Opportunity Program, with a cannabis licensing board. The program would also offer grants to boost licensing equity at the local level. Right now, a drug-related offense in the past 10 years prevents felons from owning, being employed at, investing in, or serving as a board member of any cannabis-related business.

Passing this legislation would not only bring hundreds of thousands of jobs in the cannabis industry, but it will also give wrongfully charged felons their lives back with the expungement of marijuana related offenses.

Sign the petition NOW.: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-we-must-end-the-war-on-marijuana-and-demand-congress-to-pass-the-more-act

We must end the war on marijuana and demand Congress to pass the MORE Act.

PETITIONING

Congress

SPONSORED BY

Daily Kos Liberation League

Our Message to Congress :

We must end the war on marijuana. Hundreds of thousands of Black and brown people are imprisoned, torn from their families, no longer qualify for federal student aid, lose their right to vote, and then struggle to financially sustain themselves when they are released. It is time for this bogus war to end. I urge you to pass the MORE Act and give past marijuana offenders their lives back.

SIGN NOW: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tax-ceos/

BECOME A GRASSROOTS CO-SIGNER OF THE TAX EXCESSIVE CEO PAY ACT

Millionaires and billionaires have never had it so good. According to new data, the U.S. has added 50 new billionaires since the pandemic began. Meanwhile, millions of Americans have fallen into poverty during the pandemic.

In the past 40 years, average workers’ pay rose by about 13%, while average CEO pay grew by over 1,000%.

Today, the CEO-to-worker pay ratio sits at 320-to-1, a dramatic increase from 21-to-1 in 1965.

The Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act, introduced by Representatives Barbara Lee and Rashida Tlaib, and Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Chris Van Hollen, would tax big corporations that pay their CEOs and other top executives at least 50 times more than they pay an average worker. The wider a company’s gap between CEO and median worker pay, the higher their federal corporate tax rate.

The bill would raise an estimated $150 billion over 10 years that could be used to reduce racial, gender, and economic inequality. It would only impact U.S. corporations with average annual sales for the three preceding years of at least $100 million.

At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and worsened income and wealth inequality, it’s critical that we pass legislation that levels the playing field between workers and corporate executives.

Add your name now to become a grassroots co-signer of the Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act, and demand a country that works for all of us, not just the wealthy few.

From my friends down in Dallas that I support every year; with a five dollar contribution.:

Sign this petition here: https://resourcecenter.salsalabs.org/lgbtqhealthcare/index.html

LGBTQ people, especially transgender and gender non-conforming youth, deserve full access to affirming healthcare.

Texas Capitol

Bills that undermine healthcare for LGBTQ people are progressing in committee in the Texas Legislature. These bills would all but eliminate access to affirming care for transgender youth and introduce refusal rights based on religious belief. These bills are nothing short of legislated discrimination and run contrary to medical ethics and best-practice care.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 12 2021

I had about 3 petitions and a article lined up to post on April 11th; then I clicked on close browser on Google Chrome instead of close tab. In Google Chrome I have the setting on to delete browser history on exit; of course. The problem is I could not restore the browser session. Goggle Chrome should learn from Explorer and ask whether you want to close all tabs. I lost all that data; but looked up this one petition to post here today.:

Sign this petition here:

https://action.aclu.org/petition/tx-george-floyd-act

GEORGE FLOYD ACT

The protests across the U.S. demanding justice for George Floyd — and countless other Black people who have been killed by police — have laid bare what we've known for too long: Policing in our country is deeply entrenched in racism and brutality, and we have to make changes to stop it.

That's why we need to pass each of the provisions of the Texas George Floyd Act which will implement sweeping solutions to policing in Texas. The bill aims to dismantle policies that shield officers from accountability. It will require officers to do what we expect of them like prevent crimes, even by other officers. It limits arrests for petty offenses like traffic violations. And it will limit use of force, especially lethal force, among other commonsense proposals.

These measures are the most urgent, impactful changes we can make as a state to protect communities from police harm.

If you're ready to fight for a world where Black Texans do not have to live in fear of the police, add your name today. We'll let your lawmakers know that you support the Texas George Floyd Act and share other crucial ways for you to get involved.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 13 2021

Marvin Scott III’s Family and Collin County NAACP Rally in Allen

APRIL 13, 2021

When LaChay Batts showed up to Big Ray’s BBQ in Allen, she could barely even explain who her brother, Marvin Scott III, was through tears rolled down her face. Every night at 9 p.m. since his death on March 14—allegedly at the hands of Collin County detention officers—she and others have sat outside the Collin County Jail, begging for the names and arrests of the officers involved in her brother’s death. The sheriff fired seven of them shortly after word spread about the incident. The eighth resigned.

The Collin County NAACP hosted this outdoor rally on a Sunday afternoon and called her to the storefront to say a few words about her brother Marvin. Her voice was hoarse from yelling his name night after night in front of the county jail. Their mother, LaSandra Scott, couldn’t even look at her daughter while she spoke. Instead, she stared at the sky as if she was fighting tears.

“He was so loving, nurturing,” LaChay said. Everyone, 150 people, wore red and black in honor of her brother’s favorite colors. “He seen the world in a different way. He didn’t see the bad in anybody at all. He thought everybody was good people. And clearly not, but he probably still seen the good in the officers that took his life. Marvin is truly missed. I miss him every day. To know him was to love him.”

At the rally, they asked the district attorney to arrest the detention officers involved in Marvin’s death, and called for state legislators and law enforcement agencies to address the role of officers in dealing with mental health issues. They also are petitioning the Allen police chief to implement a cite and release or stomp-out policy for those who have less than 4 ounces of marijuana. Finally, they marched from Big Ray’s to the Allen Police Department.

Marvin Scott III

Marvin was only 26 on March 14 when Allen police arrested him for smoking a joint in the parking lot of an outlet mall in Allen. He’d been mumbling to himself and caught the attention of security, who called the police. According to friends and family, he suffered from schizophrenia.

Allen police took him to a nearby hospital where a doctor cleared him to be taken to jail. He died later that evening under suspicious circumstances that allegedly involved asphyxiation, according to an independent third-party autopsy report. The family’s attorney, Lee Merritt, claimed Marvin had been restrained, doused with pepper spray and choked.

Several weeks have passed since Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner terminated those involved and announced the Texas Rangers’ investigation into Marvin’s death. But the names of those allegedly involved in Marvin’s death still have not been released despite the demands from the family and their supporters. It’s another reason why they gathered on this Sunday afternoon at Big Ray’s BBQ in Allen.

A few weeks after Marvin’s death, Plano Police Chief Ed Drain announced a special order for police to start ticketing people for low level marijuana possession — under 2 ounces — instead of taking them to the county jail, in part, because it disproportionately affects Black Americans like Marvin. The Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey offered his condolences to the family in a statement released on social media. He has yet to announce any policy changes or special orders. Those gathered at Big Ray’s want that to change.

Sometimes I think the internet speaks to me on a spiritual level. If this is true, it is something I hold on to willingly. Sometimes I wonder if God judges us by our interaction with the internet. After the millions of words I have posted on the internet; to this day, I have never used one curse word. This is just one of those internet things I have done on a spiritual level; unconsciously. If it determines my after life, than all the better; yet it has just come naturally for me and most likely will be, what I do as a staple, of who I am.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 14 2021

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021 Austin PD won't disavow 'paramilitary' culture in its academy; Dallas cops caught using unauthorized facial recognition tech; police reform in Houston hits a dead end; and other stories Here are a few odds and ends that merit Grits readers' attention while mine is focused elsewhere.

Read here: https://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2021/04/austin-pd-wont-disavow-paramilitary.html

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 16 2021

Ill say it again: Just think Marvin Scott would have never died if the laws were changed.

Click here to send letter.: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/texas-ask-your-representative-to-co-author-hb-3772-marijuana-penalty-reduction-flower-and-concentrates

Texas: Ask your representative to co-author HB 3772! (Marijuana Penalty Reduction - Flower AND Concentrates!)

ACTION ITEM: Ask your representative to co-author HB 3772!

Chairman James White's HB 3772 has been scheduled for a hearing this Monday, April 19. The Criminal Jurisprudence Committee meeting will begin at 1pm or upon adjournment of the House and live video broadcast will be available here when the hearing begins. Follow this Facebook event for live updates and a link to the live stream.

House Bill 3772 reduces penalties for low-level possession of cannabis flower AND THC concentrates. Here's what Chairman White's bill would do:

· Revises the definition of marijuana to include concentrates and exclude hemp products

· Adds a Class C for possession of <1 oz of marijuana

· Allows expunction of a Class C marijuana or paraphernalia charge if it is dismissed

· Automatic deferred adjudication for a Class C marijuana or paraphernalia charge (max once every 12 months)

· No 180-day driver's license suspension for Class C marijuana or paraphernalia convictions

Here's how you can help: Ask your representative to co-author HB 3772!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 16 2021

Sign here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-urge-biden-to-end-the-use-of-all-private-prisons-and-detention-centers-2

Campaign Action

Sign the petition: Urge Biden to end the use of all private prisons AND detention centers

Since 1970, the U.S. prison population has increased by a whopping 700% with 2.3 million people incarcerated across the country.

With Black people comprising only 13% of the total U.S. population, but close to 40% of the total U.S. prison population, the prison industrial complex depends on local and state police departments and federal law enforcement agencies targeting Black, brown, Indigenous communities. The expansion of private prisons and immigrant detention mean corporations then turn a profit from incarcerating and detaining our most vulnerable community members.

Over 80% of immigrants held in detention -- and over 8% of all incarcerated people -- are held in privately operated facilities, most of which are operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic. Not only are these companies making billions from ICE’s racist detention and deportation machine, there is little government oversight and conditions in these facilities are often deadly for incarcerated people.

In January, President Biden issued an executive order barring the Department of Justice (DOJ) from signing new contracts with private prison companies. However, this executive order did not apply to the Department of Homeland Security or state and local governments. While this is an important first step, the administration must apply the same standard to DHS and encourage state and local governments to do the same.

The Biden administration must move away from incarceration and detention by not allowing transfers of individuals held in these private facilities and move towards a community-based immigration approach.

Private prisons and detention centers cannot continue to turn a profit by caging people and fuel mass incarceration and the immigrant detention system.

Add your name: Demand the Biden administration completely ban the use of for-profit prisons and detention centers.

PETITIONING

Biden-Harris administration

SPONSORED BY

Daily Kos Liberation League

Our Message to Biden-Harris administration :

Private prisons and detention centers cannot continue to profit off of caging people and fuel mass incarceration and the immigrant detention system. Over 80% of immigrants held in detention -- and over 8% of all incarcerated people -- are held in privately operated facilities, most of which are operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic. Moreover, our country incarcerates more people than any other country with inhumane and deadly consequences. While your administration took an important first step in curbing the DOJ’s private prison contracts, you must also do the same for all DHS contracts and move away from incarceration and detention by committing to not transferring individuals held in these private facilities. You must also move towards a sponsor-based immigration model for the sake of our communities.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 17 2021

Sign the petition: Stop the Byhalia pipeline. Don’t turn Memphis into Flint 2.0!: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-stop-the-byhalia-pipeline-dont-turn-memphis-into-flint-20

Safe water is a human right. But that right is threatened by fossil fuel extraction and environmental racism.

Right now, Valero Energy Corp. and Plains All American Pipeline are pushing to construct the Byhalia Connection Pipeline which will cut directly through the predominantly Black South Memphis. The proposed pipeline also threatens the Memphis Sand Aquifer, which provides clean and safe drinking water to residents around Memphis, TN.

The pipeline’s proposed route runs through several Black communities in Southwest Memphis, including one known as Boxtown, a historic community already burdened by dozens of toxic industrial facilities.

A pipeline through Black Memphis is an assault not just on the environment, but on Black communities everywhere.

The Biden-Harris Administration has the power to revoke the permit that the Byhalia Pipeline is being constructed under—we need to make our voices heard!

Sign now to call on the Biden-Harris administration to revoke the permit for the Byhalia Connection Pipeline and reevaluate permitting for new oil and gas pipelines across the country.

PETITIONING

Biden administration

SPONSORED BY

Daily Kos Liberation League

Our Message to Biden administration :

The proposed Byhalia Connection Pipeline would run through several Black communities in Southwest Memphis, including one known as Boxtown, a historic community already burdened by dozens of toxic industrial facilities. Water is a human right. You have the power to stop this dangerous, racist fossil fuel extraction. Protect Black Memphis communities and revoke the Byhalia Pipeline permits.

Good job Germany. You see the irony in all of this? Even the anti-Christ will make a deal with the Jewish people to take the earth. Prejudice is the number one enemy of everyone on this earth and this is known and becoming known; to each and everyone of us. If you hate any large majority of any group or race of any human beings; you are a outright enemy of the world, according to us all. Welcome to the future; coming at you in the speed of light.

Anti-Semitism is everybody’s problem, says German envoy

APR 16, 2021, 11:27 PM

Anti-Jewish hate and violence—long a scourge of Europe—is once again on the increase, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a bruising toll on economies from Belgium to Bulgaria.

Yet in the wake of neo-Nazi conspiracy theories and online Holocaust denial, the land that nurtured and gave rise to Adolf Hitler has a special responsibility to stem this rising tide of hatred, argues Emily Haber, Germany’s ambassador to the United States.

The ambassador added: “Confronting the past is a long-term challenge, and it will never end.”

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 19 2021

Every time I hurt my arm updating this blog I do it because I love people. I know I do not get out very much but I am positive if you ask people; they will tell you I am nice to every person I meet. Because my arm problem that stems from my vertebrae; everything I do hurts a little. Dr. Remer did my MRI's and treated me for the problem so I am doing pretty good since then. Also because I workout. I am also turning out some very cool artwork at a record speed as always these days. I am trying to say I do this stuff because I care about people.

This alleged Capitol rioter is dangerous for NJ Jews, prosecutors say

April 19, 2021

(JTA) — An alleged neo-Nazi sympathizer who is accused of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 is dangerous for Jews in his native New Jersey and should not be released from jail, prosecutors said.

Timothy Hale-Cusanelli had asked to be released pending the outcome of his trial, which is ongoing. A federal judge ordered Hale-Cusanelli be detained last month.

“Defendant poses a more localized threat to the community, particularly the Hassidic community in Lakewood, New Jersey,” federal prosecutors wrote in a court filing, CNN reported Saturday. “Defendant has demonstrated specific animosity towards the Jewish population and expressed a desire to commit violence against Jewish people.”

QAnon promoters helped kill those three little children

Saturday April 17, 2021 · 9:41 PM CDT

In “Mother unraveled in depression, QAnon-style conspiracies in months before she killed 3 kids”, Matt Hamilton and Richard Winton today reported in the LA Times the horrifying story of how Liliana Carrillo came to kill her children Joanna, 3; Terry, 2; and Sierra, 6 months.

Carrillo was already having trouble with postpartum depression, anger, and childhood trauma. She was treated for depression but quit therapy and refused to take her meds.

What put her over the edge was QAnon.

Texas: Ask your representative to co-author HB 3772! (Marijuana Penalty Reduction - Flower AND Concentrates!):

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/texas-ask-your-representative-to-co-author-hb-3772-marijuana-penalty-reduction-flower-and-concentrates

ACTION ITEM: Ask your representative to co-author HB 3772!

House Bill 3772 reduces penalties for low-level possession of cannabis flower AND THC concentrates. Here's what Chairman White's bill would do:

· Revises the definition of marijuana to include concentrates and exclude hemp products

· Adds a Class C for possession of <1 oz of marijuana

· Allows expunction of a Class C marijuana or paraphernalia charge if it is dismissed

· Automatic deferred adjudication for a Class C marijuana or paraphernalia charge (max once every 12 months)

· No 180-day driver's license suspension for Class C marijuana or paraphernalia convictions

Here's how you can help: Ask your representative to co-author HB 3772!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 21 2021

Yeah, yeah Bush I hear you. Painting will Transend you to another world. Oil painting takes money, an adequate studio with a proper cleaning and disposal of toxic oil painting enzymes; cost money. Bush's paintings is way more thought provoking than tight accurate artwork, Sometimes thought provoking is just as important. I am a believer in the meeting of quality and quantity, personally. I am only one of many art opinions. Who's right? Who knows?

A portrait of Army Capt. Florent Groberg by former president George W. Bush. Born in France, Groberg received a Medal of Honor in 2015. (George W. Bush)

As the patrol advanced towards the governor's compound, they reached the choke point along the route, a small bridge spanning a canal feeding the Kunar River. The patrol halted near the bridge as two motorcycles approached from the opposite direction. The motorcyclists began crossing the bridge, but stopped midway before dismounting and retreating in the opposite direction.

As the patrol observed the motorcyclists, Groberg also spotted a lone individual near the left side of the formation, walking backwards in the direction of the patrol. The individual did not cause immediate alarm as there were other local civilians in the area.

However, when the individual made an abrupt turn towards the formation, Groberg saw he was wearing a suicide vest. He rushed the suspect and shoved him away from the patrol. Groberg, aided by fellow soldier Sgt. Andrew Mahoney, grabbed the suicide bomber and physically dragged him away from the formation.

Groberg with President Obama, his parents Klara and Larry Groberg, and friend, Matthew Sanders, on September 11, 2012 at Walter Reed National Medical Center.

Groberg tackled the suicide bomber, who then detonated his device, sending Groberg flying 15 to 20 feet away. A second suicide bomber, who was hidden behind a small structure, instantly detonated his device; according to the Army, he detonated prematurely because of Groberg's actions to stop the first bomber. Three U.S. military personnel (U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, U.S. Army Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray) and U.S. Foreign Service Officer Ragaei Abdelfattah from the U.S. Agency for International Development were killed and several others were injured.

Despite the loss of life, Groberg's actions prevented the bombers from detonating their devices as planned, which could have killed many more on the patrol.

As a result of his actions, Groberg sustained the loss of 45 to 50 percent of his left calf muscle with significant nerve damage, a blown eardrum, and a mild traumatic brain injury. Groberg spent his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from August 2012 through May 2015. He was medically retired from Company B Warriors, Warrior Transition Battalion, as a captain, on July 23, 2015.

This afternoon, looked for a long time for the artist of a metal band I listened to a little and finally found it; Salvator Rosa. Salvator Rosa did the artwork for a metal band I was listening to; that I thought liked. Salvator Rosa was a awesome artist I am glad I discovered his art. He died in 1673. This guy painted like Salvador Dali and was way ahead of his generation. My favorite artist alive and well is, and has been most of my adult life: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Williams_(artist) He is still turning out amazing artwork; to this day. This guy needs to have what ever he desires to create new art.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 22 2021

Just got this email from the Democratic Party of Collin County. :

From where I sit: Killing Collin College

Vote NOW to save it!

A view from the Chair - Mike Rawlins, Collin County Democratic Party Chair

April 20, 2021

Collin College is slowly being strangled.

I almost never make personal endorsements in Democratic primaries and non-partisan races. I’m making a rare exception. Also, in general I have very mixed feelings about injecting partisan politics into non-partisan races. But I have no reservations about this.

So, what’s going on?

Collin College, originally Collin County Community College, is the only taxpayer funded institute of higher education in the county. It provides Associates degrees, two different Bachelors programs, and continuing education for many professions. It’s one of the best uses of your local tax dollars.

The current President, H. Neil Matkin, is credited with seeing through an ambitious capital building program that adds new campuses in Celina, Farmersville, and Wylie. Unfortunately, his lack of similar attention to human capital has drawn national derision, generating over thirty articles in the media. Some of these actions and aspects of Board operations are headed toward lawsuits and even possible loss of the school’s accreditation.

Many of you are familiar with the controversy over the firing of three professors - one for trying to organize a chapter of the Texas Faculty Association, another for advocating for stronger COVID-19 safety measures, and the third for political comments made as a private citizen on her personal Twitter account after conservative politicians and media complained. These and other actions have resulted in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education labeling Collin College as one of the ten worst colleges for free speech in the US.

Despite Matkin outwardly wanting to re-orient the college’s focus to providing services to students -- what he calls the “Amazonification” of the college -- he has shown reckless disregard for their health by minimizing the pandemic (including the death of a faculty member from COVID-19), and prematurely pushing for in-person classes.

There isn’t space in this piece to go over the rest of the sordid stories, but some of the lowlights include public racist and sexist remarks, intimidation of faculty, and retaliation against those who defy him.

And if all of this isn’t bad enough, the Republicans are already deeply involved in this mess. President Matkin is buddy-buddy with State Representative Jeff Leach, “honored” by Texas Monthly as one of 2019’s Worst Legislators, who is one of those who asked that faculty be fired. It also turns out that the Chair of the Collin College Board of Trustees, Dr. Robert J. Collins, is uncle of Collin County Judge Chris Hill. It should come as no surprise that Uncle Bob is running the College much like "COVID Chris" is running the county.

The majority of the Board of Trustees supports all of this. Three of them are up for re-election May 1. Early voting has already started. You can change this situation and save Collin College by firing them, especially Board Chair Collins. The Collin County Democratic Party and I personally endorse and ask you to vote for:

Helen Chang – Place 7, to fire Jim Orr

Misty Irby – Place 8, to fire Board Chair Dr. Robert Collins

Jacoby Stewart, Sr. – Place 9, to fire Andy Hardin

These are non-partisan elections so the ballot won’t list “D” or “R”. Remember the names, and more importantly, tell all of your friends. The issues at hand are not partisan issues! They are about saving one of the county’s most valuable public institutions, being good stewards of tax dollars, ending corruption, and removing partisan political influence from an institution of higher education.

VOTE! You can find information about how, where, and when to vote, and the party’s recommendations, here.

Finally, I’ll bet some of you were skeptical when I mentioned over thirty stories in the media. I know you’re not going to read all of them, but so you’ll have a taste of how much bad publicity the college has generated here’s a partial list.

That Man Makes Me Crazy – The Chronicle of Higher Education, Michael Vasquez, April 13, 2021

Right-Wing Trolls Attacked Me. My Administration Buckled, L.D. Burnett, The Chronicle of Higher Education, October 15, 2020

Professor's Tweet about Pence's "Little Demon Mouth" Sparks Collin College Controversy, Simone Carter, Dallas Observer, October 19, 2020

Collin College Professor’s Tweet About Vice President Sparks Debate Over Academia And Free Speech, Bill Zeeble, Texas Standard, October 22, 2020

Collin College Student Dies After Contracting COVID-19, Bill Zeeble, KERA, October 29, 2020

Collin College Doesn’t Post A COVID-19 Dashboard. Faculty, Students Ask Why, Bill Zeeble, KERA, November 11, 2020

After coming out of retirement to train future nurses 70 year old Iris Meda dies of COVID-19, Talia Richman, Dallas Morning News, November 11, 2020

Collin College Releases COVID-19 Case Numbers Following Public Records Request, Bill Zeeble, KERA, November 12, 2020

Collin College pivots approach to pandemic after nursing instructor died and surge in regional cases, Talia Richman, Dallas Morning News, December 9, 2020

I voted today and voted for all of them
mentioned; in the above email sent to me from:
the Democratic Party of Collin County.

Just got this cool email from the NAACP.

Yesterday the world watched as the jury delivered their decision: officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on three counts in the murder of George Floyd.

A guilty verdict only proves that this country is still able to find a pulse. It does not mend the decades of damages enacted on the Black community at the hands of law enforcement. True healing comes with legislation that protects our communities, breeds safety and trust, and holds our law enforcement to a higher standard.

Chauvin is only the sixth officer to have been convicted of murdering someone while in the line of duty in the last 15 years. It took releasing graphic and traumatizing video evidence from witnesses and a year of unrest to get this sliver of accountability.

Until we achieve substantive police reform legislation that can ensure policing works for all communities, the fight against police brutality continues on.

The NAACP will not rest in our efforts to ensure the deaths of George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, and countless others are not in vain but move us toward true and unadulterated justice for our community. Please friend, we need your support today, will you make a generous donation today and join us in this fight?

As a younger man in college I watched how the Rodney King trials opened up the public’s eyes to the real danger Black and brown communities face from police in America.

Now countless victims like George Floyd, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor and now Daunte Wright have had their obituaries reopened, edited, rewritten, day after day. Our country has been relegated to no longer allowing the victim to Rest In Peace, but forcing their lives to be marred by public perception, criticism, and opinions as a method of rationalizing death as if our lives are expendable. Enough is Enough.

Decade after decade, the community’s relationship with Police Departments across the country continue to be largely fractured because of a lack of trust and the lack of accountability enforced.

A badge should never be a shield for accountability. It’s more than time for our justice system to reflect that.

Congress must act as a first step to addressing the ongoing issue of police brutality at the federal level by ending qualified immunity and enacting a federal database so we have transparency with the law enforcement that serves our community.

The NAACP will not rest until it happens. Please make a generous contribution and help us continue to advocate for legislation that protects our communities, breeds safety and trust, and holds our law enforcement to a higher standard TODAY!

The march against police brutality continues on.

Derrick Johnson

President and CEO

NAACP

LGBTQ community reacts after former cop Derek Chauvin found guilty of murdering George Floyd

Chauvin, who is white, killed Floyd by kneeling on his neck for several minutes as Floyd, who is Black, lay handcuffed on the ground.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Read here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/04/ex-cop-derek-chauvin-found-guilty-murdering-george-floyd/

REPUBLICANS ARE ONE BILL AWAY FROM MAKING IT LEGAL TO SHOOT A PROTESTER WHOSE SIGN THEY DON’T LIKE

APRIL 21, 2021

In the wake of last summer’s brutal murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin, millions of people around the country started to take part in racial-justice protests that have necessarily continued to this day—thanks to, most recently, the killing of a 20-year-old Black man pulled over for an air freshener allegedly blocking his rearview mirror and the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Black girl shortly before the jury reached a verdict in the Chauvin case.

Republicans obviously do not like these protests for a variety of reasons, chief among them being their insistence that racism does not exist. (As you might have noticed, they really, really do not like being called out for their part in the problem, hence slogans like “All Lives Matter” and the unhinged meltdown by a certain right-wing talking head over Chauvin’s conviction.) As last year’s protests hit a fever pitch, Donald Trump threatened to unleash “law and order,” i.e. police brutality, on people attempting to have their voices heard, tweeting on Juneteenth: “Any protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes who are going to Oklahoma please understand, you will not be treated like you have been in New York, Seattle, or Minneapolis.” Demonizing activists and demonstrators became a regular feature of his campaign, in which, on a near-daily basis, he warned voters that the Black Lives Matter movement was a “symbol of hate” embraced by Democrats as part of plan to destroy white people’s comfortable suburban lives. If he could have made it legal to attack a protester for displaying a sign one didn’t like, he most definitely would have.

Trump, of course, didn’t get to that, his focus being redirected elsewhere amidst his quest to overturn the 2020 election. But his Republican brethren, equally incensed by the notion of people speaking out against systemic racism, are hard at work on the task.

Following the signing of a Florida “anti-riot” law that, among other things, grants civil immunity to people who decide to drive their cars into protesters who are blocking a road and makes it a second-degree felony to destroy a plaque, memorial, painting, flag, or other structure commemorating historical people or events, The New York Times reports that GOP lawmakers in dozens of states have introduced anti-protest bills meant to silence people speaking out for justice. Oklahoma and Iowa, for instance, were apparently inspired by what Florida did re: basically encouraging drivers to strike protesters with their cars, and passed similar bills granting legal protections in certain situations for drivers who hit protesters supposedly blocking the street. In Indiana a Republican proposal would ban anyone convicted of unlawful assembly from holding state employment. A Minnesota bill would bar people convicted of unlawful protesting from receiving unemployment benefits, housing assistance, and even student loans. In Kentucky, where Breonna Taylor was killed by the police inside her apartment last year, the State Senate passed a bill that would make it a crime to insult a police officer with “offensive or derisive” words or gestures that could “provoke a violent response.” (In other words, one could be charged for using words that caused a police officer to violently respond to them.) That measure would have required those arrested to be held in jail for a minimum of 48 hours, a rule that does not automatically apply to people arrested in Kentucky on charges of arson, rape, or murder. While the bill died in the statehouse, its lead sponsor, Republican state senator Danny Carroll, said he would refile it next session.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 23 2021

Sign this petition here: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/289/578/851/the-chicago-police-department-shot-and-killed-a-13-year-old-kid-who-had-his-hands-up/

The video is as awful as it sounds and while you may wish to view it, please do not share the video on social media. Adam was a Latino seventh grader at Gary Elementary School. He liked legos and riding bikes with his friends. He was a child and he was murdered, and he was actually only 1 of 3 young people murdered by CPD that same week.

Sign the petition to demand that Chicago defunds CPD. Officer Eric Stillman who killed Adam must also be fired. More training and "reforming" is just money down the drain, and any version of these so far clearly hasn't worked. Cops shouldn't be responding to most of the things they are called to do.

Before the video came out, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Adam had a gun, but no gun is visible in the body cam footage. And even if there had been a gun, Adam was shot when he was told to put his hands up and he did. He was empty handed and complying, but they shot him in the chest and killed him anyway.

Sign this petition and read more here: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/289/578/851/the-chicago-police-department-shot-and-killed-a-13-year-old-kid-who-had-his-hands-up/

Shock G, Digital Underground front man and 'Humpty Hump' rapper, dead at 57

Updated 11:41 AM ET, Fri April 23, 2021

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/23/entertainment/shock-g-digital-underground-dead/index.html

This may sound funny but; although I knew of and respected the known professionally as Shock G (and his alter ego Humpty Hump) from my early 1980's addiction of MTV; my favorite memory of Humpty Hump was from the movie Nothing but Trouble (1991 film); because in the movie he seemed doomed by the insane corrupt judge, yet, he was set free.

All around the world, same song

(And all around the world) All all around the world same song

Yo, we've been all around the world

(And all around the world) All around the world same song

(And all around the world) All all around the world same song

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 26 2021

Black Men Serving Life Sentences in Louisiana Challenge Convictions by “Jim Crow Juries”: Two Cases

In Massive Effort, Civil Rights Groups Seek Reversal of More Than 1000 Convictions by Non-Unanimous Juries in Louisiana in Light of Supreme Court Ruling

April 20, 2021, St. Landry Parish and Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana – The Center for Constitutional Rights submitted petitions seeking to overturn the convictions of Rufus Henry and Matthew Allen, two Black men serving life sentences at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola after being convicted of second-degree murder by non-unanimous juries. The petitions are two of more than 1,000 filed by the Promise of Justice Initiative and more than 700 volunteer lawyers across the U.S. seeking justice for people still incarcerated in Louisiana who were convicted by non-unanimous juries. One year ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court held that non-unanimous verdicts in felony cases are unconstitutional, which makes today the deadline to file for relief for previous convictions. Advocates say allowing felony convictions by non-unanimous juries is a relic of the Jim Crow era, which has systematically discounted the votes of jurors of color, led to a significant number of wrongful convictions, and helped maintain disproportionately high rates of incarceration of Black people in Louisiana.

“Jim Crow Juries” were established in Louisiana by white supremacists at an 1898 Constitutional Convention, with the intention of maintaining the subjugation of Black Louisianans. Prior to last term’s Supreme Court ruling, Louisiana and Oregon were the only states still allowing felony convictions with non-unanimous juries, and only in Louisiana could a judge sentence someone to life without the possibility of parole when a jury did not reach a unanimous verdict. Both men represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights were convicted by juries 10-2. In both cases, the two votes not to convict were cast by the only two Black people on the jury, while the 10 votes to convict were all cast by white jurors. Both Mr. Henry and Mr. Allen claim they acted in self defense, and both cases excluded evidence that attorneys say would have substantiated their versions of events.

“The Jim Crow Jury system has sentenced our two clients to Death By Incarceration at Angola, where they remain despite the Supreme Court’s clear ruling that their convictions were unconstitutionally obtained,” said Center for Constitutional Rights Staff Attorney Angelo Guisado. “This system, designed by anti-Reconstructionists to ‘establish the supremacy of the white race,’ continues to subjugate Louisiana’s Black citizenry. We will stop at no end to bring about their liberation.”

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 27 2021

Got allot of emails about legalization today:

Texas: Call on your Representative to support expanded access to medical cannabis!: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/texas-call-on-your-representative-to-support-expanded-access-to-medical-cannabis

Our Texas Compassionate Use Program (T.CUP) is unreasonably restrictive, leaving behind the vast majority of patients who could benefit from access to medical cannabis.

Contact your representative in support of HB 1535, a bill that would expand access to TCUP!

House Bill 1535, authored by Chairwoman Stephanie Klick, would remove the terminal qualifier for cancer, allowing access to the Compassionate Use Program for all cancer patients. The bill also adds chronic pain and PTSD (for veterans only) while empowering the Department of State Health Services to add new qualifying conditions through their administrative rule-making process. HB 1535 would also raise the cap on THC to 5% and create "Institutional Review Boards," which will facilitate research and track the impact of medical cannabis on patients participating in the program.

These are important improvements to the Texas Compassionate Use Program. We would like to offer our recommendations on how the program can further be improved.

Allow Doctors to practice medicine by authorizing them to determine the optimal strength and dosage for each individual patient’s medical needs. This means there should be no list of qualifying conditions/symptoms nor any THC cap, both of which restrict a doctor’s ability to properly treat their patients.

Move from percentage based dosing to weight based dosing like other prescription medicines. Doctors should be able to recommend how many milligrams of THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids a patient needs rather than using a complicated formula to determine weight from the percentage restriction.

Protect doctors from federal interference by allowing them to "recommend" (not "prescribe") low-THC cannabis, which is still a Schedule I controlled substance. This is how all 36 states with effective medical cannabis laws operate.

Establish patient protections to eliminate the threat of arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner. These protections cover any denial of right or privilege, civil penalty, or disciplinary action, by a court or occupational licensing entity. Parental rights should never be denied, and students cannot be subject to any form of discipline solely because of possession or use of their legal medicine.

Authorize independent, third-party testing by certified labs for consumer protection and industry accountability. Currently, no independent lab can test medicine dispensed under the Compassionate Use Program.

Thank you for supporting Texas patients and families!

Sign this too: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-your-representative-to-support-hb-1535-2/

Ask your representative to support HB 1535!

HB 1535, authored by Rep. Stephanie Klick, would expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program and qualify more patients for medical cannabis. This bill is scheduled for debate on the House floor.

House Bill 1535 would remove the terminal qualiﬁer for cancer, allowing access to the Compassionate Use Program for all cancer patients. The bill also adds chronic pain and PTSD (for veterans only) while empowering the Department of State Health Services to add new qualifying conditions through their administrative rule-making process. HB 1535 would also raise the cap on THC to 5% and create "Institutional Review Boards," which will facilitate research and track the impact of medical cannabis on patients participating in the program.

These are important improvements to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, however legislators should be encouraged to offer amendment based on the recommendations below on how the program can further be improved.

● Allow Doctors to practice medicine by authorizing them to determine the optimal strength and dosage for each individual patient’s medical needs. This means there should be no list of qualifying conditions/symptoms nor any THC cap, both of which restrict a doctor’s ability to properly treat their patients.

● Move from percentage based dosing to weight based dosing like other prescription medicines. Doctors should be able to recommend how many milligrams of THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids a patient needs rather than using a complicated formula to determine weight from the percentage restriction.

● Protect doctors from federal interference by allowing them to "recommend" (not "prescribe") low-THC cannabis, which is still a Schedule I controlled substance. This is how all 36 states with effective medical cannabis laws operate.

● Establish patient protections to eliminate the threat of arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner. These protections cover any denial of right or privilege, civil penalty, or disciplinary action, by a court or occupational licensing entity. Parental rights should never be denied, and students cannot be subject to any form of discipline solely because of possession or use of their legal medicine. Authorize independent, third-party testing by certiﬁed labs for consumer protection and industry accountability. Currently, no independent lab can test medicine dispensed under the Compassionate Use Program.

It is imperative that your legislator hears from you on this important issue.

Ask your legislator to support HB 1535 and vote YES!

And here: https://norml.org/act/support-the-secure-and-fair-enforcement-banking-act-safe-banking-act/

Support The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE Banking Act)

The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE Banking Act) would allow state-licensed marijuana-related businesses to engage freely in relationships with banks and other financial institutions.

Currently, hundreds of licensed and regulated businesses do not have access to the banking industry and are unable to accept credit cards, deposit revenues, access loans, or write checks to meet payroll or pay taxes. This situation is untenable. No industry can operate safely, transparently, or effectively without access to banks or other financial institutions. Congress must move to change federal policy so that this growing number of state-compliant businesses, and their consumers, may operate in a manner that is similar to other legal commercial entities.

For these reasons, NORML has long advocated that federal lawmakers vote “yes” on The SAFE Banking Act.

This legislation passed the House on April 19th, 2021, with a vote of 321-101, with the support of 100% of voting Democrats and 51% of voting Republicans.

Please enter your information to the right to urge your Senators to support the SAFE Banking Act.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 28 2021

Ill say it again: Just think Marvin Scott would have never died if the laws were changed.

Click here to send letter.: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/texas-ask-your-representative-to-co-author-hb-3772-marijuana-penalty-reduction-flower-and-concentrates

Still more legalization emails today and one from Action Center too:

Ask your representative to vote Yes for HB 441: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-your-representative-to-vote-yes-for-hb-441/

Authored by Rep. Erin Zwiener, HB 441 would reduce penalties for possession of 1 ounce of marijuana or less to Class C and over 1 ounce to a Class B while disallowing arrests and setting up an expunction process.

This bill has advanced to the floor of the Texas House of Representatives, and will be voted on Thursday, April 29. Now is the time to ask your representative to vote in favor of this legislation.

Texas: Call on your Representative to support expanded access to medical cannabis!: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/texas-call-on-your-representative-to-support-expanded-access-to-medical-cannabis

Our Texas Compassionate Use Program (T.CUP) is unreasonably restrictive, leaving behind the vast majority of patients who could benefit from access to medical cannabis.

Contact your representative in support of HB 1535, a bill that would expand access to TCUP!

These are important improvements to the Texas Compassionate Use Program. We would like to offer our recommendations on how the program can further be improved.

Thank you for supporting Texas patients and families!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 29 2021

Ill say it again: Just think; Marvin Scott would have never died if the laws were changed.

Send email to congress here: https://norml.org/act/tell-congress-dont-use-taxpayer-dollars-to-shut-down-legalization/

Tell Congress: Don’t Use Taxpayer Dollars To Shut Down Legalization

Since 1970, marijuana has been federally criminalized and prohibited as a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

Starting with California in 1996, states have chosen to defy federal law by implementing programs to regulate and distribute cannabis for medical or adult-us purposes. Seventeen states and Washington, DC have legalized the adult use of marijuana and a total of 36 states -- as well as the District of Columbia -- regulate access to medical cannabis.

Congress first took a step in 2014 to remedy this federal-state conflict by approving an appropriations amendment restricting the Department of Justice from using taxpayers’ resources to interfere with state-authorized medical cannabis programs. Since its initial approval, this rider has been included in each subsequent annual spending package.

While Congress continues to prepare to enact further legislative changes to federal marijuana laws, as demonstrated by the House passage of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act in the 116th session, it is absolutely critical that the next appropriations package support common-sense actions such as an expansion of the existing rider to provide certainty to providers operating in these state-legal marijuana marketplaces and to the millions of Americans who rely upon them for safe and legal access.

Send a message to your federal lawmakers now: https://norml.org/act/tell-congress-dont-use-taxpayer-dollars-to-shut-down-legalization/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated April 30 2021

I got this in a email from Al Franken.com:

This one’s about something I fought for in the Senate. Crisis Intervention Training. It teaches police how to recognize how a situation they’re entering is being fueled by mental illness and it saves lives!

Hilarious!

Please give it a watch!:

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 01 2021

Lots of emails again for legalization:

I'll say it again: Just think; Marvin Scott would have never died if the laws were changed.

Texas: Call on your senator to support expanded access to medical cannabis!: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/texas-call-on-your-representative-to-support-expanded-access-to-medical-cannabis

Our Texas Compassionate Use Program (T.CUP) is unreasonably restrictive, leaving behind the vast majority of patients who could benefit from access to medical cannabis.

Rep. Stephanie Klick's HB 1535 has been passed by the Texas House and awaits consideration by the Senate.

Contact your senator in support of HB 1535, a bill that would expand access to TCUP!

House Bill 1535, authored by Chairwoman Stephanie Klick, would remove the terminal qualifier for cancer, allowing access to the Compassionate Use Program for all cancer patients. The bill also adds chronic pain and PTSD while empowering the Department of State Health Services to add new qualifying conditions through their administrative rule-making process. HB 1535 would also raise the cap on THC to 5% and create "Institutional Review Boards," which will facilitate research and track the impact of medical cannabis on patients participating in the program.

Texas: No more arrests or criminal records for marijuana possession!: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-texas-lawmakers-no-more-arrests-or-criminal-records-for-marijuana-possession

Current marijuana laws in Texas are harsh, unreasonable, and ineffective.

In 2018, our state arrested more than 62,000 for the simple possession of marijuana, a substance we know to be objectively safer that alcohol, tobacco, and many pharmaceutical drugs patients are prescribed every day.

Reducing penalties for low-level marijuana possession will free up valuable criminal justice resources by eliminating the arrest, jail time, and collateral consequences currently associated with even small amounts of marijuana.

It’s time for a change!

Ask the Lt Gov and Texas Senate to quickly advance penalty reduction!: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-the-lt-gov-and-texas-senate-to-quickly-advance-penalty-reduction

Bipartisan legislation HB 441 which would reduce penalties for low level cannabis possession has passed the House and is on it’s way to the Senate. This legislation will save Texas taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, allow law enforcement to focus on violent crime and property crime, and stop saddling Texans with a litany of unreasonable harsh consequences.

Ask the Lt Gov and Texas Senate to quickly advance medical cannabis expansion!:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-the-lt-gov-and-texas-senate-to-quickly-advance-medical-cannabis-expansion

Republican Chairwoman Stephanie Klick’s HB 1535 just passed out of the house and is on its way to the Senate. With only a few weeks left in this legislative session, it is important that the Senate advances this legislation quickly so we can ensure its passage. This bill will help thousands of Texans including our veterans, those living with chronic pain, and those fighting cancer.

Ask the Lt Gov and the Texas Senate to advance concentrate penalty reduction:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-the-lt-gov-and-the-texas-senate-to-advance-concentrate-penalty-reduction

Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Moody’s HB 2593 just passed out of the house and is on its way to the Senate. With only a few weeks left in this legislative session, it is important that the Senate quickly advances this legislation to remove the unreasonably harsh weight of a felony charge.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 03 2021

Plano Police Blasted for Not Stopping Man who Confronted Marvin Scott III Protest

MAY 3, 2021 | 3:41PM

Video footage captured a tall white man, wearing a navy shirt and sports sunglasses, barreling toward protesters while screaming obscenities. With a buzzcut and graying goatee, the man is seen approaching a Plano officer positioned at the intersection and demanding that he “get these #% people out of the way.”

Then, the man walks toward a young Black woman and slaps the cell phone she was using to film him to the ground. Demonstrators circle around her, and attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the Scott family, approaches the man. From there, the man puts his right fist on Merritt’s chest while holding up his left fist as if prepared to strike. The officer attempts to usher the man in the opposite direction.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 05 2021

This is exactly what I was talking about Facebook being a stupid, blind, prejudice craving American mob mentality, on my other blog; today.:

However, Facebook continues to help groups that peddle hate and racial division like David Horowitz Freedom Center spread their messages and recruit new members from their platform as long as the creative content of their ads does not violate its hate policies.

David Horowitz Freedom Center has spent $39,669 to run ads on its Facebook page since May 2018, according to Facebook’s Ad Library. In 2019, Sludge reported that Facebook had taken in nearly $1.6 million from SPLC-designated hate groups to run their ads.

Americans must be prejudice against large groups of people. Take away one prejudice and there will be another to take it's place, and so on and so on.

Sign this petition here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-to-your-us-senator-advance-judge-ketanji-brown-jacksons-nomination-for-the-dc-circuit-court-of-appeals

By confirming nominees like Judge Jackson, we can begin to undo some of the damage Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell did to our federal courts. To ensure equal justice for all, protect health care access, advance civil rights, and so much more, we need fair-minded judges. Your senator can play a crucial role in this much-needed sea change.

Sign and send the petition to your U.S. senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee: Advance Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

This was the one, one of my favorite representative's backed here locally; Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Bailey_Hutchison

Sign this petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-and-send-the-petition-to-the-us-senate-pass-the-violence-against-women-act-immediately

Sign the petition to the U.S. Senate: Pass the Violence Against Women Act immediately

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), legislation that protects women from domestic violence, currently sits in the Senate awaiting reauthorization. Meanwhile victims continue to lose the many protections and programs aimed to reduce domestic violence everyday.

Sign this petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-if-you-agree-president-biden-must-close-guantanamo-prison

Sign if you agree: President Biden must close Guantánamo prison

The U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba is an enduring international symbol of injustice and torture, and it continues to cause profound harm to the 40 men who remain imprisoned. President Biden has the opportunity--and responsibility--to end indefinite detention without charge or trial and close Guantánamo once and for all.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 07 2021

PROTECT PREGNANT WORKERS' RIGHTS: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-pregnant-workers-rights

Tell Congress: Pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Pregnant workers in the U.S. still lack critical protections in the workplace. Too many employers can fire pregnant employees – or force them to quit or take unpaid leave – instead of providing temporary accommodations. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) would help combat this by protecting the health and economic security of pregnant workers everywhere.

PWFA passed the House with a huge bipartisan vote (329-73) in the last Congress and it has been reintroduced in both the new House and Senate – with the House to vote on it the week of May 11. This time we need to go all the way to President Biden’s desk. Pregnant workers shouldn’t have to wait any longer: Tell Congress to support the swift passage of the PWFA.

Message Recipients: Your Senators and Representative

Sign and send the petition: Urge the Texas state Senate to pass cannabis penalty reform bills

Texas holds a long history of harsh marijuana legislation, however there is finally a pathway to change with the passing of critical cannabis reform bills.

In April, three bills were approved by the Texas House, including proposals to reduce penalties for possession (HB 2593, HB 441).

HB 441 is a groundbreaking turn in cannabis reform for Texas. Currently, police officers are allowed to place people in jail following arrests for low-level misdemeanors even if the charge itself doesn’t include an incarceration penalty.

In 2018, Texas police arrested more than 62,000 for the simple possession of marijuana and estimated 41,000 ended up with permanent criminal records that hinder their access to education, employment, and even housing.

Sign this now: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-the-petition-urge-the-texas-state-senate-to-pass-cannabis-penalty-reform-bills

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 08 2021

Texas’ New-Style Agriculture Commissioner : Jim Hightower Carries His Message of a New Populist Movement Nationwide

DEC. 19, 1985 12 AM PT

AUSTIN, Tex. — Three years ago few Texans could name the state’s agriculture commissioner, an obscure elected post that usually went to a someone friendly to the state’s big farmers. The job was without much power and had little importance, outside of agriculture.

Then along came Jim Hightower, a young, tub-thumping Democrat who was equally at ease preaching Populism in black churches, stumping for Latino votes in the barrios of south Texas or talking with rich and powerful Democrats in Dallas and Houston.

Since his election, Hightower has rewritten the Democratic Party’s national farm policies, attacked the Reagan Administration’s handling of the farm crisis in a give-'em-hell speech to the party’s National Convention in San Francisco and now he’s flying around the country, giving speeches in Chicago, Des Moines and in Washington to the National Press Club.

His message: “Agriculture is in a world of hurt.” Farmers are facing economic conditions more severe than those of the 1930s and the Republicans have only made conditions worse: “Ronald Reagan promised us a seven-course dinner, but all we got was a six pack and a possum.” Read more here: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-19-vw-30771-story.html

FRIDAY, MAY 07, 2021

Five Observations and a Prediction: Why police budget hikes could become a thing of the past in Texas if HB 1900 becomes law

In no particular order, here are five observations and a prediction about a week filled with losses for the Texas criminal-justice reform movement at the Texas Legislature and in San Antonio and Austin. Read more here: https://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2021/05/five-observations-and-prediction-why.html

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 10 2021

The Biden administration is playing along, either deliberately to create “distance” with Israel — as Biden did in the Obama administration — or else because they are fools. Read more here: https://thejewishvoice.com/2021/05/biden-administration-rewards-palestinians-for-violence-incitement/

Starbucks may quit Facebook because of hateful comments from users, report says From: https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/552659-starbucks-may-quit-facebook-because-of-hateful-comments-from-users

BuzzFeed cites internal discussions among Facebook employees who handle the platform’s relationship with Starbucks.

May 10, 2021

“Starbucks is in the process of evaluating their organic presence on FB, and whether they should continue to have a presence on the platform at all,” a Facebook employee wrote to a colleague last week, according to BuzzFeed.

The Facebook employee reportedly said Starbucks was having problems moderating the hateful comments and has been unable to disable them on its page.

The coffee giant has spoken out on social issues such as the conviction of Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd and the recent wave of anti-Asian attacks.

Starbucks may be considering leaving social media network Facebook due to an influx of hateful comments left on the coffee company’s posts related to social justice issues, according to a report from BuzzFeed News.

BuzzFeed cites internal discussions among Facebook employees who handle the platform’s relationship with Starbucks.

America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

“Anytime they post (organically) in regards to social issues or their mission & values work (e.g. BLM, LGBTQ, sustainability/climate change, etc.) they are overwhelmed by negative/insensitive, hate speech related comments on their posts,” the employee said.

The Facebook employee reportedly said Starbucks was having problems moderating the hateful comments and was unable to disable them on its page.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Changing America.

A Starbucks spokesperson would not confirm to BuzzFeed if the company was considering leaving Facebook but said it stands “against hate speech.”

While Starbucks mainly posts information about its products on the company’s Facebook page, the coffee giant also speaks on social issues such as the conviction of Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd and the recent wave of anti-Asian attacks in the U.S.

BuzzFeed notes Starbucks would be the largest company to leave Facebook but not the first, as Elon Musk removed the SpaceX and Tesla Facebook pages in 2018 as part of the #DeleteFacebook campaign. The companies, however, still have their Instagram accounts active, which is owned by Facebook.

Starbucks last year was among hundreds of companies to stop advertising on the social media network as part of the “Stop Hate for Profit” campaign. The effort aimed to put pressure on Facebook to take a harder stance on hateful content.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 13 2021

Sign this petition here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-the-petition-hold-police-accountable-end-qualified-immunity-2

Sign and send the petition: Hold police accountable. End qualified immunity.

"Qualified immunity" is one of the reasons it is nearly impossible to successfully sue police officers for abuse of power or misconduct, even in cases where they clearly acted in bad faith & unquestionably violated a person's civil rights. Thanks to racial justice activists and the 2020 uprisings, it is finally facing serious scrutiny.

Created by the U.S. Supreme Court as a loophole to federal civil rights laws, the doctrine of "qualified immunity" says police cannot be held liable for conduct done in their line of work if they believe at the time that their action was permissible. The burden of proving liability largely lands on the victim, who is often Black, brown, or poor.

Qualified immunity allows police officers to harm people, exploit public trust, and abuse power without fear of liability. It impedes true justice and undermines the constitutional rights of every person in this country.

Ending qualified immunity would ensure accountability, encourage courts to redress abuse of power, remedy wrongdoing by police officers, empower victims, and create a strong incentive for governments to properly train, equip, and staff their departments.

Both Democrats and Republicans are eager to pass a policing reform bill so that they can claim progress and soothe growing anger towards violence perpetrated by law enforcement.

But the legislation already faces strong criticism from many racial justice leaders, including the Movement for Black Lives who point out that it would not have stopped police from murdering Breonna Taylor or Eric Garner. Refusing to end qualified immunity would further erode support for the bill and fail those who have and will be victimized by police officers. We need to make it clear that abolishing qualified immunity is not negotiable.

Sign and send a petition to the Senate: Hold police accountable. End qualified immunity.

Biden Says Israel Has ‘Right to Defend Itself,’ Sends Envoy

May 13, 20210

WASHINGTON — Saying that Israel has a right to defend itself, President Joe Biden has sent his top Israeli-Palestinian negotiator to the region in a bid to deescalate the deepening conflict there.

During a White House press conference Wednesday afternoon, Biden said he had just spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had an “expectation and hope” that the conflict would end soon.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 15 2021

Sign this petition here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-president-biden-close-guantanamo-prison

Campaign Action

Sign the petition: President Biden, close Guantánamo prison

Since 2002, the U.S. has imprisoned nearly 800 Muslim men and boys in Guantánamo. Today, 40 men remain. Most have never been charged with a crime, and none have had access to a fair trial. Many were tortured by the U.S., and all have suffered from the physical and psychological effects of indefinite detention for over a decade. Six men have even been approved for transfer by the government, yet political delays have kept them languishing behind bars.

With the 20th anniversary of the global "War on Terror" approaching, ending indefinite detention and closing the prison is a necessary step towards justice, accountability, and reconciliation.

Guantánamo is just one the U.S. government’s more contemporary pursuits in egregious human rights violations in a long history of abuses against Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities within the US and abroad. The prison is part of the decades-long legacy of mass incarceration and U.S. militarism, and more recently, the connections with the mass immigration detention and deportation apparatus have also become clear. Calls for Guantánamo's closure must be part of our collective demands to expose the U.S.’s racist history and current practices in policing and mass incarceration, and demand investment instead in community healing and other needs.

President Biden has said he intends to close Guantánamo. Now he must take action towards that goal. The Biden administration should release the dozens of men who have never been charged with a crime to their home or third countries and resolve the remaining cases by bringing them to federal court for trial or negotiating plea deals that would allow for their transfer to foreign countries to serve sentences. The U.S. must ensure that no one is transferred to countries where they are in danger of persecution and torture.

Add your name: Urge the Biden administration to close Guantánamo prison and end indefinite detention once and for all.

PETITIONING

Biden administration

SPONSORED BY

Daily Kos Liberation League

Our Message to Biden administration :

Since 2002, the United States has detained nearly 800 Muslim men and boys at Guantánamo -- all but a handful without charge or trial. The prison is an enduring international symbol of injustice, and it continues to cause profound harm to the 40 men who remain imprisoned. With the 20th anniversary of the "War on Terror" approaching, ending indefinite detention and closing Guantánamo is a necessary step towards justice, accountability, and reconciliation. You have said that you want to close the prison. Now is the time to take bold and swift action to get it done.

Sign this petition here: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/950/732/259/

Parents of "troubled teens" are paying to have their kids kidnapped, drugged, and beaten

by: The Care2 Team

recipient: U.S. Congress

48,672 SUPPORTERS50,000 GOAL

Some parents in the U.S. are legally terrorizing their children. And one of the ways they do it is through the "troubled teen" industry.

This industry has nothing to do with "troubled teens" and everything to do with their troubled parents, and being legally abused. It involves paid strangers turning up in the middle of the night, handcuffing, and kidnapping children — all with the permission, and in fact at the behest, of caregivers.

Sign the petition to demand that the U.S. Congress ban this evil practice throughout the United States and mandate lengthy psychotherapy for the parents involved.

Where do the kidnappers take these terrified and traumatized children, who are supposedly so "bad" they need to be abused this way? Often to rehab centers, wilderness camps, and in some cases to other treatment centers that rely on sedating the teens against their will and using physical restraints to lock them down.

Victims of these institutions have been coming forward to detail the ways in which they have been beaten, forcibly drugged with mystery pills, ogled while naked, and locked in solitary confinement at these residential treatment sites. One such victim was Paris Hilton. Let's be clear: NO CHILD ever deserves these types of heinous punishment.

Children never, ever, ever turn out the way they do by accident. Family reasons are always involved. And if caregivers are so cruel and toxic that they would subject their children to such brutality, it really just proves the point. Obviously these families and caregivers have problems. And in a situation like that, the problem is not the kids. Clearly. No child should ever be subjected to an environment as unsafe as this.

That's why we're urging Congress to take action and make sure that any caregivers who would be so willing to traumatize their children in this way receive proper mental healthcare. For the kids to be safe, their parents need to be healed and counseled first.

Luckily, the Utah state legislature is leading the way. Lawmakers there have just passed a law to increase protections for kids and regulate this industry. But this nasty form of mental torture is still happening in Utah and elsewhere, and it needs to be completely shut down — now.

Kids must be protected — including from caregivers who might want to punish them with mental and physical trauma. Sign the petition to make sure Congress takes action to ban this type of horrific abuse now, and mandate mental health counseling for the caregivers!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 16 2021

4 arrested for anti-Semitic rape threats in Jewish area of London

Convoy adorned with Palestinian flags drives through North London to shouts of 'F**k the Jews,' 'Rape their daughters' and 'Free Palestine'; British PM says he stands with 'Britain's Jews who should not have to endure [this] type of shameful racism'

Associated Press,Ynet|

Updated: 05.16.21 , 22:40

The Metropolitan Police in London on Sunday arrested four people after drivers in a convoy of cars carrying Palestinian flags made calls to rape Jewish women.

The convoy was driving down a road in North London, which has a sizeable Jewish community, when the calls were made.

UNBELIEVABLE!

"F**k the Jews" "F**k their daughters" "F**k their mothers" "Rape their daughters"

"Free Palestine"

May 16, 2021

"We are aware of a video appearing to show anti-Semitic language being shouted from a convoy of cars in the St John's Wood area this afternoon," the Metropolitan Police wrote on Twitter before the arrests.

"Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries to identify those responsible. This sort of behavior will not be tolerated."

The convoy of cars in North London whose occupants were calling for the rape of Jewish women, May 16, 2021

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer all condemned the incident, which came just before the Jewish festival of Shavuot.

"There is no place for antisemitism in our society," Johnson wrote

"Ahead of Shavuot, I stand with Britain's Jews who should not have to endure the type of shameful racism we have seen today," the prime minister said.

First published: 21:05 , 05.16.21

We’re grateful one Plano cop kept his cool

This is what de-escalation looks like.

By Dallas Morning News Editorial

2:00 AM on May 16, 2021 CDT

There’s plenty of blame to go around here. Scott should not have died in police custody. The protesters should not have blocked a roadway. The motorist should not have gotten out of his car and aggressively confronted them. And Paxton should not have thrown gas on the fire. But at this point, knowing very little about the officer besides what we can see on the video, it seems to us that he’s the grown-up in this story, the only person who didn’t lose his cool.

We’ve seen too many police officers fail to de-escalate tense situations recently, from Amber Guyger to Aaron Dean to Derek Chauvin. But that didn’t happen this time. According to the Plano PD Facebook page, there were no injuries, no property damage, and traffic was moving again seven minutes after the officer arrived.

Sing this petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-hb2593/

Current marijuana laws in Texas are harsh, unreasonable, and ineffective. Let the Senate State Affairs Committee know that you support Rep. Joe Moody's HB 2593!

Policy Overview:

Currently, any amount of concentrated THC or cannabis infused product carries an automatic FELONY charge, compounding the already significant collateral consequences of a marijuana conviction.

Under HB 2593, Possession of two ounces or less of THC concentrate or cannabis infused products would be a Class B Misdemeanor (same as current penalties for cannabis flower).

THC concentrates include oils used in vape pens, tinctures, or infused lotions. Infused edible products like baked goods or lozenges are also included in this penalty group.

It’s time for a change! to support more sensible marijuana policy in Texas!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 18 2021

Grits

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

Might "anti-defund" legislation demilitarize and redefine 21st century policing? On the predictable if unintended consequences of micromanaging city budget decisions

Grits has been thinking about "defund the police" legislation (HB 1900) at the Texas Legislature, which seeks to punish Austin's budget decisions from last year shifting money from police to EMS and making the crime lab and 911 call center independent. The bill would punish cities that reduce police budgets unless the overall budget reduces by the same proportion. If the overall budget increases, the police budget must increase to retain its prior, overall percentage of spending. In other words, henceforth, in cities with more than 250,000 population, every new investment in roads, parks, housing, infrastructure, mental health, addiction treatment, homeless services, etc., would have to be matched with increases to the police budget.

Get to this link with a quickness: http://www.texasmarijuanapolicy.org/texasmmj/

Policy Overview

If passed, House Bill 1535 would allow access to the program for all patients with cancer, chronic pain, and PTSD. Importantly, it would also empower the Department of State Health Services to add new qualifying conditions through their administrative rule-making process.

HB 1535 would also raise the cap on THC to 5% and create “Institutional Review Boards,” which will facilitate research and track the impact of medical cannabis on patients participating in the program.

These are all important improvements to the TCUP. We offer the following recommendations to further improve and expand the program:

Protect doctors from federal interference by allowing them to “recommend” (not “prescribe”) low-THC cannabis, which is still a Schedule I controlled substance. This is how all 36 states with effective medical cannabis laws operate.

Contact your Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and your senator in support of HB 1535 and amendments to make it more inclusive!

From: (Penalty Reduction for Cannabis Concentrates)

http://www.texasmarijuanapolicy.org/2021/05/17/hb2593/

Update: On Monday, May 17, the State Affairs Committee had a hearing and voted (5-2) to APPROVE HB 2593!

Follow this Facebook event for live updates and notifications.

HB 2593 – Penalty Reduction for Cannabis Concentrates

Currently, any amount of concentrated THC or cannabis infused product carries an automatic FELONY charge, compounding the already significant collateral consequences of a marijuana conviction.

Introduced by Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody and Sponsored by Sen. Nathan Johnson, HB 2593 aims to reduce penalties for cannabis concentrates. Under this proposal, possession of <2oz. of THC concentrate or infused products would be a Class B Misdemeanor (same as current penalties for marijuana flower). THC concentrates include oils used in vape pens, tinctures, or infused lotions. Infused edible products like baked goods or lozenges are also included in this penalty group.

Ask the Lt Gov and Texas Senate to quickly advance medical cannabis expansion! here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-the-lt-gov-and-texas-senate-to-quickly-advance-medical-cannabis-expansion

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 19 2021

Click here to advance Judge Ketanji. Anything is better than the so called justice system we have now:

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-to-your-us-senator-advance-judge-ketanji-brown-jacksons-nomination-for-the-dc-circuit-court-of-appeals

Sign and send to your U.S. senator: Advance Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

In March, President Biden announced his intent to nominate 11 judicial nominees, 10 to serve as Federal Circuit and District Court judges, and one to serve as the Superior Court Judge for the District of Columbia.

On April 28, Biden’s nominees started to move through the Senate confirmation process, beginning with two panels in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where at least one of your U.S. senators is a member.

During the first panel, senators heard from Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Currently sitting on the federal bench, Judge Jackson has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia since 2013—a role the Senate voted to confirm her for unanimously—and is eminently qualified for this new position.

As a brilliant jurist and former public defender with a proven record of protecting human rights and prioritizing equal justice, Judge Jackson is an ideal candidate to shape one of the highest courts in the nation. She would be the first Black woman confirmed to a Circuit Court in ten years. Her lived experiences and deep commitment to civil rights come together to make her an incredible nominee for this position.

Sign and send the petition to your U.S. senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee: Advance Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

I actually did call Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's office.

Click here to send letter: http://www.texasmarijuanapolicy.org/texasmmj/

Medical Cannabis | 87th Texas Legislature

More than a dozen medical cannabis bills (see below) were introduced for consideration by the 87th Texas Legislature. Proposals range from adding simple patient protections for those participating in our state’s existing Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), to full expansion of the program to include patients whose doctors think it can help.

Rep. Stephanie Klick’s HB 1535 is the leading contender. The bill has been approved by the Texas House and is now in the Senate. Unfortunately, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has not referred the bill to committee, which is a critical step in the process.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 20 2021

Facebook Calls Links To Depression Inconclusive. These Researchers Disagree

May 18, 20215:13 AM ET

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' biggest fear as a parent isn't gun violence, or drunk driving, or anything related to the pandemic.

It's social media.

Teen depression and suicide rates have been rising for over a decade, and she sees social apps as a major reason.

From 2011 to 2018, rates of teen depression increased by more than 60%, and from 2009 to 2015, emergency room admissions for self-harm among 10- to 14-year-old girls tripled.

Sign and send a petition to your member of Congress: Establish an independent January 6 commission:

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-a-petition-to-your-member-of-congress-establish-an-independent-january-6-commission

The House is scheduled to vote this week — as soon as Wednesday — on the deal struck by Democratic Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson and Republican ranking committee member John Katko for a January 6 commission.

Structured much like the 9/11 Commission, the bipartisan committee would investigate the insurrectionist attack on the Capitol. It would make recommendations to help prevent future attacks on democratic institutions and provide a clear account of the events and run-up to January 6 — with a focus on why Donald Trump supporters violently attacked the Capitol.

However, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy announced his opposition to the bipartisan agreement. McCarthy — who's done nothing but promote Trump's Big Lie in recent months — would likely be called by the commission to testify, possibly forcing him to expose Trump's role. We can't allow his fealty and cowardice to derail this commission and leave our country at risk for another assault.

Sign and send to your U.S. senator: Advance Candace Jackson-Akiwumi’s nomination for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals:

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-to-your-us-senator-advance-candace-jackson-akiwumis-nomination-for-the-seventh-circuit-court-of-appeals

During the first panel, senators heard from Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Jackson-Akiwumi is currently in private practice but spent most of her career as a long-term federal public defender in Chicago. She and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, another of Biden’s eminently qualified nominees, would be the first Black women to be confirmed to a Circuit Court in ten years.

CONGRESS: END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY:

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/congress-end-qualified-immunity

Cops shouldn't have a “get-out-of-court-free” card, whether they’re using lethal force, making unlawful arrests, or racially profiling people. But that's what qualified immunity lets them do.

Qualified immunity shields police officers and other government officials from liability by requiring proof an official violated “clearly established law” – putting the burden on victims to find a nearly identical court case that found the action unconstitutional. This is a key element of the architecture of impunity that amplifies police power and keeps them above the law, and disproportionately impacts those targeted most by law enforcement including people of color, particularly Black people, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals.

As Congress approaches President Biden’s deadline for passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, it can and must take action by passing legislation that ends qualified immunity without exception. Send a message urging them to do so today.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 21 2021

A study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical psychology which proved the direct link of bad mental health with social media, the study included 143 young individuals from the University of Pennsylvania that were divided into two groups A and B. Group A had to limit their social media use whereas group B had to significantly increase it. The results were clear, with group A which limited its social media use had much better mental health than group B, students in group A that previously experienced loneliness and depressive symptoms experienced a decline in them. Apart from this another study by a growing scientific body ‘NPR’ suggest that Facebook is one of the reasons behind the drastic rise in the suicide rates amongst teens.

Arabs Burn and Beat Jews in Midtown Manhattan

A Jewish man was burned in his car from two fireworks that were thrown at him from a car belonging to Arab rioters during a solidarity with Gaza demonstration in the diamond district on west 47th Street in Manhattan around 7 PM on Thursday, the NYPD reported. Meanwhile, wilding Arab groups were scanning the streets of the city in search of “Zionists.”

Sign and send a petition to the Senate: I agree with President Biden. Tax corporations, not working people: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-a-petition-to-the-senate-i-agree-with-president-biden-tax-corporations-not-working-people

Instead of taxing billion dollar corporations and the ultra-rich, the GOP wants to pay for the costs of improving and sustaining our country with taxes that disproportionately fall to low and middle Americans.

In addition to the 2017 Republican tax scam that drastically reduced the corporate tax rate, U.S. corporations like Nike and FedEx — who benefit from taxpayer-funded infrastructure — have been further empowered by a rigged tax code that allows them to avoid paying their fair share and instead hoard wealth.

Meanwhile, the average American pays 13 percent of their income on transportation, while lower income Americans pay as much as 30 percent.

"User fees" — like gas taxes and public transit fares — is a coded phrase to describe regressive taxes that shift the burden away from mega-corporations that fuel the climate crisis and target those of us who already do pay our taxes and have limited transportation options.

Republicans' insistence that working people and local communities foot the bill for everything from roads to water to broadband, while wealthy corporations avoid paying a penny more in taxes, is unacceptable.

President Joe Biden has pointed out that user fees would undermine his commitment to not raise taxes for people making less than $400,000 a year. But some Senate Democrats have reportedly indicated a willingness to tax working people in order to appease Republicans.

President Biden is right — it's time for corporations to begin to chip in their fair share. Sign and send a petition to the Senate: Tax corporations, not working people.

Sign and send the petition: Hold police accountable. End qualified immunity.: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-the-petition-hold-police-accountable-end-qualified-immunity-2

Both Democrats and Republicans are eager to pass a policing reform bill so that they can claim progress and soothe growing anger towards violence perpetrated by law enforcement.

Sign and send a petition to the Senate: Hold police accountable. End qualified immunity.

No doubt a large amount of that 10 billion dollars is hard working Texan's money.:

From: https://norml.org/news/2021/05/20/colorado-surpasses-10-billion-in-retail-cannabis-sales

Colorado Surpasses $10 Billion in Retail Cannabis Sales

BY NORML POSTED ON MAY 20, 2021

Denver, CO: Consumers have purchased over $10 billion worth of cannabis products since retail sales became legal in 2014, according data compiled by the state’s department of Revenue.

In all, retailers have sold $10.5 billion worth of products. Tax revenue from those sales totals $1.7 billion – much of which has been earmarked toward public schools and infrastructure projects.

Sales have been steadily increasing year-over-year in Colorado since legalization. In March, retailers sold $207 million worth of cannabis products, a near historic high.

Texas NORML: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-the-lt-gov-and-the-texas-senate-to-advance-concentrate-penalty-reduction

Ask the Lt Gov and the Texas Senate to advance concentrate penalty reduction

Our form letters are automatically generated, but you are encouraged to personalized your letter if you have personal or professional experience to share.

Always be polite and respectful when corresponding with lawmakers. Make sure they know this issue is important to you and should be a priority during the legislative session.

You can find resources to help you HERE.: https://www.informedtexas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Advocacy-Workshop-Quick-Links.pdf

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 22 2021

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

On the Myth of Prison Closures Generating Cost Savings: How TDCJ can ↓ prisoners by 20% and still see costs rise nine figures per biennium

From the earliest days your correspondent first showed up at the Texas Legislature, I've been grumpy about how they score "fiscal notes" related to bills increasing incarceration. Dr. Tony Fabelo and I used to go round about this when he led the Criminal Justice Policy Council.

Tell your Senators to Support Small Businesses and Protect your Privacy

US Senate:

https://www.ebaymainstreet.com/campaign/letter-campaign-inform-consumers-act-%E2%80%93-endless-frontier

The INFORM Consumers Act has been offered as an amendment to the Endless Frontier package which is currently moving through the United States Senate. The legislation in its current form would place burdensome and harmful identification and verification requirements on small businesses using marketplaces like eBay, while undermining sellers’ privacy. Fill out the form below to tell your Senators to oppose this legislation and protect the livelihoods and privacy of online small businesses in the US.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 24 2021

Sign and send to your U.S. senators: Confirm Kristen Clarke as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights

On January 7, Joe Biden announced his selections for key Justice Dept. positions. Among them was Kristen Clarke, nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.:

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-to-your-us-senators-confirm-kristen-clarke-as-assistant-attorney-general-for-civil-rights

Now, over four months later, we’re finally just steps away from her confirmation!

On May 13, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Clarke’s nomination in an 11-11 party line vote. Then, on May 18, senators voted 50-48 to discharge her nomination from committee. Now her final confirmation vote heads to the full Senate floor, which is expected before Memorial Day.

Sign the petition to the Senate: Establish an independent January 6 commission:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-to-the-senate-establish-an-independent-january-6-commission

The House approved a commission to probe the January 6 insurrection, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters breached the Capitol building as lawmakers were counting the Electoral College vote. The attack led to 6 deaths, over 140 injuries, hundreds of members of Congress and their staff fearing for their lives, and millions of Americans terrified that our democracy would collapse.

Structured much like the 9/11 Commission, the bipartisan committee would investigate the assault. It would make recommendations to help prevent future attacks on democratic institutions and provide a clear account of the events and run-up to January 6 — with a focus on why Trump supporters violently attacked the Capitol.

[SIGN NOW] Take Back the Court: Expand the Supreme Court!:

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/sign-now-take-back-the-court-expand-the-supreme-court

The Supreme Court is supposed to be the last line of defense against attacks on our fundamental rights as Americans. But today’s Court does not honor that solemn duty, instead, it has routinely sided with corporate interests and Republican Party donors over working families. This Court’s hyper-partisan right-wing majority has led the attack on free and fair elections by gutting the Voting Rights Act, inviting a torrent of dark money into our electoral process, and blessing partisan gerrymandering.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 24 2021

Leading Off (5/25/21) From: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2021/05/leading-off-5-25-21/

MAY 25, 2021 8:09 AM

With No Charges in Marvin Scott Case, Dozens Speak at Commissioner’s Court. It has been more than two months since Marvin Scott III died while in custody at the Collin County Jail after he was arrested for sitting next to a joint at the Allen Premium Outlets. On April 29, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death a homicide, a “fatal acute stress response” that occurred due to an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia being restrained. Seven jailers were fired but none have been charged. And on Monday, dozens of residents spoke at the Collin County Commissioners Court to call for justice. According to NBC 5, an unnamed source said the district attorney will likely present the case to a grand jury.

NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Dozens Sound Off About Collin County In-Custody Death MAY 25, 2021

Tension remains high over the death of Marvin Scott III who died in custody at the Collin County jail in March.

Watch video here: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/woman-climbs-into-monkey-exhibit-loses-job/2641243/

Published May 25, 2021 8:33 AM

Biden and Harris condemn recent attacks on Jewish community in US and abroad

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday condemned recent attacks toward the Jewish community after several Jewish people were targeted in cities across the US and abroad as tensions flare over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The recent attacks on the Jewish community are despicable, and they must stop. I condemn this hateful behavior at home and abroad — it’s up to all of us to give hate no safe harbor,” Biden tweeted Monday.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 27 2021

Oregon’s out governor signs bill banning gay & trans “panic” murder defense

The maneuver is usually attempted when an LGBTQ person is killed by someone they recently had sex with.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Oregon has become the 14th state to ban the LGBTQ panic murder defense after out bisexual Governor Kate Brown signed the bill into law.

The defense allowed a defendant to claim they attacked their victim after they found out that the victim was gay or trans, sending them into a “panic” about their own heterosexuality. The maneuver is usually attempted when an LGBTQ person is killed by someone they recently had sex with.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 29 2021

Send letter here: https://norml.org/act/federal-support-the-historic-more-act/

Less than 6 months ago, for the first time ever, the House of Representatives advanced legislation: HR 3884, known as The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, to repeal the federal prohibition and criminalization of marijuana. The final tally was a bipartisan vote of 228-164.

It. Was. Historic.

Unfortunately, under the leadership of then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Upper Chamber did not consider the legislation prior to the close of the 116th congressional session.

So, now we need to pass this legislation once again.

Since we last made history together:

The new session of Congress has been seated;

Our allies who shepherded the MORE Act through the House have received more feedback from the cannabis community;

The Senate underwent a partisan power shift;

New Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has publicly announced his own intentions to work with Senators Ron Wyden and Cory Booker to introduce and move their own legislation to repeal prohibition.

And last but certainly not least: Today, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, along with Cannabis Caucus co-Chairs Earl Blumenauer and Barbara Lee have reintroduced The MORE Act.

Ask your legislators to support HB 2593 as filed!: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/reinstate-house-version-hb-2593/

Since the bill was amended in the Senate, Rep. Moody had the choice to accept this amendment or reject it and establish a conference committee to defend the original bill. Rep. Moody is fighting for the integrity of HB 2593!

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated May 30 2021

Trump left Bears Ears National Monument open to near-total destruction. Tell Biden to save it!:

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/410/121/682/trump-left-bears-ears-national-monument-open-to-near-total-destruction.-tell-biden-to-save-it/

by: Care2 Team

recipient: President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland

59,206 SUPPORTERS 60,000 GOAL

Bears Ears National Monument is almost 1.5 million protected acres of gorgeous, wild land that many call an "outdoor museum" because of how many "archeological and cultural treasure[s]" it holds.

Or, at least, it was 1.5 million protected acres until Trump slashed the area by nearly 85%. This opened it up to uranium and coal mining, gas and oil drilling, and made it impossible for agencies in charge of the monument to create infrastructure like paths, signs, and parking that would allow people to visit without degrading the natural landscape.

HB 3948: Ask your legislator to support Texas businesses and consumers: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb-3948-conference-committee/

As passed out of the House, HB 3948 garnered broad support from Texas farmers, industry, and businesses. The bill creates an important licensure process for research, cleans up some language for Texas farmers, and more. There was an unnecessary amendment in the Senate which should be removed, reverting back to the House version.

This amendment would ban Delta-8 products. This is concerning since hundreds if not thousands of Texas businesses, who have survived the economic impacts of the pandemic, will be affected, as well as the many customers who have benefited from these products. Rather than ban these items, we should allow the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to regulate this product like all other hemp consumables. These regulations should include labeling which informs the consumer on the exact content of the product, that they may feel some intoxicating effect, and require that it not be sold to those under the age of 21.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 01 2021

Alleged Neo-Nazi Planning A Mass Shooting Arrested In Texas, Police Say

Law enforcement arrested an alleged neo-Nazi who was planning a mass shooting at a Walmart in Texas a local police department announced Sunday.

Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, was arrested Friday for a terroristic threat to create public fear of serious bodily injury, according to the Kerr County Sheriffs Office. Law enforcement, including local police and the FBI, investigated Blevins for a week to confirm his association with extremist ideologies.

From: https://thejewishvoice.com/2021/06/alleged-neo-nazi-planning-a-mass-shooting-arrested-in-texas-police-say/

Also First Published: 11:12 AM PDT, June 1, 2021 here: https://www.insideedition.com/texas-man-arrested-after-his-alleged-plans-for-a-mass-shooting-at-walmart-get-foiled-authorities

From my email I got today from the NAACP.org:

Members of America’s armed forces understand one truth better than most: The greatest sacrifice any person can make is to give up their life in service to something greater than themselves.

And on Memorial Day, our country joins together to honor our service members who made that ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country and its highest ideals.

Generations of Black people have given their lives while wearing one of America’s uniforms, many in hopes that their service would cause others to see their humanity and that their commitment would lead to real freedom and equality for them and their loved ones.

Their hope has not yet been fully realized, and it’s on those of us who want a more just and equal nation to keep pushing until it is.

Today, as we remember the heroes we’ve lost, let us all be inspired by their extraordinary courage, and pledge to do what we can in our time to ensure that America lives up to the values they fought to defend.

Fighting Forward,

Derrick Johnson

President and CEO

NAACP

A email I received today from: www.TexasMarijuanaPolicy.org

We're in this fight for the long-haul. Here's what we have to be proud of this year:

Against all odds and in spite of a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, a devastating winter storm, an energy crisis, and a slew of politically divisive issues, we hit several big milestone on our journey toward marijuana law reform in Texas.

None of this is enough. Texas deserves better.

We deserve better leadership.

Let's remember this feeling and use it as motivation. Elections are coming! As mentioned in my previous email every Texas House and Senate member is up for election. The Texas Governor and Lieutenant Governor are up for election. Primary Elections are in 11 months.

Check out the Texas Cannabis PAC.: https://www.texcann.com/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 02 2021

Sign the petition: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-demand-the-federal-communications-commission-reverse-the-repeal-of-net-neutrality

Demand the Federal Communications Commission reverse the repeal of net neutrality!

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted net neutrality rules in 2015 which prevented broadband companies from creating “fast and slow lanes” for people who paid more or less. The agency rolled back those restrictions on a 3-2 vote in 2017 under the Trump appointed commission.

Before the FCC made the decision in 2017, they collected public comment on its proposal to repeal net neutrality regulations. Guess what?! American broadband companies funded a campaign that filed millions of fake comments. An investigation uncovered that over $4.2 million was paid out by companies to trick people into sharing their identities which were in turn used to submit fraudulent comments.

18 million of the almost 23 million comments submitted to the FCC during the rule making process in 2017 were fake. Only about 800,000 were real, and 99.7 percent of those were in favor of maintaining net neutrality.

Noam Chomsky Interview on Today's Show

The David Pakman Show - June 1, 2021

Watch here: https://davidpakman.com/2021/6/june-1-2021/

--Noam Chomsky is one of the most renowned and quoted intellectuals of our time and is the author of over 25 books, including "Chomsky for Activists (Universalizing Resistance)," and joins David to discuss geopolitics, Trump and Biden, the future of American politics, and much more. Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0367543397/?ie=UTF8&&creative=9325&&creativeASIN=0367543397&

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 03 2021

From: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/jewish-advocacy-group-calls-on-facebook-to-reduce-antisemitism-on-platform/ar-AAKGj1u?li=BBnbcA1

Jewish advocacy group calls on Facebook to reduce antisemitism on platform

June 3 2021 3:30PM 29 mins ago

"Facebook’s inaction has helped spread hatred of Jews and has contributed to historical high levels of antisemitism in America and antisemitism online and offline across the globe," it wrote in the letter.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 05 2021

From: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2021/06/05/texas-has-some-highest-property-taxes-nation/7544045002/

Fact-check: Does Texas have 'some of the highest property taxes in the nation'?

Brandon Mulder

Austin American-Statesman

June 5, 2021

New Jersey has 19 counties in which the median property tax burden is higher than $5,000 per year — the highest in the nation. Texas would rank 7th, after New York, Illinois, California, New Hampshire and Connecticut, according to the Tax Foundation.

In Texas, the high watermark is set by Collin County, where the median property tax burden is $5,600. Fort Bend County and Travis County follow with median taxes at $5,563 and $5,439, respectively.

From: https://kaygranger.house.gov/

"To win the future we need to embrace bold ideas and innovative, long-term climate solutions. As we chart solutions to address climate concerns, we must remember that we owe it to future generations to be responsible stewards of our environment—as well as our economy. The Trillion Trees Act (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2639?r=14&s=10) , which I’m proud to again reintroduce this Congress, is a solution designed to do just that." - https://kaygranger.house.gov/

How do police continue to take lives without consequences? Why, after a year of historic protests and millions advocating for an end to over-policing and for more community-led alternatives – has this change been so difficult to achieve?

A major reason is the pervasive yet hidden force of police lobbyist groups and it's why we're reaching out. The ACLU just launched a campaign to expose the lobbying power of police, dismantle their protections from state laws and local contracts – and foster the genuine public safety that BIPOC communities are demanding.

But we'll need as many supporters like you as possible in the face of such colossal interest groups. Are you in? You can expect resources from us soon for taking local action – but first, equip yourself with the facts (which you can dive deeper on here): https://www.aclu.org/news/criminal-law-reform/protect-people-not-police-lobbyists/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 07 2021

Obama says Black and Jewish Americans both know ‘dark side of human nature’

Mon, June 7, 2021, 11:46 AM·2 min read

Former president Barack Obama says Black and Jewish Americans have a bond – over experiencing the worst of humanity.

“Black and Jewish Americans understand the dark side of human nature better than just about anyone,” he told Jewish Insider. “We’ve seen people at their worst.”

Nathan Place

Mon, June 7, 2021, 11:46 AM·2 min read

Barack Obama

<p>Barack Obama says Jewish and African Americans have a shared experience of ‘the dark side of human nature’</p> (Getty Images)

Barack Obama says Jewish and African Americans have a shared experience of ‘the dark side of human nature’

(Getty Images)

Former president Barack Obama says Black and Jewish Americans have a bond – over experiencing the worst of humanity.

“Black and Jewish Americans understand the dark side of human nature better than just about anyone,” he told Jewish Insider. “We’ve seen people at their worst.”

Mr Obama made the comments in an interview with JI, which posed 13 questions to him by email. However, the magazine says he only answered five of them – the ones focused on American politics. On that subject, Mr Obama acknowledged disturbing trends, including deepening divisions and a recent rise in anti-semitism.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“There’s no doubt that the country is deeply divided right now – more divided than when I first ran for president in 2008,” he told JI. “America has been fractured by a combination of political, cultural, ideological, and geographical divisions that seem to be growing deeper by the day.”

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 08 2021

American Jewish Committee opens first office in an Arab country

12:40 AM | 9 Jun, 2021

The American Jewish Committee opened its office in Abu Dhabi this week, its 13th overseas branch and first in an Arab country.

The century-old global Jewish advocacy organization named Marc Sievers, a former US ambassador to Oman, as inaugural director of the new UAE office.

“AJC Abu Dhabi is truly historic,” said AJC CEO David Harris in a statement on Monday. “It will enable AJC to expand on our decades of bridge-building in the region and create a wider network of stakeholders in the new relationships made possible by the Abraham Accords.

A Collin County man spoke out against how officials handled Marvin Scott’s in-custody death. Now, he’s fighting an arrest warrant in court

Collin County Judge Chris Hill sought to hold Joshua Allen Murray in contempt of court for arguing over whether he was “dismissed” from a commissioner’s court meeting.

4:59 PM on Jun 7, 2021

A man constables removed from a Collin County Commissioners Court meeting at the order of County Judge Chris Hill is fighting an arrest warrant issued after he refused to leave the building.

Lawyers for Joshua Allen Murray of Lavon said Hill and constables used “strong-arm tactics of detaining and punishing a citizen for lawfully exercising his First Amendment rights” after Murray criticized how county leadership handled Marvin Scott III’s death at the jail.

“Joshua Murray’s conduct was not only lawful, but it was also consummately American,” lawyer Kyle Therrian said. Murray’s attorneys filed a motion Monday in court to have Murray’s arrest warrant tossed.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 10 2021

Woman sues Texas county after having miscarriage in jail

Published: Jun. 9, 2021 at 8:08 PM CDT|Updated: 19 hours ago

The lawsuit names Collin County and the jail’s medical provider for not doing enough for Kent when she started “begging for help.”

The lawsuit claims on July 5, 2019, Kent went into labor and was in excruciating pain for approximately six to eight hours that day.

New Al Franken Video:

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 11 2021

Pulitzer Prize: 2021 Winners List

June 11, 2021

Updated 2:49 p.m. ET

SPECIAL CITATION

Darnella Frazier

Ms. Frazier, the young woman who took out her cellphone to record the killing of George Floyd, was recognized for the video that spurred a global reckoning with police brutality.

BREAKING NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography staff of The Associated Press

For a collection of photographs taken in U.S. cities that captured the nationwide response to the murder of George Floyd.

BREAKING NEWS

Staff of The Star Tribune of Minneapolis

The Star Tribune won the award for its “authoritative and nuanced” coverage of the murder of George Floyd.

Once a Bastion of Free Speech, the A.C.L.U. Faces an Identity Crisis

Published June 6, 2021

Updated June 7, 2021

“I got the sense it was more important for A.C.L.U. staff to identify with clients and progressive causes than to stand on principle,” he said in a recent interview. “Liberals are leaving the First Amendment behind.”

I always brag about my tough history teachers, on the old east coast cities; growing up as a child. I have mentioned it more than once on the internet; I learned the heroic origins of our great country.

This guy Raj Patel knows a great deal about American history. You can not tie apple pie and mom to anything bad; in my opinion. As far as I can remember; it came from World War 2 solders. They were asked what they missed most about home and this was their answer and their rallying cry as they came back from the war. I think it went the same way for the Vietnam War.

I still believe in getting rid of statues glorifying slave owners and stuff like that.

Author tries to cancel apple pie by linking it to ‘genocide of indigenous people’

June 9, 2021 | 10:31am | Updated June 9, 2021 | 10:42am

Bye-bye, America’s pie.

A UK newspaper is being accused of trying to cancel apple pie by linking it to slavery and the “ongoing genocide of indigenous people.”

In a lengthy examination in the Guardian, author and scholar Raj Patel lists the ways that people are wrong in assuming that “nothing could be more American” — with even the recipe a ripoff of a British pumpkin pie.

He then lists at length the sometimes “bloody” origins of almost every part of the beloved dish — from apples, sugar, and even the gingham cloth it is traditionally served with.

“In the drama of nationalist culture, the bloody and international origins of the apple pie are subject to a collective amnesia,” Patel wrote.

“The apple pie is as American as stolen land, wealth and labor. We live its consequences today,” concluded the author, a research professor in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.

A United States postage stamp depicting Johnny Appleseed. Apples have long been a foundation of American culture.

The article — “Food injustice has deep roots: let’s start with America’s apple pie” — details how apples came to the West in the 1500s with colonists and their “vast and ongoing genocide of Indigenous people.”

This funny, vague, article reminded me of that:

Fox News hosts whine that Black people are “trying to take down white culture”

Straight white men can't catch a break because they're "marginalized" for "our gender, our sexuality, and the color of our skin."

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

A Fox News host claimed that schools are trying to “take down white culture” by teaching “critical race theory” in order to “marginalize” straight, white men in a heated rant.

“They’re not acknowledging any improvement in our culture, the gains made, how we are more equal, even despite our faults, than any other country,” Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade said. He said that schools aren’t just trying to “raise up minorities” anymore, “they’re trying to take down the white culture.”

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 14 2021

From: https://www.mic.com/p/people-are-cutting-themselves-on-tiktok-what-are-we-going-to-do-about-it-81163126

People are cutting themselves on TikTok. What are we going to do about it?

June 13, 2021

This is not an unusual occurrence. According to TikTok, 6.2% of the content removed in the last six months of 2020 was removed because it violated the company’s “suicide, self-harm, and dangerous acts policy.”

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 15 2021

The country was shocked to learn about a transnational sex trafficking ring that operated via the Tik Tok app.

In late May, a video clip of a 22-year-old Bangladeshi woman surfaced on social media in which she was being tortured and sexually assaulted in the Indian city of Bengaluru. The Indian police arrested a Bangladeshi person named Rifadul Islam alias TikTok Ridoy, along with five other Bangladeshis from Bengaluru, all of whom were allegedly involved in recording the video.

Bangladesh’s police also found a Facebook group where the young people meeting on TikTok were later added. After befriending the victims, gang members offered them 'well-paid' jobs in India and eventually trafficked them via border districts.

Read here: https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/tik-tok-and-a-sex-racket-bangladesh-mulls-over-banning-the-app-47554

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 16 2021

Add your name: Urge President Biden to commute federal death row

Click here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/add-your-name-urge-president-biden-to-commute-federal-death-row

In 1989, Texas executed 27 year old Carlos DeLuna for a murder that someone else likely committed.

He is not the only one. Since 1973, at least 185 people across the U.S. have been wrongly sentenced to death and exonerated — and those are just the cases we know of. For some, like Carlos, the truth emerged too late and an innocent person was executed.

At any time, President Biden can issue an executive order commuting federal sentences of everyone sentenced to death. And, as the Innocence Project points out, the arguments for ending capital punishment continue to grow:

Black people are only 13.4% of the nation’s population but make up 39% of prisoners on federal death row — some sentenced by all-white juries. Overall, 57% of people on federal death row are people of color, including disproportionate numbers of Latinos like Carlos.

Nearly two-thirds of those executed by the federal government since the 1960s come from just three states — Texas, Virginia, and Missouri. All federal death sentences given in Virginia and the Eastern District of Missouri in the modern era, and 75% of those from Texas have been imposed on people of color.

Just as in the states, prosecutorial misconduct, unreliable jailhouse informants, junk science, and grievous mistakes by defense counsel create a grave risk of wrongful convictions and sentences in the federal death penalty system.

Donald Trump used the death penalty to score political points with his base. His months-long killing spree resulted in the executions of 13 people, seven of whom were people of color. We can't take the chance of the next president using state sanctioned murder for political purposes. President Biden must set a moral example.

Clearing the federal death row is the best way to ensure that the U.S. government does not risk the irreversible horror of executing innocent people like Carlos. Urge President Biden to commute the sentences of people on federal death row.

The petition is in collaboration with The Innocence Project, Equal Justice USA, 8th Amendment Project, Witness to Innocence, ACLU, The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and Death Penalty Focus.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 17 2021

Stuff from my inbox today:

From: https://www.collindemocrats.org/:

Read Gates' essay: ( https://www.theroot.com/what-is-juneteenth-1790896900 ), "What is Juneteenth," and hopefully better understand Juneteenth, and the role that Black Texans have played in making Juneteenth what is becoming, and what it must be, a national holiday.

From: https://www.splcenter.org/

Today is the sixth anniversary of the horrific massacre at "Mother Emanuel" African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The nine people who tragically and senselessly lost their lives must not be forgotten. We remember them and grieve for them, their families and their loved ones.

Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor

Cynthia Graham Hurd

Susie J. Jackson

Ethel Lee Lance

Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney

Tywanza Kibwe Diop Sanders

Rev. Daniel Lee Simmons Sr.

Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton

Myra Singleton Quarles Thompson

These nine people, along with five others who survived, welcomed a new visitor with open arms. They couldn’t have known that he had spent months spying on the church and would open fire as the group shared a final prayer.

They also could not have known that their murders would become a flashpoint in the nation’s ongoing struggle with racism and hate violence. Their killer embraced white supremacist propaganda and admired South Africa’s apartheid. He represented the modern face of domestic terrorism: an extremist who acts after being radicalized online.

That's why today, we are asking you to take action by urging President Biden to use his power of clemency to release people incarcerated in federal prison for drugs. Sign here please: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/biden-end-war-drugs-start-clemency?

From http://gayusatv.org/:

On fifth anniversary of the Massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Congress makes it a national memorial.

From: https://davidpakman.com/2021/6/june-16-2021/

California SOARS, Dems Propose Decriminalization

The David Pakman Show - June 16, 2021

From: https://www.fightcancer.org/:

In case you haven't yet heard, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision this morning to uphold the Affordable Care Act.

This ruling is a huge relief for cancer patients, survivors and anyone at risk for this disease.

After more than a decade of legal challenges and associated anxiety, patients can finally rest assured that they won’t be returned to a world where they may suffer discrimination and be denied or priced out of comprehensive health coverage.

Just read this on Google News:

The quest for a pill to fight viruses gets a $3.2 billion boost

Antiviral drugs could help bring this pandemic to a close — and prepare for the next one

From: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/06/17/drugs-for-covid/

Before this pandemic is over, scientists are preparing to fight the next one.

Borrowing from the model used to create drugs that transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable disease, the Biden administration announced Thursday a $3.2 billion plan to stock the medicine cabinet with drugs that would be ready to treat future viral threats — whether a hemorrhagic fever, influenza or another coronavirus.

I am still learning more about this image that I remember as a kid; growing up in a big university town. :

From: https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2021/06/fragmented-mirrors-queering-jewish-histories-of-the-holocaust/

The success of ACT UP’s images lay in a larger politicization of aesthetics that reverberated for years. One of ACT UP’s most successful campaigns was Silence = Death / Silencio=Muerte, which utilized the pink triangle used in Nazi concentration camps to identify homosexuals. Instead of the triangle being upside down (the way in which it was used by the Nazis), the triangle was placed right-side up. This not only subverted and departed from the Nazi usage, it also effectively conjured up the memory of past persecution of sexual minorities without reducing minoritized groups to victimization.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 19 2021

In my email today:

On this day 156 years ago, word finally reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas that they were no longer property. But slavery didn’t end that day. It continued until the 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, abolishing slavery. And racial terror and injustice continued through the Jim Crow era and continues today. https://naacp.org/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 21 2021

Tell the EPA to Protect Our Health by Removing Toxic Lead Pipes from our Water Systems!: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/tell-the-epa-to-protect-our-health-by-removing-toxic-lead-pipes-from-our-water-systems

There is no safe level of lead exposure — period. But tens of millions of people across the country — particularly in low-income communities and communities of color — continue to get their drinking water through lead pipes, allowing the potent neurotoxin to make its way into their bodies and cause irreversible harm to our health — especially in children.

This is a public health disaster a century in the making, and it must be stopped.

The Lead and Copper Rule is a federal protection meant to keep lead out of drinking water, but it is woefully outdated. Thankfully, President Biden’s American Jobs Plan includes significant investments to our water infrastructure, and the EPA is seeking comments from the public now on how to strengthen the rule.

NRDC is rallying to generate 50,000 letters to the EPA before the June 30 comment deadline urging the Biden administration to strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule and immediately remove every single lead pipe out of the ground. Please send your comment now. This could very well be our best and last chance to end the crisis of lead-contaminated water once and for all.

Our Message to EPA Chief Michael Regan :

Dear EPA Chief Michael Regan, and Congressmember:

There is no safe level of lead exposure, so it is alarming that tens of millions of people across the country continue to get their drinking water from lead pipes, causing irreversible harm to human health and development -- especially in children and fetuses.

Decades of disinvestment and denial -- particularly in low-income communities and communities of color -- have resulted in this failing water infrastructure plaguing our country. This is a public health crisis that needs to be fixed.

The Lead and Copper Rule is meant to keep lead out of drinking water, but it is woefully outdated and inadequate. Your agency has the power to make history and end this water crisis by strengthening the Lead and Copper Rule to set strict science-based standards and to require removal of every single lead pipe from the ground. The health of millions of people depends on this important action!

Please do everything you can to correct this injustice flowing through the taps in millions of homes, and provide safe and affordable drinking water to all communities.

My email from The White House

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 23 2021

SIGN NOW: Lower Prescription Drug Prices!: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-now-lower-prescription-drug-prices/

Senator Ron Wyden, the powerful chair of the Senate Finance Committee, released a new set of bold principles ahead of forthcoming legislation to lower prescription drug prices. These principles represent a road map for taking on the greed of pharmaceutical corporations and lowering drug prices for all Americans!

SIGN NOW: The Senate must pass Sen. Wyden’s bold drug pricing principles into law!

Sen. Wyden makes it clear that we need real reforms, not tinkering around the edges that preserves pharma profits at the expense of sick Americans. The principles state that:

Medicare must negotiate fair prices

Those prices must be available to all Americans

Those prices can’t increase faster than inflation

Americans have to actually pay less at the pharmacy

Public investment in R&D has to mean that the public doesn’t then pay again with high prices

These principles are simple, measurable, and powerful. They reverse the current relationship between Medicare and Big Pharma, which forbids Medicare to push back on prices set by greedy pharmaceutical corporations. Then the savings Medicare is able to bargain are passed along to every American.

Senate Democrats must use the next reconciliation package to pass a bold drug pricing plan into law. Millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and families are in desperate need of lower drug prices. Nearly half of patients have failed to fill a prescription due to high prices.

Not only is lowering drug prices a moral imperative, it’s a political necessity. Seventy-seven percent of voters, including 70 percent of Republican voters, want the government to do more to reduce the prices of prescription drugs. In 2020, Democrats won control of Congress by making lower drug prices a centerpiece of their platform. If they want to maintain power in 2022, they must keep that promise.

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell the Senate to pass Sen. Wyden’s bold drug price principles into law!

SPONSORED BY

Social Security Works: https://actionnetwork.org/groups/social-security-works

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 26 2021

Juneteenth celebrations didn’t go over so well at one Atlanta branch of IKEA.

Jun 23, 2021 • 3 days ago • 1 minute read

CBS 46 TV news reported as many as 33 employees called in sick to work to protest when a menu was announced to celebrate June 19, which marks the emancipation of the last enslaved Americans.

“Look out for a special menu on Saturday which will include: fried chicken, watermelon, mac n cheese, potato salad, collard greens, candied yams,” said an email obtained by TMZ, according to the New York Post.

Unfortunately, the menu included items that stereotype African-American dishes.

“You cannot say serving watermelon on Juneteenth is a soul food menu when you don’t even know the history,” an anonymous employee told Atlanta’s CBS 46.

“They used to feed slaves watermelon. It caused a lot of people to be upset. People actually wanted to quit. People weren’t coming back to work.”

Ultimately, CBS 46 reported the store’s manager apologized via an internal email.

“She said, ‘I truly apologize. The menu came off [offensive],’” the employee told the TV station.

But the worker said all of the controversy could have been avoided if people of colour had been included in choosing the menu in the first place.

“None of the co-workers who sat down to create the menu, no one was black,” said the employee.

Finally a new, revised menu was released for June 19 with the store manager telling CBS 46 it included collard greens, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf.

And Sunday’s menu?

“Fried chicken, mac ’n’ cheese, collard greens,” the employee said.

IKEA did not return the New York Post’s request for comment.

Read here: https://canoe.com/news/weird/dont-ask-ikea-to-come-up-with-a-juneteenth-menu/wcm/b7841ab7-911c-4d73-a2c6-8e3b20ed6b0a

St. Paul Target employees offended over Juneteenth display in break room

Target said it will use the incident as a teaching moment for the people involved in putting the display together.

By Nicole Norfleet Star Tribune JUNE 25, 2021 — 10:23AM

Several employees at a St. Paul Target store complained to management about a tabletop display in the break room for Juneteenth that included cherry Kool-Aid packets, watermelon candy and servings of hot sauce.

The display was set up for Juneteenth by a human resources manager at the Midway Target on University Avenue and had different iterations before it was removed on Tuesday following concerns by workers that the table was offensive and glorified stereotypes of Black people, employees said.

"It's almost like setting people back instead of trying to progress and move forward," said Safirah Scott, a Black Target employee at the store.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 27 2021

REVEALED: The four personality traits which make an internet troll: Scientists say a combination of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and schadenfreude turns people into online bullies

Experts have uncovered what motivates a person to become an online troll

These people posses the dark triad personality traits, (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) combined with schadenfreude

Schadenfreude is a German word that describes someone receiving pleasure from other people's misfortunes

The study also found women see trolls as dysfunctional behavior, while men see it as functional behavior

PUBLISHED: 17:25 EDT, 25 June 2021 | UPDATED: 20:34 EDT, 25 June 2021:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9726765/Internet-trolls-possess-narcissism-Machiavellianism-psychopathy-schadenfreude-study-finds.html

Sign here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-the-doj-no-white-supremacists-in-americas-police-including-tsa-agents-and-transit-cops-2/

Tell the DOJ: No White Supremacists in America’s Police, including TSA Agents and Transit Cops

Dear U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke,

We demand the Department of Justice join the rest of the Biden administration in taking on the serious threat of white supremacist violence in America.

While Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has vowed to root out white supremacy and right-wing radicalism in the ranks of the D.O.D. saying “the job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies, but we can’t do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks,” the D.O.J. has made no such commitment.

Sign here: https://act.demandprogress.org/sign/stop-privatization/

Sign the petition: Don't sell public infrastructure to Wall Street!

Petition to the President and Congress:

Don't tell off public assets! Privatization and "asset recycling" must not be part of any infrastructure deal.

The bipartisan deal on infrastructure could lead to a massive selloff of public assets -- putting Wall Street in charge and causing prices to soar while service declines.

Reports indicate the deal could lead to the privatization of the Tennessee Valley Authority in the South and the Bonneville Power Authority in the Pacific Northwest -- two New Deal projects that provide affordable power to millions of people.1 If that happens, the terrible policies of Texas' electricity grid, run for profit without regard to public need, could spread all over the country.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 28 2021

Why some biologists and ecologists think social media is a risk to humanity

Jun 26, 2021, 8:00am EDT

A group of 17 researchers across disciplines from biology to philosophy published a paper arguing that the impacts of social media should be treated as a “crisis discipline.”

Social media has drastically restructured the way we communicate in an incredibly short period of time. We can discover, “Like,” click on, and share information faster than ever before, guided by algorithms most of us don’t quite understand.

And while some social scientists, journalists, and activists have been raising concerns about how this is affecting our democracy, mental health, and relationships, we haven’t seen biologists and ecologists weighing in as much.

The two interviews have been combined and lightly edited for length and clarity.

Shirin Ghaffary

You tweeted that this paper is one of the most important ones you’ve published yet. Why?

Carl Bergstrom

My original background is in infectious disease epidemiology, respiratory viruses. And so I was able to do some stuff that’s reasonably important during Covid. What I’m doing there is really filling in the details in a well-established framework. So it’s more, you know, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated June 29 2021

June 28, 2021

During the 87th Legislative Session, the legislature passed HB 1535, which allows for all forms of cancer and patients with PTSD to now qualify for the program, increases the THC cap from 0.5 percent to 1 percent, and facilitates research programs. While these are important changes, critical aspects of the bill were removed in the Senate. Governor Abbott has officially called for a Special Session, for which only he can set the agenda.

Sign our petition asking Gov. Greg Abbott to add medical cannabis to his agenda for the Special Session!: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/governor-abbott-include-medical-cannabis-in-the-special-session

Please share this petition with your networks so the Governor can hear from as many Texans as possible.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 02 2021

[SIGN] Tell Congress: No U.S. service member should struggle to put food on the table!:

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-tell-congress-no-us-service-member-should-struggle-to-put-food-on-the-table

No member of our military should be without enough to eat, but tens of thousands of active duty service members and their families are currently facing food insecurity.

Sign Feeding America's petition today to tell Congress: It’s our duty to ensure that no member of the military ever struggles to feed themselves or their family.

Paid for by Feeding America. Does not equal endorsement.

Our Message to U.S. Congress :

I believe that every single person serving our country in the military should be able to provide food for their families. I’m shocked and dismayed that there are active duty service members and their families who don’t have enough to eat. After all the sacrifices they’ve made, it’s just not right. As Congress drafts the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, I urge you to support the creation of a Military Family Basic Needs Allowance to provide a monthly stipend to service members whose income is below 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

Low salaries for enlisted members, high rates of unemployment for military spouses due to the transitory nature of the military, high cost of living near many military bases across the country, high costs of childcare, and a range of other challenges related to military service make affording enough to eat difficult for military families.

We owe it to our brave service members to ensure they and their families have enough food. And, food insecurity amongst the military ranks can also cause health issues and negatively impact military readiness. food insecurity amongst the military ranks can also cause health issues and negatively impact military readiness.

Please take action to support those in uniform and their families who have already sacrificed so much.

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-tell-congress-no-us-service-member-should-struggle-to-put-food-on-the-table

It’s time to end the prohibition of marijuana:

https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/its-time-to-end-the-prohibition-of-marijuana

Sign U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Jackson's (NC)’s petition to end the failed war on marijuana.

It’s time to end the prohibition of marijuana.

We’ve got a plan to do just that.

Our campaign for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina is hearing about this issue everywhere. Seventeen other states – including our neighbor, Virginia – have already taken a regulatory approach to cannabis (similar to how they handle alcohol and tobacco) instead of a criminal approach.

The sky has fallen in none of those states. Crime hasn’t increased, harder drug use hasn’t increased. But there has been an increase in tax revenue and a decrease in low-level arrests.

What’s about to become a cash crop for Virginia farmers can still get you prison time in North Carolina – and that’s not right.

Right now, the vast majority of arrests for marijuana in our state are for possessing a very small amount. On top of that, people of color are more than three times more likely to be arrested for using marijuana, even though white people use it just as much.

We need to expunge the criminal records of those convicted and help those folks move on with their lives. We need to ensure cannabis is no longer classified as a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level so that states like ours can switch to regulation.

If you agree it’s time to take common-sense steps like these toward legalizing marijuana, sign on now to support Jeff Jackson's (NC)’s petition.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 04 2021

Toby Keith Talks Penning New Track “Happy Birthday America”

"Happy Birthday America, whatever's left of you," Keith sings in the chorus

7/2/2021

In his latest release, Toby Keith wonders what is ahead for the United States of America. With “Happy Birthday America,” released just as the nation enters the July 4th holiday weekend, Keith veers from a straightforward song about American exceptionalism, and instead ponders America’s role in World War I and World War II, before touching on American flags being burned in the city streets. The song takes both left-wing and right-wing politics to task, adding, “Every time I go to town and vote, I just come home with the blues.”

“I get to wake up in your freedom/but sometimes I wonder why/seems like everybody’s p***** on the red, white and blue/Happy Birthday America/whatever’s left of you,” he sings in a resigned tone throughout the song’s chorus.

Keith is working on a full-length album set for release later this year.

Biden and Democrats Remain Popular Among Americans As We Celebrate 4th of July

July 4, 2021

So it’s more than fitting on this Fourth of July here in actual America, on planet Earth in this reality free from the Fox News distortion field, to point out that President Biden remains highly popular with the majority of Americans. An Ipsos poll from July 1st shows Biden’s approval at 52% positive to 42% negative. Today, a Post-ABC poll shows Biden with an 8-point approval rating while also cracking the 50% barrier.

Read here: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2021/07/04/biden-and-democrats-remain-popular-among-americans-as-we-celebrate-4th-of-july/

In Allen, an Armed Right-Wing Group Tried to Intimidate Marvin Scott III Protesters

4 days ago

Later, the militiamen followed protesters back to the parking lot where they had initially gathered. One of the men wore a shirt with the logo of the Proud Boys, a far-right outfit considered by many to be a hate group.

Spencer Sunshine, a researcher who has studied far-right extremism for years, said it is now common for heavily armed right-wing groups to intimidate protesters.

“This has been extremely common in the last couple of years,” Sunshine explained. “More often than not, they see themselves as extra paramilitary forces upholding law and order, as allied with the police.”

Sunshine says the motivation for such actions tends to be based in conspiratorial thinking, if not outright lies.

Read here: https://timesnewsexpress.com/news/newsusa/dallas/in-allen-an-armed-right-wing-group-tried-to-intimidate-marvin-scott-iii-protesters/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 05 2021

TO: United States Anti-Doping Agency, International Olympic Committee, World Anti-Doping Agency

Let Sha'Carri Run!: https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/let-sha-carri-run

Reinstate Sha'Carri Richardson and allow this world-class athlete to compete in the 100-meter dash! And revisit the outdated rules around marijuana and athletes.

Why is this important?

Sha’Carri Richardson is one of the fastest athletes in the world—and would have a real chance of winning the 100-meter sprint in the Summer Olympics this month.

However, due to an outdated and arbitrarily enforced rule around marijuana, she's now going to be kept from competing on the world stage. Read more here: https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/let-sha-carri-run

Personal contribution: I have never used flea collars because as far as I have experienced; they do not work.

Tell Target and Walmart: Stop Selling Toxic Flea Products that Harm Children and Pets

Picture of a dog and a child relaxing on a bed.: https://act.nrdc.org/letter/6003-tcvp-retail-210625

Nearly two-thirds of people in the U.S. own pets, but many flea collars and other products used by pet owners contain tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), a dangerous chemical that has harmed thousands of our furry family members and can cause irreversible harm to a child’s brain development, increasing the risk of learning disabilities.

These products are designed to leave pesticide residue on a pet’s fur to kill fleas and ticks. But that toxic residue can rub off on furniture and bedding, and anyone who pets the animal — like young children — can absorb the pesticide through their skin and get it in their mouth. The simple act of petting a pet can cause serious damage to a child. Read more here: https://act.nrdc.org/letter/6003-tcvp-retail-210625

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 07 2021

Sign here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-to-your-us-senator-advance-eunice-lees-nomination-for-the-second-circuit-court

Sign and send to your U.S. senator: Advance Eunice Lee’s nomination for the Second Circuit Court

In March, President Biden began introducing his slates of judicial nominees. Since then, multiple judges have been confirmed, each one a step toward restoring integrity and fairness to our courts after Trump overhauled the federal bench with ultra-right wing conservatives.

In the months following Biden’s initial nominee announcement, he has continued to announce additional slates that feature public defenders, civil rights lawyers, and other nominees with traditionally overlooked and underrepresented backgrounds that will bring much-needed professional diversity to our courts.

Trump praised Hitler to chief of staff John Kelly during Europe trip, new book claims

PUBLISHED WED, JUL 7 20211:41 PM EDTUPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Donald Trump while serving as president once praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during a conversation with then-White House chief of staff Gen. John Kelly, a new book claims.

“Well, Hitler did a lot of good things,” Trump told Kelly during a 2018 visit to Europe to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, according to the book.

“President Trump never said this. It is made up fake news, probably by a general who was incompetent and was fired,” Trump’s spokeswoman said.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 09 2021

Sign here: https://act.demandprogress.org/sign/tell-president-biden-appoint-fifth-fcc-chair-now/

Tell President Biden: Appoint a Fifth FCC commissioner Now!

Petition to the President and Congress:

We demand that President Biden appoint and the Senate quickly confirm a fifth commissioner to the FCC who will restore net neutrality!

The fate of the open internet is in the hands of two Trump appointees -- unless Joe Biden acts now.

Ajit Pai, who as Federal Communications Commission chair under Donald Trump led the repeal of net neutrality, resigned from the FCC when Joe Biden became president. Nearly half a year later and the fifth FCC seat remains empty.

Meanwhile, two of Trump's appointees are still on the FCC. With a 2-2 deadlock, they can continue to block key priorities until the vacancy is filled. In order to reinstate net neutrality and protect internet users from corporate control, we need President Biden to fill the fifth seat.1

Sign the petition: appoint a fifth FCC member and restore net neutrality!

The FCC has a long list of initiatives that can help ensure an open internet for everyone.2

It includes reviving the long-neglected Lifeline program, which helps ensure internet access for low-income customers. As the pandemic made clear, this is a critical priority.3

It also includes guiding federal funds for building broadband infrastructure in an equitable, effective manner.

And it includes restoring net neutrality rules dismantled by the Trump administration.

But the commission can't move any of these efforts forward without a fifth member appointed by the president. Congress has a limited number of days in session left this year, which means the Senate needs to get that member confirmed and the FCC up and running immediately.

Tell President Biden: Help restore a free and open internet by appointing a 5th commissioner to the FCC!

Sources:

1. The Hill, "50 groups urge Biden to fill FCC opening to reinstate net neutrality rules," June 16, 2021.

2. Demand Progress Education Fund, "57 groups call for fifth FCC commissioner," June 14, 2021.

3. FCC, Lifeline program for low-income consumers, June 17, 2021.

Sign here: https://act.demandprogress.org/sign/tell-president-biden-appoint-fifth-fcc-chair-now/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 10 2021

Sin here: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-the-petition-to-house-democrats-we-must-unite-to-repeal-federal-marijuana-prohibition-sponsor-the-more-act

Sign and send the petition to House Democrats: We must unite to repeal federal marijuana prohibition--sponsor the MORE Act

Amazon recently took a surprising stance by announcing that the company will cease testing most employees for off-the-job marijuana use and will also lobby on behalf of pending federal legislation (the MORE Act).

Marijuana is currently legal for recreational adult use in 18 states and medically legal in 36 states. However, just because it is legal for at-home use does not mean it is allowed in workplaces. Failing drug tests for off-the-job cannabis use can ultimately cause an employee their job, resulting in loss of benefits, income, and financial stability.

If you can’t lose your job for a cocktail you drank on Friday night, then why should an employee face unemployment due to cannabis usage at home?

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 11 2021

Sign the petition: President Biden must close Guantánamo prison:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-president-biden-must-close-guantanamo-prison

The U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba is an enduring international symbol of injustice and torture, and it continues to cause profound harm to the 40 men who remain imprisoned. New reports show that President Biden is currently reviewing policies with the goal of closing the prison — we must make sure that he moves quickly to end indefinite detention without charge or trial and close Guantánamo once and for all.

The prison, designed to indefinitely detain Muslims, is a critical fixture of the post-9/11 “War on Terror” that has predominantly criminalized, surveilled, incarcerated, and tortured Muslims, U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, with little legal recourse. While Guantánamo is part of the US’ carceral state, its existence in the War on Terror symbolizes a place beyond the law where the US government has extended the boundaries of what is considered acceptable treatment of Muslims in addition to other marginalized communities. Moreover, Guantánamo has exported its harsh conditions to domestic prisons such as Communication Management Units, located in Terre Haute, Indiana and Marion Illinois.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 14 2021

Antisemitism on TikTok spiked 912% says a new study. But is it accurate?

July 14, 2021

It’s no secret that antisemitism runs rampant on TikTok, the viral video sharing app. And yet when a recently released study from the University of Haifa showed a 912% increase in antisemitism on the app since 2020, the size of the spike seemed shocking.

I’ve reported on TikTok for months, both on its inventive Jewish creators and the app’s struggles to contain antisemitism — such as when, for Jewish Heritage Month, the platform highlighted Jewish creators on its “Discover” page and exposed them to a barrage of antisemitic comments.

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 15 2021

When I saw the video of Marvin Scott in custody from this page, this morning; it made my eyes get a little watery and made me feel real sad. It was because, I had actually saw Marvin D. Scott III alive just before he past, also it is the first video I have ever seen of Marvin Scott; when he was alive. I am sorry it took me so long to watch. I sometimes give up looking for Marvin mentioned in the news.

Texas sheriff's office releases video showing in-custody death of Marvin Scott III by CNN Tuesday, July 13th 2021

See Video here: https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/texas-sheriffs-office-releases-video-showing-in-custody-death-of-marvin-scott-iii

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 20 2021

David Pakman:

Canada Beating US in Vaccines & Common Sense

The David Pakman Show - July 19, 2021

Listen to today's show: https://davidpakman.com/2021/7/july-19-2021/

This installment of The David Pakman Show newsletter is free for everyone. I send these emails daily. If you would also like to receive it, join the newsletter today.

Note: This is totally separate from website Membership and does not affect your website Membership in any way.

It is a known fact that being tough on crime does not work.:

Do tougher laws reduce crime?:

Increasing the severity of punishment does little to deter crime. Laws and policies designed to deter crime by focusing mainly on increasing the severity of punishment are ineffective partly because criminals know little about the sanctions for specific crimes. ... There is no proof that the death penalty deters criminals.

From here: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/247350.pdf

Do harsher punishments deter crime? | UNSW Newsroomhttps://newsroom.unsw.edu.au › news › business-law

Jul 16, 2020 — “The severity of punishment, known as marginal deterrence, has no real deterrent effect, or the effect of reducing recidivism,” Read more here: https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/business-law/do-harsher-punishments-deter-crime

Watch Jenner pushing tough on crime here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozHv4aTHbvk

Grits:

MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021

Arguments for Republican bail bill become nonsensical when debating rural jails

I've gotta say, 2021 has been dispiriting on many levels, not the least of which is the partisanship injected into criminal-justice topics turning once-rational individuals into liars and/or idiots.

Over the last week, Just Liberty has been walking around to rural members - almost all Republicans, since the Dems are in Washington, D.C. - discussing the effects of the Governor's bail bill (HB2/SB6/HJR1) on rural jails. (See Grits' testimony to the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on the topic.)

Several churches are worshipping the gospel of Trump just as much as Christianity Several churches are worshipping the gospel of Trump just as much as Christianity

Evangelicals and nondenominational Christians are still fighting for Trump's mission to "Make America Great Again," seeking to make the country into a theocracy.

Sign the petition: President Biden must close Guantánamo prison

The U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba is an enduring international symbol of injustice and torture, and it continues to cause profound harm to the 39 men who remain imprisoned. New reports show that President Biden is currently reviewing policies with the goal of closing the prison — we must make sure that he moves quickly to end indefinite detention without charge or trial and close Guantánamo once and for all.: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-president-biden-must-close-guantanamo-prison-2

Sign the petition: The Department of Justice MUST act to end police brutality

Following the emancipation of enslaved Black people, instead of protecting these new citizens, law enforcement lashed out with prolific abuse, brutality, and unchecked murder. The 14th amendment was supposed to address this terror and violence, and guarantee Black people equal protection under the law.: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-the-department-of-justice-must-act-to-end-police-brutality

Help us end police brutality: add your name and let elected officials know

With your help, we can put an end to the horrors of police brutality and reform a criminal justice system that fails to properly hold law enforcement officials accountable.

Join us in a call to:

End qualified immunity, which protects government officials from lawsuits seeking monetary damages, and

Collect data on police encounters that will provide transparency and safety for our communities

Learn how the NAACP is addressing the most urgent racism and justice reform issues to end racial inequality.: https://naacp.org/actions/action-alert-uniformed-police-reform

I signed all of the above and I hope you will too.

12-year-old boy dies after ‘TikTok Challenge gone wrong’

NEWS

KFOR, Nexstar Media Wire

Posted: Jul 20, 2021 / 02:14 PM CDT / Updated: Jul 20, 2021 / 02:14 PM CDT

BETHANY, Okla. (KFOR) — Police in Oklahoma are investigating the suspicious death of a 12-year-old boy who apparently died after attempting a “blackout” challenge he saw on TikTok, according to authorities.

Officers were called to an apartment in Bethany, Oklahoma, in response to an “unresponsive juvenile.” When police arrived, they found the boy with “ligature marks” around his neck.

The boy was taken to the University of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital early Tuesday morning where he later died from his injuries. Read more here: https://www.wkrg.com/news/12-year-old-boy-dies-after-tiktok-challenge-gone-wrong/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 22 2021

Tell the Senate to demilitarize law enforcement: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/tell-the-senate-to-demilitarize-law-enforcement

Sign the Friends Committee on National Legislation petition to demilitarize the police by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It will be a powerful message to Congress that they must act.

The federal government has provided billions of dollars worth of surplus military equipment to police departments in our communities. Our police are not an occupying force and should not have weapons of war. Congress needs to end the war in our communities by ending the militarization of police.

Sign and send the petition: Do not privatize public assets for infrastructure plan: https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/sign-and-send-the-petition-do-not-privatize-public-assets-for-infrastructure-plan

Because Republicans refuse to make the rich or corporations pay higher taxes, the group of Democratic and Republican senators working on the bipartisan infrastructure package have come up with a dangerous new way to pay for their $579 billion proposal: privatize public assets.

The plan's details are vague, but the group has identified "public private partnerships, private activity bond and asset recycling" as alternate forms of revenue. That means a sale of public infrastructure to the highest bidder, which the Trump Administration tried but Democrats opposed.

Top US priest busted looking for gay hook-ups. He ran an anti-LGBTQ group.

Burrill was "the highest-ranking American cleric who is not a bishop" until his phone showed him going to gay bathhouses.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 26 2021

From: https://ccrjustice.org/

Biden’s first Guantánamo transfer

The Biden administration has officially transferred Abdul Latif Nasser out of the infamous Guantánamo Bay prison.

We are relieved that Mr. Nasser, who has been detained for 19 years without charge, has finally been transferred out of Guantánamo and sent home to Morocco – the administration must now transfer all of the remaining cleared men, including our clients Sufyian Barhoumi and Sharqawi al Hajj, without further delay.

While this transfer is a step in the right direction, the administration has much to do to fulfill President Biden's mandate to close the prison and show greater respect for human rights. In addition to increasing the pace of transfers, the government must purge torture from all detainee-related proceedings, afford detainees due process rights, and, as the U.S. formally withdraws from Afghanistan, finally abandon the already tenuous legal justification for indefinite “preventative” detentions that have been premised on preventing a return to an imagined battlefield. As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, it is long past time to close Guantánamo and reckon with 20 years of injustice and harm.

We wish Mr. Nasser well and hope that he may soon begin the process of rebuilding his life and healing after two decades were stolen from him by the United States government.

From: https://www.collindemocrats.org/

It’s widely understood that the root cause for the state-wide power outages during our February deep freeze was primarily thermal power plants - fired by coal and natural gas - going offline due to a failure to winterize. Because Texas produces so much natural gas, it’s cost-effective for power plants to take delivery of natural gas directly from the oil and gas wells, rather than storing it. Across Texas, these lines froze, and combined with other cold-related problems, took so many plants offline that there simply wasn’t enough power for the Texas grid. As we all know and experienced, the result was a week of rolling blackouts, or just blackouts, that killed at least 200 and possibly as many as 700 Texans.

But even though natural gas was a key factor, many gas companies made billions due to skyrocketing rates caused by high demand. One of those companies is Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, led by executive chairman Kelcy Warren. Energy Transfer Partners earned a windfall of $2.4 billion during the week-long deep freeze. We found out last week that Warren cut a campaign check to Governor Abbott for $1 million on June 24 - on top of the over $1 million he’s previously given Abbott over the past years.

Why is Warren so supportive of Greg Abbott? Our Governor has done everything possible to divert attention away from the oil and gas industry as a cause of the near grid collapse and has specifically tried to blame and punish wind and solar generators even though there were far more problems with gas-fired plants. Abbott pushed through a very weak bill during the regular session that will not force plants to winterize and gave billions of tax dollars to power companies to cover losses from the outages. He also ordered the Public Utilities Commission, freshly stocked with Abbott appointees, to create incentives for fossil fuel and nuclear power generators and impose new costs on wind and solar plants.

Meanwhile, in the Special Legislative Session Abbott called immediately after the regular Lege session ended with a Democratic walk-out to prevent the passage of an omnibus voter suppression bill, Abbott refused to consider any new items related to the power grid, instead of stocking the session with more unnecessary red meat for the far-right base, including a fresh new voter suppression bill. Our Democratic House caucus almost immediately left, breaking quorum again to prevent a vote on that and other onerous and unnecessary bills that will hurt, and not help, Texans.

Greg Abbott is a terrible Governor who has stood by while over 52,000 Texans died from COVID, while as many as 700 Texans died due to the near-collapse of our power grid, and hundreds of Texans have died in mass shootings and other gun violence. His legacy as Governor has been not to serve the public interest but rather business interests and far-right extremists. It is long past time for Texans to say good riddance to Greg Abbott, and we’ll have that chance in 2022 when he’s up for re-election.

Read more about Abbott’s multi-million dollar relationship with Energy Transfer Partner’s Kelcy Warren in the Texas Observer.: https://www.texasobserver.org/after-kelcy-warrens-energy-transfer-partners-made-billions-from-the-deadly-texas-blackouts-he-gave-1-million-to-greg-abbott/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 27 2021

We'll help you develop a deeper foundational knowledge of U.S. policing institutions, its inseparable ties to white supremacy and systemic racism, and the larger meaning behind police divestment as a solution for the safety of all communities.

https://action.aclu.org/petition/want-know-more-about-police-race-and-calls-divest

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 29 2021

BIAS WATCH

Facebook is working with an anti-gay megachurch to monetize the “future” of religion

The global Hillsong megachurch, which has several celebrity members from Chris Pratt to Justin Bieber, has repeatedly denounced LGBTQ people. Now they're Facebook's newest partner.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Read here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/07/facebook-working-anti-gay-megachurch-monetize-future-religion/

Constitutional Rights Blog Updated July 30 2021

As the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to rise, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance on face masks.

The CDC now recommends that people, regardless of their vaccination status, wear a face mask in certain indoor situations where there is a risk of “substantial and high transmission” of COVID-19. This includes schools, retail stores, and some businesses.

While health disparities leave African Americans vulnerable to COVID-19 at higher rates, our research shows that 51% of African Americans say they are fully vaccinated, and 54% continue to wear masks in public and private settings.

While we continue to learn more about the coronavirus and its delta and lambda variants, the NAACP’s COVID. Know More portal has information and resources you need to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Visit the website today, and fight back with facts.

Remember, if one of us is vulnerable, all of us are vulnerable.

Read. Share. Protect. Visit the COVID Know More information hub for additional insights. We're in this, together.

FIGHT WITH FACTS: https://naacp.org/campaigns/covid-know-more

Web designer who sued for right to turn away LGBTQ clients gets laughed out of court

"This really isn't about cake or websites or flowers."

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Read here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/07/web-designer-sued-right-turn-away-lgbtq-clients-gets-laughed-court/