Drop charges against Bree Newsome

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of ColorOfChange.org, and I started a petition to South Carolina Officials, which says:

I demand all charges are immediately dropped against Bree Newsome, the courageous Black woman who cut down the South Carolina Confederate flag, and her ally, James Tyson.

Early Saturday morning, a multiracial group of Carolinians led by teachers and activists took down the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol grounds—within an hour the state had raised the hateful banner once again in time for an 11 A.M. white supremacist rally.

Bree Newsome, the Black woman who climbed the pole and cut down the flag, was arrested and taken into custody by Capitol Police. She should be promptly released from jail, any charges should be dropped, and the legislature should immediately vote to permanently remove the flag.

According to a statement from the activists they took down the flag because:

"We could not sit by and watch the victims of the Charleston Massacre be laid to rest while the inspiration for their deaths continue to fly above their caskets."

The Confederate flag was born out of a government defending the enslavement of Black people and resurrected as an emblem for whites violently opposing racial integration. Any government that recognizes the flag is declaring that it cherishes a history of racial terror.

Taking down the flag is just one step but a symbolically meaningful one. Make no mistake about it, however, racism isn't just a flag or words—it's baked into our economy and inequities in our democracy and criminal justice system.

In Bree's own words:

"It's time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality."

South Carolina officials have sided with white supremacists in choosing to restore the flag before a planned rally. The legislature must immediately vote to permanently remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol and all state buildings.

ColorOfChange stands with Bree and the courageous activists who took down South Carolina's Confederate flag. You can add a comment using the box provided.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Rashad Robinson

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Rashad Robinson didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 29, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Join me and Robert Reich

I wanted to make sure you received a special invitation for a call with Robert Reich.

Dear MoveOn member,

On Tuesday, June 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 CT/6:30 MT/5:30 PT), I'm hosting a special call with Robert Reich and MoveOn members like you to kick off national teach-ins to save the economy. Click here for information and to RSVP. 

These national teach-ins will extend the reach and use of Robert's amazing "Big Picture" videos, and they'll make it possible for MoveOn members across the country to help shape MoveOn's next big campaigns. I hope you can join the call! And, since MoveOn members are passionate about getting big money out of politics, I took the liberty of including Robert's last email announcing the final "Big Picture" video. Please scroll down and take a look if you haven't already!

As always, thanks for all you do.

–Anna

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Dear fellow MoveOn member,

Saving our economy—and, in fact, our democracy—rests on our ability to get big money out of politics.

Big money in politics affects everything we care about—from forcing polluters to pay for poisoning our environment to securing debt-free higher education to busting up the biggest banks. Everything.
 
The 2016 elections are gearing up to be the most expensive in history. Candidates from both political parties and at all levels—national, state, and increasingly even local—will be dependent on wealthy donors to rise above the fray. And even candidates with good intentions will have to repay campaign donations with access and favors. It's a broken system that needs fixing. And we must move quickly.

Will you watch and share Get Big Money Out of Politics for a short list of what we can and must do right now to save our democracy and our economy?

 
Get Big Money Out of Politics is incredibly timely: President Obama is considering an executive order that would require federal contractors to fully disclose political spending—an idea I discuss in the video and one that has spurred MoveOn member action. Just this week, 26 senators and 104 representatives sent a letter to the president urging his immediate action.

Look, this one is a biggie. If you're like me and you're ready to elevate the growing call to get big money out of politics, please watch and share this video right now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Robert Reich

P.S. Don't forget to RSVP for the teach-in kick off call on Tuesday, June 30. Space is limited, so please sign up right away.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 27, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Card for Charleston: add your name

Sign the card being delivered, along with flowers, to the families of the victims from Mother Emanuel church.

Dear MoveOn member,

In the last week, we've seen incredible progress in removing one of the most potent symbols of racism in America—the Confederate flag. And we've also celebrated huge wins at the Supreme Court, including this morning's decision on marriage equality.

Today is a day of mixed emotions, however, because as the nation lays to rest a public servant and a man of the cloth—South Carolina State Senator Rev. Clementa Pinckney—we return to mourning, to honor the victims of an unforgettable tragedy.

Nine precious lives were stolen last Wednesday night by a coward and a murderer. Those were the lives of Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Tywanza Sanders, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lee Lance, Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Susie Jackson, and Rev. Clementa Pinckney. As the families of these victims mourn and lay their loved ones to rest, we want to remind them that the nation mourns with them.

Our friends at ColorofChange.org are delivering flowers to the families along with a card that reads, "Charleston: Brokenhearted, we stand with you." Will you add your name to the card today?

Emanuel AME Church truly exemplifies the word historic. The church was founded in 1816 as one of three Methodist Episcopal churches under the Free African Society. In 1822, it was destroyed, burned to the ground, when white South Carolinians were informed of a slave revolt being planned by one of its founders—Denmark Vesey.

The congregation rebuilt and practiced openly until 1834, when all Black churches were outlawed. Forced underground, they continued the tradition of the African church until reorganizing in 1865, and taking the name Emanuel. A church on the current site was destroyed in an earthquake in 1886, but rebuilt again by 1891. The congregation occupies that same 125-year-old building today.

Now again, Mother Emanuel, as it's known, bears witness to tragedy. And now—again—Mother Emanuel's faithful people rebuild. This week, Bible study resumed at the church, as congregants refused to surrender their house of worship to anger, fear, or anything short of prayer and love.

President Obama eulogized Rev. Pinckney today as his funeral service was held in Charleston. On days like this we all stand united, politics aside, embracing this heartbreaking moment as an opportunity to move our nation forward, together.

Please add your name today to our card reminding those families mourning in Charleston that, brokenhearted, we stand with them.

–Corinne, Mark, Matt, Maria, and the rest of the team

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 26, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Have an idea for a petition?

Do you have an idea for a petition? Help change the world and start your own MoveOn petition today.

Dear MoveOn member,

Ever heard Margaret Mead's famous saying? "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

That's the story of MoveOn. In 1998, when a Republican Congress was focusing all its efforts on impeaching President Clinton, two people with no political experience started a simple online petition: "Censure President Clinton and Move On to Pressing Issues Facing the Nation."

They shared their petition with their friends, and within days they had hundreds of thousands of signatures. Today, MoveOn has over 8 million members—mostly folks who got involved by signing an online petition, and have stayed active in helping to fight for a progressive America.

That's why we launched MoveOn Petitions where you can start your own online petition and invite your friends to sign it. We'll send the most popular petitions to other MoveOn members to help build support for your cause.

It's easy to get started—just click here.

Thanks!

–Milan, Corinne, Maria, Ben, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 25, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

The last video in our series

Every single thing we care about depends on us getting big money out of politics. Now.

Dear fellow MoveOn member,

Big News: Tuesday night, I'll be on a special call with Anna Galland and fellow MoveOn members like you to talk about what's next for The Big Picture: Ideas to Save the Economy and our upcoming national teach-ins. Click here for information and to RSVP. 

Now for our last video in this series! 

Saving our economy—and, in fact, our democracy—rests on our ability to get big money out of politics.

Big money in politics affects everything we care about—from forcing polluters to pay for poisoning our environment to securing debt-free higher education to busting up the biggest banks. Everything.

The 2016 elections are gearing up to be the most expensive in history. Candidates from both political parties and at all levels—national, state, and increasingly even local—will be dependent on wealthy donors to rise above the fray. And even candidates with good intentions will have to repay campaign donations with access and favors. It's a broken system that needs fixing. And we must move quickly.

Will you watch and share Get Big Money Out of Politics for a short list of what we can and must do right now to save our democracy and our economy? 

 
Get Big Money Out of Politics is incredibly timely: President Obama is considering an executive order that would require federal contractors to fully disclose political spending—an idea I discuss in the video and one that has spurred MoveOn member action. Just this week, 26 senators and 104 representatives sent a letter to the president urging his immediate action.

Look, this one is a biggie. If you're like me and you're ready to elevate the growing call to get big money out of politics, please watch and share this video right now.

Thanks for all you do.

–Robert Reich

P.S. Don't forget to RSVP for the call on Tuesday, June 30. Space is limited, so please sign up right away.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 24, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Ask Amazon to please stop selling Confederate flag posters, T-Shirts, bumper stickers, and Confederate flags

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Mark Whisler, a MoveOn member in Sacramento, CA, and I started a petition to Amazon President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board Jeffrey P. Bezos and Amazon Senior Vice President of Consumer Business Jeffrey A. Wilke, which says:

Symbols of hate and division have no place in American commerce. Respectfully, Amazon: It's time to stand up for what's right and stop selling Confederate flag posters, T-Shirts, bumper stickers, and flags, etc!

The Confederate flag is not a symbol of southern pride but rather a symbol of rebellion and racism. On the heels of the brutal killing of nine Black people in a South Carolina church by a racist terrorist, it's time to put that symbol of rebellion and racism behind us and move toward healing and a better United States of America!

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Mark Whisler

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Mark Whisler didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 23, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Add your name: Protect Haitians in the Dominican Republic

Dear MoveOn member,

I'm Moses St. Louis, a fellow MoveOn member in Port Jefferson Station, NY, and a Haitian-American.

The Dominican Republic constitutional court recently stripped Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent of their citizenships—and many of their rights.¹ That's why I started a petition to the Dominican Republic government and President Danilo Medina Sánchez, which says:

As concerned citizens, we call upon Dominican authorities to take all necessary steps to stop ethnic cleansing of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent and protect the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent, whose citizenship has recently been stripped. We want the Dominican government to reverse its racist and discriminatory ruling and to ensure that Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent have access to government-issued identity documents that guarantee their access to education and health services and their universal human rights.

I'm Haitian American and have family living in the Dominican Republic who are affected by this ruling.

We want the world to know how unjust this is. Can you join us in speaking out against ethnic cleansing?

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Moses

Source:

1. "Dominican Republic strips thousands of black residents of citizenship, may now expel them," Vox, June 18, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304809&id=121325-10220574-IXOJ4vx&t=1

This petition was created on MoveOn's online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Moses St Louis didn't pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Start a monthly donation here or chip in a one-time donation here.

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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on June 22, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.