Topic

Addressing Our Racist History

212 petitions
Promoted by 13,778 supporters

Petition to Kay Ivey

Rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after Rep John Lewis

“It’s far past time to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon that nearly gave his life on that bridge,” said Michael Starr Hopkins. “Edmund Pettus was a bitter racist, undeserving of the honor bestowed upon him. As we wipe away this country's long stain of bigotry, we must also wipe away the names of men like Edmund Pettus.” The Edmund Pettus Bridge, now a National Historic Landmark, was the site of the brutal Bloody Sunday beatings of civil rights marchers during the first march for voting rights. The televised attacks were seen all over the nation, prompting public support for the civil rights activists in Selma and for the voting rights campaign. After Bloody Sunday, protestors were granted the right to continue marching, and two more marches for voting rights followed.

Michael Starr Hopkins
546,826 supporters
256 new supporters this week

Petition to Department of counterterrorism, Mike Pompeo, Department of Homeland Security

Change KKK status into Terrorist Organization

Ever since the inception of the Ku Klux Klan in December 24,1865 they have terrorized American citizens for the color of their skin and opposing views. This group has a long history of murder & intimidation of people based on color and religion. The KKK has lynched 3446 blacks and 1297 whites based of the research of The Tuskeegee Institute. The KKK has raped,murdered people for registering to vote, and destroyed towns built by African Americans. Clear documented evidence is available through picture and video of their murderous acts. Black Americans have suffered the most under this terror group. Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims. We ask if ISIS or ISIL is labeled a terrorist group for their acts, then surely the KKK fit the clear description of a terrorist. KKK does not care to publicize their actions and the police aren't interested in investigating it.  KKK members are in many forms of the government KKK could be considered the best example of a modern terrorist group that was even allowed, by the government, to function and even do marches in the capital of the country

Jose Cardenas
3,116,775 supporters
157 new supporters this week

Petition to Kristi Noem

Take Down Mt​.​Rushmore & Honor Treaty With Lakota Sioux

For hundreds of years the Lakota Sioux have fought to protect their land and for hundreds of years have they been given empty promises and broken treaties. What was once called “The Six Fathers” by the Lakota was renamed and reshaped into what is now called “Mount Rushmore”. Not only is this a constant reminder of the genocide that happened, but is a constant reminder that it’s still happening. The Six Fathers are sacred to the Sioux Lakota. In 1868 the U.S and Sioux signed a treaty that gave the Black Hills (area of Six Fathers) to the Sioux. In the 1870s prospectors migrated there and the federal government forced the Sioux to relinquish the Black Hills. In 1873 Ulysses S Grant said he “favored a humane course to bring Native Americans under the benign influences of education and civilization. It is either this or war.” The Sioux decided to not assimilate. The “Battle of Wounded Knee” was actually a massacre of unarmed indigenous women and children. So yes, the federal government needs to honor its treaty with the Lakota by giving the land back and destroying this monument. 

Andres Thornock
8,082 supporters
Update posted 3 weeks ago

Petition to Anderson South Carolina

Remove Racist Statue from Downtown Anderson, SC

My wife and I both grew up in Anderson, SC. We have taken many walks downtown, but have never stopped to notice the statue that stands in front of the downtown courthouse. Tonight, at a peaceful protest for Black Lives Matter, stories were shared by African Americans of how this statue haunts them of the city’s past. In the image attached, you can read that it says that time will tell that Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy will stand "in the right.” This statue adds no value to the character of our city. In fact, it is a hideous black eye, embracing a time when men died defending slavery. In 2020, Anderson needs not be reminded of our past sins. Mayor Roberts and the city counsel need to step up and remove this statue. Anything in front of our courthouse would do better than the existing structure. The placement alone is symbolic of the systematic racism in our nation. If our city wants to move into equality, we need to start with the steps of the home to our judicial system. 

Daniel Wagner
26,806 supporters
Update posted 4 weeks ago

Petition to Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee, Gregory Martineau, Incoming ARHS Principal

Change the Algonquin Regional High School name and mascot

The reconsideration of Algonquin Regional High School's name has been a long time coming. The name was stolen from the Algonquin people, part of the Algonquian language group, who have predominant populations in parts of North America. There is no record of the Algonquin tribe consenting to the Northborough-Southborough School District’s decision to name the high school and mascot after them.  The Algonquin name in conjunction with the Tomahawk mascot – which is an ax-like weapon – perpetuate racist stereotypes, classifying Natives as violent and barbaric. Since Algonquin Regional High School’s conception in 1959, racist attire, chants and behavior have been commonplace – disguised as school pride and excused as an attempt to honor Native people. This racism is unacceptable and must change immediately. Other schools across the country, including in Massachusetts, have successfully changed their racist mascots to monikers that do not appropriate Native people or symbols. For example, Lamar High School in Houston, Texas changed their name from the Redskins to the Texans earlier this year. Massachusetts high schools like Hanover High School are also currently pushing for their racist mascot – the Indian – to change. Now is not the time to sit idly by and be complicit. School tradition should not take precedence over justice. A school that continues to employ Native symbols and names creates an environment where students think appropriation is acceptable and encouraged, which perpetuates racism. Please sign your name on this petition if you believe the Northborough-Southborough School District must make these changes now.If you feel comfortable, please share your connection to the school district in your comment (ex: current student, alum, faculty, parent, school board member, etc.). Sources:http://www.native-languages.org/algonquin.htmhttps://abc13.com/mascots-school-names-indians-warriors/28531/https://www.change.org/p/hanover-school-committee-change-the-indians-name?recruiter=1101957619&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition&use_react=false

Students for Justice
3,492 supporters
Started 1 month ago

Petition to Mayor Muriel Bowser

Change the name of Woodrow Wilson High School to John Lewis High School

Woodrow Wilson, 28th president of the United States, revered by whitehouse.gov as a “a leader of the Progressive Movement”, was one of the most passionately racist leaders in all of U.S. History. Elected in 1913 and again in 1917, Wilson’s legacy is embellished with the racist exploits of his entire political career. Infamous for his hosting of a special White House screening of "Birth of a Nation", during which he reportedly remarked, “It's like writing history with lightning. My only regret is that it is all so terribly true,” Wilson believed that African Americans were inherently inferior to the white race.  He echoed this sentiment throughout his presidential career, resegregating government agencies that had been integrated during reconstruction and offering vocal support to the Ku Klux Klan terrorizing African Americans across the country. Wilson’s legacy grew in 1935 with the establishment of Woodrow Wilson High School in the Northwest corner of Washington DC. Originally an all white school, it still serves as his namesake today. Following the May 2020 death of 47 year old George Floyd, an African American man suffocated by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans to change the name of Woodrow Wilson High School after 85 years of baring the former president’s name. Officials for District of Columbia public schools opened an online form for name suggestions through October 30th to gather suggestions for the name change, which is estimated to cost 1.2 million dollars.  Following a summer of racialized strife and conflict, the decision to finally change the name of Woodrow Wilson High School symbolizes a long-overdue commitment to honoring the truth, a duty preciously upheld by the late John Robert Lewis.  When John Lewis began protesting racial injustice alongside Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr during the Civil Rights Movement, he gave the country a stunning reminder of the dark truths still facing African Americans across the country. His commitment to civil rights and racial equality ultimately carried him to congress, where he served as a U.S. representative for Alabama’s 5th congressional district for over 30 years. John Lewis’ legacy represents the commitment to America’s original truths- those which we hold to be self evident, that all men are equal and so must be their access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As a champion of civil rights, in an effort to break free of America’s dark history of racial violence and intolerance to look ahead to a brighter future, by adding my name I hereby propose the name John Lewis High School to replace its former name.

Dillema Magazine
118 supporters