#JusticeForEthan has a
petition. If you read my blog, you have probably either signed it or chosen not to do so, so that's not news. What's amazing is that it is only 1200 from 300,000. Once, just getting to 1200 would have been an accomplishment, as petitions withered and died.
Some of this is because (I believe) of the Change.org algorithm - once petitions reach a critical mass, the site is likely to show it to people who sign similar petitions about disability or police violence or whatever else the tagging system shows.
But think about that - almost 300,000 individual people choosing to fill out a form. It's a huge number, and while it pales in comparison to kitten videos (did you see the new Brookfield Zoo baby snow tiger! I want one!) for popularity, it's exciting to see the petition hit critical mass. Martin O'Malley, the Governor of Maryland, wants to run for president. Public pressure will have an impact, and the petition is just calling for an outside investigation and better training, not demanding that the investigation determines any particular result.
Walkersvillemom, a blogger deeply invested in this case, put up a
post yesterday that brought home the depth of support that is finally emerging for this case. She read through the many different comments that people put up to show their support and categorized them by geography, rationale, relationship, etc.
If you've already signed the petition, go read her
post. If you haven't signed the petition, read her post and see if any of those reasons for signing resonate.
