Actions of Immediate Witness

Building the Movement for a Green New Deal, Support Our First Amendment Right to Boycott, and Immigration and Asylum. UUSJ members provided input on the AIW draft on a Green New Deal in cooperation with our partners, UUs for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC) which initiated and led the discussion, and UU Ministry for Earth.

The immigration crisis was the topic of much discussion, and UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray issued a call to action HERE). 

To promote UUSJ as part of our “going national” plan and engage more UU congregations across the country, UUSJ shared a table with UUs for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC) in the exhibition hall, and sponsored a poster session featuring UUSJ’s “Write Here! Write Now!” letter-writing program. Five UUSJ Board members attended along with a number of other UUSJ members.

UUSJ News and Events

UUSJ’s Social Justice Awards Gala 2019 - October 6

Nominations Now Being Accepted

Members of First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, receive the Environment/Climate Justice Award in 2017.

Two things you should do now…..

1. You know who your congregational social justice stars are. Make your nomination now! The awards criteria and link to the nomination form can be found here and on UUSJ’s website under Quick Links. Deadline: August. 26.

2. Make sure you have marked your calendar for October 6, 2019 at 4pmET to attend the UUSJ Social Justice Awards Gala at the UU Church of Arlington (VA). There will be music, good food, lots of networking and wonderful stories of our social justice stars.

If you think your congregation will be submitting a nomination, or if you have any questions, let us know by sending an email to awards@uusj.org.

UUSJ Board Welcomes New Member

During the Annual Meeting on June 15, the Board re-elected Bob Denniston as Board Chair, approved Charlotte Jones-Carroll as Board Secretary, and approved a budget proposal, among other items and discussion.

Our Board membership has changed. We thank all outgoing members for their service, in particular Pat Karlsen who has been a long-time passionate advocate for social justice, and for UUSJ. She has served in many UUSJ leadership positions, most recently as an at-large member of the Board of Trustees, as well as at the Cedar Lane UU Church. Also, special thanks to Martha Ades and Mike McCord for their service as Board Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. 

We welcome new Board members: Pat Behenna, Paint Branch, Charlotte Jones-Carroll, At-Large - River Road, Suzan Chastain, Arlington, Liz Echols, Davies, Emily Koechlin, All Souls, Sean McCarthy, Rockville, John Peterson, Accotink, David Shilton, Arlington, and David Strauss, At-Large - Rockville.

UUSJ Needs

UUSJ needs a Treasurer to replace Mike McCord. Suggestions? Contact info@UUSJ.org.

Webinar - Election Engagement 2020 and Democracy

Join UUs from across the nation for a Webinar on Democracy & Electoral Justice 2020. This session will explore strategies from now through Elections 2020 and beyond, focusing on three phases of engagement from massive voter registration, ballot initiatives and advocacy, and all out Get Out the Vote! Speakers include: Adam Eichen--Co-Author of Daring Democracy (Beacon Press, 2007), Charlene Sinclair--Center for Race, Religion and Economic Democracy, Everette Thompson--Side with Love Campaign Manager, and Susan Leslie--Congregational Advocacy & Witness, and others.  The same UUA page offers more context.

Other major metropolitan rallies (see link above) in: El Paso, TX, Homestead, FL, New York, NY, San Diego, CA

Public Comment Deadline - Proposed HUD Rule Change Targeting Immigrants

UUSJ’s Immigration Task Group urges you and your congregation to make a public comment against Housing and Urban Development Department’s proposed rule revision (FR-6124-P-01). The proposal eliminates permissions allowing undocumented persons in a family using HUD financial assistance to pay for housing, among other steps. UUSJ submitted a comment found here and prepared a handout and guide with talking points. Online comment submissions are preferred. Deadline July 9, 12:59pm ET.

A Vision for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

UUSJ’s Vision for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, as articulated by the Immigration Task Group, has been released. Follow the link to review. 

2019 Immigration Film Fest

Main film showings September 13-14 at the Jack Morten auditorium, George Washington University, Washington D.C. Sign up for alerts and to monitor the developing schedule here, or see related content here.

Ending Child Detention

During July as part of the national week of action to end child detention an interfaith and advocate coalition including UUA, UUSJ, UUSC and other UUs mobilized. First, we helped gather more than 100,000 signatures to demand shutting down the facility in Homestead Florida. Then we mobilized for events in support of the petition. The week’s events started with “Where are the Children?” (see a Georgetowner article on this) led by Alex Kohn, a UU and 11th grader. Alex was then invited to speak at the week of action press conference alongside Rev. Katie Romano Griffin, of Cedar Lane UUC, and other speakers. The attendees--with many UUs--then marched to deliver the petition to Speaker Pelosi’s office, as well as the Health and Human Services building. See our Facebook page (with video of Rev. Katie) and Twitter feed for coverage.

Want to join UUSJ’s Immigration Task Group?

The task group meets by Zoom on most alternate Thursdays at 4pm ET. For more information contact Charlotte Jones-Carroll at cjonescarroll@aol.com.

Advocacy Conference - Advancing Economic and Climate Justice as a Moral Issue Building a Movement for A Green New Deal

We have less than 12 years! The Green New Deal has spurred debate on the need for bold actions that make big differences. Carbon pricing is being debated. And 156 million Americans have pledged to keep the Paris Climate Agreement Commitments. Communities of color wonder why they often pay the costs first, and deepest, but rarely get to voice their concerns or benefit from rebuilds and resilience planning. Learn how to influence elected officials to take needed urgent action.

• How can we as UUs be in solidarity and fellowship on these issues? 
• How do UU values inform our justice work? 
• How can we advocate most effectively with our elected representatives? 

Environmental Film Fest Holds Summer Screening Series

The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) is the world’s premier showcase of environmentally themed films. Showings continue in July with “Ay Mariposa” July 18, and “Shorts Program: Global Conservation” July 25.

Drawdown Solutions: Getting Into Action

Learn About Your Role in Reversing Global Warming!

Come see both the possibility of reversing global warming and the role you play. Learn about the science-based Drawdown solutions and how to reverse global warming. A five-session Drawdown Solutions: Getting Into Action workshop will be offered at UU Church of Arlington this summer on Thursday nights from 6:30 – 9:00 – July 11 and25, August 8 and 22, and a final session in September. Learn more at www.drawdown.org and at www.Pachamama.org under resources. Contact: marylpva@gmail.com.

Poor People's Congress & Next Steps for Elections 2020

More than 1,200 people attended the Poor People's Congress in Washington DC on June 17-19 to hear from Presidential Candidates and to get trained for bringing the Poor People's Campaign Agenda and Registering Our People & Getting out the Vote in the 2020 Elections. Join us to hear about what we learned and experienced at this multiracial, multi-faith, multigenerational Congress and what is planned for our next steps. Among the crowd of hundreds were at least 70 UU clergy and lay leaders from several states.  

In this briefing we'll hear from: Rev. Robin Tanner--National Faith Director of the Poor People's Campaign, Rev. Ann Keeler Evans--Organizing with the PPC in PA, Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson--Organizing with the PPC in CA, Rev. Joan Van Becelaere--Organizing with the PPC in OH, Pablo DeJesus--Executive Director of UUSJ, and Susan Leslie, UUA Congregational Advocacy and Witness Director.

Agitating for the Impacted - Moral Witness Wednesday

UUs joined the Poor People's Campaign (PPC) in June at Lafayette Park for an action directed at the White House. Many UU ministers risked arrest, repeating brave acts of last summer.  Rev. Robin Tanner, Beacon UU Congregation in Summit, New Jersey, spoke from the stage besides Rev. Dr. Barber. Other past UU rally speakers and action organizers showed in strength to challenge the distorted moral narrative in our nation. Early on the park was closed by the Administration, so the multi-faith procession became a street-side action.  UUs were throughout the crowd, exchanging stories of justice with new friends of many faiths. After a moving rally and press conference the hopeful became non-violent direct actors and approached the White House. See our Facebook page and Twitter feed for coverage.

Building Power for Moral Fusion - PPC Moral Action Congress

Rev. Abhi Janamanchi of Cedar Lane UU Church gave the opening prayer for more than 1,200 attendees before they heard from nine presidential candidates during the opening session. The choir offered inspiring music, speakers important words and ideas. Folks met, mingled and learned in workshops. Over 70 UUs among the crowd of so many walks of life: the poor, the impacted, veterans, people of color, first nations, and allies included. All attended to help build a movement and learn more about the fight against the distorted moral narrative. See our Facebook page and Twitter feed for coverage.

New Statement of Conscience on “Our Democracy Uncorrupted”

See story above on General Assembly for details on this new Statement of Conscience.

The corruption of our democracy is a major political issue that threatens the very core of our existence as a country. Based on input from the UUSJ membership, the UUSJ Board voted in January to add a fourth issue to our priority issues - Defending our Democracy. The initial focus is on the For the People Act of 2019 H.R.1, which passed the House on March 8, 2019. During June UUSJ joined interfaith supporters urging a vote on H.R.4 - Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019.

Do you want to join the newly forming Task Group that will help shape the collective work under this priority? The group will be responsible for assessing and prioritizing the democracy areas of focus for UUSJ among other important items. Email advocacy@uusj.org for details.

Shelby County v. Holder after Six Years

On June 25, the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on Shelby v. Holder, UUSJ joined many secular and interfaith actors to say Congress must restore certain protections against racial discrimination in voting that the Court ruled as unconstitutional because the coverage formula was more than 40 years old and therefore no longer responsive to current needs. 

Speakers called for action on H.R.4 - Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019.  Members of Congress spoke. See our Facebook page and Twitter feed for coverage. As people of faith, we know we can't fix issues like poverty, immigration, climate change and healthcare--unless we fix our democracy. 

H.J.Res. 2, the Bipartisan Democracy for All Amendment

UUSJ joined a forthcoming coalition letter, including other interfaith advocates, urging support for the Democracy for All Amendment (DFA). The DFA Amendment would address Supreme Court cases such as Citizens United, which have created the system of pay-to-play big money politics that we live in today. The House version (H.J. Res. 2) already has over 100 cosponsors, and seeks to restore the authority of Congress and the states to set common-sense rules for the raising and spending of money on elections to advance political equality for all Americans. The coalition seeks committee hearings on the proposed amendment perhaps this fall. The Senate version will likely be introduced in late July or August.

Film Showing – American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel