| Commentary As we embark on a new program year, I extend heartfelt thanks to our volunteers and supporters. Your contributions sustain our mission and strengthen our Unitarian Universalist voice, which is crucial in these challenging times. In a faith tradition that values radical inclusion and welcome, we recognize that our democracy faces unprecedented threats. Many analysts warn that we are no longer witnessing the rise of authoritarianism but living under its consolidation, as elected leaders exploit government positions and state power to silence dissent and undermine accountability. UUSJ is working to resist this phenomenon, advocating for a vision of America where everyone thrives, free from hate and indifference. Yet, we need your continued commitment to combat this erosion of democracy. Only together can we confront and dismantle the pillars of support for authoritarianism. Our collective action is vital. We must defy the injustices that affect federal workers, climate justice organizers, migrants and refugees, students, and even the judges who uphold the law—all the populations and professions under assault. Achieving a common understanding and unity around moral concern is essential in our fight against authoritarianism. [Follow the button to read more.] |
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 | Dale Anderson Dale is the UUSJ Board Chair. A retired physician executive and healthcare consultant who served as the President of the UU Church of Sarasota (Florida). Dale lives with his wife, Mary Montgomery, in Sarasota and has three grown children and grandchildren. |
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| | | Workers Over Billionaires (Nationwide Events)
Hosted by the May Day Strong Coalition with support by Organizer Labor People from all walks of life are upset about the out the economy and making a connection to the administration's deregulation drive and labor relations. In response, nearly 1,000 rallies, vigils and protests have been planned across the U.S. for Labor Day. Find a local event with May Day Strong. |
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| Peace with Creation: Witness for Creation Justice
Hosted by Interfaith Power and Light with Creation Justice Ministries Join a series of Season of Creation faith gatherings on various dates, highlighting urgent environmental concerns through ritual, testimony, and prayer. Each event will feature a diverse panel of speakers—faith leaders, theologians, community members, and public officials—speaking to the sacred duty to protect Creation. |
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| Advocacy Days: Take it Home Webinar
Hosted by Refugee Council USA Wednesday, September 3
6:00 p.m. ET • 5:00 p.m. CT • 4:00 p.m. MT • 3:00 p.m. PT
RSVP via Zoom During this webinar, Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) will discuss local advocacy, feature opportunities for policy action, and offer support for planning local legislative visits. RCUSA seeks to follow up on its June 2025 Advocacy Days, which focused on refugee, asylum, and humanitarian protection. Join the call and learn how to maintain pressure and ensure our neighbors are safe and our communities are welcoming for refugees and others seeking humanitarian protection. |
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| We Are All DC: A National March
Hosted by Free DC and many others Saturday, September 6
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Malcolm X Park, 16th Street Northwest, Washington, DC
RSVP with Free DC DC communities are powerful, connected, and under attack, so they are calling on allies nationwide to join on Saturday, September 6, for a national march from Malcom X Park to the downtown core of the city to demand that the federal forces leave DC now. Why? Federal troops, out-of-state National Guard, and Trump-controlled police are harassing, surveilling, and detaining Black & Brown residents, immigrants, youth, and unhoused folks. Visit Congress with Free DC - In the days immediately before and after the march, Free DC will visit Congress to make it clear folks want an end to DC’s occupation. Sign up to visit Congress with Free DC: |
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| Beloved Community Banquet: Celebrating the Resilience of a City Under Siege
Hosted by Walker Memorial Baptist Church and many interfaith allies, endorsed by UUSJ Saturday, September 6 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET 13th and U Street, NW, Washington, DC Near U Street/Cardozo, Metro Station Just attend , check in at the event expected Join us to break bread together, in community, as an interfaith act of joyful symbolic defiance. UUSJ and the UUA join many others to showcase that we do not consent to the federalization of DC or the targeting of vulnerable people as part of the DC Occupation. Youth and unhoused folks will be joyfully invited. Our undocumented neighbors will be honored and remembered even if they dare not risk attendance. Food trucks will be on hand. |
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| Rise for Freedom x ACLU Training Series
Hosted in partnership with UUSJ As a member of the Rise for Freedom Coalition, we continue to partner with the ACLU to bring you in-person activist education training in your state on various dates. Venue restrictions limit space, so sign up quickly to reserve your spot. Check if the following events are accessible to you: - Sept. 6th, Pittsburgh, PA
- Sept. 29th, Grand Rapids, MI
- Sept. 27th, Beacon, NY (new)
- Oct. 18th, Dayton, OH
- Nov. 8th, Kearney, NE (new)
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| Hope In A Time of Peril: Interfaith Immigration Webinar
Hosted by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition Wednesday, September 10
6:00 p.m. ET • 5:00 p.m. CT • 4:00 p.m. MT • 3:00 p.m. PT
RSVP via Zoom Across the nation and within our cities, immigrant families and allies are overcoming aggressive immigration raids, fear and uncertainty, and the real impacts of family separation with care and compassion. Join the Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) for a timely webinar to learn about the latest federal updates, to understand how immigrant families are navigating the first eight months into the Trump Administration, and hear how people of faith are mobilizing boldly to stand for welcome. Spanish interpretation provided. |
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| Non-Cooperation Training
Hosted by Freedom Trainers Join these training opportunities to gain skills in noncooperation and prepare to train others. Non-cooperation is a hot topic as an increasing number of U.S. residents conclude that we are living under an authoritarian circumstance. Demand is expected to outpace supply. So organizers will notify you of your application's acceptance status ASAP, on a rolling basis, until all spots are filled. Act fast; Freedom Trainers, some of the organizers behind One Million Rising, are among the best at teaching this skill set. |
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| Make Billionaires Pay, in NYC and Across the U.S.
Hosted by 360.org, and others September 20
Find/Host an Event In September, world leaders will be gathering in New York City to review countries' climate plans (or "nationally determined contribution"). This remains a critical moment for us to demonstrate to the world that Americans are resisting Trump and the Billionaire Class. UUSJ joins the call for people across the U.S. to attend the Make Billionaires Pay mobilizations by hosting a march in their community or joining the march in New York City. Yes, this is a C3-compliant mobilization! |
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| Sun Day
Hosted by Third Act and many others Sunday, September 21
Find/Host Event This will be the first Sun Day. At its heart, it’s an invitation. With more than 150 events already planned, people are coming together to celebrate our progress toward a cleaner and more just energy future, and to spark momentum for what comes next. By embracing solar, wind, and battery power, we are reducing energy bills, improving air quality, and powering systems that both reflect and promote climate justice. |
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| Democracy Leaders Event
Hosted by UUSJ’s Democracy Action Team Wednesday, September 25
7:30 p.m. ET • 6:30 p.m. CT • 5:30 p.m. MT • 4:30 p.m. PT
RSVP (virtual) The UUSJ Democracy Action Team is convening Democracy Leaders in an ongoing discussion and action series about how we can contribute to a pro-democracy movement capable of thwarting the autocratic movement emerging rapidly in the U.S. Register for the Democracy Leaders mailing list. |
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| Immigration Film Festival The 12th Annual Immigration Film Festival schedule has been released! This year, in addition to four in-person screenings from September 25 to 28, the festival is excited to host 32 films that you can access as part of a virtual experience. - Virtual Festival: Take a look at the featured films here!
- Community Screening: See Details
- Core Festival: Full schedule here
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| | End the Federal Occupation of Washington, D.C. President Trump invoked Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act, enforcing federal policing interests throughout the city, with a so-called “public safety emergency." This claim is false: in January, the Department of Justice reported violent crime in D.C. hit a 30-year low. Recent reporting by others suggests the same: BBC, CCJ, CNN, FactCheck.org, and NPR. There is no verifiable evidence of a crisis—only clear evidence of executive overreach that undermines democracy and civil rights. Take Action: Urge Congress to reject any extension of the emergency, require transparency, and support DC autonomy, with Faithful Democracy, of which UUSJ is a member. |
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| Tell Congress to Welcome Afghans Both chambers have finally introduced bills about the situation of Afghans for this Congress. Unfortunately, they have different names; although they are similar, they are not identical. UUSJ supports both. The House introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act (H.R. 4895) and the Senate introduced the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act (S.2679) in August 2025. Take Action: Tell Congress to support the welcome for Afghans with these two bills. |
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| Keep Healthcare Affordable for Millions Congressional Republicans have refused to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credit, which was keeping health care more affordable for millions of Americans. In reply, health insurance companies just requested premium increases averaging 20% for 2026. This will result in healthier people dropping their health insurance, while less healthy people remain. Sicker people mean more costs to insurers. And it’s no surprise that they’re passing that cost along to the American people. Congress can still fix this when its August recess ends. Take Action: Tell Congress to fix this now, with the CHN, of which UUSJ is a member |
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| Tell Senators to Resist the SAVE Act Tea Party Patriots Action (TPPA), a leading conservative grassroots organization, spent August Recess highlighting the SAVE Act and pressuring Senators to pass the legislation. They are advocating for its inclusion in must-pass legislation such as a budget resolution or the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This pressure tactic presents a new angle of legislative advocacy. While TPPA cites the lack of enforcement measures as a reason for the SAVE Act, many advocates disagree with the need arguing that it will do more harm than good. See: BC, CAP, KF, LCCHR, LWV, NPV, and VoteRiders, among others. UUSJ feels the bill should be treated with a standalone vote, so we can all see clearly the Senate vote dispositions on the specific matter. It should not go as a rider to must-pass bills. Take Action: remind the Senate to resist and reject the SAVE Act, if it comes before them. |
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| Immigration Justice
Steve Eckstrand & Terry Grogan, Immigration Action Team Conveners (Immigration@uusj.org) |
| | Recently Introduced Positive Bills A bipartisan group of representatives has introduced the Enduring Welcome Act to ensure ongoing evacuation and resettlement of Afghans. Last week, Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Dina Titus (D-NV) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced legislation (H.R. 4995) that would require the full re-establishment and resumption of evacuation and resettlement activities conducted by the Office for the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE). The Afghan Adjustment Act (H.R. 4895) and its Senate companion the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act (S. 2679), are vital legislation to expand pathways to safety for Afghans at risk and ensure a clear path to permanent status for those already in the U.S. |
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| Arrests, Detention, and Deportations Ramp Up The Administration is moving forward aggressively on its plans to round up and remove undocumented migrants, increasingly people who have lived here peacefully for years in the interior of the country. The new budget bill provided huge increases in funding for all of these enforcement activities. |
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| Defending Our Democracy
Fred Van Deusen, Democracy Action Team Convener (Democracy@uusj.org) |
| | For More on the Situation in DC See UUSJ’s statement on D.C. Home Rule, Federalizing the Police, "We are with D.C. as it continues to build toward freedom." - You can also sound off in solidarity with D.C. residents by taking our petition that we developed in partnership with the Reeb Voting Rights Project, All Souls, DC, and the League of Women Voters of DC (LWV-DC).
- For a brief overview, refer to our June 2025 AIW proposal, 'Voter Justice and Racial Equity for the Citizens of the Nation’s Capital.'
- Stay informed about updates and happenings related to the issue with LWV-DC's Substack.
- Get more in-depth documentary and educational briefing, please request a Zoom screening of The Last Battlefront. This documentary delves into the situation in Washington, D.C. UUSJ, Reeb, LWV-DC, and the film's producers are partnering to bring these sessions to UU Congregations and State Action Networks.
Join in solidarity: - Consider ringing your church bells in solidarity with DC like UU Santa Fe Congregation, a member of UUSJ.
- They have been producing a joyous cacophony of bells, drums and pots clanging and hands clapping.
- That's the sound of UU's sending cross-country love from New Mexico to DC.
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| UU Democracy Team Registration The UUSJ Democracy Action Team aims to enhance our communication and working relationship with congregational teams. If your congregation has a social justice team focused on building a democracy movement, promoting voting rights and other fundamental freedoms, and resisting authoritarianism, please complete this Form. August Meeting Materials |
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| Environmental and Climate Justice
To connect with UUSJ about our activities (info@uusj.org) |
| | | Environment and Climate Coverage - The EPA Has Abandoned Reason. Now We Build Arks, Sojourners
- Don’t let Donald Trump undermine your faith in the climate fight | Gina McCarthy, The Guardian
- After a freeze, Trump administration reluctantly agrees to fund EV chargers, NPR
- The church should back climate candidates to fully endorse a culture of life, NCR
- First-of-a-kind US class-action lawsuit would force EPA to reinstate $3bn climate program, Guardian
- More than 400 people suspected to have died from extreme heat in Arizona county, Guardian
- Some Juneau residents urged to evacuate as Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier releases floodwater, AP
- Electricity prices are climbing more than twice as fast as inflation, NPR
- Thousands of Florida homeowners to see steep insurance rate hikes, Gulf Coast News
- A call to merge the climate and immigration movements, Heated
- Blog: World Court tips the scales - Climate justice moves from rhetoric to responsibility, The Commonwealth
- Presbytery of San Gabriel returns ancestral land to Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council, PCUSA News
- Controversial climate report from Trump team galvanizes scientists into action, Nature
- In first 100 days, what has Pope Leo XIV said about climate and environment?, NCR
- A new report shows how local climate activism leads to ‘remarkable’ gains, Grist
- The EV tax credit ends soon — but there's a little bit of wiggle room for car buyers, NPR
- In the Transition to Renewable Energy, China Is at a Crossroads, Yale E360
- Ford says it will roll out a cheaper electric pickup truck, NPR
- Human connection to nature has declined 60% in 200 years, study finds, Guardian
- The unlikely coalition fighting to keep Energy Star labels on your appliances, Grist
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| Economic Justice
To connect with UUSJ about our activities (info@uusj.org) |
| | Labor Day 2025, Looks to Get Real While the Trump Administration Celebrates Successes for America’s Workers (White House), labor unions and progressive organizations are mobilizing, looking to recreate the success of major Spring and Summer protests, during the open of the Fall in 2025. Organizers have framed the protests as an effort to stop the Billionaire take over, and cite major labor discontent with the administration's actions to: - Strip over 1 million federal workers of their right to collective bargaining
- Dramatically cut federal wages
- Weaken workplace safety enforcement
- Eliminate rules that protect against wage theft
- Propose elimination of the federal minimum wage for more than 3.7 million childcare and home workers
Find a local event with May Day Strong. |
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| Grab EWDI Reports While They’re Available The Excessive Wealth Disorder Institute (EWDI) is shuttering. Their research will remain on the web for a while longer and their trainings with the Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund (AFR-EF) will live on through events scheduled into 2026. Founded as an experimental start-up think-tank style consultancy in 2022, EWDI brought awareness to the extreme concentration of wealth and power that are wreaking havoc on our economy, democracy, and environment. This shop produced several unique bodies of work. See the highlights while they are still available: |
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| Budget and Tax Content and Clipping - Offsets, Federal Debt, ACA Divides, And Gamblers’ Regret, TPC
- DOGE Cuts Risk Bogging Down Push to Implement Trump’s Tax Breaks, Bloomberg
- Americans Want to Know Which Corporations Aren’t Paying Taxes, but House Republicans Want to Keep this Information Secret, ITEP
- A current policy baseline analysis of the tax provisions of H.R. 1, ITEP
- By the Numbers: Republican Reconciliation Law Will Take Health Coverage Away From Millions of People and Raise Families’ Costs, CBPP
- Talking Points on Child Care Related Tax Provisions in Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill”, NWLC
- Who Would Benefit from Eliminating Capital Gains Taxes on Home Sales?, Yale Budget
- A Ticking Clock And The Tip Jar, TPC
- House Republicans Begin Uphill Effort to Sell Tax Law to Voters, NYT
- They’re rich. They’re anti-Trump. And they don’t want their big tax cut., WaPo
- 3 Government Programs That Cost Less Than One Billionaire’s Fortune, Yahoo Finance
- New tax law increases big beyond-the-grave tax break for the wealthy, CNN
- Democrats Can Win Back the Working-Class with Economic Populism, Inequality
- Accounting for capital gains in income significantly increases U.S. inequality, Economic Growth
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| UUSJ is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. |
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