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September 2026

 

Faithful Witnessing in Springfield, Ohio, by Dan Schneider 

On Friday, August 28, 2026, I represented UUSJ at a Faithful Witnessing event in Springfield, Ohio. 

Faithful Witnessing: Unshackle Springfield was an interfaith event led by Haitian immigrants and other faith leaders in Springfield. Faith groups were asked to go to Springfield to support local faith leaders in defending Haitian churches, particularly Haitian pastors who have been detained by ICE, supporting and standing with the Haitian community, and sharing with the world their tragic story. 

I felt like I was part of something of transcendent importance in working with the other people who were there. 

I called Ohio’s Governor, our two US Senators, and the US congressman representing Springfield. We urged them to support removing two Haitian pastors from detention and preventing their deportation. After my calls, I spent most of the day texting or emailing many personal contacts pre-prepared information on how they could make similar calls. I helped pack food for immigrants who are often afraid to leave their homes.

We followed local leaders, especially Haitians.  

Faithful Witnessing concluded with a public action at the city square in downtown Springfield on Sunday, August 30, at noon. It included a “Jericho March” around City Hall. 

Pablo DeJesús and I attended an evening bilingual church service. The service expressed, in song and words, the hope and fear many felt. The wife of one of the detained pastors spoke of how she wanted her husband back. There was a reading of the Immigrant’s Creed. The creed includes the following: “I believe that the communion of the saints begins when we accept the diversity of the saints.” 

 

Dan Schneider
UUSJ Board of Trustees

 
 

“I was pleased to be a part of the Unitarian Universalist response in Springfield, Ohio. It was a meaningful mobilization. Ministers and lay leaders came from throughout Ohio and nearby states to show solidarity, assist with mutual aid, and be present in the movement. Each person did what they could, according to their skills and capacity.  

This was an important symbolic action and stress test for our ability to respond. We helped build awareness for the continued and mounting mutual aid and moral support needs of the Haitian community as they face the termination of TPS and mounting harassment.

We remain firm: Congress must address and correct the harm by the Administration. This is not what the majority of Americans want to see happen on immigration for our neighbors, friends, families, and loved ones. We have been, and are, going in the wrong direction.”

- Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director, UUSJ

Events

Beyond the Numbers: The Human and Economic Impact of H.R. 1's SNAP Cuts

Tuesday, September 1
3:00 p.m. ET 2:00 p.m. CT, 1:00 p.m. MT, 12:00 p.m. PT
Register

Since H.R. 1 became law, millions of people have lost access to SNAP—and behind every number is a family, an older adult, a child, or a community feeling the consequences. Join us for a conversation examining what these losses mean for health, families, states, and local economies. This conversation will move beyond SNAP enrollment numbers to illustrate what these cuts mean for people and communities—and why action is urgently needed

Time for Climate Hawks to update your Midterm plans 

Wednesday, September 9
8:00 p.m. ET • 7:00 p.m. CT • 6:00 p.m. MT • 5:00 p.m. PT • 4:00 p.m. AT • 2:00 p.m. HT
RSVP (Online)

Join us as we host Climate Hawks Vote for an off-the-record briefing on the dynamics climate-minded voters should know, as we head into the midterms.  This will be a C3-friendly, issue-focused discussion designed to help you understand how climate topics are playing out in the current cycle across noteworthy races. We are not endorsing candidates, but discuss which candidates are taking climate policy seriously.

Communities Not Cages National Day of Advocacy

September 15-16 
Register

We are invited to join the Detention Watch Network (DWN), of which UUSJ is a member, and partners from across the country to gather in Washington, D.C., September 15-16 for the Communities Not Cages National Day of Advocacy. DWN will demand Congress cosponsor legislation that will protect our communities by shutting down detention centers, stopping detention expansion, getting ICE out of our communities, and redirecting funding towards community needs. Participants will join a press conference on Capitol grounds and will have the opportunity to meet with Members of Congress and their staff. If you would like to participate, please fill out this form by close of business on September 1, 2026

Whose Code Is It Anyway? Tax Reform as Democracy Reform

Wednesday, September 16
2:00 p.m. ET • 1:00 p.m. CT • noon MT • 11:00 a.m. PT • 10:00 a.m. AT • 8:00 a.m. HT
RSVP (Online)

The Roosevelt Institute will convene a panel of experts to explore one critical policy tool in the fight not only to rebalance economic power, but also to restore our democratic institutions: the tax code.

As our democratic institutions face continued attack, pro-democracy advocates have proposed important, vital solutions: abolishing the filibuster, reforming the Supreme Court, and expanding ballot access. While these are necessary steps to redemocratization, they fail to address one of the most important accelerants of authoritarianism: ever-growing economic inequality. But economic inequality is a policy choice, and one that policy can also correct.

Featured Actions

Take Action for Springfield, Ohio

In recent weeks, ICE has escalated its efforts to round up, cage, and deport members of the Haitian community in Springfield, OH, who have recently lost the Temporary Protected Status designation. In response, the local Haitian community asked allies to act, to show up, and show out in solidarity. They invited faith, clergy, and lay leaders, as well as secular allies, to come to Springfield from across the country in support.

Tell DHS to Stop Spying on Churches

The Department of Homeland Security sent undercover agents into at least five churches to spy on them, according to new federal court documents. See Churches, libraries and breweries: Inside DHS' covert surveillance operation, NPR. DHS targeted Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, and Unitarian Universalist churches in Minnesota and Michigan that hosted activism trainings and organizing meetings.

Review materials from the Interfaith Alliance, Choose Love, Not ICE campaign with Protect Democracy, including: Social Media kits, downloadable posters and song books, and more.

Roadless Rule: Public Comments Needed

On August 18, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, also known as the Roadless Rule. The DEIS follows the USDA’s announcement in August 2025 to initiate the rulemaking process with a Notice of Intent (NOI) to eliminate Roadless Rule protections for forestlands nationwide.

For context, note the 2026 “Defend Against the Assault on Environmental Protections: Public Lands Rules and the Endangerment Finding,” Action of Immediate Witness we helped draft.

Make public comment by September 21st with Roadless.org.

News

Announcing the Lavona Grow Fund: Carrying Forward a Legacy of Courageous UU Advocacy

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) is honored to announce the launch of the UUSJ Lavona Grow Fund, a new initiative created to carry forward the bold, values-rooted advocacy that defined Lavona Grow’s life and leadership. Lavona passed away in January 2026, and this fund reflects our commitment to keeping her spirit of grounded, justice-driven leadership shaping UUSJ’s future.

Lavona—co-founder of UUSJ, longtime Board Chair, and architect of our Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps—brought uncommon clarity, curiosity, and moral courage to every facet of her work. Her decades of public service included leadership at Common Cause of Indiana, government relations work at George Washington University, federal service at the U.S. Department of Education, and a pivotal role as a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Capitol Hill Lobby Corps, where she volunteered as a lobbyist beginning in 1986. She was a strategic force behind national UU advocacy efforts, shaping programs like our Write Here! Write Now! letter-writing campaign and elevating UU voices on issues of climate, immigration, democracy, and economic justice. 

The Lavona Grow Fund strengthens UUSJ’s capacity to do what Lavona modeled so powerfully:

  • Build national advocacy coalitions
  • Train and equip UU advocates across the country
  • Advance environmental and economic justice
  • Support strategic initiatives that grow the UU justice ecosystem 

This fund reflects Lavona’s belief that advocacy is both a moral calling and a teachable skill—and that UUs can and must show up with courage, competence, and compassion in moments of national consequence.

As we launch this fund, we honor Lavona’s memory by investing in the future she envisioned: a vibrant, prepared, values-driven corps of UU advocates making meaningful progress at the federal and state levels.

We invite you to join us in celebrating Lavona’s legacy and supporting the work that will continue in her name.

The UUSJ Lavona Grow Fund: Because her spirit of bold, grounded justice must remain part of our future.

Successful Recess Week of Action

Together, we witnessed a movement in full voice: over 1,000 faith leaders joined in collective action; Partners held more than 40 meetings with congressional leaders; and nearly 2,000 letters were sent to the House and Senate during our Week of Action, August 23-30.

Communities across the U.S. affirmed the Covenant pledge—you can too!

Our declaration was bold, grounded, and unmistakably moral. Every meeting, every summit, every sermon and proclamation reflected a shared refusal to accept injustice as inevitable and a commitment to advancing repeal of H.R.1.

As we continue building momentum, we ask you to follow the Covenant on social media, where we are showcasing the powerful work happening across traditions and communities. 

Resilience and Compassion Training for UU Lay Leaders with Rev. Megan Lloyd Joiner

This course is specifically designed for Unitarian Universalists. One module is for UU Lay Leaders; the other is for UU Ministers. It costs $300.

This CBCT® (Cognitively Based Compassion Training) course on Compassion U—an engaging digital learning platform—offers practical tools to navigate challenges, build trust, and cultivate healthier congregational cultures. Through a blend of live virtual classes with a certified CBCT teacher and interactive self-guided learning, participants develop skills to manage stress, regulate emotions, and improve well-being

Immigration Justice
Steve Eckstrand, Immigration Action Team Convener ([email protected])

National Immigration Law Center Legislative Comparisons

A new resource from the National Immigration Law Center: a document comparing the different bills introduced this Congress that provide immigration relief. With tables comparing the Dignity Act, the American Dream and Promise Act, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2025, and other bills introduced this Congress. Legislative Comparisons

 

The End of TPS is Becoming Real

The Department of Homeland Security has ended or has scheduled the end of almost all TPS designations. Recent and near-future terminations include:

  • South Sudan – ended on August 7
  • Myanmar (Burma) – ended on August 7
  • Somalia – ended on August 14, 2026
  • Ethiopia – ended on August 18, 2026
  • El Salvador – scheduled to end after September 9
  • Sudan and Ukraine – scheduled to end after October 19

By the end of 2026, as many as 800,000 people will have lost TPS status in 2025 and 2026. This total does not include approximately 190,000 El Salvadorans who still have TPS.

TPS termination does not immediately lead to deportation. Those who no longer have TPS should contact a lawyer to learn whether they have other options. The National Immigration Legal Services Directory lists legal service providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.

 

ICE Focuses on People with No Criminal History

ICE has increased its enforcement efforts across the country and has arrested over 40,000 people in June and nearly 50,000 in July. An increasing percentage of those arrested have no criminal history (i.e., no conviction and no pending charge). In June, about 47% of those arrested had no criminal history, and in July over 50% had no criminal history. Moreover, among people with a criminal history, only a small fraction have been charged with or convicted of a serious crime. At a time when our national debt exceeds $40 trillion, the administration is on track to spend tens of billions of dollars arresting, detaining, and deporting immigrants who have no criminal record and who are valued members of our communities.

ICE Is Giving Itself High Marks

POGO Investigates, the news reporting division of the Project on Government Oversight, reported that the Office of Detention Oversight (ODO), the ICE sub-agency responsible for inspecting detention facilities, has been identifying significantly fewer violations (“deficiencies”) during the past three years. The number of violations dropped by nearly 70% between fiscal years 2022 and 2025. Moreover, the proportion of ICE detention facilities receiving a “Superior” rating has nearly tripled since fiscal year 2024, after declining by 61% between fiscal years 2022 and 2024.

 

Articles Shared By The Team

Economic Justice
To connect with UUSJ about our activities ([email protected])

Centering Black American Taxes

A new policy brief series from the incredible LaToya Parker at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, The Tax Code and Black Wealth, examines how the federal tax code shapes economic security, wealth building, and intergenerational opportunity for Black Americans.

The Series Introduction outlines the project’s analytical framework, including the Black Wealth Infrastructure framework, and explains why policymakers must develop a clear evidentiary record on racial equity before the next major tax reform window opens. 

 

Webinar: OBBBA Community Impact and Prospects for Repeal 

We must bring revenues from 17% to 20% of GDP, the historical healthy benchmark. It will take $10 trillion to address the affordability crisis in the U.S.:

  • $6 trillion to reverse OBBBA and Tariff damage
  • $3 trillion to invest in workers and families to deal with key affordability factors
  • $1 trillion for deficit and long-term debt reduction to stabilize principle and interest

John Foti, Deputy Executive Director and Legislative Director of Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF), led our briefing on H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), how it impacts our communities, and how it will continue to do so. Grounding offered by  Rev. Gregory Stevens, Trustee, UUs for a Just Economic Community.  

Watch the Webinar, which was part of our participation in the Covenant for Our Future, Week of Action.

For an interesting read on related matters, see: A ‘Glass Half Full’ Isn’t Enough to Fight Climate Change, Heat Map

 

Economic And Tax Policy Clippings

Environmental and Climate Justice
To connect with UUSJ about our activities ([email protected])

Buzzworthy:
Free Your Mind and Use the Law

A trio of recent articles is catching attention for their strategic implications in Climate Justice movement work:

Conflicting News or To Be Expected?

While data centers have emerged as one of the organically bipartisan or non-partisan issues of the primaries, and likely the midterms, complexities arise. See Grassroots Movements Against Data Centers Are At Risk Of Exploitation, Popular Resistance. Also see The Earth is sizzling, but climate isn't a hot topic for Democrats in this year's campaigns, KETV Omaha and The Teens Taking On Data Centers, NYT.

We wonder how these fit alongside: 

 

Latinos at the Mercy of Utilities

Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF) and Climate En Acción released a report finding that Latinos are facing sharply higher utility bills, while major utility companies and executives benefit from large tax breaks under Trump fiscal policy. 

The report reveals that, nationally, Latinos are twice as likely to struggle to afford their energy bills, and that utility costs are increasing sharply in 12 states with significant Latino populations. Additionally, it finds that from 2023–2025, CEOs at 21 publicly traded utilities received $26 million in tax breaks, while utilities spent $80B on dividends and $14B on buybacks; in 2025, 11 of the 21 paid companies a negative federal tax rate.

 

Green Issue Coverage

 

Defending Our Democracy
Fred Van Deusen, Democracy Action Team Convener ([email protected])

 

Shedding Light on the MAGA Movement

A new short film from Democracy Defenders Action, MAGA's Lost Cause (YouTube), features lawyers, historians, and experts in voting rights and counterterrorism who discuss how the Trump administration and its allies are rewriting history, narrowing who gets to be American, and attacking the foundations of an inclusive democracy.

 

March on Washington 2026

Thousands gathered on the National Mall to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. UUSJ and interfaith friends were in attendance. It is critical to remember the full title of the 1963 event in which over 250,000 people assembled to hear, among others, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis. As King knew all too well, democracy and economic opportunity have always been inextricably linked for Black, Hispanic, and other minority.

Vote by Mail Wars

Are we seeing the Bully Pulpit weaken on its voting-process agenda, at least on voting by mail? For background on Trump’s executive order and the U.S. Postal Service rule, see What You Need to Know About the USPS Mail Ballot Rule, Voting Rights Lab, and:

In a new piece by Democracy Docket, Federal judge won’t lift temporary block on Trump’s anti-mail voting order, Jim Sakas reports; only attorneys general from Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas filed opposition to the request for a preliminary injunction against Trump’s order and the USPS rule. That may signal a shift. Perhaps even a win for public pressure and quiet diplomacy.

 

Useful Voting Tools

VOTE411 is the League of Women Voters "one-stop-shop" for election related information. Voters can use the following features on VOTE411 to educate themselves ahead of the September 1st and November 3rd elections:

Share College Students Vote with the young people in your life. College students have dual residency and can strategically choose whether to register at home or at school. This website walks young people through this convoluted process. Send it to any college-bound kid, grandkid, or family friend!

 
 

Brief News Highlights

 
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