Since we are working virtually this year, we can see measurable results after every action: new voters registered, clicks on our voter information website, mail ballots applied for, commitments to vote. UUs nationwide have made 1.3 million voter contacts this year! We’ve also harnessed the people power in our congregations: we have active electoral organizations … Continue reading Vote2020
By Bennett Minton A series of textbooks written for the fourth, seventh, and 11th grades taught a generation of Virginians our state’s history. Chapter 29 of the seventh-grade edition, titled “How the Negroes Lived Under Slavery,” included these sentences: “A feeling of strong affection existed between masters and slaves in a majority of Virginia homes.” … Continue reading Lies our textbooks told my generation of Virginians about slavery
“One discovers the light in the darkness, that is what darkness is for, but everything in our lives depends on how we bear the light.” James Baldwin As Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ), we are called by our principles to promote social justice and to vehemently oppose unjust, inhumane public policies everywhere. The recent murders … Continue reading Juneteenth 2020: Racial Justice Cannot Wait
And now we add Rayshard Brooks of Atlanta Georgia to the list… The moving protests–in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought together young and old, working and retired, every ethnicity and racial background in the past weeks since the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Tony McDade. This defining moment … Continue reading Systemic Racism & Poverty
We are in a challenging and difficult time as the COVID-19 crisis has changed our lives and our advocacy. Our hope is that you and your family and friends are staying safe and healthy, and finding ways to support those on the frontline of this pandemic crisis, for the needs of our communities, neighbors, and … Continue reading A Renewed Challenge in the Age of COVID-19 — Building a More Just and Equitable Society
Urge our Senators to provide $4 billion for free, fair, safe, and secure elections — and support the United States Postal Service! COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge to our elections and endangers our democracy. No citizen should have to make a choice between their health and their democratic right to vote. The Senate may consider … Continue reading Action Alert: Secure Our Vote!
There are many reasons to be deeply troubled by our country’s approach to refugees and asylum seekers and to the millions of our undocumented neighbors. In my case, the unease and outrage caused by immoral policies and actions are more personal because of what they could mean for people I care about. Fortunately, I found … Continue reading Terry Grogan on Immoral Immigration Policies Hit Close to Home (Why I’m Part of UUSJ’s Immigration Task Force)
The Advocacy Corps delivered letters from UUs and a UUSJ message asking House members to decrease spending on immigration enforcement, including ICE raids, detention, deportation and border militarization. The 24 Advocacy Corps volunteers visited 55 offices, held six scheduled meetings and delivered 169 constituent letters as well as a UUSJ message urging reducing detention in … Continue reading July – UUSJ Advocates Keeping Families Together and the Border Crisis
(By Larry Underwood, UUSJ Board member from Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, Manassas, VA) In July I re-visited the Alaska I had lived in for 22 years, when it was largely pristine wilderness. I joined the annual summer tour of Alaska sponsored by four Alaskan UU congregations. I went seeking the beauty, excitement, and wildlife for … Continue reading Can We Keep the Climate Crisis From Becoming A Climate Catastrophe?
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. Environmental Film Fest Holds Summer Screening Series Ay Mariposa July 18th … Continue reading Environmental and Climate Justice
