{"id":21346,"date":"2019-12-21T22:22:18","date_gmt":"2019-12-22T03:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/?p=21346"},"modified":"2019-12-21T23:04:51","modified_gmt":"2019-12-22T04:04:51","slug":"the-stakes-are-enormous-by-charlotte-fred-and-lavona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/the-stakes-are-enormous-by-charlotte-fred-and-lavona\/","title":{"rendered":"The Stakes Are Enormous! by Charlotte, Fred and Lavona"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UUs marched on the capitol to stop family separations, child detentions and shutdown the largest for-profit children\u2019s detention center in Homestead, Fla. June 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cLiving in Limbo<\/a>\u201d is the title of a recent article in the Winter edition of the UU World. <\/i>\u00a0It describes the vulnerable state of immigrant families, particularly those who are sheltering in UU churches.* They have sought sanctuary while they await a decision on whether they can continue to live in the United States or will be deported.<\/p>\n

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines <\/span>limbo<\/i><\/b> as an <\/span>uncertain<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>situation<\/span><\/i>\u00a0that you cannot\u00a0<\/span><\/i>control<\/span><\/i>\u00a0and in which there is no\u00a0<\/span><\/i>progress<\/span><\/i>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><\/i>improvement<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/i> \u00a0Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) here in Washington, DC aims for progress and improvement for our immigrant neighbors while we wait for the court\u2019s verdict.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides those who are undocumented, those in limbo are Dreamers, individuals who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and those living with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).\u00a0 More than one million people are impacted by these two federal programs, which the current administration wants to terminate.<\/span><\/p>\n

UUSJ\u2019s volunteer-driven Advocacy Corps is preparing for visits to Senate offices in early 2020, with the UU Service Committee, to advocate for legislation such as <\/span>Senate bill 879<\/b>.\u00a0 This law would provide longer-term solutions for more than 300,000 immigrants with TPS status.\u00a0 In addition, UUSJ participated in a November rally at the Supreme Court as it deliberated the legality of DACA.\u00a0 Meanwhile, families and loved ones live in limbo while they await the outcome.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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UUs at the U.S. Supreme Court, after #FairMaps, Rally To End Gerrymandering! March 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unitarian Universalist Association <\/span>President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray<\/b> writes about the UUA\u2019s new initiative, \u2018UU the Vote\u2019 which is focused on the 2020 election.\u00a0 \u201cI challenge us over the next year not only to be the people who show up, but also to be the people who get others to show up.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>The voters of our nation must wait in limbo until election day to learn what the future will look like for marginalized people, for our vulnerable climate, and for the shape of our democracy.<\/span> UUSJ can lead the way by supporting the \u2018UU the Vote\u2019 effort.\u00a0 Its Advocacy Corps volunteers are people who show up!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UUSJ\u2019s mission is <\/span>to mobilize and amplify the voices of Unitarian Universalists as we seek to change the world through acts of love and justice.<\/span><\/i>)<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They make monthly visits to your elected representatives in the US Congress on one of these 2019 priorities:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n