Welcome to the UU Justice News!
In the midst of corruption, indifference, deceit and cruelty, people of good faith are resisting hate, supporting human dignity and promoting justice. In this newsletter, read about:
I’m often asked how people can get involved in and support Black Lives Matter. I think the first thing to note is that Black Lives Matter is a specific organization with chapters all over the country. They have some common national demands, and also specific goals and demands unique to each chapter.
Black Lives Matter organizations are specifically for Black people. Some chapters are open for membership. If you are black and interested, you should inquire locally. If you are white, there are ways to support Black Lives Matter chapters, the best way to do this is to join a local BLM Ally group, or SURJ chapter that already has a developed relationship.
Sometimes when people ask how they can support Black Lives Matter, they mean as a larger movement, and in that case I would direct people to the Movement for Black Lives. I would also encourage them to become familiar with grassroots organizing happening in their town or nearby if possible, first looking to Black and Brown leadership. If you are new to this work, it can be difficult to know where to go, who to follow, what to do. The best advice I can give is do your research, and listen. If you get really stuck let me know!
When Black Lives of UU (BLUU) first presented themselves as a black affinity group within the UUA, they encouraged white UUs, who wanted to support them and The Movement for Black Lives to join or start up a local Showing Up for Racial Justice chapter. So that’s what I did. At the time, there was a group that was meeting in Ann Arbor, it was a small group that had people attending from both Wayne and Washtenaw county, as the group began to grow, we split up into 2 chapters. Since then I have been part of the core team of Metro Detroit-SURJ. We are currently holding monthly Zoom meetings. There are 4 other SURJ chapters around the state, I encourage you to link up with one or start your own. https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/
Over the last few years, our Metro Detroit chapter has been developing a relationship with Black LIves Matter Detroit and Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100 Detroit). Now that we have built some trust they are asking us to support with things such as white caucus spaces, and their local campaigns. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SURJMetroDet
Our chapter has monthly Zoom meetings- we focus on education, reflection and action. To join our email list: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-surj-metro-detroits-email-list
Sharon Pedersen, MUUSJN Interfaith GOTV Campaign Manager: sspedersen@sbcglobal.net
Randy Block, MUUSJN Director: randyblock@yahoo.com
MUUSJN is hitting the ground running with its Michigan Interfaith Get Out the Vote Campaign. The Network has gotten three grants, commitments from activists from 16 UU congregations and has hired a campaign manager and two campaign organizers. We are still recruiting volunteers and are hiring GOTV Outreach Workers @$15/hour. Click HERE for more information.
The campaign is working in partnership with the Restaurant Opportunity Centers – Michigan, with the All Voting is Local campaign and with other faith groups such as the United Church of Christ and the National Council of Jewish Women. We are proud to be working with the Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan and its Economic Justice Action Fund and the ACLU People Power. We are also working with NARAL and Inclusive Justice, an interfaith LGBTQ+ welcoming and advocacy group. Our campaign is outreaching to people of color, people from LGBTQ+ communities, women, young voters and returning citizens.
Volunteers and campaign workers can attend zoom phone bank training on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and texting every Thursday, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. These will be a lot of fun and a chance to meet people around the state.
These training sessions will alternate with town hall meetings or forums on issues that will interest activists and the broader community. Upcoming events include:
Get notified about these Town Halls and trainings by emailing Sharon Pedersen at: sspedersen@sbcglobal.net
Dee Church, LGBTQ+ Justice Organizer: churchde@umich.edu
Fair and Equal Michigan’s campaign was approved to collect signatures until October to put LGBTQ+ protections in the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act for employment, housing, and public accommodations. Although the Supreme Court passed LGBTQ+ protections for employment back in June, LGBTQ+ Michiganders are still vulnerable to be kicked out of their homes or to be denied service at restaurant. Advocates have tried for years to amend the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to get civil rights for LGBTQ+ people adopted by the Michigan legislature. This petition drive is an effort by the public to stand up for the rights of Michigan citizens. Major corporations in Michigan, who want to retain skilled employees from all backgrounds, are stepping up to support this campaign.
Currently, the campaign has collected 83% of their signature collection goal. Over 133,000 signatures were collected during the first four weeks of August. The campaign is no longer collecting signatures on-line but invites people to collect signatures in public venues, e.g., near Farmer’s markets, in busy downtown locations, post offices, etc. For more information, contact Randy Block at 248-224-5572.
You can help in two ways:
Dee Church, LGBTQ+ Justice Organizer: churchde@umich.edu
Over the past few weeks, MUUSJN has been learning about and supporting multiple efforts to further LGBTQ+ equality and safety within the state of Michigan.
An LGBTQ+ issue that MUUSJN is keeping a close eye on is a situation in Livonia involving a resident who has put up multiple hateful signs condemning LGBTQ+ people. Livonia residents have expressed their concerns and although the signs are considered free speech, there are still actions that the leadership in Livonia can take. Click HERE for an article in Between the Lines.
MUUSJN has signed onto the attached letter signed, along with the ACLU of Michigan, Equality Michigan, Stand with Trans and several other organizations, to urge city officials to reject the idea that the hateful signs reflect Livonia’s ideals. The letter also advocates for Livonia to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance that would protect LGBTQ+ residents from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
MUUSJN is also involved in Get Out The Vote efforts and getting more LGBTQ+ Michiganders involved in the voting process. MUUSJN has reached out to multiple LGBTQ+ college/university organizations to help get LGBTQ+ students involved and registered to vote.
This is an important year in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and MUUSJN is proud to be supporting these efforts.
Randy Block, MUUSJN Director
The Michigan Paid Leave for All Coalition, administered by Mothering Justice, includes a collaboration of the Black Women’s Roundtable, the Blue-Green Alliance, Detroit Action, Detroit Disability Network, the Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan, NARAL Pro-Choice America, ROC-Michigan, and MUUSJN. The purpose of this coalition is to create a campaign that can work on a variety of issues relating to paid leave for all, e.g.,in-state paid leave, paid sick leave days and wage issues. The Coalition allocated a $12,000 grant to MUUSJN.
Under this grant, MUUSJN has agreed to achieve the following deliverables:
Jennifer Teed, Special Projects Coordinator
Lois Pullano from the UU Church of Greater Lansing has asked MUUSJN, congregations, organizations and individuals to sign onto this statement to End Solitary Confinement in Michigan
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRhYAS3qrkix5dgU7V4GqFRYzT3mrPKJ-l2mvFZY8dENH3xQ/viewform
Let me know you are interested in a deeper study and action around ending cash bail in Michigan and raising bail funds. A few of us are working with the BLUU Curriculum and Michigan Liberation. We are looking to start a study/action group this fall. Please contact jennifer.a.teed@gmail.com
The White House, which has long sought to privatize the USPS, has so far blocked financial relief for the Post Office. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major donor to #45, has large investments in a corporation that competes with the USPS. Not only has the Trump Administration blocked emergency funding for the USPS in the CARES Act, but (in the name of “efficiency”) has started to slow down the mail by dismantling mail sorting machines and blue mailboxes and by ending overtime to assure prompt delivery. Sen. Mark Warner has described DeJoy’s reorganization of the USPS as a “Friday Night Massacre”. The Postal Service early in August warned 46 states that their voters could be disenfranchised by delayed mail in ballots.
On August 18th, after pressure from citizens (including members of Michigan UU Social Justice Network) and elected officials, DeJoy announced he would suspend his controversial changes until after the election. He announced he would “engage standby resources” as of October 1st to “satisfy any unforeseen demand”. However, DeJoy made no mention of restoring the sorting machines or mail boxes already removed. This seems like DeJoy will continue to reduce the capacity of the USPS after the election and before the big holiday season in December.
SOURCES:
10 a.m. Saturday August 15th (zoom meeting)
Join Zoom Meeting (video or by phone)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82060728997
Meeting ID: 820 6072 8997 or dial 1 301 715 8592 (Germantown, PA); +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose); +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
The USPS projects it could run out of funds by September 2020. The White House, which has long sought to privatize the USPS, has so far blocked financial relief for the Post Office. Private mail companies were supported in the CARES COVID-19 relief bill, but not the USPS. The U.S. House approved $25 billion for the USPS in the most recent HEROES relief bill. This funding hasn’t yet been approved by the Senate. Now the new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, appointed by #45, has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s mail service, displacing the two top executives overseeing day-to-day operations and slowing down mail delivery. This presentation was organized by Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit. MUUSJN, which is co-sponsoring these presentations, is concerned that attacking the post office is a way of suppressing the vote.
Besides MUUSJN, the following organizations are co-sponsoring these talks: United Church of Christ – DMA; Peace Action of Michigan; Michigan Coalition for Human Rights; Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Southeast Michigan Green Party; and Southeast Michigan Jobs With Justice.
As of July 31st, 1,960,566 absentee ballots had been requested from Michigan clerk offices. As of this same date, 1,169,910 ballots had been returned. That’s a return rate of 59.2%.
Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson does NOT recommend that voters put their ballots in the mail due to delays in the postal system. It’s been alleged that these delays have been engineered as a means of voter suppression by President Trump’s Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. For more information, click HERE to read an article from Thursday’s Washington Post.
So what if you, your friends or your family haven’t yet voted by absentee? Here are some tips:
In the middle of a COVID pandemic, that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon, all Michigan registered voters now have a right to vote by mail for the August 4th Primary and the November 3rd general elections. This year, the Secretary of State mailed absentee ballot applications to every registered voter. However, if you didn’t receive an absentee ballot application, you can request one on-line at: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/avapplication
As of July 22nd, a record number of ballots — 1,750,091 — were requested. However, only 30% of those ballots have been received by local clerks. To vote absentee, you we need to complete the ballot, (only vote for candidates from one party) and vote for non-partisan candidates, e.g., judges, insert it into the official ballot envelope. Sign the envelope and put it in the mail. You can also deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available near you. Call you local clerk for more information.
You can check the status of your ballot application, i.e., the date application was received, the date the ballot was mailed and the date you voted through a free on-line program called: www.ballotpower.org
MUUSJN and our colleagues with our statewide “Interfaith Get Out the Vote Campaign” are working to encourage people to vote through: Unitarian Universalist congregations; the ACLU People Power Project; United Church of Christ – Michigan Conference; the National Council of Jewish Women; Restaurant Opportunity Centers of Michigan; the All Voting Is Local campaign; Inclusive Justice; and other organizations. We are reaching out to people with lower propensities to vote, including people from LGBTQ communities, students, people of color, homeless persons, etc. We offer a free on-line training and issue sessions on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sharon Pedersen at 517-740-2629 or email: sspedersen@sbcglobal.net
The City of Detroit and other communities are still looking for workers to help with voting activities at the polls on August 4th. Potential workers will be screened for COVID-19, will be trained and (in the City of Detroit) will be paid $200 – $300, depending on the job duties. To sign up for one of these jobs, click this link to the Democracy MVP initiative:https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_11976_98803—,00.html
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Tell Your Senators and Senators McConnell and Schumer:
Why the U.S. Post Service is an ESSENTIAL SERVICE:
The USPS projects it will run out of funds by September 2020. The White House, which has long sought to privatize the USPS, has so far blocked financial relief for the Post Office. Private mail companies were supported in the CARES COVID-19 relief bill, but not the USPS.The U.S. House approved $25 billion for the USPS in the most recent HEROES relief bill. This funding hasn’t yet been approved by the Senate. A bi-partisan, stand alone relief bill was introduced on July 2nd.MUUSJN is working with the US Postal Workers Union national office on this campaign.
Key Congressional leaders will need to approve S. 4174: Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Chuck Schumer; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; and Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Click HERE for more information on this bill. Here’s a summary of other provisions of the Postal Service Emergency Relief Act:
The USPS projects it will run out of funds by September 2020. The White House, which has long sought to privatize the USPS, has so far blocked financial relief for the Post Office. Private mail companies were supported in the CARES COVID-19 relief bill, but not the USPS. The U.S. House approved $25 billion for the USPS in the most recent HEROES relief bill. This funding hasn’t yet been approved by the Senate. A bi-partisan, stand alone relief bill was introduced on July 2nd.
Key Congressional leaders will need to approve S. 4174: Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Chuck Schumer; Rep. Nancy Pelosi; and Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Click HERE for more information on this bill. Here’s a summary of other provisions of the Postal Service Emergency Relief Act:
Please call Michigan Senators and Sen. Mitch McConnell. See talking points earlier in this alert.
TELL OUR SENATORS:
URGE SENATORS TO BE CHAMPIONS FOR THE HEROES ACTIT EXTENDS A LIFELINE TO FAMILIES IN NEED
More than 36 million U.S. workers have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. The loss of jobs is dramatically increasing poverty and leaving families on the brink of hunger and homelessness.
The country is on the verge of a depression. Leading economist are telling our leaders that our federal government must provide trillions of additional stimulus. However, the Senate Majority seems to be stalling on taking action on this important issue. Action is not expected until after Memorial Day. Jerome Powell, a conservative Chair of the Federal Reserve, advised Congress and the White House on May 24th that the economy needs more fiscal relief to battle the country’s economic downturn.
On May 15th, the U.S. House passed H.R. 6800, the $3 trillion HEREOS (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act. This Act includes provisions that help vulnerable families:
A previous CARES Act covid relief bill included $250 billion in tax breaks for millionaire business owners. We must urge our elected officials to fight to ensure that the Senate passes a bill that delivers effective aid to people, not more tax giveaways for the wealthy and corporations.
TIME FOR ACTION! PLEASE CALL our Senators after Memorial Day, the day we honor our fallen war heroes. Now we must honor the almost 100,000 Americans who have fallen from COVID-19, many of whom include our grandparents in long term care facilities. See phone number and talking points listed at the top of this action alert. Urge our Senators to fight for us!!
MAY 5TH PRIMARY COULD OPEN DOOR TO STRONGER, SAFER PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS
Michigan’s May 5th primary election, without having any candidates on the ballot, is making history!Presidential candidates Joe Biden (D) and Donald Trump (R) have already been chosen by their parties. What makes this primary election unique is that is being held in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic. The Secretary of State (SOS) Jocelyn Benson wants to prevent voters and poll workers for catching this terrible disease. Local governments were given the option of postponing their election or holding it with a proactive approach to encourage citizens to vote absentee. After being given this option to postpone, 34 of 55 counties are moving ahead with elections for mostly school millages or local bond issues which they believe can’t wait until the fall. Click HERE to see which Michigan counties are holding primary elections and see what issues are on their ballots.
The historic change in this election is that the SOS is mailing absentee voter applications to each registered voter in the jurisdiction holding a May 5th primary. The State is providing postage paid return envelopes so people can vote from home. In an April 24th press release, the Secretary of State urged voters to cast their absentee ballots by mail as soon as possible. Approximately 740,000 voters were mailed applications for absentee ballots; 213,000 submitted their applications and already 66,355 people have mailed their ballots. Local clerks still must keep at least one polling place open for people who want to vote in person. Clerks’ offices must be available for same day registrations or ballot drop-offs.
Scott Reilly, a UU voter registration activist from Southfield, said that this experiment in absentee voting will provide a precedent for how things may go in the big 2020 election this fall. A strong turnout now can set the stage for a better voter turnout in the fall. Also, this election will test how local officials can hold live elections that may involve social distancing and using proper health precautions.
CALL TO ACTION #1: People in the 34 counties where the May 5th elections are being held (click HERE) should encourage their friends and neighbors to request a ballot and vote absentee. If the COVID-19 returns — or hasn’t fully left us in the fall — absentee voting likely will be very smart way to vote.
CALL TO ACTION #2: If you know someone who has not registered to vote (maybe a young person or a newcomer to Michigan) or if someone who has changed their address, tell them they can take care of these things on the SOS website. Click HEREto register to vote or to update their voter registration.
MUUSJN will soon be launching a statewide Get Out the Vote campaign. People from 17 UU congregations have expressed an interest in promoting the vote. We’ll be providing actions people can take from their own homes. For more information about volunteering to Get Out To Vote, contact Randy Block at 248-224-5572 (cell).
Tell Governor Whitmer:
During our current COVID-19 crisis people in Michigan prisons are at high risk of dying from the COVID-19 virus. As of April 16th, 472 people in Michigan prisons have tested positive for the deadly respiratory disease. Ten inmates and two staff have already died. The Macomb Correctional facility, where Temujin Kensu is held, has 42 known COVID cases! There are two prisoners known to be infected with the COVID- 19 virus one cell away from Mr. Kensu.Dave Sanders, a Board member of the Innocence Project, has said that “it would be an incredible and unforgiveable tragedy for Temujin to succumb to COVID-19 when he was wholly innocent and nearing freedom after 34 years”.
Temujin, who turned 56 years old in December of 2019, has been plagued with chronic health problems many of which were caused or exacerbated by life in prison. Temujin’s won a $320,000 lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections concerning his medical care or the lack of it. To learn what it’s like inside a Michigan prison, click HEREto read Temujin’s graphic description. His cell, reportedly, is next to two other men who are infected with COVID-19.
There are a whole group of people who have been appealing for Temujin Kensu’s freedom for many years. I am one of them. Another more well known advocate for Temujin’s release is Nolan Finley, editor of the Detroit News. Click HERE to read Finley’s views about why Governor Whitmer should release from prison innocent people like Temujin. If you’d like more information about the life and trying times of Temujin Kensu, click HERE listen to weekly podcasts being provided by the Innocence Project.
