On December 23rd, Michigan Right to Life (RTL) submitted 379,418 signatures on petitions to the Michigan Secretary of State to criminalize dilation and extraction, the most safe, commonly used method of abortion in Michigan. The petition is intended by anti-choice activists to go to the Michigan legislature and avoid a certain veto by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Under Michigan law, this petition drive must get 340,047 valid signatures to go to the Michigan legislature.
Here are four reasons this petition is just WRONG for Michigan women and Michigan families:
If the proposal is adopted by state legislators, the MI ACLU has said it will challenge it in court.
The Michigan Bureau of Elections has several weeks to review the signatures to determine their validity. Planned Parenthood of Michigan is looking for volunteers to help check and challenge RTL abortion ban signatures. This work involves “high level, data and detail driven volunteers who will be willing to be part of a rapid response team that will be tasked with going to Lansing, on short notice, over the course of several days in January to do the important work of checking signatures and petition sheets turned in by Right to Life”.
Volunteer Requirements:
Tell Trump’s Health & Human Services what you think about a rule that would allow federally funded contractors to turn away people in need because of their religion,their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Need a home delivered meal and you are gay? Sorry about that!
Need to enroll in Headstart and you are a gay couple? Sorry about that!
Need to buy birth control pills and you are a single mother? Sorry about that!
Are you Jewish and need a subsidized apartment? Sorry about that!
The Trump administration has issued an alarming proposal that would give power to taxpayer funded programs through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to undermine human rights of women, people from LGBTQ communities and people from minority faiths. The new proposal would roll back protections that prohibit discrimination in HHS grant-funded programs based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.
This new proposal comes as part of the Trump administration’s concerted effort to empower people who discriminate in the name of religion throughout the federal government. In HHS alone, there have been proposals to strip anti-discrimination protections in healthcare and to allow hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices to refuse care based on the provider’s religious beliefs. The administration is also seeking to allow discrimination in housing, in workplaces with federal contracts, on college campuses, and against immigrants who have disabilities.
But we can and we must fight back. The government is accepting public comments on the proposed rule until December 19. Click HERE to submit your own comment using the ACLU template, Explain in your own words why you oppose this discriminatory new rule.
In January 2018, MUUSJN and other advocates urged the public to submit comments on a rule that would “protect conscience” in health care services. This rule would have allowed the religious right to exercise their objections to providing health care services e.g., abortions and birth control to women, while taking away the freedom of women and other people of faith. The final rule was adopted in May 2019, almost 17 months later. However, in November 2019 — before this rule became effective — a federal court vacated the rule so that it’s not being put into effect. While this case could come back to the courts, it show that giving comments paid off. It delayed implementation until courts could challenge a rule that clearly violated women’s rights.
Prescription drug companies charge Americans three, four or even 10 times what they charge people in other countries for the same drugs. These companies subject Americans to unjustified drug price hikes that are far above the rate of inflation.
The soaring cost of insulin is an example of out of control prescription drug prices that are crying for a solution. More than 100 million people are diabetic or pre-diabetic. Diabetes is reportedly the highest cost disease in the U.S., more than $300 billion per year. Insulin was invented almost 100 years ago in 1922. Yet, between 2012 and 2016 insulin costs have nearly doubled ($2,864 to $5,075) according to the Health Care Cost Institute.
Seniors and families are struggling to buy prescriptions they need to stay healthy. Three in 10 adults reported not taking their medicines as prescribed during the last year due to the cost.
The big pharmaceutical companies are raising prices on prescriptions not so they can do more research and development to find new cures and treatments, but to pad their profits. According to analysis done by the Washington Post, nine of the 10 big pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing, sales and overhead than on research.
Rep. Frank Pallone and 106 other U.S. Representatives co-sponsored H.R. 3. This includes four Michigan Congresspersons: Rep. Dan Kildee, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Haley Stevens and Rep Debbie Dingell. This bill has the support of House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
The proposed bill would:
The fate of this bill is uncertain in the Senate, where Senators have introduced their own drug price reduction bill that was co-sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D- Oregon) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). It’s been passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and President Trump has said he’ll sign it. However, it is being blocked by Senate Mitch McConnell. What’s new? Right now MUUSJN wants to make sure a drug price reduction bill gets adopted in the House. So we’re asking you to call your U.S. Representative.
Boycott buying things for 24 hours from 7 p.m. EST on November 28th to 6:59 p.m. on November 29th (EST). Students, workers and adults everywhere, walk away from a system that is destroying the planet.
Participate in one of the 5 climate strikes in Michigan (Traverse City, Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Allendale.)
“We young people can contribute to a larger fight and that can make a huge difference. But we can’t do this without you and everyone you know.”
Climate strikes, rallies, protests, grassroots action and current events in the U.S. and around the globe are being organized by Fridays for Earth, Youth Climate Strike, U.S. Climate Strike, the Sunrise Movement and other organizations. If you would like to organize a climate strike in your community or to see if someone else has organized one, go to: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/climatestrike
One of UU principles calls for the protection of our environment: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”
For more information on UU environmental perspectives and resources go tothe UU Ministry for Earth: uumfe.org
MFE created a new web platform called Create Climate Justice Net that includes opportunities to join specialized groups, get resources for action and exchange ideas with other activists. Go to: createclimatejustice.net
2019 was another tough year under the current right wing political leadership.We faced threats of cuts in domestic programs, attacks on women’s and LGBTQ rights, cruelty toward immigrants and people of color and indifference toward our environment and poor people.
THE GOOD NEWS: In partnerships with progressive allies, MUUSJN sent over 40 action alerts to our statewide network of almost 3,000 people to call elected officials, to educate and protest. We won several battles!
We are grateful to continue to be a partner with the Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan (EJAM), an organization started by African American women. It’s funding has supported all of our justice priorities and it has provide a coalition for collective action.
Take a look at our ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2019! You and your congregation are invited to renew or become a new member of MUUSJN. Donations now are tax deductible and count for a membership in 2020.
Tell your Representative to call for a hearing on HB 5139 in the Government Operations Committee to Expand Ethnic Intimidation Law to Protect LGBTQ People
On October 23rd, State Representative Tim Sneller introduced HB 5139, a bill to provide protections against ethnic intimidation to persons based on their gender identity and their sexual orientation. On October 29th, MUUSJN’s Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition voted unanimously to issue this alert to call for hearings on HB 5139. Ethnic intimidation involves maliciously seeking to: intimidate or harass another person; physically contact a person; ordamage their property.
Right now Michigan’s Ethnic Intimidation law protects people based on their: race, color, religion, gender or national origin. According to an April 2019 study from the UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, “The impact of Stigma and Discrimination against LGBT People in Michigan”,”Michigan’s legal landscape and social climate put the state’s 311,000 LGBT adults and its 61,000 LGBT youth at risk of discrimination and harassment”. Click HERE for more information.
According to “A Statewide Study of LGBTQ Attitudes and Experiences: Challenges and Concerns” (Morrison and McComack, 2012), 55% of LGBT and LGBT allied Michigan residents reported experiencing some form of discrimination based on their sexual orientation. A 2017 GLSEN National School Climate Survey (2017) documented that 72% of Michigan middle and high school students said they had experienced verbal harassment based on their sexual orientation at school.
Not only is discrimination a significant problem that affects the well-being of LGBTQ communities, but majorities of the American public across all both political and geographic lines support laws that protect LGBT people. See report (Daniel Greenberg, Et al, 3/12/19) “Americans Show Broad Support for LGBT Nondiscrimination Protections”. Nearly 7 of 10 (69%) of all Americans favor laws that would protect LGBT people from discrimination in the job market, public accommodations and housing. Click HERE for study. More than three-quarters of younger Americans (18-29) favor such laws. Self identified moderate Republicans (69%) and 53% of self-identified conservative Republicans favor non-discrimination protections for LGBT people. Solid majorities of all major religious groups in the U.S. favor state laws that protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing, public accommodations and the work place.
So the majority of people Michigan’s LGBTQ community reported experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation. And a majority of the American public, including Democrats and Republicans and including all major religious groups, report that they support state laws that will protect LGBT people from discrimination. Supporting HB 5139 is an important step toward addressing this problem that should be taken seriously. This bill was sent to the House Government Operations Committee. It needs to be discussed and acted upon.
With an anti-choice majority on the Supreme Court, our reproductive rights are under a clear and direct threat. Passing the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) will protect abortion rights from many state restrictions and bans.
The WHPA (HR 2975) introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) now has 213 co-sponsors. Your support can move the more friendly U.S. House to take action on this bill. This bill can pass the House. A sister bill in the Senate (S. 1645) already has 42 co-sponsors.
This important legislation would protect abortion access from:
The public may not realize that the majority (73%) of American voters do not want Roe v. Wade overturned. Two thirds (67%) think abortion should be legal in “all” or “most” cases. It’s also a misunderstanding that the majority of religious people oppose abortion. According a study from the Pew Research Center that more than 50% of people from the following religious groups say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases: Unitarian Universalist; Jewish; Buddhist; Episcopal; United Church of Christ; Hindu; Presbyterian; Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; African Methodist Episcopal Church; National Baptist Convention; Anglican Church; Muslim; and Orthodox Christian. Among Catholics, slightly more (48%) felt abortions should be legal vs. 47% illegal.
The WHPA is currently in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill was introduced in May. Now the House needs to hold hearings on this bill!
CALL Your U.S. Rep. and members of the House Energy Committee. TELL THEM:
On October 29th, Rep. Kristy Pagen unveiled the Reproductive Health Act (HB 5179) in the presence of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other women’s right advocates. The bill, which has 48 other co-sponsors, was formally introduced on October 31st and was sent to the House Government Operations Committee. This week, MUUSJN’s Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition voted unanimously to support HB 5179.
It protects all individual decision making in terms of reproductive health such as:
The public may not realize that the majority (73%) of American voters do not want Roe v. Wade overturned. Two thirds (67%) think abortion should be legal in “all” or “most” cases. In Michigan, 59% strongly (43%) or somewhat (16%) want to ensure that abortion remains legal in our state if Roe v. Wade were overturned. It’s also a misunderstanding that the majority of religious people oppose abortion. According a study from the Pew Research Center that more than 50% of people from the following religious groups say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases: Unitarian Universalist; Jewish; Buddhist; Episcopal; United Church of Christ; Hindu; Presbyterian; Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; African Methodist Episcopal Church; National Baptist Convention; Anglican Church; Muslim; and Orthodox Christian. Among Catholics, slightly more (48%) felt abortions should be legal vs. 47% illegal.
The Reproductive Health Care Act would protect the rights prized by Michigan voters:
Call YOUR State Representative and Members of the House Government Operations Committee:
TELL THEM:
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:
As states across the United States continue their own battles of denying people reproductive freedom in hopes of eventually overturning Roe v. Wade, Michigan joined the war this past spring. Right to Life and the Michigan Heartbeat Coalition launched two legislative initiatives each immediately after both chambers of the Michigan Legislature passed a ban on the safest method of a second trimester abortion called dilation and evacuation in May of 2019.
In response, MUUSJN’s Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan Fellows created the #DeclinetosignCampaign in hopes of educating voters of why it is so important to not sign the petitions and how to share this information with friends and family. If either or both of the petition drives meet the requirement of 340,000 signatures of registered voters, they could go before the State Legislature which could either pass the proposal or do nothing and the issue would go to voters on the 2020 ballot. In either case, Governor Whitmer could not veto the bills. It’s likely the legislature would pass them while they hold the majority. You can find and join the Facebook group #Declinetosign here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/475109726604152/ This is a closed group and all members are vetted.
While the signatures are being gathered for the above petitions, mostly in churches across Michigan, another grassroots movement is developing in case these harmful initiatives are adopted as law. Pledge to Repeal has filed PAC paperwork to raise funds to fight back and repeal an abortion ban led by Macomb Township resident Andrea Geralds. You can read more about Andrea and the Pledge to Repeal campaign here. https://www.michiganadvance.com/2019/08/28/group-already-organizing-repeal-effort-of-2-anti-abortion-ballot-proposals/ Pledge to Repeal also has a Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pledgetorepeal/
ht back and repeal an abortion ban led by Macomb Township resident Andrea Geralds. You can read more about Andrea and the Pledge to Repeal campaign here. https://www.michiganadvance.com/2019/08/28/group-already-organizing-repeal-effort-of-2-anti-abortion-ballot-proposals/ Pledge to Repeal also has a Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pledgetorepeal/
I’ve been an Environmental Organizer and Climate Protector for a long time. I’ve been paying attention, reading, attending meetings and actions for at least a decade. I know that I carry a lot of pain and sadness when it comes to the state of our environment. However, I don’t talk about it much, and haven’t really found a place to grieve. On September 5, I participated in a UU Webinar, preparing us for the Global Youth Climate Strike. It was there that I finally released the tears from my eyes and some of the pain from my heart.
The youth are correct, we adults, should have demanded our leaders take action on this decades before now. Hearing from them first hand, broke my heart. Listening to the 3 UU youth organizers, especially the youngest, Levi Draheim, age 12, (a plaintiff in a legal action launched in 2015 by two associations, Our Children’s Trust and Earth Guardians, against the US government over climate change), not only brought tears to my eyes, listening to how much they know about the realities of climate change, but also how much they know about organizing and public speaking. They are having to deal with this and take it on, because we didn’t protect them. Listening to them not only brought tears to my eyes, but the desire to work even harder for them and with them!
The most important thing I heard at the Detroit Youth Climate Strike was “Find the youth in your area and listen to them, and follow their leadership.” September 20th is over, but strikes around the world will continue, and new actions will arise. I encourage you to check in with your Director of Religious Education, some of the youth leading the organizing around the world are UUs, and they just might be in your congregation! If not, you might be the adult ally they need to get started!
We are still encouraging you to read the 2018-19 UU Common Read: Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and Environment, edited by Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti and Jennifer Nordstrom (Skinner House Books, 2018). Three of our Michigan Congregations (that we know of) have had book discussions on the book already! At the link below you will find a discussion guide, as well as feedback from many congregations (including BUC), following their book discussions.https://www.uua.org/books/read/justice-on-earth/share
This biennial conference gathers faith leaders, people of conscience, and members of grassroots movements to LEARN from front-line groups about their challenges and successes, to SHARE stories about experiences and initiatives from around the state, and to CONNECT with one another across divides. September 30th is the early-bird deadline to register for the November 8th event at Marygrove College in Detroit.
At this year’s conference, we will join in conversation with one another on how we can find common purpose, have difficult conversations, and build moral leadership in our communities around clean energy, clean water, and more.
For more info and to register…https://www.miipl.org/2019_conference
This is an effort led by The UUs for Social Justice Capitol Hill Advocacy team, an affiliate of MUUSJN. Each month they put out a call on a specific issue to write your US Senator and member of Congress. Then they hand deliver the letters to their offices on Capitol Hill. Members of Birmingham Unitarian Church have written letters three times–twice on climate change, once on immigration. Last week they sent 85 letters!!
If you are interested in bringing this to your congregation, all you need to do is reach out to Lavona (lavonagrow@mac.com) and get on their email list. At the end of the month, they announce the topic, after members of your congregation have written their letters, scan them and send them to Lavona Grow for delivery. Here is a link to more information: http://uusj.net/wp1/2019-economic-climate-justice-write-here-write-now-letter-writing-information/
In September, MUUSJN applied to the UU Funding Program for a $12,000 grant to work with UU congregations and the MI ACLU. The project will seek to recruit at least five UU congregations to attain a Welcoming Congregation Renewal Status. Already three UU congregations have made commitments to develop and expand their Welcoming Congregation work. The proposal would provide training in how the Welcoming Congregation Renewal process and how to persuade legislators to promote LGBTQ rights in Michigan and nationally. MUUSJN will also work with the UUA’s Director of LGBTQ and Multicultural Affairs and will coordinate its legislative advocacy with people from multiple faith groups. For more information, contact Randy Block at 248-224-5572.
On September 26th, People’s Water Board (PWB) members, including leaders from a variety of faith groups, met with Dion Williams, Governor Gretchen Whitmer‘s Faith-Based Affairs Coordinator. The meeting went well according to Sister Mary Ellen Howard, RN, former Director of the Cabrini Clinic. Another participant, Rev. Ed Rowe, felt that Mr. Williams demonstrated a genuine interest and a concern for the issues and could be an effective ally for people seeking water justice.
Asked by water activists to start a conversation in the Governor’s office, Williams offered to:
| Other persons attending this meeting included: Rabbi Alana Alpert, Detroit Jews for Justice; Rev. Cass Charrette, Cities of Peace; Imam Steve El Turk, President, Islamic Organization of North America; Alice Jennings, human rights attorney; Sylvia Orduno, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization water advocate; and Dr. Paul von Oeyen, United Church of Christ social justice advocate. Randy Block scheduled this meeting. For more information, call 248-224-5572. |
At its August 24th retreat in Petoskey, the MUUSJN Board voted to take a bold step toward expanding UU justice leader communication in all regions of Michigan. The Board members committed to have regular two-way conversations with UU justice leaders in each of five state regions.
Board members agreed to develop working relationships with social justice leaders of congregations in their region. They would learn what other leaders believe are their congregations’ justice priorities and needs and would identify opportunities to collaborate. Board members would also communicate key MUUSJN actions to local UU justice leaders. Written summaries of congregational justice issues and themes identified in each region will be presented for discussion at MUUSJN’s quarterly Board meetings.
| Board Chair Norma Bailey (UU Fellowship of Central Michigan in Mt. Pleasant), Mary Jo Ebert (Birmingham Unitarian Church) and Mary Ann Hergonrother (First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor) are the architects of this new experiment in active Board engagement. They recognize that building a communication network in each part of Michigan will require greater time commitments, but agreed this model promises to be more purposeful and rewarding. Other Board members represent five regions in Michigan: the Upper Peninsula; Northwest Michigan; Southwest Michigan; South Central Michigan and Southeast Michigan. Click HERE for a map of Michigan that shows which UU Congregations are located in each region. |
During September, the Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church cancelled its two-day Islamophobic event: “9/11 Forgotten? Is Michigan Surrendering to Islam?” This victory of Inclusiveness and Love over Divisiveness and Hate can probably be attributed to the outpouring of Love from our FAITH COMMUNITIES as well as the timely requests for cancellation from so many of our federal and state elected officials.
THANKS TO ALL who have expressed their opposition to holding an anti-Islam program in a place of worship and especially those who had been willing to participate in a peaceful, non-violent protest in front of the church — which became unnecessary. A special shout out to my United Church of Christ friend, Dr. Paul von Oeyen, who alerted me to this situation.
People from Birmingham Unitarian Church attended the Program of Love For All at the Muslim Unity Center 2 miles away and bringing non-perishable food items to be given to a local food bank. The Unity Center also sent a bouquet of white flowers to the Baptist church thanking them for cancelling the event. As people of Faith, we can only hope that in the future dialogue and understanding will be promoted instead of fear and hate. MUUSJN identified one group that supported this hateful event called itself the “Tea Party”. It posted speakers for this event on a subsequent webinar. Sadly, hate speech is down, but not out.
Women who serve time in Michigan are held in less than desirable conditions and sometimes they are convicted and sentenced while pregnant. We want every baby born to have the best head start possible. These are some of the changes that would improve the quality of life for women serving time and pregnant:
Michigan needs to set better standards for women serving time and especially for those who are expecting. For more information go to: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/21/705587775/pregnant-behind-bars-what-we-do-and-dont-know-about-pregnancy-and-incarceration
Recently it came to my attention that some of our members have difficulties seeing and using personal computers due to their vision or other medical issues. Because of this, our website is undergoing some behind the scenes maintenance to help users that may need to use additional software to view or interact with a screen, such as a screen-reading application.
One example of this is that some users with visual impairment, or blindness, may use their voice to interact with their screen, and as such, they would need any images or graphical elements of the page to be labeled appropriately so that the software they’re using can find what they’re looking for when they request it without undue stress or hardship for these sensitive users. Therefore, the images on the website currently are going to be updated to have clearer, more detailed descriptions in the website’s mark-up, and the menu and other navigation areas will be labeled in the code so as to be easier to use for people with disabilities who depend on the important information and tools we provide.
If you believe in the work our statewide network is doing for justice, in partnership with other progressive groups, please consider making a generous gift to MUUSJN. Your support helps sustain our commitments to to fight for the rights of women, low-income people, people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants and to work for environmental justice.
Gifts or memberships paid now will be tax deductible for 2019. Click HERE to make a contribution or become a member.
DUES: INDIVIDUALS
MUUSJN dues/contributions are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
WRITE CHECK TO:MUUSJN (or use PayPal)
MAIL TO: Randy Block, 4220 Arlington Dr., Royal Oak, MI 48073
The Global Climate Strike is a youth led climate protest that is organizing events throughout the world between September 20 and 27th. Some believe it could be the largest environmental protest yet. It’s time for us adults to back up young people who are fighting against the climate deniers for the future of our planet. Click HERE to read an appeal from young people to adults to get involved in actions that may include simple protests and basic civil disobedience.
In Michigan, so far, groups are planning climate strikes in 10 communities: Ann Arbor; Auburn Hills; Dearborn, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Keweenaw area (near Houghton in the UP), Marshall and Mt. Pleasant. Go to this website to sign up for an event or to organize and register one in your community: https://globalclimatestrike.net/Click HERE for another tool for finding and getting details of Strike events that seems to work better for me.
The Unitarian Universalist Association is hosting a webinar on how to get ready for the Global Climate Strike this Thursday, September 5th at 4 p.m. Click HERE to register for this webinar.Click HERE for more background on UU’s perspectives on the Global Climate Strikes.
One way to start thinking about the fight for climate justice is to tune in to a Climate Town Hall meeting on CNN on the evening of September 4th. From 5 p.m. to after 11 p.m., 10 Democratic presidential candidates will each be given at least 40 minutes to discuss their view on climate change. For a schedule for this marathon climate town hall, click HERE.
