This weekend demonstrators continued to protest the April 4th fatal shooting of Patrick Loyoya by a Grand Rapids police officer. This is another tragic example of police violence toward a Black man. This email also shares reflections of a UU minister from Grand Rapids and includes options for action.
Rev. Colleen Squires, minister of Grand Rapids All Souls Community Church of Western Michigan, told shared her thoughts about this incident on her church’s Facebook page. They are shared here for your information. Members of this congregation have been publicly demonstrating weekly in solidarity with Black Lives Matter activists for seven years.
My heart is with the family of Mr. Patrick Lyoya. This is a tragic loss of life of a young father of two little girls. I grieve for his parents, his friends, his community and our city. Patrick’s life matters.
This afternoon (April 13th) the graphic video was released showing Mr. Lyoya on the ground and being fatally shot in the back of his head. It is extremely difficult and upsetting to see this young man fully alive at the start of the video and just a few minutes later witness his lifeless body still and silent on the ground.
Keep in mind, this was a traffic stop and Mr. Layoya was unarmed. What prompted the officer to run the plates of this particular car is not clear. We as a community must name the over policing of the Black community and to continue to call out the racial bias that occurs in routine traffic stops.
As Unitarian Universalists we are called to demand justice and full accountability. In the days ahead many protests and rallies are planned. Each one is a call for justice, equity and accountability. People are angry and heartbroken. We fully support free speech, and we must also understand that people have a right to be angry and upset. I pray for the safety of all involved.
Many activists in Grand Rapids have been very vocal about warning city officials of this potential tragedy happening in our city. Beyond justice and accountability, we need sweeping policy and procedure changes moving towards valuing every human life. The events depicted in these videos do not warrant the loss of life.
Again, my deepest sympathies to the Lyoya family. May Patrick’s life continue to matter to all of us, may true and needed change occur. May justice and accountability be swift. May we own the white supremacy culture that exists in our city and may we work to eradicate it from our world.
-Rev. Colleen Squires
Write a short note to Grand Rapids city officials. Click HERE to write a letter that relays justice demands from the Loyoya family. NOTE: One of those demands has been met: release of video with pictures of the incident.
Also, you can donate through a Go Fund Me program to help with funeral expenses for Patrick Lyoya by clicking HERE.
Dear Justice Advocates:
The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) is pleased to invite you to hear Senator Stephanie Chang speak at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16th on “Michigan Tax Proposals: Who’s Helped? Who’s Hurt?”. This presentation shines a light on a tug or war of values between the Michigan legislature and the Governor’s office. MUUSJN, along with 10 other organizations, is co-sponsoring this event with Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit.
Click HERE for a flyer with more information. To RSVP Click HERE
At the urging of dozens of activist groups, Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed a $2.5 billion tax cut proposal by Michigan legislators on March 18th. She invited the legislators to join in formal negotiations.
The GOP’s two bill package is part of an ongoing debate about how to spend roughly $7 billion in federal pandemic relief and unexpected state revenue. The GOP plan would have rolled back personal income tax from 4.25% to 3.9%, would have increased the amount of retirement income that’s tax free and would have created a new $500 tax credit for each child or qualified dependent in a household.
However, critics argue it would primarily benefit the wealthy and at the expense of critical services. While both the GOP and the Governor proposed reducing taxes for older persons and for children, under the GOP plan, the state’s wealthiest residents would receive a nearly $5,000 rebate while lower income families would receive an average $12. The proposal would cut personal corporate income taxes and would force cuts to schools, roads, public safety, health care, housing, environmental protections and would jeopardize federal aid from the American Rescue Plan. State budget officials said the cuts would violate federal rules that forbid using COVID relief funds for tax cuts. So the debate goes on.
Learn more about this debate by hearing Senator Stephanie Chang describe the alternative tax cut visions and what’s at stake for people in Michigan. Senator Chang, a dynamic progressive legislator, is the Minority Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. She’s in a position to understand the dynamics of this battle. We are proud to say that Senator Chang is also a Unitarian Universalist.
Join President Susan Frederick-Gray, UU leaders, and partners to learn how you can show up for our UU values and communities in the critical midterm elections. Invite your congregation and social justice teams to join us for an exciting launch of UU the Vote 2022. bit.ly/UUtheVote2022Launch MUUSJN consultant Nomi Joyrich will speak about Michigan Ballot Issues at this national launch.
Michigan citizens have the opportunity to get involved with ballot initiatives that address major issues that affect people in our state. By getting involved with a one or more ballot campaigns, citizens can stand up for reproductive freedom; strengthen our right to vote; raise the minimum wage; and allow prisoners to return to the community sooner for good behavior.
MUUSJN is supporting FOUR ballot initiatives. Information in this action alert describes these proposals and tells how you can get involved.
As a partner with Fems for Democracy (FFD), MUUSJN is looking for more people to collect signatures and to be petition distributors! We especially need petition distributors in central, western and northern Michigan. Being a petition distributor is easy! You will receive bundles of petitions and the names of signature collectors who live near you. Local signature gatherers will get their petitions from you and return them to you. You will then return them to us using a pre-paid mailer.
Click HERE to use sign-up genius to let us know you’re interested in collecting signatures. Sign your name based on where you live. At the end of the sign up form, click the next link to indicate that you are with MUUSJN (there is a drop down menu to record that you’re working with us).
Please join Fems for Democracy for a training on Monday, April 11th at 6pm. This training is for people who are new to working on these petitions, as well as those who have already been collecting and have more questions. We will give an overview of the 4 ballots that we are supporting. Register in advance for this training: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrdu2hqDwsE9dhC8sx3lh1N09f7i_HoqDS
For those of you who are already collecting, here is a list of events across Michigan this weekend: Please sign up HERE if you intend to collect signatures so we can acknowledge your efforts!
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) is supporting four ballot initiatives and needs your help. For a comprehensive look at all ballot initiatives, click HERE to see the Ballot Tracker article in Bridge Magazine. Four is a lot, but all are important and we’ll make it easier for you to support your efforts with some explanation.
MUUSJN is partnering with Fems for Democracy (FFD) a non-profit woman led organization. FFD will be handling the petition logistics. They are a one stop shop for all four ballot initiatives. They will either deliver petitions to you or put you in touch with a local distributor. They will provide you with return mailers for completed petitions. Most important, MUUSJN and FFD will provide training on signature gathering and specifics of the ballot proposals.
If you would like to help distribute petitions, collect signatures or just find a place to sign, go to the FFD Sign Up Genius link. Review the list of ballot communities, and click the place where you live. Then, at the end of this list, click the green “Submit and Sign-Up” button. Enter your name and contact information. Be sure to choose a drop down box menu on the form that indicates which organization invited you. Be sure to indicate that you are WITH MUUSJN.
We are supporting and seeking volunteers to help with the following ballot proposals:
No, when you sign up with MUUSJN and FFD, you can work on whatever initiatives you choose.
Every signature counts! Some volunteers will collect a few signatures. Others will collect hundred. Whatever you can do will help.
Please contact Nomi Joyrich: nomijoyrich@gmail.com 248-497-1226. She can help explain the details of the ballot initiatives and the signature collection process. If you want to be involved and you are unable to join Monday’s training, then please email Nomi. She will keep you posted about future trainings.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that he will introduce a vote this week — by January 17th — to reform the filibuster rules to allow votes on two critical voting reform bills. The Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act are needed to protect fair elections and American’s right to vote. This right to vote is the foundation of our democracy!
Michigan’s two Senators, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Senator Gary Peters, support voting rights and filibuster reform. Thank them!
Four other Senators need to hear from people in Michigan:
On January 6, 2021, a faction of politicians turned their backs on American democracy to incite armed right wing militants to storm the Capitol on same day Congress was voting to approve the results of the 2020 election. In spite of former Attorney General William Bar’s declaration that “there was no widespread voter fraud”, shameless conservative officials have been following a playbook of claiming that the 2020 election was “stolen” by fraud. In a recent Michigan ballot proposal, they called for sham “audits” and continue to promote fake voter reforms in the “Secure MI Vote” ballot proposal. This proposal include a ban on using places of worship as donated polling places, likely reducing numbers of polling places. In other parts of the country right wing conservatives are passing laws that reduce the number of polling places, early voting and the number of absentee voting drop boxes. They have even intimidated election officials, particularly in districts where many Black and Brown people live. Voters not politicians should decide elections in our country!
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) joins a large coalition of organizations sending a strong message of NO! to those who would undermine our democracy. This coalition is also demanding the Senate create a carve out for the filibuster rule so that voting reform legislation, including the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, can be adopted in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden have both vowed to move ahead with filibuster reform and strongly support passage of both bills. For a summary of the John Lewis Voting Advancement Rights Act (H.R. 4), click HERE. The Brennen Center for Justice summarizes the Freedom to Vote Act as “protecting our elections from voter suppression, partisan sabotage, gerrymandering, and dark money”.
Join an in-person or virtual Day of Remembrance and Action vigil in Michigan vigil on Thursday January 6th. Click HERE to see a map of where these vigils are and search for a vigil nearest to you. I urge you to wear a mask and not attend a vigil unless you have been fully vaccinated.
So far, the following 8 vigils are being planned in Michigan on January 6th:
Click HERE to sign up for these vigils for more information or find others not yet listed.
On January 6, 2021, a faction of politicians turned their backs on American democracy to incite armed right wing militants to storm the Capitol on same day Congress was voting to approve the results of the 2020 election. In spite of former Attorney General William Bar’s declaration that “there was no widespread voter fraud”, shameless conservative officials have been following a playbook of claiming that the 2020 election was “stolen” by fraud. In a very recent Michigan ballot proposal, they call for sham “audits” and continue to promote fake voter reforms in the “Secure MI Vote” ballot proposal. This proposal include a ban on using places of worship as donated polling places, likely reducing numbers of polling places. In other parts of the country right wing conservatives are passing laws that reduce the number of polling places, early voting and the number of absentee voting drop boxes. They have even intimidated election officials, particularly in districts where many Black and Brown people live. Voters not politicians should decide elections in our country!
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) joins a large coalition of organizations sending a strong message of NO! to those who would undermine our democracy. This coalition is also demanding the Senate create a carve out for the filibuster rule so that voting reform legislation, including the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, can be adopted in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden have both vowed to move ahead with filibuster reform and strongly support passage of both bills. For a summary of the John Lewis Voting Advancement Rights Act (H.R. 4), click HERE. The Brennen Center for Justice summarizes the Freedom to Vote Act as “protecting our elections from voter suppression, partisan sabotage, gerrymandering, and dark money”.
Join an in-person Day of Remembrance and Action vigil in Michigan or join a virtual vigil on Wednesday January 6th. Click HERE to see a map of where these vigils are and search for a vigil nearest to you. The page also has a link for signing up to host a vigil. Those who sign up will be sent a toolkit on how to do this. The movement is offering special sessions for vigil hosts on Sunday January 2nd and Tuesday, January 4th.
So far, the following 8 vigils are being planned in Michigan on January 6th:
Click HEREto sign up for these vigils for more information or find others not yet listed.
Before it’s too late, share this information with people in your community!
Dear Friends:
It’s been a challenging and a rewarding year for Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) activists and our allies as we continue to work for justice for all people in Michigan. We continue to fight voter suppression, stand up for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights and demand economic, environmental and racial justice. We’ve worked to support bold legislation to support families suffering during the COVID pandemic.
We are grateful to generous people like you for supporting our justice movement in 2021. We request your support to sustain our justice work in 2022. If you’ve already paid your membership for 2022, please accept our heartfelt thanks. If you haven’t yet done so, please become a member or renew your membership in MUUSJN.
The Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is winding down. There is only a small window left to help end partisan gerrymandering. The good news is that the MICRC has been very receptive to public comment and they have worked hard to improve the maps and make them more fair. The bad news is that most of the maps presented have not yet achieved partisan fairness. (More details on this below.)
Analysis and suggestions are based on research and recommendations from NextVote and Promote the Vote. Analysis also draws on reporting done by Bridge Magazine and the Detroit Free Press as well as many conversations with coalitions including Michigan Voices and the VAAC (Voting Access for All Coalition.)
The MICRC is planning to vote on the maps on Dec. 30th. If they make any changes to the maps, or introduce any new maps, then they have to open another 45 day period of public comment and this would force them to miss the Dec. 30th deadline. The MICRC is very hesitant to do this.
We have a two-pronged strategy:
1. Advocate for our favorite map that has been proposed.
2. Tell the MICRC that while we hate to delay the process, the worst outcome will be unfair maps.
There are three ways to communicate with the MICRC:
(Please do as many of these as you can!)
The remainder of this email gives clear instructions on how to make written comments and offers suggestions of what to say on each map.
If you did not receive the previous email I sent about how to testify in person or via zoom, then let me know and I will resend.
Written comments are made through the MICRC portal. Each map has its own page (linked in this document.) You can make comments and put “pins” or “dots” on specific locations on each map. These dots are color coded as follows:
Red = Oppose
Yellow= Sorta like but needs some help
Green= Approve
It is our hope that the most egregious maps will become seas of red dots and the most promising will be flooded with green and yellow dots and filled with constructive comments.
Step by step instructions to add dots:
Below are links to each proposed map, (the maps with tree names were developed collaboratively. The maps with last names were introduced by individual commissioners.) There are also sample comments for each map. You can put as many dots and comments on each map as you would like. We know this is a lengthy process. If possible, make at least one-two comments on each map. There are 15 maps and we hope you will comment on all of them, If you don’t have time to do that much, please prioritize the House maps and the maps indicated as being the most fair.
Feel free to contact Nomi if you want someone to walk you through it at: nomijoyrich@gmail.com 248-497-1226
Make your comments as soon as possible. Be sure to comment by December 29th.
Please note that most of these are general comments and can be made anywhere on the map. Changes in any county will impact the entire state, so you can comment anywhere on the map regardless of where you live.
MICHIGAN HOUSE
Sadly, NONE of the House maps are fair. Every one of them would likely result in the majority of seats going to the party that receives the minority of votes.
We have two messages: 1. Even though it will delay the process, we don’t want to settle for unfair maps. Maps that are less unfair, are still unfair. Please go back and fix these maps. 2. Of the proposed House maps, Hickory is the best of the worst. If you have to settle for one of these maps, please adopt Hickory.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/262/23
Thanks for unpacking Democrats in the Lansing area and/or the Ann Arbor area. All the maps have Republican bias, but this one is the best of the bad.
Maps that are less unfair, are still unfair. We want maps that are actually fair.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/276/23
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/263/23
Most unfair
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/259/23
Most unfair.
No MI House map addresses the concerns heard from Detroit voters about being able to elect their own candidates.
Once again, various groups are using different methods of analysis. Some say that Cherry and Linden achieve partisan fairness.
Others conclude that all of the Senate maps have partisan bias.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/251/23
This is one of the most fair maps. It still favors one party, but comes closer to partisan fairness. (some people think Linden is the best. Some people think Cherry is the best. Its probably a tossup, but I think Cherry is slightly better with partisan fairness.)
Maps that are less unfair, are still unfair. We want maps that are actually fair.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/260/23
Thank you for drawing maps that unpack Democrats in Washtenaw County and Ingham County. I wish you would reduced the partisan bias further, but this map is the best.
(some groups think Linden is the best and other think Cherry is the best.) Maps that are less unfair, are still unfair. We want maps that are actually fair.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/268/23
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/270/23
This map creates the most majority-minority districts. But it has a terrible partisan fairness score and will virtually guarantee victories by the party which receives the fewest votes.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/261/23
This map packs Democrats in Washtenaw County. While all the maps give an unfair advantage to Republicans, this one is the worst.
This map looks like it was designed to guarantee Republican majorities. Does not come close to being fair.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/274/23
This map creates no Minority-Majority districts and has a terrible partisan fairness score. This map is horrible. It will virtually guarantee majorities by the party that receives the fewest votes.
Different groups use different methods of analysis. Some of these groups believe that Szetela, Birch and Chestnut achieve partisan fairness. Other groups believe that only Szetela is fair. Some commissioners have indicated that they will lean towards the collaboratively drawn tree maps rather than consider any maps proposed by individual commissioners.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/275/23
Thank you for combining the best parts of Chestnut and Birch. This is the fairest map.
On both PlanScore and PTV’s Michigan-specific model, it gets close to a 0% Efficiency Gap. This is THE ONLY map that shows true partisan fairness, adequately addressed COI and establishes Voting Rights districts
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/253/23
This is the most fair of the Congressional tree maps, but not as fair as Szetela
Some analysis show this has good partisan fairness, but PTV says this still gives more seats to the party that has the fewest votes.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/254/23
This map is pretty good, but not as fair as Szetela
Some analysis show this has good partisan fairness, but PTV says this still gives more seats to the party that has the fewest votes.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/252/23
This map makes it likely Republicans win most seats even when Democrats get most votes. This map is awful. Not quite as bad as Lange, but still pretty horrible.
https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/273/23
This is the worst map. This map makes it likely Republicans win most seats even when Democrats get most votes. To say this map is horrible is an understatement.
Thank you for working to help end gerrymandering!
Nomi Joyrich
MUUSJN Consultant
P.S. the last public hearing will be on Dec. 16th in Detroit, 10am-12pm. This will be the last chance to testify in person or via zoom. Please let me know if you would like help writing your 60 second comment. Here’s some info about the meeting:
3044 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202
Comment is first come first serve. You can sign up for in-person comment beginning at 9:45am.
You can sign up to testify via zoom until 9am on Tuesday. Requests to speak remotely must be submitted via signup form available at https://www.research.net/r/QM252L8
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) supports the $2 trillion Build Back Better (BBB) plan that some have described as the most transformative domestic policy agenda since the Great Society. It supports families, creates jobs, protects our environment and makes housing and health care more affordable. This bill was adopted in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 19th. Click HERE for more details of what’s in the House bill from a November 19th article in the Washington Post.
The BBB package now is in the Senate where, in consultation with the Senate parliamentarian, Senators are confirming that all bill provisions can be adopted within “reconciliation” rules that allow passage with 51 votes instead of being blocked by a filibuster. But this requires that all 50 Democrats and V.P. Harris would vote to support this package. Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Krysten Sinema have been persistent critics of the bill. President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have a goal of getting this major legislation adopted before Christmas.
