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.
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) supports the 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 can be adopted by Congress by reconciliation, a process that requires only 51 votes instead of 60. But this would require support from all 50 Democratic Senators plus V.P. Kamala Harris. This has given great leverage to two so called “moderate” Democrats, Sen. Joe Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. They have pressured Democrats to reduce the scope and funding for the BBB package. However, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair, Rep. Pramila Jayapal continues to be optimistic and says their priorities are still in the package.
Thank our Senators for their support for a transformational Build Back Better plan!
Urge our Senators to remain strong supporters of the plan;
Urge them to require wealthy individuals and corporations pay their fair share in taxes;
Support the BBB for our families, good paying jobs and the environment.
The tail “wagged the dog” — again — on Wednesday, October 20th when the Freedom to Vote Act was blocked by a Senate minority party filibuster rule that requires 60 votes for a policy to be adopted in the Senate. The Freedom to Vote Act, developed by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin in hopes of getting bi-partisan support, fell to an undemocratic filibuster power play. Other transformational policies have also been blocked by a Senate filibuster such as: the Equality Act, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the Women’s Health Protection Act (that protects abortion rights); and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
On October 20th, the Unitarian Universalist Association Side with Love UU the Vote campaign hosted a forum on the Freedom to Vote Act that called for contacting our Senators to stand up for the Freedom to Vote Act and to oppose the filibuster. The forum included Jennifer Lamson, the Senior Advisor for the Democracy Initiative. This organization is an “intersectional (national) coalition of 75 labor, environmental, civil rights and civic organizations” to address “urgent crises affecting our communities”. Jennifer Lamson said the filibuster is an “issue whose time has come”.
Click HERE for a the coalition’s toolkit on how to fight for filibuster reform.
During an October 20th Town Hall, President Joe Biden stated he would like to modify the filibuster to allow protection of voting rights after he gets passage of his Build Back Better human infrastructure bill. Click HERE to read a Brennan Center for Justice article on how to “Fix the Filibuster”.
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee, Chaired by Senator Amy Klobuchar, has jurisdiction over the filibuster rule. Please call or email Senator Klobuchar urging her take up abolition of the filibuster. Urge Michigan’s two Michigan Senators to publicly call for abolishing or at least reforming the filibuster.
Attend a Build Back Better (BBB) rally in Warren or in Detroit (Additional Events are Being Planned)
Rally with Rep. Andy Levin 11:30 a.m., Monday, October 18th 30500 Van Dyke Avenue, Suite 306, Warren, MI 48093
Rally with Rep. Rashida Tlaib 3:30 p.m., Monday October 18th Pallister Park, 616 Pallister, Detroit, MI 48202
BBB Registration Form: https://secure.everyaction.com/pNM2LcGWUEu9ilk_f6LWIg2
RALLY SUPPORTERS: Sierra Club MI Chapter; Michigan League of Conservation Voters; Michigan People’s Campaign; Michigan People’s Campaign; Detroit Action; Mothering Justice; 482 Forward; MOSES Action; MI Liberation; We the People – Action Fund; Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition; Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN); and Michigan Climate Action Network
TIMELY CALLS ARE IMPORTANT: Progressive are pushing for this bill to be adopted this month. Tell your Representatives that we want the full BBB Act to be funded.
As you may have heard, the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission has been working for months to create new voting district maps for the Michigan House and Senate and for U.S. House of Representatives. These maps were drawn to represent community interests, civil rights, equal representation and partisan fairness. These maps have gotten input from citizens and organizations around the state.
Detroit: October 20th, TCF CenterLansing: October 21st, Lansing Center
Grand Rapids: October 22, Amway
Gaylord: October 25, Treetop Resorts
Flint: October 26, Dort Center
For times and other information on these hearings, go to: https://www.michigan.gov/micrc/0,10083,7-418-108477_108479—,00.html
Public comments can also be made on-line: https://www.michigan.gov/MICRC
MUUSJN will be co-hosting with Voters Not Politicians an on-line event “Redistricting Maps – Take Action” on Tuesday, October 19th at 7 p.m.
Join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83849009895
Or Call: 1-646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 838 4900 9895
HERE ARE SOURCES OF MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT REDISTRICTING:
https://votersnotpoliticians.com/redistricting/
A Detroit Free Press article is a good overview of where things are now:https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/11/michigan-redistricting-2021-map/5934136001/?fbclid=IwAR1WgJKFGzK1FS3poeiMsc9gDZKqMmUXlZStjPFD1vUpI7jfRVvWd-OeKZ8
You can get up to date blog posts here: https://votersnotpoliticians.com/micr
Here is the official Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission website:https://www.michigan.gov/MICRC
Special thanks to Jennifer Teed, MUUSJN Special Projects Director, for helping organize the public hearing and developing the language for this alert.
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) is co-sponsoring two opportunities to hear Lois Pullano, Executive Director of Citizens for Prison Reform, speak on “Open MI Door! — Ending Solitary Confinement in Michigan” at two different events: one by Zoom at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 16th and one in person at 7 p.m. Sunday, October 17th at the UU Church of Greater Lansing.
Solitary Confinement, defined as being isolated for at least 20 hours or more, creates physical and psychological harm to over 3,000 Michigan prisoners each year. A United Nations expert has voiced ALARM at the excessive use of solitary confinement by correctional facilities in the United States. Click HERE for more information.
Lois, an inspirational speaker, draws her understanding and her commitment from having a teenage son who was victimized in solitary confinement in a Michigan prison. She went far beyond advocating for her son when several years ago she organized Citizens for Prison Reform. This group has a full blown campaign that includes seeking to influence Governor Whitmer and developing reform legislation.
The Saturday 10 – 11 a.m. October 16th Zoom presentation is hosted by Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit and co-sponsored by MUUSJN, Southeast Michigan Green Parties; United Church of Christ – DMA; Peace Action of Michigan; Michigan Coalition for Human Rights; SE Michigan Jobs with Justice; Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, Southeast Michigan; and Citizens for Peace. Gray Panthers is an intergenerational social justice organization. Click HERE for a flyer to share.
The Sunday, 7 – 8:30 p.m. October 17th presentation will be held at the UU Church of Greater Lansing located at 5509 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing 48911. Lois Pullano and Rev. Kord Brown will be updating the audience on what’s being done to end solitary confinement in Michigan.The church will follow COVID mitigation procedures including: urging people to stay at home if they suspect they have been exposed to the virus or feel unwell; wear a mask that fully covers the mouth and nose at all times; maintaining physical distance from others to the extent possible; and washing/sanitizing hands frequently. For more information, call 517-351-4081.
P.S. In addition to working for the UU Church of Greater Lansing, Rev. Kord Brown was hired by MUUSJN as a Racial Justice Organizer with its new Racial Equity Project.
Womens’ right to an abortion is under assault
On Wednesday, September 1st, the Texas legislature adopted and Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8 that criminalized abortion after six weeks, effectively making most abortions in Texas illegal without exceptions for rape and incest — even before most women even know if they are pregnant. Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court refused in a 5-4 decision to intervene to protect women’s choice to have an abortion in Texas. The Texas law, which allows anyone in the U.S., including anti-abortion vigilante’s, to cruelly file a $10,000 lawsuit against anyone they suspect of helping of perform an abortion, even a taxi driver driving a women to a clinic!
The state of Mississippi is taking a 15 week abortion ban law to the U.S. Supreme Court this December to challenge the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision. A ruling on this case could happen this coming summer.
Fighting Back!
Later this month, the Biden Justice Department filed a suit against the state of Texas. asking a federal judge to rule the Texas law invalid since it infringes on women’s constitutional rights and it violates the supremacy clause of the Constitution that federal law supersedes state law.
To oppose attacks on women’s rights, advocates helped pass the Women’s Health Protection Act in the U.S. House on September 24th. MUUSjN’S Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition sent a statewide action alert urging Michiganders to support this bill that was adopted 218-211.
ANOTHER WAY TO FIGHT BACK: A national coalition of women’s advocacy groups, including Planned Parenthood, are organizing hundreds of “Women’s Led Uprisings” on Saturday, October 2nd. Click HERE to find an event nearest you.
10 a.m. September 18th – GET READY FOR ACTION: GREEN JOBS & VOTER SUPPRESSION Nick Ciarimitaro, former AFSCME Lobbyist and past state legislator, will speak on the provisions for Green Jobs in the American Jobs Act (aka the Infrastructure package) being debated by Congress. Also, hear Rochelle Rubin, a Team Leader for Voters Not Politicians, will speak about latest attempts to suppress the vote in Michigan and what we can do about them. This forum is sponsored by Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit and co-sponsored by MUUSJN. Click HERE TO RSVP. Click HERE to join the meeting.
2 p.m. September 23rd – FEDERAL ACTION RALLY — SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT INCLUDES FUNDS FOR CLIMATE ACTION. This event is supported by the Sierra Club and co-sponsored by MUUSJN. Click HERE for more information and to register.
7 p.m. September 23rd ZOOM 101:HOSTING AND PARTICIPATION IN ZOOM MEETINGS. This FREE Zoom training for beginners is being hosted by MUUSJN and was developed by MUUSJN Fellows. Click HERE to register.
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BACKGROUND
As of Wednesday, September 1st, the Texas legislature adopted and Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8 that criminalized abortion after six weeks, effectively making illegal most abortions in Texas. This abortion ban would have no exceptions for rape and incest and would make abortion illegal before most women even know if they are pregnant. Without ruling on the Constitutionality of this law, U.S. Supreme Court refused in a 5-4 decision to not intervene to protect women’s choice to have an abortion in Texas. The Texas law, which allows anyone in the U.S., including anti-abortion vigilante’s, to cruelly file a $10,000 lawsuit against anyone they suspect of helping of perform an abortion, even a husband who drove his wife to a clinic.
Copycat laws are being introduced in other states.However, in Michigan, a “fetal heartbeat” abortion ballot proposal that bans abortion after six weeks, failed to get enough signatures to be adopted in 2020. A similar law adopted by the Michigan legislature would surely face a veto from Governor Gretchen Whitmer. However, the state of Mississippi is taking a 15 week abortion ban law to the U.S. Supreme Court this fall to challenge the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade long time abortion rights precedent. A ruling on this case could happen this coming summer. The Biden Justice Department has vowed to protect women seeking abortions in Texas as it pursues options to challenge this state’s restrictive law.
The Michigan Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition and many of women’s right groups are urging that citizens call their U.S. Representatives and urge them to vote YES on The Women’s Health Protection Act (HR 3755). This bill is co-sponsored by every Michigan Democratic U.S. Representative. A vote on HB 3755, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is expected on the first day Congress opens on Thursday September 9th. Please urge your Michigan Representative to be a strong advocate for this bill that would put a stop to many abortion bans and medically unnecessary restrictions.
For those looking for additional ways to show support for abortion access, Texan providers, pregnant people, and clinics, consider donating to one of the following: abortion funds such as The Lilith Fund and The Texas Equal Access Fund, organizations that provide donations to keep independent clinics like Whole Women’s Health open (Keep Our Clinics), and grassroots abortion rights advocacy groups in Texas (Avow). This article does a nice job of summarizing ways one might support Texans at this time and lists additional important advocacy organizations and donation opportunities.
On August 30th, a “Secure MI Vote” committee launched a petition drive to making it more difficult to vote after a record turnout in the 2020 election. A broad coalition, including Voters Not Politicians and many other organizations, is launching a counter campaign to educate the public about this troubling effort.
Nancy Wang, Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians, was quoted as saying “A Democracy only works when the voice of the people can be heard. No matter what they say, the purpose of the GOP’s petition drive is to make it harder for some voters to vote, pure and simple…Now is the time for voters across the state to stand up for our freedom to vote and to oppose this package of voter suppression measures”.
Michigan voters turned out in historic numbers in the 2020 election, one of the state’s most secure elections. A six month Republican study, released on June 23rd, debunked the former President’s “Big Lie” that there was widespread voter fraud in Michigan’s 2020 election. No matter what we look like or where we come from, all Michiganders want our voices to be heard in our democracy and our voting rights protected.
The “Secure MI Vote” Committee is seeking state approval of its petition language, a first step toward bypassing the veto of Gretchen Whitmer. If the committee collects 340,047 signatures, it could be adopted by the legislature. However, these signature would have to be collected before the end of 2021 for this proposal to impact the 2022 election.
Click HERE for more information from the August 30th issue of Bridge magazine. According to this article, the initiative would:
