UU Justice News: May 2021
By MUUSJN on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021
Get Involved — Support Our Work
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE & CASH BAIL REFORM
THE TIME IS HERE! EVICT LINE 5!
Well, it’s been many years we’ve been in this fight against Enbridge, and finally Governor Whitmer has ordered the Shut Down of Line 5 — the 68-year-old pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac is set to be shut down on May 12. However, Enbridge is refusing to shut down, so we must continue to fight. On May 12 & May 13 there will be Rallies and Water Ceremonies in Mackinac, Lansing and Detroit to show Enbridge the PEOPLE POWER standing with the governor’s decision. As you know, the pipeline is already overdue for a rupture, which would impact 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, take years to clean up and devastate our Great Lakes economy. Shutting down Line 5 is crucial to protect the Great Lakes from a catastrophic oil spill.
MUUSJN co-hosted a great event with League of Conservation Voters and FLOW for Water on 5/4, I encourage you to watch and share: https://fb.me/e/1g6unqREM
Let me know if you’d like info on Indigenous water ceremonies and festivals in Mackinaw on May 12th and 13th. On May 13th join us in delivering Enbridge their Eviction Notice. In Lansing and Mackinac register here: https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/events?fbclid=IwAR1e2wxicsbWJAfbKEw0I_FmECCy-jEVSBnADiwhKorWb4ankfQij5HMz9A
In Detroit join this solidarity water ceremony and rally on May 12th: Kemeny Park, 2260 S. Fort St. https://www.facebook.com/events/171899074803549
If you can’t be there in person, put up a lawn sign, write a letter to the editor, send a thank you card to the governor, and share on social media and in your daily conversations, why the pipeline and tunnel are not safe for Michigan, and as one of the greatest sources of freshwater, detrimental to the entire earth and her population.
Another thing to do is sign and circulate these petitions:
https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/president_biden_support_the_line_5_shutdown
https://campaigns.350.org/petitions/shut-down-line-3-don-t-replace-it
Enbridge’s time has run out — but they aren’t going down without a fight.
Let’s show them what we got!!!!
Jen Teed, Special Projects Coordinator
MUUSJN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE
Please contact me if you would like to join monthly Zoom sessions with other UUs concerned about Environmental Justice around the state. There are many issues around the state to pay attention to. If we work together, we are a stronger force.
One example of this is lobbying for the current water bills in the Michigan Legislature… we will talk more about this on future Zoom calls. I’ll also be reaching out to the social justice leaders in your congregations to help mobilize groups to set up lobby meetings with your state Representatives or Senators.
Great stuff is happening in our denomination, as well as right here in our Michigan congregations- I’m really proud to be a Unitarian Universalist right now, more than ever!!
In my next newsletter article, look for information about the 8th Principal and the New Welcoming Congregations Accreditation. If you are already interested or working on either of these in your congregations, I’d love to talk to you and learn together!!
Jen Teed, Special Projects Coordinator
END THE RACIST PRACTICE of CASH BAIL
MUUSJN co-hosted a very powerful event on 5/7 with Michigan Liberation, The Advancement Project and the UU Church of Greater Lansing: Black Mama’s Bailout, Community Conversations – The Impact of Cash Bail on Black Women. I encourage you to watch and share this video of the event: https://youtu.be/sZXngkn_DR0
To make a donation and learn of other ways to support getting women out of jail, ending cash bail and helping to create a different level of support and changes to the carceral system, check out this Resource Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UVqrtMcA43afll4kVIiE6BW7ufVsb9fF/view?usp=sharingMUUSJN will be continuing to work with Michigan Liberation to End Cash Bail, please let me know if you are interested in being involved or would like to get your congregation involved in a deeper more meaningful way. The women from the event are looking for other opportunities to share their stories, there is lobbying to do with our legislators on soon to be introduced legislation. Nick Buckingham is interested in teaching communities how to coordinate their own bailouts.
In Love & Struggle, Jenny Teed, Special Projects Coordinator, jennifer.a.teed@gmail.com
UU CHURCHES EXTEND THEIR WELCOME TO LGBTQ+ PEOPLE
Most UU congregations in Michigan consider themselves “Welcoming” to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, along with other identities such as intersex, asexual, or nonbinary. UUs have been on the front lines with supporting equal rights, including the right to marry and to adopt children, for people who may not fit traditional heterosexual or cisgender norms.
But we can’t just sit back on our laurels, declaring we are welcoming, without continuously demonstrating this with our church’s actions in our communities. For this reason, the Unitarian Universalist Association asks that congregations renew their Welcoming Congregation status on an annual basis. That sounds like it could be a lot of work, but with resources on-line making it fairly easy to intentionally observe days of importance for LGBTQ+, the renewal process becomes an enjoyable part of the worship year. For instance, my congregation just tied in Lesbian Visibility Day with a historical look at The Iowa Sisterhood.
As the LGBTQ+ Justice Organizer for MUUSJN, I am in touch with each congregation on what they can do to initiate or renew their Welcoming Congregation status. I have helped with services for congregations that are becoming Welcoming for the first time, and ones that are in the process of Welcoming Renewal, talking about the Welcoming Renewal process, the “alphabet soup” of LGBTQ+ acronyms, and/or my own coming out story.
I am excited to report that the UU Fellowship of Bay de Noc in Escanaba has just completed its application to be recognized as a Welcoming Congregation, and has interacted with the Petoskey Fellowship, which also hopes to achieve Welcoming status for the first time this year. Also, the UU Congregation of Flint has started its Renewal process, and the UU Church of East Liberty hopes to renew for the first time this year. as do several other congregations. I am also working with two EJAM “Fellows” on LGBTQ+ advocacy; they’d love to share their stories with your congregation. Please let me know if we can help your congregation with its Welcoming Congregation renewal.
Each month our “Welcome In!” newsletter lists ideas for inclusion of LGBTQ+ people and themes, in worship and in the community, and for advocacy on state and national legislation and matters affecting this community (see related MUUSJN article). In addition, the newsletter lists orientation times for the Welcoming Congregation process, led by Rev. Michael Crumpler, LGBTQ and Multicultural Programs Director. These friendly Zoom sessions go over Renewal process with lots of great suggestions. Rev. Michael has a wealth of information and ideas for Congregations that want to work on Welcoming Renewal in unique ways. For instance, Rev. Crumpler has helped get out the word on opportunities for UU members to talk with key legislators in states that are important to sway on the Equality Act, and this type of effort can count as activities related to a congregation’s Welcoming Renewal. See the Facebook page Welcoming Congregations of Unitarian Universalism.
Sharon Pedersen, LGBTQ+ Justice Organizer, sspedersen@sbcglobal.net
THE CONVOLUTED HISTORY AND OUR FIGHT FOR PAID LEAVE
MUUSJN has been in the fight for all workers to get paid leave. The ability for any worker to stay home when they or their dependents are ill has always been a moral and economic issue. The pandemic has also turned this into a public health emergency.
In May of 2018, the Michigan Time to Care and the Michigan One Fair Wage campaigns, in partnership with MUUSJN and other organizations, filed petitions with enough signatures to put on two proposals on the 2018 ballot. Workers would earn one hour of paid sick time for every thirty hours worked. A second proposal and would raise Michigan’s minimum wage to twelve dollars per hour for all workers including those making the sub-minimum tipped wage. Instead, the legislature engaged in a devious tactic now known as “Adopt and Amend”. They adopted the two proposals to keep them off the ballot and then, during lame duck, gutted the new laws.
Despite polls showing that over 70% of Michigan voters support earned paid sick time and raising the minimum wage, Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation enacting anemic, hollow versions of these proposals into law. Under Article 2, Section 9 of the Michigan Constitution, the legislature may not adopt and amend ballot measures in the same legislative cycle. However, former Attorney General Bill Schuette issued a legal opinion that the legislature could do exactly that during the lame duck session. Their actions were an assault on workers and an attack on democracy. The result was 1.7 million people, or half the Michigan workforce, lack access to paid sick time during a global pandemic. In Michigan 33.2% of workers make less than $12/hour and 45.8% make less than $15/hr. Tipped workers in Michigan make $3.67/hour. Many who are laid off due to the pandemic have not been eligible for unemployment protections.
As Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson aptly noted, “Both the Michigan Constitution and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protect Michigan citizens’ right to amend our laws or state constitution through direct citizen petitions.” Adopt and Amend sets the alarming precedent of blocking Michigan citizens from engaging in the democratic process, regardless of their purpose or which party is in power.
MUUSJN has been an active member of the MI Time to Care and the Earned Paid Leave coalition. The coalition submitted a letter to Attorney General Dana Nessel that was signed by over 230 individuals, over 90 organizations and over 30 elected officials. The letter requests that AG Nessel take immediate action to rectify this injustice. She can take action either by rescinding the Schuette opinion, or by issuing a new opinion. On April 22nd, 2021 MUUSJN co-sponsored a rally in front of AG Nessel’s Detroit office. The rally began with a powerful prayer by Rabbi Brent Guttman from Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield, Michigan. It also featured speakers including several people who have experienced the hardship of having COVID while not having any paid leave benefits. We are still awaiting an official response from AG Nessel.
Nomi Joyrich, Economic and Reproductive Justice Organizer, nomijoyrich@gmail.com
MUUSJN NEW RACIAL EQUITY PROJECT: NOW HIRING!
On March 13th, the MUUSJN Board of Directors voted to apply for funding and to launch a Racial Equity Project that aims to achieve three goals:
- Collaborate with Black and Brown people by developing a new Racial Equity Task Force to identify key issues, promote education about these issues and advocate for racial equity;
- To provide information to UU congregations about the 8th Principle and other anti-racism programs such as Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), Black Lives UU, Allies for Racial Equity, Beloved Communities and UU The Vote; and
- Advocate to support voting rights and to oppose voter suppression.
Leadership for this Project will be taken by a new part-time Racial Justice Organizer with support from the Special Projects Coordinator and other MUUSJN consultants. Applications are being accepted during May for this position that pays $1,000/month. Click HERE for a job description.
Launching a Racial Equity Project Is a reflection of MUUSJN’s commitment to working with people of faith for racial justice and supports its current work to protect the vote and vigorously oppose voter suppression. MUUSJN’s statewide social justice network is coordinating with Black and Brown led organizations, e.g., the Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan, the NAACP, Michigan Liberation, Michigan Voices, etc. to address racial justice.
MUUSJN is working in coordination with a “Promote the Vote Coalition” of organizations, including the MI ACLU, the NAACP, Progress Michigan, the League of Women Voters, and other groups, such as Voters Not Politicians to oppose voter suppression. Currently, MUUSJN is issuing action alerts to urge the public to oppose Michigan legislation that would create barriers to voting. In addition to working to protect the vote in Michigan, MUUSJN will continue to advocate for federal legislation such as the For the People Act (S 1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
For more information or to get on MUUSJN’s action alert list, contact MUUSJN Director, Randy Block, at randyblock@yahoo.com or 248-224-5572.
TAKE ACTION: MICHIGAN FAMILIES AT RISK OF WATER SHUTOFFS
Water warriors through the Peoples Water Board and other organizations such as MUUSJN have been meeting with Michigan legislators, urging them to restore Governor Whitmer’s statewide moratorium on water shutoffs during the pandemic. This article reflects some of the concerns about water issues shared with these elected officials.
No matter where we live, water issues touch all of us, and so we are grateful to you for taking the time to share the issues that impact your district while listening to the concerns that we outlined in the meeting.
Some of the issues we discussed with you were:
- The need to extend the moratorium on water shutoffs to at least June 30, 2021 in response to the pandemic;
- Transparency/The Right to Know – the need for public reporting on water data. Citizens have a right to information related to the water they consume;
- Decriminalization – reducing the penalty for water reconnection from a harsh 5-year felony that criminalizes poverty and fails to address the underlying issue of affordability; and
- Recognition of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation
Click HERE for a list of 2021 water access and affordability bills.
TAKE ACTION:
Water and environmental advocates fought to get COVID relief funds to help cover the costs of delivering water to Michigan’s people. Now state legislators and local officials need to the right thing! Michigan can afford and must to do right by low income people. Keep the water flowing for Michigan families!
Call your mayor or county leaders and tell them: Extend the water moratorium until at least June 30th.
Call Your State Senator and share with him/her your concern that low income families have access to affordable water during the pandemic. Click HERE to get the name and phone number of your Senator.
P.S. Detroit’s Mayor Duggan has stated that he extended a moratorium on water shutoffs until 2022.
Category: Newsletter |