UU JUSTICE NEWS: October 2019

By MUUSJN on Tuesday, October 1st, 2019

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:

  • What you can do to resist two Michigan anti-abortion petitions;
  • Jen’s Corner: I Cried for Climate Change; Michigan UU’s take part in youth led Global Climate Strike; Interfaith Power and Light Conference;
  • Bloomfield Hills congregation regularly writes to members of Congress;
  • Grant would support welcoming LGBTQ people and fighting for their rights;
  • People’s Water Board activists and faith leaders meet with Governor’s staff;
  • MUUSJN Board launches new model for engaging justice leaders statewide;
  • Faith leaders help shut down an anti-Muslim hate group meeting!
  • MUUSJN calls for reforms for pregnant women in Michigan prisons;
  • Plans to make MUUSJN website easier to read for visually impaired.
  • Sign up early for your 2020 Membership in MUUSJN after October 1st

How You Can Resist Anti-abortion initiatives in Michigan

By Nicole Breadon, MUUSJN Reproductive & Economic Justice Organizer

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/

Jen’s Corner

Jennifer Teed, MUUSJN Justice Projects Coordinator

The First Time I Cried for Climate Change

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!

We Struck for Climate Action – Now What?

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!

Justice on Earth Book Discussions

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

Michigan Interfaith Power & Light’s 12th Sustainability Conference!

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

Birmingham Unitarian Church has begun participating in “Write Here, Write Now”

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/

MUUSJN Applied for New UU Grant to Encourage Congregations to Participate in Welcoming Congregation Renewal Program & Advocate for LGBTQ Rights

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.

Water Justice Leaders Meet with Governor’s Faith Based Affairs Staff

Randy Block, MUUSJN Director

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:

  1. Relay the group’s request to meet with the Governor to discuss the impact of water shutoffs and the need for a state level water affordability plan;
  2. Encourage the Governor to issue an Executive Order to address Michigan’s public water crisis;
  3. Explore whether the PWB could meet with the Attorney General and the Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to discuss issues of water safety, accessibility, affordability and public health; 
  4. Recommend that Rev. Ed Rowe become a member of the Governor’s Religious Roundtable.
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.

MUUSJN Board Members Agree to Engage Justice Leaders By Region

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.

Faith leaders help shut down an anti-Muslim hate group meeting!

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.  

Reforms Needed for pregnant women in Michigan prisons

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:

  • A diversion of pregnant women from the general prison population to an alternate setting for low level offenders. There are models in other states that show that this is ideal.
  • An improvement of current conditions like provide air conditioning and drinking water.
  • Provide drug assisted treatment like maintaining methadone levels and not cut them off cold turkey after birth.
  • No shackling at all. Currently women are shackled on the way to the hospital and on the way back. 
  • Ban a no contact order. Currently Wardens can issue a no contact order; we know babies thrive with skin to skin contact.
  • There are very few cases of infanticide, moms generally don’t hurt their babies. In the case of child abuse, limit contact.
  • Instill a breast-feeding program either through legislation or public input. Start a pump and deliver program which is good for both mom and baby.
  • Provide visiting rooms for breast feeding which currently don’t exist.
  • Women get one 15-20-minute visit once a week. Those visits need to be extended. 

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

Website Accessibility Updates

By Kathleen Cook, MUUSJN Website and Social Media Consultant

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. 

It’s Time to Make A Generous Gift to MUUSJN

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                                

  • Regular Individual – $25;
  • Family – $40 
  • Silver – $50 
  • Gold – $100 or
  • Champion – $200 or more
  • To make a regular donation via PayPal or a credit card click HERE
  • CONGREGATIONS: $100 (or share a plate collection)
  • ORGANIZATIONS: $100 or more

MUUSJN dues/contributions are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

WRITE CHECK TO:MUUSJN (or use PayPal)

MAIL TO: Randy Block, 4220 Arlington Dr., Royal Oak, MI 48073


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