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UU Mass Action Newsletter
12/4/17
Boston National Day of Action!
We Need You! Join Us at the Rally
When: Wed Dec 6th, 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Where: Faneuil Hall Plaza, Boston
Let us know you’re coming, RSVP Here Flyer
In cities and towns around the country, people will be gathering to demand an end to the ceaseless attacks on our immigrant communities.
- Workers are being denied payment of their wages and, when they complain, they are reported to ICE.
- A father who has been in the country for decades and has worked for the same restaurant for 27 years is scheduled for deportation in two weeks. He has two small US Citizen children; one of whom has special needs, and a wife who is a US citizen. He has no criminal record.
- #FreeSiham Biyam has been in detention since November 9th. She was given no notice and is scheduled to be deported to Morocco where she will be in grave danger. Her 8-year-old boy kissed her goodbye when he left for school on November 9th and may never see her again. Against his mother’s wishes he is now in state custody and separated from his family, his community and his culture.
Photo by IfNotNow Boston
Accompaniment Training for the Boston Cluster
The Boston Cluster Leaders have updated the accompaniment structure. Come learn how you can take action to support immigrant neighbors! The interfaith Sanctuary & Solidarity team are also planning an accompaniment team training for the Burlington ICE area later in Dec – details will be available next week.
Boston Cluster Accompaniment Training
When: Sat Dec 16, 11:00 – 1:00 PM
Where: First Parish in Cambridge, 3 Church St., Cambridge
Please RSVP by sending an email to Peter Lowber: plowber@hotmail.com
Celebrate our Success! 
Will you be in the Boston area on Tuesday December 5th? If so, join the Raise Up Mass coalition as we deliver 272,000 signatures to the State Office building at 1 Ashburton Place, Boston
Join us at 12:00 Noon for a short rally.
Congratulations to all! Paid Family and Medical leave and a $15 minimum wage will be a reality for millions of Massachusetts workers thanks to you!
Update on Criminal Justice Reform
The Criminal Justice Omnibus bills have both passed the senate and the house. The next step is the Conference Committee where the differences in the two bills will be addressed and a final version of the bill will result.
In the coming weeks, we will have a summary analysis of the differences between the bills and a list of priorities for which we will be asking your help with advocacy. The conference committee process could take several months. The resulting bill represents a decade of hard work! We would not be here if not for the thousands of legislative visits, phone calls, and letters. Thank you!
Who is on the conference committee:
Senate: William Brownsberger, Cynthia Creem, Bruce Tarr
House: Claire Cronin, Ronald Mariano, Sheila Harrington
FREE PEW CUSHIONS!
First Parish Church United in Westford is updating their pew cushions and would like to give their existing cushions to a church that needs them.
Specifics: Color - Red
(45) 14" by 8’ long (96”)
(2) 14" by 68" long
(1) 14" by 73” long
If your church would like to have these cushions, please contact Mark:
O'LALOR PAINTING (978) 944-1569
Note: Events Below are sponsored or co-sponsored by UU Mass Action, or are being offered by our UU partners
EVENTS, EDUCATION AND FORUMS
Muslim Bans, Refugee Bans, Ending DACA – A Threat to All Our Freedoms
How Did We Get Here – and What Can We Do?
When: Tue Dec 5, 5:30pm – 6:00pm Check-in and Refreshments, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Panel Discussion
Where: Harvard Law School, Hauser Hall, Room 102 Facebook Page
The Muslim and Refugee bans are discriminatory and unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson, in Honolulu, wrote that the Muslim Ban 3.0 Executive Order "plainly discriminates based on nationality" and would be “detrimental to the interests of the United States." The Trump Administration wants to negotiate DACA protections for building the Wall. These legislation attempts are part of a continuum of exclusionary, xenophobic and racist policies that promote white supremacy and discrimination on the basis of faith, national origin, and immigration status.
As arguments continue in the courtrooms, it is vital that communities continue to resist. Everyone has a role in defending a welcoming and inclusive America. Think you can’t do anything – you can!
Come participate in an important discussion on how we got here, what’s at stake, and what actions you can take.
Daring Democracy
When: Thur Dec 7, 7:30-9:00 PM
Where: First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Road, Concord
Legendary, “Diet for a Small Planet,” author Frances Moore Lappé and organizer-scholar Adam Eichen will share highlights of their wonderful and empowering new book (a UU Common Read) Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want.
“Without democracy there’s almost no chance of tackling distinct environmental, racial justice, labor, poverty, or food justice problems.”
We will learn and discuss ways to engage in the movement to save our democracy. Their presentation will be followed by a book signing reception in the Parish Hall. There will be books available for purchase. FLYER
UU Justice in the Middle East, MA Chapter Presents:
Speak Truth to Power: How to Lobby Legislators for Palestinian Human Rights
When: Thur Dec 7, 8:00-9:30 PM EST
Webinar, Register HERE
Join us to learn how to speak more effectively to your elected officials, from your local city council representative all the way up to your members of Congress.
And please — invite your minister and UUs from your congregation who may be new to this issue, but strongly believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person; the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process; a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; and the other UU principles that can — and should — guide us in action.
Winona LaDuke: Celebrating a Decade of Community Conversations
When: Fri Dec 8, 7:00 – 11:00 PM
Where: First Church in Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot St, Jamaica Plain
Tickets
We would like to invite you, on behalf of the Jamaica Plain Forum, to Celebrating a Decade of Community Conversations on Sunday, November 5th, featuring Winona LaDuke of Honor Our Earth as keynote speaker.
Winona LaDuke is an internationally renowned activist working on issues of sustainable development renewable energy and food systems. She lives and works on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota, and is a two time vice presidential candidate for the Green Party. Learn more
Where Does it Hurt? Overcoming the Pain of White Supremacy
When: Dec 8 – 10
Where: The Rowe Center, 22 Kings Highways, Rowe MA
With Ruby Sales, M.Div
Join this civil right legend and educator for a spiritual perspective that offers a vision of love through which we could become new people.
To register and more details, click HERE
UU Mass Action would love to visit your congregation this year!
Let’s work together on strengthening UU organizing in Massachusetts.
Laura Wagner, Executive Director, or Evan Seitz, Climate Justice Organizer, will be happy to lead a worship service and meet with you after the service to discuss how we can better work together. lwagner@uumassaction.org or call 617-356-7737.
Laura’s Sermon title: Justice Stories. At the center of any powerful movement you’ll find amazing individuals who are creating justice. What can we learn from each other and how will we create justice during these difficult times. |
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