UU Mass Action Newsletter
January 15, 2018
In honor of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., let’s renew our commitment to do what’s right!
Resistance & Solidarity
On January 10th, twenty-five people gathered at First Parish in Concord to begin strengthening our Burlington Expanded Accompaniment Cluster. Seven leaders stepped forward to organize the work of this cluster. Thank you to all of you who never back away from doing what’s right!
Burlington Cluster - Some actions volunteers are asked to participate in are:
- Accompany people to ICE office Check-ins
- Accompany People to ISAP’s* Burlington Office (Intensive Supervision Appearance Program – where People who are forced to wear ankle shackles have to report)
- Participate in vigils outside of the ICE office
- Make phone calls advocating for a person’s release
- Write letters of support for court appearances
Protecting TPS Holders – an Update from Alianza Americas
On Monday January 8, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 200,000 people from El Salvador, many of whom have lived in the US under this legal status since 2001. Over the past six months, the Trump administration has cancelled TPS programs for four nations, potentially pushing 250,000 people back into volatile and violent conditions in their home countries. DHS is set to re-evaluate the fate of 60,000 Honduran TPS holders this spring.
Update on the #StandUpCharlie and a Call to Action!
From MA Power Forward:
On Tuesday, January 9, the 26 MA residents who sat-in the Governor's office as part of the final
#StandUpCharlie stand-in on November 16th went to court. While everyone participated in their individual capacities, groups participants are affiliated with included
350 Mass for a Better Future,
UU Mass Action,
Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ,
Episcopalians Caring for Creation,
Stop The Proposed Northeast Energy Direct - NED Pipeline Project,
Sugar Shack Alliance, and more!
Thanks to the fantastic work of our attorney, Jeff Feuer, of the
National Lawyers Guild - Massachusetts Chapter, all charges were dismissed before they were even filed.
As a result, all participants are free to sign right back up for the next action without so much as a blemish on their records.
The action called for the Governor to sign an Executive Order banning all new fossil fuel infrastructure projects. The Governor spoke out after the recent “Bomb Cyclone” mammoth blizzard and acknowledged the effects of climate disruption. It’s time for him get serious about clean, renewable energy – all options are not “on the table,” as he has been known to say. Fossil fuels are not an option. As our Governor, he should be calling for serious investment only in clean renewable energy options.
Mass Clean Energy Call-in Day! JAN 17th
Hosted by Mass Power Forward -
Rising seas. Blizzard weather. A climate denier in the White House. It’s time for Massachusetts to act on climate change. Can you call your state legislators on Wednesday, January 17 to take urgent action on clean energy this session?
If you don’t know who represents you, look up your state elected officials at
wheredoivotema.com or
https://malegislature.gov/StateHouse/Contact.
Please take a moment to call your legislator using the guidelines below.
Download a CALL SCRIPT here:
http://bit.ly/maenergycalls
Read a CALL SCRIPT online here:
http://bit.ly/macleanenergyview
Facebook Event Link
Sign the Petition in Support of the Fair Share Amendment
Sign Here 
Wealthy corporate executives and their lobbyists have filed a legal challenge to keep the Fair Share Amendment off the ballot. They don’t want to pay a little more to make investments in our transportation and public education systems. If they win the lawsuit, they will take away your right to vote on the Fair Share Amendment in 2018.
The wealthy corporate executives who are bankrolling this legal challenge have made tens of millions of dollars running companies that benefit from investments in transportation and public education, and they don’t hesitate to take millions of dollars in tax breaks from the state. But now that we’re asking them to pay their fair share, they’re doing everything they can to keep the Fair Share Amendment off the ballot.
We’re confident that the Fair Share Amendment will withstand this legal challenge, but the corporate lobbyists want to keep us tied up in court - will you
sign our petition to help us defend the Fair Share Amendment?
UU College of Social Justice: 2018 Summer Internship Applications Open!
The application for our 2018 Global Justice Summer Internship program is now open. Learn about the program and each internship opportunity at
uucsj.org/internships/. These opportunities are open to young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who are passionate about social justice, so apply now and/or spread the word.
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Note: Events Below are sponsored or co-sponsored by UU Mass Action, or are being offered by our UU partners
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EVENTS, EDUCATION AND FORUMS
The State of our Union is Wrong: A Climate Prebuttal with Bill McKibben
When: Wed Jan 17, 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Where: First Parish Church in Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain
Bill McKibben is coming to Boston! Please join the Better Future Project and the Jamaica Plain Forum for a conversation with Bill in the weeks leading up to the State of the Union.
Tickets are $10, you can purchase them HERE. Proceeds will benefit Better Future Project and 350 Mass
Social Justice Conference on Mass Incarceration as a New Jim Crow
When: Saturday Jan 20, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Refreshments to follow
Where: All Souls Church of Braintree, 196 Elm Street, Braintree, MA
Corner of Church and Elm Streets. Park on Charles Street or in the church parking lot off Charles Street. Handicap Accessible.
All Welcome 18+
FEATURING:
Franklin Baxley, Director of the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition,
Rahsaan Hall, Director of the ACLU Racial Justice Program,
and
Susan Tordella, from End Mass Incarceration Today, who will talk about the issues we face and initiatives under way to build democracy and oppose racial injustice.
Elizabeth Herbin-Triant of UMass Lowell,
and
Jon Huibregtse of Framingham State University will talk about what our society faced under Jim Crow and relate that to what we face today. This panel will present views and discuss issues we face regarding mass incarceration as, in the words of Michelle Alexander, a racial caste system that requires a great social movement to effectively deal with it. Her argument is that today’s criminal justice system functions as a framework of social oppression and political suppression, comparable to those of Jim Crow and Slavery, and requires serious consideration.
Please Register Here
Facebook Event Page
Flyer Free Admission!
Resisting Surveillance Forum
When: Sat Jan 20, 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Where: UU Urban Ministry, 10 Putnam St., Roxbury
Join us at this community forum to learn and discuss local methods of surveillance and share tactics and strategies to resist!
This is part of our Resisting Surveillance series, which we've taken to Montgomery County, MD; Minneapolis, Chicago and are bringing it back to Boston. Read more about what we've learned so far at
www.resistingsurveillance.org
We'll have incredible organizers from Young Muslim Collective in Minneapolis as well as local speakers and light refreshments.
Co-sponsored by our Resisting Surveillance partners (American Friends Service Committee, Defending Rights and Dissent, and Boston Worker's Circle); Northeastern Somali Student Association and ACEDONE.
Facebook Event Page
Detention Center Vigil: Suffolk County House of Correction
When: Sun Jan 21, 2:00 PM
Where: 20 Bradston St, Boston
This month’s vigil is hosted by the
Paulist Center. Please join fellow faith partners and supporters in letting those who are held in detention that we are fighting for them. They are not forgotten.
Sudbury United Methodist Church welcomes: Robin J. Miller
Artist-Author-Poet-Educator-Public Speaker
When: Sun Jan 21, 9:30 AM Worship, 11:00 AM Presentation & Discussion, 12:15 Lunch
Where: Sudbury Methodist Church, 251 Old Sudbury Rd, Sudbury
The Social Justice and Education Commissions of the Sudbury United Methodist Church are presenting a five-week program on
Deconstructing Systematic Racism. Click Here to find the dates and more information about the program.
Our guest preacher on Sunday January 21
st will be Robin J. Miller; the title of her sermon is “
Look to the Lord”. The worship service will be followed by a presentation and discussion at 11:00 ending with a free luncheon at 12:15.
An inspiring speaker, Robin will recount her story of growing up as an African American in this country. Most recently she was enthusiastically received at the
White Privilege Institute program held in Eastham, MA where she spoke on “Struggling for Self-Esteem in a White Privileged Society”. As an experienced educator, Robin encourages open and thoughtful dialogue surrounding issues of racism.
She is currently a resident artist at the Zion Union Heritage Museum in Hyannis, MA where mixed media collage quilts from her book,
Rhythms of a Faithful Journey, are on exhibit. She co-authored this book with her husband, James W. Miller. Robin specializes in African American Heritage art and poetry. Paintings from her book,
A Humble Village, have been exhibited in the Brooklyn Children’s Museum and the African American Museum of Hempstead, NY.
Robin and her husband, James, will be joining us for a very special service. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
If you plan to stay for lunch, please RSVP to: JLthebeach@earthlink.net.
Speak Out Against Wage Theft
Lead Sponsor: Brazilian Worker Center
When: Thur Jan 25, 6:00 PM
Where: Brazilian Worker Center, 14 Harvard Ave, 2nd Floor, Allston
A Community Speak-Out on Wage Theft. What is the Social, Economic, and Emotional Impact of Wage Theft on the Family in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts? We will hear from elected officials from our district, workers, and allies. Join us!
Can you imagine? You work really hard, sometimes seven days, and then you Do Not get paid. Unfortunately, it happens too many times. Help us fight against Wage Theft.
#stopwagetheft
First Parish UU Duxbury: Open Mind Speaker Series Featuring Rahsaan Hall of the ACLU
When: Fri Jan 26, 7:00 PM
Where: First Parish UU, 842 Tremont St, Duxbury
Rahsaan Hall, Director of Racial Justice for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, will speak about mass incarceration, criminal law reform, and the power of the prosecutor. Learn more about Rahsaan Hall, Director, Racial Justice Program at ACLU MA
HERE FLYER
Natural Gas Infrastructure and Public Health: From Local to Global
When: Tue, Jan 30, 10:00 – 5:00 PM
Where: Boston University Photonics Center
8 St. Mary’s Street, Boston
Please join us for a discussion regarding the health impacts of natural gas infrastructure (NGI) and the role of public health officials in this topic.
The event is co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts Medical Society, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, Health Care Without Harm, Mass Health Professionals for Clean Energy, and Physicians for Policy Action.
Speakers will include Drs. Ari Bernstein, Jonathan Buonocore, Elissa Wilker, and Drew Michanowicz of the Harvard School of Public Health; Drs. Jonathan Levy and Madeleine Scammel of the Boston University School of Public Health; Dr. Nathan Phillips of Boston University; and Dr. Mary Rice of Harvard Medical School.
Donations will be accepted at the door (suggested donation of $20). Thank you!
REGISTER
UU Mass Action Black Lives Matter Working Group
When: Sat Jan 27, 12 – 2:00 PM (Snow Date: Sat Feb 13, 12 – 2:00 PM)
Where: Winchester Unitarian Society, 478 Main St, Winchester
in the Winsor Room (off the parking lot in the back)
Join us for the next quarterly Meeting of UU Mass Action Certified Working Group (CWG) - Black Lives Matter. Please feel free to join us, even if you are new to the group.
For more information, please contact:
shepard.patty@gmail.com
Go here for the
Proposed Agenda & Discussion Covenant for this meeting.
The Tufts University Prison Initiative Presents:
Prison and Education Symposium, The Responsibility of Engagement
When: Feb 1 & 2
Where: Tisch College of Civic Life
See flyer for workshop locations, which are all on the Tufts Campus. Andrea James, the founder of Families for Justice and Healing, is the featured speaker on Friday Feb 1
st at 4:30 PM
On Feb 2
nd at 12:00 noon, MA Against Solitary Confinement (MASC)* will host a panel titled, “Surviving and Organizing.” MASC is also participating in a panel at 2:30 PM which will focus on legislative advocacy and activism. (*UU Mass Action is a member of MASC)
Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico: Roots of the Crisis
When: Thur Feb 8, 6:30 PM
Where: Central Square Branch Library, 45 Pearl St, Cambridge (Red Line T)
Lead Organizer: Mass Peace Action FLYER
How was the groundwork for the ongoing hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico laid by a legacy of U.S. intervention, colonialism, neo-liberal economic policy, unsustainable agricultural development, and the deepening climate crisis?
How are Puerto Rican activists promoting economic sustainability and social justice?
Join us for a discussion with:
Jovanna Garcia Soto of Grassroots International and Pedro Reina-Perez, University of Puerto Rico
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?
