FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Fw: [SAC-News] Moving Forward for Equality & Solidarity

[jojane (jojane]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: SAC-News <UUA [at] mail.democracyinaction.org>
To: jojane [at] juno.com
Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 12:35:21 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [SAC-News] Moving Forward for Equality & Solidarity
Message-ID: <339480754.628466162 [at] org.orgdb.mail.democracyinaction.org>

 UUA Office for Congregational Advocacy & Witness





SOCIAL ACTION CHAIR (SAC) NEWS


Moving Forward for Equality & Solidarity 
Dear SAC-News Readers: 

 
We are very happy to report to you that the House of Representatives
voted Thursday to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention
Act; Rev. Bill Sinkford and seventeen UU ministers were in Washington,
D.C. for the Clergy Call For Justice Press Conference, which you can view
on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78rmEBxteoM. Read below for a
full report! 
We have heard that some UUs and congregational delegations participated
in the most recent immigration demonstrations on Tuesday, May 1st as well
as other immigration related work, including participation in the New
Sanctuary Movement. Please note there is an Allied Congregation Pledge
for congregations who can't commit to full sanctuary but can pledge to do
education, witness, and advocacy. You can find both pledges and more
information here: http://www.newsanctuarymovement.org/pledge.htm. 
Since May 2006, Immigration and Custom Enforcement has intensified its
raids on immigrants exponentially through Operation Return to Sender. ICE
publicly states this operation only targets "dangerous criminals" but the
reality is different. The raids are indiscriminate, arresting and hauling
away criminals and hard working people alike. Immigrants across this
nation are terrorized. Families are broken. Children have their parents
taken away. 
Now more than ever the voice of the religious community needs to be heard
calling for the passing of just comprehensive immigration reform, for an
immediate stop to the ICE raids and offering hospitality and
accompaniment to the millions living in fear. 
Please let us know if your congregation is involved in working for
immigration reform and/or support and solidarity efforts with immigrant
communities and if you have signed one of the pledges. Write to me at
sleslie [at] uua.org. 
In faith, 
Susan 



House of Representatives Passes Crucial Hate Crimes Legislation: Debate
Moves to the Senate
In a major victory for advocates of BGLT equality, the House of
Representatives voted Thursday to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate
Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592). The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes
Prevention Act, called the Matthew Shepard Act in the Senate, adds sexual
orientation, gender, gender identity and disability to existing federal
law regarding hate crimes. The bill would give authority to the federal
government to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against victims
targeted for their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or
disability. (Currently, the federal government has this authority in
crimes committed because of the victim's race, color, religion or
national origin.) The bill would allow federal authorities to assist
local law enforcement when they request assistance or fail to adequately
investigate or prosecute these crimes. Under the bill, local law
enforcement could also receive grants to help with expenses related to
investigating and prosecuting bias-motivated violent crimes. Thanks to
all of you who helped pass this bill by contacting Congress, educating
your friends, and speaking out about hate crimes; stay tuned for more
ways to participate as the Senate considers the bill in the next few
weeks. 



Bill Sinkford & UU Ministers were in Washington DC for Clergy Lobby Day
Watch the video! 
On Tuesday, April 17, seventeen UU ministers and UUA president Rev.
William Sinkford met in Washington DC to join over 200 religious leaders
in lobbying for BGLT equality. As one of the featured speakers at the
press conference, Rev. William G. Sinkford reiterated Unitarian
Universalist support for BGLT equality and challenged the harsh and
confusing arguments used by opponents of the legislation: "We are people
of faith, and we also have a commitment to truth. Much of the rhetoric in
opposition to these bills is blatantly and inexcusably false. So let me
be clear: These laws would not create quotas or force churches to hire
people who do not share their religious values. These laws will not
criminalize free speech or impede religious expression in any way. These
laws do not undermine a single constitutional right. In fact, the
contrary is true. If passed, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and
the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would strengthen our
nation's commitment to freedom and justice for all of 'we the people.'" 
You can read all of his remarks at: www.hrc.org and watch the whole press
conference on YouTube (Rev. Sinkford appears at 12:06 approximately). 
Rev. Sinkford was quoted in coverage of the event including: 365Gay.com,
gaywired.com, and Lavender. Rev. Roberta Finkelstein, minister at South
Church in Portsmouth, was one of the UU ministers who participated in
April 17th's events; you can read about her story here:
www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007104160171. 



New Sanctuary Movement: Allied Faith Communities Pledge Support &
Involvement 
http://www.newsanctuarymovement.org/support.htm 
Moved by our faith to participate in the New Sanctuary Movement, this
faith community commits to the following; 
Education 
We will educate ourselves about issues facing immigrants in our society,
and about the current status of immigration-related legislation. We will
avail ourselves of resources from the New Sanctuary Movement, and will
welcome the first-hand stories of immigrants themselves who have
experienced injustice. We will renew our study of the sacred stories of
migration and hospitality, injustice and hope, which already exist in our
own faith tradition. Seeking also to educate our greater community, we
will offer public forums on immigration. 
Advocacy 
We understand that education alone brings no change if it does not lead
to action. Therefore, 
We will actively and publicly work for comprehensive immigration reform
in the United States. We call for an immediate moratorium on all raids
and unjust deportations that cause the separation of families, until such
time as the broken system of immigration laws is fixed. We agree to
include our names, our voices and our selves (or representative members)
in public events, various forms of media, and other appropriate venues.
We will be a compassionate and persistent voice for justice for our
immigrant brothers and sisters. 


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Washington Office for Advocacy 
1320 18th Street NW, Suite 300B, Washington DC 20036 
Phone 202.296.4672, Fax 202.296.4673, uuawo [at] uua.org 
2006, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations 



You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the UU Justice
Action Network, indicating your interest in these issues. To unsubscribe
or modify your subscription preferences, please click here.

 Susan Leslie 
Director for Congregational Advocacy and Witness 
Unitarian Universalist Association 
25 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02108 
(617) 948-4607; sleslie [at] uua.org 
www.uua.org/justice