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Registration Open for the 2020 Fall Issues Conference
The Fall Issues Conference is at the heart of our ministry together as UU social justice advocates in the state of NJ. Come help us choose the key issues for 2020-21!
This year we’ve chosen to highlight our Gun Violence Prevention Task Force with two amazing keynote speakers, as well as making a special outreach effort to youth and campus activists. If you know youth/young adults who might be interested, please invite them to check us out.
COVID-19 Update/Ltr. from Exec. Director
After a two week virtual shutdown here at UU FaithAction NJ, I am at last able to be back in touch with all of you, our family of supporters. I’d like to explain why I have been so silent in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, explain how we go about our work together going forward and provide an update about the previously scheduled Sat. April 25th Annual Meeting. Please also see information at the bottom of this email outlining 2 actions–one happening TODAY—to support detainees and release them and other vulnerable inmates in NJ ASAP.
March 11th to Today
As some of you will already know, I tested positive for COVID19 after experiencing my first clear symptoms on Weds. March 11 (though those symptoms did NOT include a fever–an important point as we begin to see a surge in cases here in NJ.) I began self-isolating that same day and immediately notified all those with whom I had been in close and sustained contact over the previous week–including some of you.
After receiving a positive result 4 days later, I was asked by hospital staff to stay in self-isolation until at least Monday, 3/30. I have been recovering slowly but surely. I am especially pleased to report that my two children have been off-site over the past 2+ weeks, show no discernible symptoms and remain well.
To date only one other person has tested positive for the virus among those 100+ people with whom I had been in relatively close and sustained contact 10 days prior to showing obvious symptoms; it is worth noting that that person shared an hour car ride with me carpooling to a UUFANJ event.
The Board and Task Force leaders have fully supported my recovery for which I am very appreciative. I will begin working from home on a part-time basis as my recovery progresses, though I have to take it more slowly than I would wish. Please know that I appreciate your patience and many thoughts and prayers as we make this adjustment together. UU FaithAction NJ continues on!
One additional reminder: we have not had an office administrator since Feb. 28th and most likely will not hire another one for the time being so communications in the short term will likely be more sporadic than usual. Thanks again for your continued understanding.
Rescheduling the Annual Meeting
Update your calendar! The Board has voted to changed the date for the Annual Meeting from April 25th to Sat. June 6. We expect this will be a VIRTUAL meeting via conference/video call; more details will be sent out as soon as possible.
The Annual Meeting is necessary to UU FaithAction NJ since it is there that we carry out the mandated annual business of the organization. In particular we are required to pass the official budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year; we also need to offer candidates for election to the Board of Trustees, and vote on those nominees.
There is a UUFANJ Board working group charged to determine the particulars of the Annual Meeting. If you would like to offer suggestions or otherwise assist this group in planning the June 6 Annual Meeting, please reach out to Tom Moran (UU Morristown):
thomasmoran.inspace@gmail.com Mobile: (973) 960-2346
You may also contact Board Vice President, Nick Lewis (ozballnick@gmail.com)
Social Justice Actions Now
We are all aware that nothing is “business as usual” these days; still, there remains much that we CAN do which in itself is cause for hope and renewed vitality even while we deal (sometimes chafe) with the stressors of self quarantine, the knock-on effects to our employment and income streams, and general worries about the illness making its way through our families, congregations and state.
There are 2 immediate actions we are asking you to take:
Two immediate ways to help support Federal migrant detainees as well as some of most vulnerable inmates (the elderly, those with preexisting medical conditions that make them especially prone to COVID!19, etc.) still being held in coronavirus-prone cellblocks in our county jails and detention centers.
1) Sign this Open Appeal to Governor Murphy to immediately release a select group of inmates, including Federal ICE detainees, who pose no immediate threat to public safety. The letter is on behalf of the coalition group, NJ Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (NJ CAIC) of which UU FaithAction through our Criminal Justice Reform Task Force (sign up here!) is a part.
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2) Consider joining a “drive through” protest TODAY (NEARLY NOW) at Bergen Co. jail campaign in support of the inmate hunger strikers asking for similar help during the COVID19 outbreak.
 There remains much we can and are called to do. We’ll get through this together, as we have done before and will do again. I’m lighting a virtual chalice here at “Office #2” (aka my living room) for each one of you and for this organization as we channel our grief, anger, worry and uncertainty into a future-oriented hope. It’s how we will make it through this current crazy rip-tide, with the understanding that we mean not only to survive these times but to be part of the wave demanding a better way of living for all God’s/the universe’s creatures. Now we gotta help make it so.
In faith, with love, for justice, Rev. Rob Gregson, The Board and Task Force Leaders of Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ |
Immigration Justice Prayer, Feb. 26 (Ash Wednesday) 2020
Pilgrimage by Rev. Rob Gregson
“Spirit of Life and Love,
Amor sin fronteras ni paredes…love without borders or walls
We gather and we march with strength and determination to call out evil actions
while holding fast to our faith that no one is forever outside the circle of amor sin fronteras ni paredes.
Neither migrants nor the undocumented, not Jews nor the police.
Not African-Americans nor gays, lesbians or transgendered people.
We pray that our strength today builds and grows along the path we walk, the same one named by so many prophets across time and tradition: Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, Mother Theresa.
In the words of contemporary Buddhist monk and teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, written the day after the 9/11 attacks that took place just across the harbor from us here today, we call on that same prophetic tradition,
‘…So that we can hold in our arms the suffering of America as a nation, the suffering of humanity as a family–[una familia]–the suffering of the earth as a home for all of us.
We need their energy so that we can become lucid and calm, so that we will know exactly what to do and what not to do in order not to make the situation worse.
We know that…responding to hatred and violence with hatred and violence only makes the hatred grow one thousand-fold. Only with compassion can we disintegrate hatred.’
We recommit ourselves today to standing up to hatred with a thirst for la justicia: for justice informed by love.”
#UUtheVote!
UU the Vote is a non-partisan faith initiative to engage our neighbors, educate our communities, mobilize voters, and rally around key ballot initiatives. All through 2020 the UUA is supporting congregations and UU organizations in activating thousands of Unitarian Universalists to mobilize for electoral justice at the local, state and national levels.
Statewide Common Read
Book Group
Join our first ever statewide UU FaithAction “common read” book group for Danielle Sered’s amazing book on restorative (versus solely punitive) justice practices, Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration and a Road to Repair
First Annual Eco-Gala Rousing Success!
Though we would be among the first to admit we were “gala-production- newbies,” we were thrilled with your response and the outcome of last Friday’s “1st Annual” UU FaithAction Eco Gala fundraiser!
Sold out a month in advance – 135 tickets!–nearly all of our 21 UU congregations in New Jersey were represented during the celebration of a decade of social justice ministry. What an outpouring of support! Volunteers from throughout the organization helped to turn Beacon’s Fellowship Hall into a gala-worthy space, featuring a slide show photo review of some of the justice highlights over the last 10 years, live music and song by singer/songwriter, John DeMasi, (Dorothea Dix UU/Bordentown) and an amazing Indonesian and Eritrean buffet dinner provided by the skilled chefs of Global Grace Cafe in Highland Park.
Protected: December 2019
TINY CONGREGATION DOES HUGE WORK
This article was written by UU FaithAction Board member and UU Congregation of the Palisades member, Liandra Pires. If you would like to submit an article on the social justice work your congregation is doing, please reach out to Toby Tyler at wtyler3@optonline.net
The UU Congregation of the Palisades (UUCP) was founded as an intentionally diverse congregation and we have lived up to our legacy by continuing to focus on racial and social justice through our Racial and Social Justice Team. The team was originally chaired by May and Al Stawsky, then Al Stawsky with the passing of May, and is currently led by Liandra Pires. About one-third of our congregation is a member of the team and many of our congregants do additional justice work on their own.
We have had several speaker events with prominent presenters. Topics have included “Black History and the New Jim Crow”, “What Do We Do Now About Healthcare?”, “Why Should Marijuana Be Legal in New Jersey?”, and “Voter Suppression and Criminal Justice in New Jersey” among others.
In addition to our events, these are some of the recent programs that we have participated in: Juneteenth celebrations, campaigning to get the vote out for candidates, letter writing campaigns to representatives in support of various bills, writing holiday cards to asylum seekers, preparing ‘Welcome to America’ backpacks to be distributed to migrants at the border, serving food in shelters, and collecting items for holiday toy drives.
Many of our members also work on their own in endeavors such as working in soup kitchens, collecting money and delivering food to our local food pantry, bringing bedding and other items to animal shelters, working with immigrants through Sanctuary and visiting asylum seekers in detention centers, marching for environmental causes, and attending conferences on racial and social justice.
Please take a moment to visit our website: uucpalisades.org
If you would like more information about UUCP’s Racial & Social Justice Team, contact: communications@uucpalisades.org
NJ UU Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Works to Save Lives and Reduce Racial Disparities
This article was written by former Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Jeannine Clayton-Coyne. Imagine a bill with the promise of significantly fewer firearm suicides (currently 40% of NJ firearm fatalities) and accidental gun injuries and fatalities. NJ Bill S 2240, Safe Storage of Firearms is that bill. Could the recommended penalties for non-compliance address racial disparities endemic to the NJ justice system? A subcommittee of the GVP Task Force took on this challenge.
This fall at the NJ FaithAction Issues Conference, Bill A3696, the NJ Assembly version of the Safe Storage of Firearms Bill was discussed. Some participants voiced concerns about the impact of the 4th degree crime penalty on the African American Community. The UU FaithAction Gun Violence Prevention Task Force felt compelled to address these concerns. A subcommittee of the task force was formed for this purpose. This included Rob Gregson, Jeannine Clayton Coyne, Kathy Allen Roth and Helen Ewan.
The subcommittee engaged in much discussion, soul searching and research. It consulted with African American GVP activists and leaders. This resulted in a modified penalty structure. The subcommittee moved from supporting a penalty of 4th degree crime for all infractions to a 3-tiered penalty. The new structure ranged from community service for a first offense without injury to 4th degree crime for offenses resulting in an injury or fatality.
Next, Rob Gregson and Jeannine Clayton Coyne met with other GVP groups, including the Coalition for Peace Action, Brady and the Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry. Within a couple of meetings, this coalition agreed to adopt the penalties recommended by the NJ UU GVP subcommittee.
On November 12th, this coalition, plus a representative from the Princeton Jewish Center, met with Senator Linda Greenstein. Senator Greenstein is the Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee. The coalition of eight members made their case to a fully engaged Senator. Senator Greenstein asked a number of questions. By the meeting’s end, Senator Greenstein committed to support the bill with recommended amendments and the penalties that were modified from the current NJ Assembly bill. The goal is to get this bill passed into law by the end of this legislative session, January 13, 2020.
The UU Gun Violence Prevention Task Force anticipates strong opposition from a subset of the Second Amendment advocates. Strong support by all NJ UUs will be needed, both through written advocacy, as well as attendance at the NJ Senate hearing. To date, only one state, Massachusetts, has a Safe Storage of Firearms Bill. Let’s join together to demonstrate that NJ leads the nation in gun safety!