[JTWNews] Dismantling Oppression & the Nov. Elections

[Susan Leslie]

**************************************************************

JOURNEY TOWARD WHOLENESS (JTW) NEWS

***************************************************************

Dear JTW-News Readers:

There are several opportunities during this electoral season to engage
in work to dismantle institutional oppression and to raise
congregational and public awareness about how race, class, and sexual
orientation are being used to privilege some, oppress others, and keep
us divided.  We are hearing from UUs who are engaging in these
struggles.  Our religious voice, our witness can and is truly making a
difference.

**There is a national interfaith movement to support persons displaced
by Katrina and to ensure a just recovery in the Gulf.  It is focused on
addressing issues of race and class.  Right now it is at the petition
gathering stage (deadline Nov. 1st) that will allow national organizers
to build a strong coalition.  See http://www.linkedfate.org/ and below
for details.

**There are anti-marriage equality ballot initiatives in all the states
that do not already have Defense of Marriage Act legislation.  These
include AZ, CO, ID, SC, SD, TN, VA, and WI and need to be opposed.  See
http://www.now.org/issues/marriage/state06.html for updated information.
For UUA resources see http://www.uua.org/news/freedomtomarry/index.html.

**The good news is that there are ballot initiatives for a just minimum
wage in six states coming to a vote this November: Arizona, Colorado,
Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio. See the worship resources and
information prepared by UUSC, UUA, and Let Justice Roll staff at
http://www.letjusticeroll.org/.

**Please see our excellent electoral resources page at
http://www.uua.org/news/2006/061005_voting.html.  It includes an
important article from UUs for Verified Voting.  Ensuring that all
people have the opportunity to vote is an important issue in this
election as well.  

**Using our funds to bring capital to communities of color and
low-income folks and hold corporations accountable is another way to
dismantle institutional inequities.  See http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/
and below for info. on the Socially Responsible Investing teleconference
series, including this Saturday's (10/21) at 1 PM EST.

**Lastly, a US Social Forum is being held in the US for the first time
June 27-July 1 in Atlanta.  It's goal is to have 50% people of color, as
well as 70% low-income communities, and support from middle class white
allies. (They achieved this in their test run at the Southeast Social
Forum last spring which also focused on the brown-black divide).  The
lead organizer, Alice Lovelace came to our pre-GA meeting in St. Louis
of social justice and anti-racism committee members asking for UU
participation and financial support to sponsor buses for the communities
they are organizing.  You can read more in the current issue of YES!
Magazine and at http://www.yesmagazine.org/alblog/.

Whichever of these activities you engage in, they provide an opportunity
to take action to dismantle oppression and for many of us to engage in
reflection before and after about our own privilege and power and how to
use it in order to lose it!  When done in partnership we have the
opportunity to move into right relationship through solidarity.  

--In faith, Susan

******************************************************

(1) CREATING A NATIONAL NETWORK FOR A JUST RECOVERY IN THE GULF...

UUs from across the country are signing and circulating the KATRINA
PETITION FOR OPPORTUNITY AND FAIRNESS organized by the National Alliance
to Restore Opportunity to the Gulf Coast and Displaced Persons. This
petition is helping organize a nation-wide advocacy community for a just
recovery in the Gulf. Please sign it and circulate it in your
congregation. Signatures will be gathered until Nov. 1. See
http://www.linkedfate.org/.

Others are sending teams to the Gulf, raising funds, and engaging in
advocacy efforts. See http://www.uua.org/news/gulfcoastrelief/.

****************************************
 
(2) ENGAGING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS & BALLOT
INITIATIVES.....

The MID-TERM ELECTIONS are less than a month away. Now more than ever,
with ballot initiatives opposing marriage equality and supporting
raising the minimum wage,  
we need to witness for our values. Please see the UUA's excellent
ELECTORAL RESOURCES for putting our faith into action during this
electoral season at http://www.uua.org/news/2006/061005_voting.html.

**Note: On October 11th, 2006 The Interfaith Alliance and The IRS teamed
up for a NATIONAL PHONE SEMINAR explaining the legal & ethical guidance
for 501 c-3 organizations (including Houses of Worship) in an Election
Year. *Listen to the call at
http://www.interfaithalliance.org/site/pp.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=2108771 .

**Many congregations are working for just minimum wage ballot
initiatives - see http://www.letjusticeroll.org/  and are opposing
anti-marriage equality initiatives in their states - see
http://www.uua.org/news/freedomtomarry/index.html . Please let us know
what your congregation is doing if you are in these states. 

*************************************

(3) SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING..........

Join other congregational leaders participating in the SRI
Teleconference/Power Point Seminars. We've already heard from dozens of
congregations on previous calls. Learn how you and your congregation can
invest your funds with UU values on this Saturday's (1 pm EST) SRI
Teleconference on Investment Screening. See
http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/ <http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/>  for
details.

******************************

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!

In 2007 the first United States Social Forum will gather in Atlanta,
Georgia, June 27-July 1, 2007. See http://www.ussf2007.org/.

*********************************

 

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
Subscribe to SAC-News, Advocacy-News, JTW-News & SRI-News at
www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo