Have you read the AIW that delegates will vote on this year?
Submitted by Deb Cruz, President of the JUUstice Washington State Action Network it is called “Defend Against the Assault on Environmental Protections: Public Lands Rules and the Endangerment Finding”
Here’s a link to the text of the proposed AIW (PDF, 6 pages)
UUJEC will have a web seminar with Deb Cruz, talking about the AIW, and Bob Murphy and Gregory Stevens talking about UUJEC-related on-demand GA workshops on Thursday, June 11, at 8 p.m. EDT. E-mail uujec at uujec dot org for a registration link.
Possible submission of proposal for Action of Immediate Witness…
“All Eyes On Delaney Hall”
The deadline for submitting AIW’s is June 7th. And, they need to be responsive to sudden needs for action. I had been feeling the tragedy of the detention centers build for lo these many months now. Though, in addition, the Hunger Strike at Delaney and other centers is becoming more and more pressing. Then, there was a profound struggle at Delaney with protesters being oppressed by the government – including some levels of the government who seem conflicted. Now, I feel like the “money bomb” that Congress threw out just last night – 70 billion dollars for immigration enforcement – is something that we could all respond to with a lot of love and concern.
Please contact me if you are interested in helping me shape this proposal. I have had feedback from some UU colleagues in my local congregation and from others.
My second line for the proposal so far is: “Hearts and hands to free our neighbors in detention.” And, already – especially as a newbie – I do not know if it is going too far to say we will “free” them! Seems bold, though I mean, of course, by persuasion, pressure, and petitioning our government.
Also, important:
I am definitely going to include a call for the delegates to attend the “Faith in Action” organization’s Delaney Hall event on July 13, 2026. (Which event is also a call to action around the country, as well as focusing on Delaney, if I understand it.)
Re: June 21st and June 22nd -
Though, in addition to July 13th, I want to hear if people think it is “worth it”, or anyone might go, if I ask us to use the bubbling, social, energy of our General Assembly to ask UU folks to meet at Delaney Hall in the late afternoon of June 21st (directly after the local congregations have Sing service and closing service) and/or on June 22nd. I feel like there could be something special about bringing the GA energy out into the world.
Thanks for any input. Or, anyone who wants to help shape this. I am working on it at crazy times, between caregiving responsibilities.
Many thanks,
Kimberly Wilder
My local congregation: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork
(In Bridgehampton, Long Island, NY)
(where I am a new member, and, very excited about UU values and the GA)
Yes, yes, yes! Would be glad to help; this is so important! I am in North Jersey. How do we connect?
I will be at the satellite site in Montclair and would gladly suggest a carpool to Newark after closing on Sunday.
Sally! Thank you sooo much.
A possible carpool sounds terrific! I think I may meet you in Montclair if that happens, to travel with and to! You have inspired me to keep a goal in this AIW to go to Delaney Hall – I think it is really a hot spot, because I think that the struggle for good and justice may be coming to a head specifically there and specifically now. I have also been encouraged, and will, encourage people to visit detention centers in their region, and put a spotlight on the ones with active hunger strikes (which I think is now seven).
I actually could use a lot of help. The AIW is due tomorrow. Due to the timing, I think I will be wildly collecting input and suggestions like someone making a soup, and then have to throw it all together when I have time late tonight or Sunday afternoon to throw the soup together!
If yourself or anyone could offer this help, I believe it would make this AIW imminently more useful and profound:
I need help as a newbie UU member to get connected and get buy in from some other UU organizations and/or folks on the ground in New Jersey. So…
I only learned a couple of days ago that there was a “UU Solidarity Initiative”, and I missed their meeting yesterday due to family duties. So, if anyone knows a quick contact person there or a way to fly my idea by them, I would love to be able to mention them in my AIW, or find a way to get their support.
Also, if any of the NJ uu’s would want to advise me or have their names included as point people for folks who want to go to Delaney specifically.
I had also dreamed that I could quickly (and there was not and is not a lot of time) get the approval of Pax Christi, a NJ branch of Pax Christi, and/or from the NJ ACLU to put their names in as resources. I did research and see that they have worked with uu’s before. But, I was putting out feelers on like Thursday or Friday, and this is due on Sunday.
And, then, there is the group that I am truly focusing on now, Faith in Action. I believe they are planning a July 13th nationwide support for detention centers with a focus on Delaney Hall. And, I would love a contact person there – of for someone else among us to just get their approval – to put their action in this AIW. Just to know that we are “invited” to stand with them as a UU General Assembly.
I guess you can see that I am overwhelmed with great ideas and little time (and little connections, being fairly new). I have had some super, duper help from some UU Reverends, but they do not have the time at this late date to bring me through to the finish line.
Sally…how can we be in touch? I think the rules here say we cannot post personal information. You can look me up! Kimberly Wilder from Riverhead. I have blogs at: onthewilderside and at Georgiana Circle Women Healing History (on wordpress). I think those have my phone number and email somewhere! Or, ask a friend at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork if they have Kimberly/Ki’s contact info. LOL! I could really use help.