The Greater Philly UU Cluster participates in numerous activities that involve social justice. We believe that all our actions should be based on love and accomplished with respect for the dignity of everyone involved. To begin our efforts as a Cluster community, we will focus on the following efforts:
Anti-Mass Incarceration / Black Lives Matter
UUPLAN members and others from the Unitarian Society of Germantown and the UU Church of Delaware County staged a rally in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Credit: Adam Zolkover
Events:
- Racial Justice Training: March 3-5, 2017 – Jubilee: Learning Together About Systemic Racism
- Racial Justice Training: October 29, 2016, 9:30 – 4:00 – Black Lives Matter: How do we engage in racial justice as UUs?
Resources:
- UUA General Assembly CSAI* 2014-2018 “Escalating Inequality“
- UUPLAN Anti-Mass Incarceration Team’s Clean Slate Justice project: Beginning January 31, 2016, we had 60 days to raise $7500 for expungement clinics in PA. If we didn’t reach our goal, we did not get any money. We reached our goal and are thrilled to have your support. Learn more here.
- UUPLAN Anti-Mass Incarceration
- UULMNJ Criminal Justice Reform website
- Sermon: “Redemption“ April 12, 2015, Rev. Susan Rak, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
- Ten Ways to Fight Hate guide – Southern Poverty Law Center
Reproductive Justice
Events:
- Reproductive Justice Training: Saturday, March 19, 2016, 1:00 – 2:30 PM at Unitarian Society of Germantown
“What does Reproductive Justice and UUPLAN have to do with you?” – This workshop introduced the principles of Reproductive Justice as endorsed by UUPLAN (Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network) and showed participants simple and effective ways to communicate with their elected officials on a variety off issues, not solely reproductive justice. Get Involved! Learn more here.
Resources:
- UUA General Assembly CSAI* 2012-2016 “Reproductive Justice: Expanding our Social Justice Calling“
- UUA General Assembly 2015 Statement of Conscience (SOC) on Reproductive Justice
- “A Time to Embrace: Why the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Movement Needs Religion“ by Rev. Debra W. Haffner, is a white paper that argues that renewing the engagement of religious leaders and people of faith is essential to the progress and long-term success of the sexual and reproductive health and justice (SRH and RJ) movement. Sections of the paper rigorously examine the landscape of religion in the United States; the history of faith engagement in the SRH and RJ movement; theological grounding and values language for engaging SRH and RJ issues; and the current work of secular SRH and RJ organizations, faith-based SRH and RJ organizations, denominations, foundations, and the media.This resource also includes a detailed call to action specifying practical ways secular SRH and RJ organizations, faith-based SRH and RJ organizations, denominations, foundations, and the media can help deepen and renew the relationship between people of faith and the SRH and RJ movements. The paper is the result of a year of research, surveys, and the deliberations of a national colloquium.
- Patient Trust Act – for more info check out the PA Campaign for Women’s Health. Also, you can access the “toolkit” for excellent talking points to further understand this bill and become familiar with how to talk about it: https://sites.google.com/a/keystoneprogress.org/c4wh_docs/
- UUA supports abortion access in statement to Supreme Court – joint statement including UUA President Peter Morales
- UUPLAN Reproductive Justice website
- UUPLAN Facebook page – posted Blog: “Voice of Faith Speak for Abortion Rights“
- UULMNJ Reproductive Justice and Health Care website
- Sermon: “Reproductive Justice“ February 7, 2016, Lorraine Lee, Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
- Faith Leaders Toolkit (7/12/17)
The Corruption of our Democracy
Events:
- Women’s March on DC (and Philly) (January 21, 2017)
- Democracy Spring – In April 2016, Democracy Spring organized the largest American civil disobedience action of this century, calling on Congress to take action to end to the corruption of big money in politics and ensure free and fair elections. 150 Unitarian Universalists left Philadelphia to walk to Washington, DC.
Resources:
- UUA General Assembly CSAI* 2016-2020 “The Corruption of Our Democracy“
- UUA “The Corruption of Our Democracy” Study Guide
- Gerrymandering:
- The New Front in the Gerrymandering Wars: Democracy vs. Math – The New York Times Magazine, August 29, 2017
Advocacy
- See Advocacy webpage
* CSAI – Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs) voted on at General Assembly for four years of study, reflection, and action.