JUUstice Washington

A Unitarian Universalist State Action Network

Side With Love 5-Session Series, “Taking A Collective Breath: Deepening our alignment with the Movement for Black Lives” Begins August 11, 2020

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Hundreds of Unitarian Universalists joined local activists June 20 in support of the Smart Justice Spokane coalition, which opposes the expansion of the Spokane County Jail. (© 2019 Christopher L. Walton/UUA)

We invite you to participate in Taking A Collective Breath: Deepening our alignment with the Movement for Black Lives, a five-session series built around the elements of the BREATHE Act. The webinars will explore the components of the BREATHE Act and utilize its structure as a way to focus our energies to effectively support ongoing racial justice work. Come learn and build with local and national partners who are shaping conditions to make liberation possible. This is an invitation to locate yourself in this moment as well, we each have a role to play.

The BREATHE Act seeks to reform federal laws and eliminate funding for federal programs that criminalize Black, Muslim, and immigrant communities, reinvesting our resources in community solutions for education, health, and the environment.
Register any time, for one session or the entire series. Sessions will be available online for later viewing, with registration. 

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Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites Asks for Your Voice at City Council Defund-the-Police Budget Hearing, June 8, 2020

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The Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites is MOBILIZING to DEFUND the SPD by 50% and REINVEST IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. We have until July 17th to influence the city budget. As a people who have historically benefited from the institution of police, we have a responsibility to advocate for its abolition.

We are MOBILIZING TOGETHER to DEFUND the SPD by 50%  and REINVEST IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES

This work is not done!  If you have been following the news lately, you likely know that Mayor Durkan is on the offensive.  She has proposed a 20% budget cut, even though if we can maintain a veto-proof majority in city council, she has very little power to implement that proposal.

SO, it is imperative that we keep pressure on our Council Members to hold to their commitment.  The pro-police folks are organizing as well. They’re planning on using our tactics to try to flip Council Members votes.  

Our action is to keep up the calls and emails! They matter- don’t let up and give the pro-police folks the phone lines!  Only a quarter of our Phone Zap spots are filled for today – so sign up. And make the calls even if you don’t sign up!  Below you will find all of the city council members contact information!  

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End Money Bail Webinar, October 23, 2019, online.

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Last year Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) began a partnership with Love Resists. Bail keeps people in jail for weeks and even years—away from their families, friends and communities—before they see a judge. Bail traps people in debt, can mean a loss of custody of children, stable housing, employment, and more. The money bail system relies on dangerous and often biased presumptions about Black folks, People of Color, and poor people who have been accused of breaking laws and serves only to criminalize the poor and decimate families and communities.

We’re inviting congregations and communities to join us for our End Money Bail 2020 Community Kick-Off, a webinar on Wednesday, October 23 at 5 p.m. PT.

Join us as we welcome back partners and leaders from last year’s immensely successful Babies & Bailouts campaign and explore new ways to live into our universalist value that no one is free unless all of us are free. If you want to get involved, but can’t make the October 23 webinar, sign up and we’ll send you a recording of it directly.

Register now: http://bit.ly/EndMoneyBail2020Kickoff

Whether you’re unfamiliar with the campaign to end money bail or joining us again after participating last year, we encourage you to form a team to work through our End Money Bail Community Workbook. It’s designed to educate, build power, and take collective, informed action. We invite groups to participate and map power, develop skills, create an action plan, and support local and national efforts to #EndMoneyBail.

Will you join us?

Prison Abolition and Climate Justice Webinar

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In the United States, many advocates of a Green New Deal have begun to include calls for prison abolition in the plan. In Canada, however, the connection between a Green New Deal and prison abolition has yet to be made explicit or widespread. So how can the climate movement work for prison abolition as a core strategy for shared liberation and a society where all are welcome and safe?

On August 27th, you’ll have a chance to hear three brilliant organizers, artists, and educators speak about the thinking that has driven their prison abolition work for decades; you’ll hear us connect prison abolition and the Green New Deal; and you’ll get to ask some questions of your own!

Panelists:  El Jones, Robyn Maynard, Cedar Hopperton

More info and register here.