JUUstice Washington

A Unitarian Universalist State Action Network

Deadline for Democracy: June 28 – July 10, Pressure Congress for Voting Equity

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Yesterday, we launched our big plan for the upcoming congressional recess from June 28 – July 10: Deadline for Democracy. And now we’ve got just a few weeks to plan hundreds of events, drive thousands of signups, and get everything ready to put pressure on all 100 senators for real democracy reform.

A red and blue graphic. On the right is a woman wearing a medical mask and speaking into a megaphone. On the left it says “Deadline for Democracy June 28 – July 10 We must mobilize like never before to show our Senators that there is overwhelming grassroots support for voting rights!”

If you missed yesterday’s email with all the details, read on below for the rundown of what we’re planning for this crucial recess. If you’re ready to support us right now, click here to donate $10 to help us support events nationwide, build toolkits, create graphics, run ads, and more to make this recess a success and accomplish all our goals.

Why Deadline for Democracy?

To put it simply, we’re running out of time to implement all the most important democracy reform policies we’re fighting for. To make sure that measures like voting rights protections, fair redistricting, election security, and more are in place in time for the 2022 election cycle, laws like the For the People Act need to be on the books by August.

With a fleeting Democratic trifecta in power, we need to use these next few weeks to build massive public pressure for democracy reform and demand bold, transformative action for a democracy that works for everyone.

Congressional recesses are a key time for our activism — with senators in their home districts, constituents can host rallies, earn press attention, and get creative to show our senators just how crucial these reforms are. And Indivisible activists know how to do just that: we’ve been doing it for years.

How are we supporting this mobilization?

Indivisible organizers and volunteers nationwide are already hard at work planning virtual and in-person events in their communities to keep building the momentum we need to win (there are already 79 events on our map — check it out and add your own on the Deadline for Democracy website!). And here at Indivisible National, we’re getting ready to provide the resources, support, and tools they’ll need to make their plans a success.

Here are some of the ways we’re investing to make this recess the biggest one yet:

  • Running digital ads to recruit volunteers and get the word out about our key priorities
  • Buying materials and sending out swag boxes to volunteers around the country to give them everything they need to run successful events
  • Printing personalized postcards for groups to send to their members of Congress in support of top democracy reform bills
  • Hosting a shiny new website on behalf of dozens of partner organizations
  • Running exclusive targeted peer-to-peer texting programs in priority states to build attendance
  • Plus spending hundreds of hours writing policy resources, creating digital toolkits, and more to get everyone in the movement on board.

CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS REACH PEAK IN 4 MILLION YEARS, WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

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According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere reached 419 parts per million in May. These are the highest carbon dioxide levels in over four million years.

The last time that the atmosphere held comparable levels of CO2 was during the Pliocene period, when the Earth looked completely different from what it does today. Sea levels were 78 feet higher, temperatures were 7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer and large forests covered parts of the Arctic tundra.

What do these record CO2 emissions mean for climate change? The atmosphere acts as a heat-trapping blanket. Greenhouse gases, like CO2, keep temperatures on Earth comfortable for human survival.

Read more here.

In Tulsa, Faith Leaders Call for Massacre Reparations

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UU World

This year, on its centennial, the Tulsa Race Massacre is drawing enormous attention in national and international media. The eyes of the world are on Tulsa, and as the city questions how to atone for the horror—indeed, how to give it proper recognition—local churches, including All Souls Unitarian Church, have a deeply committed answer: Reparations.

Reparations remains a very controversial issue in the United States, even among some progressives. But for the Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, pastor of the Historic Vernon A.M.E. Church in Tulsa, reparations is a clear-cut issue of morality. Unlike white families, the descendants of Greenwood have been unable to reap the benefits of the wealth their families created. “There is no expiration date on morality,” he says.

Read more here.

Diversity training on WA college campuses will soon be mandatory

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Crosscut
by Hannah Krieg / May 31, 2021

On May 12, the Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5227, which mandates that Washington’s 40 public colleges and universities conduct training sessions and assessments for both faculty and staff around diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism starting in the 2022-23 academic year.

According to the bill’s prime sponsor, state Sen. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, the first draft of this legislation did not include student input, but when the idea came up in her meetings with student lobbyists, they wanted in.

The bill does not prescribe a specific curriculum or programs. Randall, who admits to attending her share of “bad” diversity training sessions, hopes administrators, staff and students will collaborate on an approach that works for their institution. Students from across Washingston state who work on diversity issues have some ideas.

Read more here.

Governor Signs Climate Bills

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Governor Inslee signed several of the big environmental bills
of the 2021 session on Monday, May 18 in Seattle at various locations.  
Bills included SB 5126 (the Climate Commitment Act),  HB 1091 (Clean Fuels); 
and SB 5141 (HEAL Act). He vetoed provisions in 5126 and 1091 that would have made them contingent on passing a 5 cent per gallon gas tax.