Monday, July 26^th: After arriving in Phoenix and meeting up with the UU Congregation of Phoenix (UUCP) Immigration Task Force, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, the congregation’s minister, invited me to accompany her to Puente’s Monday Assembly meeting.  The open air meeting in front of the bright blue Tonatierra building where Puente is housed had over 100 people seated on folding chairs out in the parking lot surrounded by pink sky and palm trees.  Sal Reza, with his signature grey ponytail was talking to the majority Latino crowd about the political situation heading into the upcoming Day of Non-Compliance on Thursday, July 29^th, when the legislation was scheduled to go into affect.  Whatever the ruling, and he said they expected it to be mixed and to not completely overturn SB1070, the day would go forward in order to protest the criminalization and repression of the immigrant community.  There was simultaneous translation provided for us English speakers in one section of the crowd near where a documentary film crew was taping.

Seeing this grassroots leadership in action was inspiring.  A white board detailed the many tasks for people to sign up for:  medical team, legal assistance, mobilization and outreach, logistics and more.  After the situation and the stakes of escalating resistance non-violently on the 29^th were discussed and assignments made, those who wanted to engage in civil disobedience or support those doing so, were provided training by The Ruckus Society, an anti-racist direct action training organization.  These same trainers later came to UUCP on Wednesday to provide training for the UUs and others who answered the Standing on the Side of Love call to participate in the Day of Non-Compliance.

While at the meeting, Rev. Frederick-Gray introduced me to local Puente organizers and I also got to meet organizers from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and the Catalyst Project, many of whom I have had phone and e-mail conversations with (some for years!) but had never had the opportunity to meet.  I was also gratified to see a number of interfaith colleagues who are also national staff at the meeting.  There was an intensity and excitement that people from all over the country understood that what’s going on in Arizona needs to be stopped here.  Later that evening over dinner Rev. Frederick-Gray explained to me why, even though she is the mother of a four year old, she was going to risk a felony arrest by chaining herself to the doors of Sheriff Arpaio’s jail.  I got shivers as she detailed for me how Arpaio operates like Bull Corner with no accountability and with no one challenging him.  She explained that there was a huge blanket of fear covering Phoenix.  Arpaio announces his sweeps and whole neighborhoods close down—no one goes to the grocery store, the children come indoors.  People are living in fear.  Equally distressing is that too many people have been silent.

The Catholic Bishop in Phoenix is a friend of Arpaio’s and many of the people, snowbirds and others, that live in gated communities around Phoenix feel protected by Arpaio.  With the departure of Governor Janet Napolitano to the Obama administration, the state legislature is increasingly controlled by the ultra right politics of militia type forces and straight up racism.  If this seems like an exaggeration look at the legislation in Arizona that has recently passed: a ban of ethnic studies, immigration enforcement by schools, and most recently a law allowing concealed weapons. (Pretty scary when the issue is framed in Arizona as people who come over the border are trespassing and breaking into ‘our houses.’ So what do you do when someone invades your home?)  The Arizona Department of Education recently ordered school districts to remove teachers whose spoken English it deems to be heavily accented or ungrammatical from classes for students still learning English. A new bill is coming up that would deny citizenship to any child born in the United States that has one or more parents that are undocumented.  (A similar ballot initiative was proposed in California last year but fortunately did not gain traction.   However, let’s not rest easy that this kind of anti-immigrant movement will not try again in CA and elsewhere).

As Rev. Frederick-Gray spoke of her determination to break through the silence and take demonstrative action as a member of the clergy and as a white ally, she brought tears to my eyes.  She was willing to take risks to stand on the side of love with the immigrant community in Phoenix, in Arizona, in our nation.  Her faith called her and she heeded it—not unmindfully or carelessly.  She was making an informed decision about the absolute need to send a clarion call that this wave of chauvinism and fear must be stopped with an equally forceful display of love.

Tuesday, July 27^th: On Tuesday evening, UUCP held an event that was part of Alto Arizona’s 30 actions in 30 days campaign (Puente, NDLON, Somos and others created the Alto Arizona – Stop Arizona campaign after SB1070 was passed in April).  They screened the new film 9500 Liberty that documents how a county in Virginia was able to defeat a local anti-immigrant ordinance that was causing fear and polarization.  Over 250 people attended – about 50 UUs from the four Phoenix-area congregations, 25 UUs from out of town (who participated in the actions against SB 1070) and 175 others from the community.  Some were our ongoing interfaith partners who received special invitations. Others saw the event on the 9500 Liberty website or received a mass email from 9500 Liberty director/producer Eric Byler.  Others saw the notice of the event on the UUCP website, the UUCP or Valley UU Face book page.  Director/producers Eric Byler and Annabel Park were there to discuss the film.  Other panelists included former U.S. Representative from Arizona Sam Coppersmith, and Dale Wiebusch, Legislative Associate (lobbyist) for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.  ”Mi Familia Vota” was also present at the event to register voters “then and there,” and to sign up volunteers to register voters at other events.  They have a goal of registering 75,000 new Latino voters in time for the mid-term elections.

Wednesday, July 28^th: UU volunteers start arriving and we begin our orientation meeting at 2 p.m. that afternoon.  Gini Courter led us, Rev. Fredrick-Gray welcomed us and oriented us, various UUA staff members including myself and Rev. Ken Brown, Pacific Southwest District Executive, UUCP organizer Emrys Staton (leader of the No More Deaths ministry at the UU Church of Tucson) and others provided political orientation, faith grounding, and resources for taking advocacy home to other states.  We offered civil disobedience training, a clergy calming presence training, and an SSL visibility training to the volunteers.  Music was provided by UUCP and Valley UU of Chandler, AZ,  musicians and choir members and by First Parish UU of Cambridge MA Rev. Fred Small.  We are grounded, we are trained, we are ready.

Thursday, July 29^th: For some the day begins with a 4:30 am vigil at the State Capitol with an interfaith group of religious leaders and immigrants, including some who are undocumented, who are vigiling for the 102^nd day since SB1070 was passed by the legislature.  That group joins over 500 of us who have come together for a six a.m. sunrise interfaith service at Trinity Cathedral.  All the speakers are incredibly moving and compelling.  The Catholic Diocese sends an Auxiliary Bishop who has only been in the area for nine days who makes it clear that he stands with the immigrant community.  Rev. Frederick-Gray calls for all to stand on the side of love with immigrant families and to join her in action.  Former State Senator Alfredo Gutierrez, founder of the Arizona Boycott Committee, along with the Assistant Mayor of Phoenix join the clergy in their call to stop the worst of SB1070 that still remains.

From the service we march to the Courthouse, with SSL Campaign Manager Dan Furmansky leading us in chants, where Mr. Gutierrez is being arrested for civil disobedience, then past the Wells Fargo Building that houses Sheriff Aripaio’s office and onto to Cesar Chavez Plaza across from  City Hall.  Part of the march continues on to the State Capitol to join a rally there.  Our contingent of 150, many in our bright yellow “Love” shirts, stays with the hundreds who plan to block the intersections by Arpaio’s Office and across from City Hall.  The civil disobedience is well organized.  People sing, chant, and pray – those in the streets and those on the sidewalks.  Water and sunblock is handed to those awaiting arrest.  Riot clad police begin making arrests.  A few blocks away, Sal Reza of Puente, UUA President Rev. Peter Morales, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray and other UU clergy (Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo and Rev. Ian White Maher) along with UU lay leaders and Puente and other activists have blocked the entrance to the County jail (Arpaio’s jail).  SSL sends out a text (via Audra Friend who is staffing our operations ‘command’ center) to our group to ask some of them to come witness at the jail while others keep witness with those in the intersection by Wells Fargo and City Hall.

Rev. Susan Frederick Gray and four others are chained to pillars on the side of the driveway, effectively blocking the sheriff’s vans from going out to conduct sweeps. Later, the local news reports on their arrests and credits their actions with preventing raids that day.

Those of us who are in support roles and engaging in witness head back to UUCP for debrief and rest.  We check in with organizers at Puente and agree that while some of our folks will come for their rock ‘n roll rally later in the afternoon, we plan to organize a vigil in front of the jail where all those arrested are now being held.  We confirm that the permit Puente got for the rally will cover us.  They love this plan.  Puente activists and others from the interfaith community join us at the 8 p.m. vigil. A mixture of UU hymns and movement songs along with Latin beats fills the air.  Rev. Josh Pawelek leads us in prayer – “We are building beloved community here.” he says.  The local FOX news team loves it and tells us that if we will keep the vigil going until 10:10 pm they will lead the 10 pm news with us live.  The reporter and the camera crew thank us for being there.

After the vigil ends, several of us remain with Puente activists to be there for our folks when they are released from jail.  While Rev. Ken Brown works with the legal team “on the inside,” we keep vigil on the streets and have food and water awaiting all those who were arrested.  After being arraigned at 10 pm, the group arrested at the jail are finally all released by 3 a.m.  Sal Reza tells us that this is a typical tactic, to release people on the city streets in the dead of night.  Sal is amazed that he is the first out.  His political observation is that the new activists are being punished, especially when he finds out that the dozens of people arrested in the intersections are not even getting a first hearing until 10 a.m. the next morning—the absolute legal limit of 24 hours within which anyone arrested must be arraigned.  Rev. Peter Morales is released to great cheers (as are all those arrested).  He is rumpled and tired but his spirits are high.

Friday, July 30^th: Another witness is held at the jail while those arrested are arraigned and released.  Rev. Morales participated in a press conference with Sal Reza and others to explain why they took action and how while many are calling the injunction against SB1070 a success, there are still provisions that are very dangerous, including making it a crime to transport or harbor an undocumented immigrant (so a citizen child bringing an undocumented parent to the doctors would be committing a crime); a crime to hire day laborers on the street or for them to solicit work on the streets; and for anyone to oppose enforcement of federal immigration law (sanctuary cities would be illegal).

UUs gather at Valley UU Church in Chandler for debriefing, next steps and a closing worship service.  Pastoral care, massages, and legal information are provided for those arrested.  Shortly before the service is to begin we receive a call from Puente that Sal Reza has been arrested again.  He has been out of jail less than 24 hours.  There is a civil disobedience out at Sheriff Arpaio’s notorious Tent City jail where he has erected a new tent labeled 1070 and has a planned sweep for Friday afternoon/evening.  There is also a sidewalk vigil where Sal has been talking to folks before walking over to his car to head out for an interview with a Spanish language newspaper.  He is surrounded by deputies and taken into custody where he is held for hours in a hot unconditioned van.   ‘Why are you taking him?’ the demonstrators cry.  Sheriff Joe tells the press that Reza has violated the conditions of his release.  At his arraignment, hours later, the judge and the prosecuting attorney find no probable cause for Reza’s arrest.  Arpaio has made his statement.  Clearly the actions have struck a nerve and retaliation has come.

Meanwhile, at the conclusion of the service at Valley UU, we let people know what has happened and that Puente is calling on us to come vigil at Tent City.  We explain that while it is legal for those recently arrested to attend, we cannot guarantee that like Reza, they will not be picked up for  violating the terms of their arrest.  While many of our group need to get to the airport for flights home, over thirty of our group – including some who have been arrested and local newcomers who couldn’t take off work – head out to Tent City.  When we arrive, again in our Love shirts, people cheer as we swell their ranks.  I introduce myself to Alfredo Gutierrez (former state senator) head of the Somos boycott committee who grabs me in a bear hug, and says “You UUs are awesome” and that he is coming to Boston to give the UUA the largest bouquet of roses he can find.  Shortly after he is giving an interview to the press and he pulls me to his side and says to the camera – these people stood with us, got arrested with us, are standing with us. “You are the ones who are awesome,” I tell him.

From Tent City we all head down to the County Jail but not until after 10 p.m. as the local Fox station has again asked us to stay so they can film us.  Down at the County Jail which is starting to feel like very familiar territory, Standing on the Side of Love, Puente, Interfaith Worker Justice and other activists blast Salsa music and dance into the night until Sal and some of those arrested in the blockade at Tent City are out.  SSL sends us text updates to let every know what’s going on.

Saturday, July 31^st:  We continue our presence at the jail.  It takes hours for all those arrested to be released.  One Latino man is held for hours longer than the rest of our folks for no apparent reason.  Another Latino man is having his immigration status checked and is still being held.  We are finally informed that he is being moved to Tent City.  Gini Courter and Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo bring bail money to Tent City jail to get him out.  Finally only one person remains in custody.  A team from Puente is monitoring his case.  Before we leave, Rev. Wendy leads us in prayer—all of us– from SSL, from Puente, Ruckus, the Catalyst Project, and folks who are waiting at the jail for family and friends who have been picked up for misdemeanors during the night—join hands and meditate, pray, and give thanks for each other.

Local Phoenix folks throw a celebration dinner at a local Latino cantina.  We are exhilarated, we are exhausted, we are full of what we have learned, what we will do better next time, and of plans for how we will continue this struggle.

Sunday, August 1^st: I meet with Immigration Task Force Co-Chair Sandy Weir from UUCP to debrief and plan for the future.  On the flight back to Boston I write my reflections report for my supervisors.  I lead with:  Escalation called for by Alto Arizona in response to situation in Arizona and SB 1070 achieved!!!!  Many more reflections after that to be continued in these weeks and months ahead.  Si se puede – we can harness the power of love to stop oppression.

The rally began with an interfaith prayer service that set the tone for understanding that immigration reform is a moral issue of welcoming the stranger, the newcomers among us, and understanding the role that the US government and US business plays in driving people to migrate here. Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, minister at the Bull Run UU Congregation in Manassas Virginia spoke eloquently for our faith tradition. The spirit of the service and rally were a sharp contrast to the Tea Party demonstrators that were out in front of the Capitol hurling oppressive epithets at Members of Congress and anyone else that opposes them.

The immigrant families and their supporters who gathered on the Mall responded enthusiastically to the Standing on the Side of Love Campaign. Placards, stickers, buttons and T-Shirts were grabbed up and could be seen all throughout the crowd. Many of the UUs in attendance came with interfaith community organizations and came to the SSL meet-up point to check-in and bring SSL placards back to their contingents. UUs from Community Church in NYC, UU Church of Danbury CT, and the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset NY paid for and organized buses that brought their immigrant partners to the rally. VOICE, an interfaith organization from Northern VA, brought over 1,000 to the rally and included folks from the UU Church of Arlington, who brought along a huge Standing on the Side of Love banner. A dozen UU clergy were in attendance and we counted 20 UU congregations that sent teams of folks ranging from 5 to 50 people from Joliet IL, Philadelphia, Buxmont, and Devon PA, and several congregations from the Metro DC area. Rev. David Carl Olson of First Unitarian in Baltimore wrote a moving account of the day for the SSL blog.

On Monday I participated in the interfaith advocacy day and joined a delegation from MA that met with staffers from Senator John Kerry’s and Senator Scott Brown’s offices. Senator Kerry is a long time supporter of immigration reform. We asked for the Senator to press for legislation to be introduced that includes family reunification as a priority, non-criminalization of undocumented people already in the US, and humane enforcement at the border. Senator Kerry’s staff said that they think immigration reform legislation will be passed this year. Senator Brown’s staff agreed that immigration reform is needed but had little hope that it would be passed this year. They wanted to know how much immigration reform would cost and if we would be supportive of the framework proposed by Senators Schumer and Graham. We made clear that immigration reform is not a partisan issue and that the legislation needs a champion. We asked for the Senator to use his influence to get the three priorities listed above included in the legislation and to press for it to be introduced. We reminded them that the majority of Massachusetts voters welcome the diversity and contributions that immigrant families bring to their communities.

Before leaving Senator Brown’s office, I asked if I could go out on to the balcony. Senator Brown’s office is the office of the late Senator Edward Kennedy. Teddy used to spend a lot of time out on that balcony with his beloved dog Splash at his side. He did a lot of his thinking and his deal-making there. As I stood on that balcony, looking at the view of the park across from the Senate building, I thought about how happy Senator Kennedy would be to know that health care legislation had finally passed. So much has occurred since his death and for the first time, in a long time, I felt hopeful again about what’s happening in Washington these days. As the slogan for the rally proclaimed, “Change Takes Courage and Faith” and I would add, lots of grassroots organizing and pressure. Si se puede! Yes we can!

Saturday, February 20th, there was a remarkable gathering of folks at Harvard Law School to be trained in how to assist Haitians applying for Temporary Protective Status that was organized by the UUSC & UUA. (Webinar trainings for people in other areas of the country will be offered on March 3rd & 10th). Over 40 volunteers, including law students, UUs of many backgrounds, community organizers, and others were enthralled by the presentation by Jacques Dessin, a lawyer and trainer of Haitian background. He presented clear and concise information about this new immigration process for Haitians who were here in the US before the earthquake without documentation. I had expected to be completely bored and bewildered; imagine my surprise when I found it fascinating!

Displaced Haitians receive emergency food aid in an operation led by USAID.

Many attending had questions about the most basic issue: is TPS a good thing for these Haitians? The answer to this is not easy, and volunteers need to just give the information without recommendations, as each person will have to decide this for themselves. They will be able to work, get driver’s licenses, and other important things that documented folks have. The risk they might feel is making themselves known to the “system” and what that might mean in the future.

I had been included in the planning for this first training because I am leading an initiative to address immigration issues at my church, First Parish UU in Cambridge MA, and because in my work life I lead community health outreach for a public hospital system in the targeted communities. A partnership has developed with local non-profits in the four small cities that are home to the largest numbers of Haitians in Massachusetts. These include the Haitian Coalition and anti-poverty (CAP) agencies, health departments, Haitian churches, other community coalitions and Harvard Law School. UUSC and UUA staff were instrumental to the success of this initiative. They brought together the partners, found a trainer, developed the webinars, and generally provided logistical support.

Haitians queue for water in Tapis Rouge, a neighbourhood in the Carrefour-Feuilles area of Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince.

Back at First Parish Cambridge UU on Standing on the Side of Love ‘Reimagining Valentine’s Day’ Sunday, we had an inspiring “To Haiti With Love” service (see Rev. Fred Small’s sermon), and members of the Haitian Coalition were there. There were requests from the pulpit to sign up for TPS training and other Haiti related events. Over 15 people signed up and half of them attended the first training.

The next step is organizing “TPS legal clinics” for the community. Systems will be set up to assist folks in completing the paperwork and submitting it. For large events in Haitian churches we will need many volunteers to help not just with the forms and processes, but to translate, and to provide food and entertainment for children and hospitality. We’re looking forward to that!

For more information about getting trained to volunteer at a TPS Legal Clinic, see the UUA’s Immigration website.

Linda Cundiff is a member of First Parish Cambridge UU and Senior Director for Community Affairs at Cambridge Health Alliance.

My congregation, First Parish Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, had an amazing service yesterday that focused on Haiti and on standing with immigrant families here in the United States. Community partners from the Haitian Coalition were in attendance. We collected Valentine’s Day cards made by UU Mass Action to send to our legislators for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. People signed up to participate in Temporary Protected Status Legal clinics sponsored by theUUA & UUSC and partners. People also signed up to go as a congregation for a Walk for Haiti in March sponsored by the Haitian Coalition that will raise funds to rebuild schools in Haiti. The religious education classes made valentines for Partners in Health and read Circles of Hope – a story about Haiti. The youth group sold t-shirts for the walk (1/2 the sales go to Partners in Health or you got a free t-shirt if you promised to get sponsors for your walk).

Rev. Fred Small preached a truly amazing sermon on Haiti – managing to give ‘a people’s history of Haiti’ in the context of worship and rousing folks to love and action. Truly standing on the side of love. We sang “Stand” by Amy Carol Webb in the worship service, the choir sang a Haitian ballad, and the congregation sang a calypso Alleluia. At the end of the service after eveyone had a chance to eat Haitian cake in the parlor, speak with our guests (a number of people from the Haitian community came to the service as well as the folks who work at the Coalition) and sign up for the TPS legal clinics and the walk (along with turnng in cards for CIR) – we all went out on to the front steps of the church – holding the Standing on the Side of Love Banner – and singing ‘Stand’ with Rev. Small playing guitar and singing the verses. The moment was magical, folks were filled with love, and passersby stopped to listen and cheer us on. We’re now thinking we could do this once a month around various standing on the side of love justice issues as a form of public witness.

A group from my church—First Parish Cambridge UU—joined the volunteers, wearing our ‘No on 1’ stickers and Standing on the Side of Love pins, and carrying our Standing on the Side of Love signs. The organizers from Maine Equality loved our signs and asked if they could have some for the office along with a stack of buttons.

I canvassed with my husband and my 11 year old son. Most of the people we spoke to were voting No on 1 and so our job was to ask them to vote absentee before Election Day and to recruit them as volunteers for the campaign. We also encountered a few people who are voting against us—although they were very nice as they told us they were voting to take away people’s rights(!). We didn’t meet anyone who is still undecided. The polling, however, shows a dead heat between yes and no voters, with 4% still undecided. It is absolutely critical that we do all we can to defeat this ballot initiative. Along with canvassing, our congregation’s youth group and others are phone banking at the Mass Equality headquarters this weekend.

The most moving part of the weekend for me was in the training and debriefing of the canvassers. When the organizers asked if any of the couples in the room were married, we of course raised our hands, as did another straight married couple, and about a half dozen gay/lesbian couples who shouted out the states they had been married in – mostly Massachusetts and CA (while it was legal). It hit me profoundly how I so take for granted the right to marry. I was inspired by the people in the room who were brave and determined enough to go out into neighborhoods where they were bound to hear people tell them why they should not have this right or be treated as equals (or worse).

My family felt proud to be standing on the side of love with these courageous folks. It was definitely one of the liveliest trainings I have attended and the role play between ‘Casey Canvasser’ and ‘Valerie Vixen Voter’ deserved to be on stage! The debriefing included stories that needed to be ‘shaken off’ as people reported some of the hostility they encountered and it was another moment of recognizing the privilege I experience as a straight person. There were also wonderful stories including one about a woman who identified herself as born again Christian and felt that Jesus just wants us to love and that’s why she’s voting No on 1. The camaraderie and the compassion we witnessed this weekend were truly inspiring. My son is now more outraged and determined to work for equality than he has ever been simply from our kitchen table discussions. The experience of coming together—gay and straight—to protect marriage equality had us all feeling and witnessing the power of love to stop oppression.

No one chooses to live in a FEMA trailer, but it is better than no home at all. Evicting residents without providing access to safe, permanent housing will only lead to homelessness and further destabilize families.
Please take a minute to click and send an email or make a call to let the Administration know that evictions are a bad idea.

Tell President Obama and Congress to extend the May 30th FEMA trailer program deadline!

Say NO to FEMA’s decision to forcibly evict residents from trailers!

The Facts:

• Nearly 5,000 FEMA trailers continue to provide housing to residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina
  • 2,800 FEMA trailers in Louisiana, with 1, 000 trailers located in Orleans Parish, LA
  • 2,000 FEMA trailers in Mississippi
• Most FEMA trailer occupants are elderly and/or disabled persons in desperate need of effective support and case management services to stabilize their housing and wellbeing.
• FEMA trailer occupants are displaced homeowners and renters still struggling to rebuild their homes or secure affordable housing after Katrina and Rita.

Hold our elected leaders to their promise of Gulf Region recovery, and demand equal protection under the same human rights policy that the U.S. government applies to displaced persons in other countries.

Tell FEMA to provide an extension to all homeowners and renters living in FEMA trailers to allow them sufficient time to repair their homes and/or find alternative housing.

Additional time would allow:

• Louisiana homeowners to appeal denials of Road Home grants, or go to a Road Home closing.
• Mississippi homeowners to be matched with available Katrina cottages that sit idle.
• Renters more time to obtain rental assistance or other permanent affordable housing.

Call the Obama Administration and FEMA to demand action now! Tell our government not to carry forward yesterday’s short-sighted policies and to apply the same human rights standards to displaced persons in the Gulf States. Demand a stop to the FEMA trailer deadline and the guarantee of safe, permanent housing in the Gulf Region.

• HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan (202) 708-0417
• DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano (202) 282-8000; (202) 282-8495
• FEMA Administrator Fugate (202) 646-2500

REFERENCES
‘Ready or Not, Katrina Victims Lose Temporary Housing‘, The New York Times, 05-8-09

‘Residents keep nervous eye on trailers‘, The Times-Picayune, 05-03-09

On Saturday, a coalition of Unitarian Universalist congregations from the Mass Bay District and the UUA, Military Families Speak Out, and United for Justice with Peace (a MA coalition of peace and justice organizations) gathered on the Boston Common and read the names of all the US military personnel killed in Iraq since the war began six years ago.

There were eight UU parish ministers and representatives and groups from 15 UU congregations (Marblehead, Dedham, Cambridge, Concord, Arlington Street Church, Community Church, First Parish Arlington, Sharon, Jamaica Plain, Sherborn, Middleboro, Beverly, Bedford, No Andover, and Stow). A group of UU young adults who had heard about the event on Facebook came together from Western MA to the Metro Boston area. College students from Bridgewater State also picked up on the Facebook listing, checked out www.uua.org/socialjustice and came carrying peace signs.

The names were read for six minutes at a time, followed by the ringing of a gong. Every hour there was a minute of silence for the Iraqi victims. Members of military families spoke gave testimonials including Bonnie Gorman and Gold Star Mother Malida Arredondo. [The Arredondo family circled the Common with their flatbed truck exhibit for Gold Star Families to End the War and sent passersby over to our Witness event.] They spoke of the pain and suffering of losing loved ones in an “ill-begotten war” and they called for healthcare and jobs for returning soldiers. Patrick Daugherty, of Iraq Veterans Against the War, called for a justification for President Obama’s plan to leave 50,000 troops in Iraq.

Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo, minister, UU Church of Marblehead, MA, presided over the event and began by saying:

We gather today in worshipful remembrance of those lost in the United States war with Iraq. Although it seems unreal that we mark a sixth year of US Occupation, the consequences are all too real for many here. We mark with great sadness over 4300 US deaths. We mark with a different sadness all the Iraqi deaths. Some reports are of up to 1 million victims. Neither lesser or greater, but each arriving with a host of other emotions. We gather for more than remembrance of these lost lives, however. We come here with a call to Fulfill the Promise, to End the Occupation, to recognize the cost of the occupation upon Iraq and stand accountable. to tell the truth about those who have returned and how we as a nation will own their stories and tend to their needs. We gather because it matters. We gather because it was on our watch that we arrived in Iraq and we must be quite sure that we bring them home. Thank you for joining us here today.

She ended our time together with these words:

We gather with heavy hearts.
Among us, those grieving the unimaginable. Those who have lost loved ones.
Among us are those who served alongside comrades who would not return, and those who would return, forever altered..
Among us are those who know war too well. Those who served faithfully and know death in ways that inhabit nightmares and on some days, waking hours.

We gather with hopeful hearts as well.
Among us, those looking to a new way of being in the world. A way that will lead to a more rapid return of our soldiers.
Among us, those looking with new eyes at raising awareness of the needs of those already home, but facing economic and health issues that should shame our nation.
Among us, those who know that change will not arrive without our voice – our call to fulfill the promise, end the occupation, tell the truth and take good care.

A picture and caption of the event was featured in The Boston Sunday Globe on March 22nd. We also got some good Indy coverage including a You Tube posting with lots of footage of Rev. Wendy and others.

Mass Peace Action posted a photo album of the witness.

It felt good to be standing with UUs and partners as we work to help President Obama end this immoral war that he too opposed. We remain faithful in our witness to end this war.

I’m just back from the UU Allies for Racial Equity Conference at All Souls UU Church in Kansas City MO, held on March 13-15th. I feel profoundly grateful for the opportunity to gather with other white allies and ground myself in an understanding of what Rev. Rebecca Parker refers to in Soul Work as my social location. To continue to cultivate an awareness of how my white middle-class position affects my worldview, my assumptions, and the ways I interact in multi-racial coalitions and organizations.

I had the privilege to be invited to speak on a panel at the All Souls Forum on March 15th on the topic of Post Racial America?

Several people asked that I post my remarks from the Forum and so I have below.

Does the election of President Obama mean that we’ve entered a post-racial era?

NO. Not yet. My understanding is that we can’t say or claim that until we have eliminated all systemic inequities based on race. And that will be not only through eliminating policies that create inequity but by redressing existing inequities through pro-active measures to create equality such as reparations. That’s going to come from a persistent effort of addressing this through government policies, the private sector, civic society – which includes us in the religious community — and changing individual attitudes and behaviors.

To claim that we are already a post-racial society is to miss the real significance and opportunity of this moment. However, whether we are or not is not really the most important question right now. What’s crucial is to grasp that there has been a sea-change – that’s been a long time coming – and the moment is here to make huge strides in dismantling racism and oppression.

A new multicultural, multiracial coalition came into being that elected President Obama – a coalition of African American, Latino, whites and others – that became possible through the growth and political activation of communities of color and because enough whites have shifted in attitudes and political understandings.

This past December, I had the privilege to attend a gathering of 3,000 people from congregation-based community organizations, labor unions, and advocacy groups who came from all over the country to meet with President Obama’s Team and key congressional leaders. It was called Realizing the Promise. It was absolutely the most diverse gathering I have ever attended in terms of race, ethnicity, region, faith, class, and age. It was amazing!

The theme of the gathering was similar to the message that environmental justice leader Van Jones delivered to the UU General Assembly last year — that it’s time to learn to govern. The agenda called for universal health care, immigration reform, economic recovery, and new green jobs and asked for commitments from the White House staff and Congressional leaders – which we got. (See my report Faith-Based Community Organizations Prepare to Govern about this historic meeting and what the administration representatives said.)

We now have the opportunity to bring our visions and to make our voices heard in the White House and Congress and in the national conversation.

Dismantling racism needs to be done system by system at national policy levels and the local and grassroots level.

The new coalition that has emerged understands that we are all interconnected and that sound policy must reflect that.

To eliminate racism and oppression – to create equality – we need health care for all, more resources for schools that serve communities of color and low-income families; tax policies that DO redistribute income; immigration reform that keeps families together; trade policies that don’t drive people out of their native countries in order to escape extreme poverty; labor laws that protect workers and ensure a living wage; restorative justice not criminal justice; energy policies that create sustainability and jobs and that don’t dump toxins into the most vulnerable communities.

We now have a president that understands that the solutions to dismantling institutional oppression are interlocked and that institutional policies need to be changed in every sector – brick by brick. We have a president that models caring, compassion, and accountability, and wants to do that.

Our role is to keep lifting up and advocating for that vision, to offer solutions, and to deliver the grassroots (and grasstops), and to do that in a way that is accountable to and in solidarity with historically marginalized communities. That’s our piece of the partnership.

What does this partnership look like? It looks like the thousands who went to Phoenix a few weeks ago calling for an investigation into Sheriff Arpaio’s abusive treatment of immigrants. (The UUA and UUs from Arizona were very involved in the organizing and turnout.) And this week the Dept of Justice announced a full investigation and an overhaul of the 287g policies that authorize local enforcement of federal immigration law. We have some power here. That would not have happened 3 months ago!

This partnership looks like the passage of SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) that just covered 10 million children (including 4 million immigrants – they were not left out) that the PICO National Network organized around the country and that President Obama signed into law — and like the movement now building for universal health care led by Health Care for America Now and others.

It looks like the network of educators that our partner Spirit in Action is bringing together to address the inequalities in education and to develop a report and proposal for delivery to the new Secretary of Education.

It looks like Van Jones being appointed this week as the administration’s Green Jobs Czar. Hilda Solis, daughter of immigrant union organizers, as Secretary of Labor. Melody Barnes, as Director of the Domestic Policy Council; Valerie Jarrett, White House Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison. Cecelia Muñoz, Senior Vice President of LaRaza’s Advocacy Office appointed as the administration’s Director of Intergovernmental Affairs!

We have an organizer in the White House! We have a huge organizing job in front of us now and we have partners in power!

To be successful we need to know the rules, we need to understand how systemic racism plays out and operates, and what we have to do to undo it. We need specific solutions and policies that are based on what the people most affected identify as needed, backed by the political power to institutionalize them.

Yes there will be struggle –- the socialism charge continues to rear its head –- ugly racial epithets –- and worse, burnings of black churches have occurred. It’s coming from those who feel they’re losing their power. We have to take it on -– we can’t ignore it or give it too much power –- we need to go after it swiftly — be savvy and contain it.

But to be alive and awake right now is to really grasp that we have an opportunity to transform society in a way that hasn’t existed for the past 40 years.

So– post-racial society? Not yet –- but I’m betting that a post-racial United States may be where my potential future grandchildren live.

I’m proud to say that the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations was the first religious denomination to call for an end to the raids and deportations that are tearing families apart causing fear and repression in immigrant communities and sorrow and disruption in all communities where school friends are losing parents, businesses are losing workers, and anti-immigrant sentiment is bolstered.

The UUA joined the New Sanctuary Movement in 2007 and passed an Action of Immediate Witness that year to end the raids. Since then the Catholic Conference of Bishops has called for a moratorium on the raids as well. Two coalitions that the UUA works with, Interfaith Worker Justice and Welcoming Massaschusetts, have also called for an end to the raids and unjust deportations.

Congregations wishing to take this stand can sign the New Sanctuary Movement Pledge.

(Please let me know that you did by writing to sleslie@uua.org — so far 12 congregations have done so). MA congregations can also do so at the Welcoming MA site. Soon, there will be a Welcoming America site that will include CO, GA, ID, MA, NB, NC, NY and TN and other states. The launching conference is in April.

For the first time in a long time, it’s looking like a humane and just policy toward immigrants has a likelihood of passing. See our website for more information about the UUA’s advocacy efforts for just immigration reform.

Note: In May, the Action of the Month will be on Immigration and this year’s Public Witness at General Assembly in Salt Lake City will be immigrant rights.

My experience was pretty typical for a middle-class, middle-aged, white person. I haven’t known what the minimum wage is since I worked for it myself as a teenager and later when I worked as a community organizer in low-income communities. (If my son was old enough to work after school I may have known!)

In any case, the experience demonstrated sharply for me how those of us doing advocacy work can get pretty out of touch with the realities of poverty and oppression in our country. I mean we know it exists, but start doing the math of living on $6.55/hour and it breaks your heart.

Through the UUA’s partnership with the UUSC on the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign, I have learned who low-wage workers really are and what they are facing.

Three out of four minimum wage workers are age 21 or older. Two out of three minimum wage workers are women. Most minimum wage workers are women with children. They are healthcare workers, childcare workers, food service workers. People of color and immigrants make up a disproportionate percentage of minimum wage workers. Most minimum wage workers are high school graduates. Many teenagers working in minimum wage jobs are working to save for a college education. The next minimum wage increase of $7.25 in July 2009 (the third and final increment of the legislation passed in 2007) will affect 10% of the workforce nationally, and close to 20% in several states, particularly in the south.

It would take a $10.08 minimum wage now to match the buying power of the minimum wage in 1968—four decades ago.

I’m proud that the UUA and UUSC are working in solidarity with low-wage workers and their families. Through our joint efforts we have connected with congregations already doing living wage work and encouraged others to get involved. Hundreds of UUs participated in the Let Justice Roll Campaign to raise the federal minimum wage for the first time in ten years in 2007. Now Let Justice Roll is working again to get closer to a living wage with another raise to $10 in 2010

UUA President Rev. William Sinkford’s Op Ed about the $10 in 2010 Campaign is inspiring and informative. It was run in several African American weekly newspapers over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and on several progressive websites. See Hope and Change for Low-Wage Workers.

I’m also inspired by what our congregations are doing. See reports on President Sinkford’s Living Wage Sunday at the UU Church of Nashua NH on Sunday, January 25th and