“As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency.” –Caroline Kennedy Schlossburg”

Today, activists across the country are celebrating immigrants and advocating for immigration reform. In honor of May Day, Susan Leslie and I have spent the past two weeks putting together a new printable 12 page resource for UU immigrant rights activists called Welcoming the Stranger: An Immigration Resource for Unitarian Universalists. The resource includes facts about immigration, related to UUA policy, a statement from UUA President Rev. William G. Sinkford, sermon excerpts, ideas and resources for taking action, and ways for youth to get involved.

For the record, my favorite part is the sample of citizenship test questions on page 12. Just which are the two longest rivers in the U.S., anyway? And who was President during World War I?

Unfortunately, I probably won’t be able to make it to the Immigrant Rights rally being held in DC this afternoon in Malcolm X park, but it makes me happy to know that immigrants and allies across the country are taking part in May Day mobilization activities. UUA President Rev. William G. Sinkford is speaking today at a May 1st Coalition Immigrant Rights Rally in Chelsea, MA, which became a sanctuary city in June, 2007. He will be speaking about why people of faith support immigrant families, and calling on Massachusetts citizens, organizations, and city and town governments to sign the Welcoming Massachusetts Pledge.

If you attend a May Day immigrant rights event today, we would like your story! Please send a 1 or 2 paragraph report and a few digital photos to Susan Leslie, UUA Director for Congregational Advocacy and Witness, at sleslie@uua.org to have them posted on the UUA website.

Here’s what Susan needs:

Where, What, When, Who. If possible, please highlight UU participation, and send digital photos that capture faith and families. We will include this with our report on UUA.org of May Day activities!

If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking, “Oh no! I didn’t know that May 1st was a day of national mobilization for immigrant rights! Now it’s all over and I didn’t do anything!”–NEVER FEAR! I have some great ideas for how you can take a stand for immigrant rights RIGHT NOW in three minutes or less in just three simple steps:

1. Participate in our online action campaign to oppose the border wall
2. Participate in our online action campaign to oppose the (misnamed) “SAVE” Act, and
3. Subscribe to our UU Immigration Activist News Bulletin. To sign up, check the “Immigration” box and submit your info. Susan and I send out about 1 email a month with information on federal immigration legislation, the New Sanctuary Movement, resources, and all things UU-immigration related.

To conclude: Hurrah for Immigrants, Hurrah for Immigrant Rights Advocates of all backgrounds, and Hurrah for May Day!

ANSWERS:
1) The Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
2) Woodrow Wilson

PHOTO CREDIT:
Boston Interfaith Community Immigrant Rights March, May 2006
Photo by UU World Editor Chris Walton. Image and more info available
online at http://archive.uua.org/news/immigration/index.html