Guidelines for Arrestee / Defendant Support

Why Do We Need Guidelines for UU Arrestee/Defendant Support?

Unitarian Universalism is deeply rooted in values. And praxis. This means we are less concerned with what we each believe – and more concerned with how we live into our beliefs. As UUs, we strive to show up in good ways in the face of injustice, understanding that this is deeply sacred work.

Collectively, we have committed to ending white supremacy in our congregations, decolonizing our tradition, and nurturing healthy, vibrant, equitable communities. More and more, this commitment means showing up on the frontlines of serious social justice struggles – from the Water Protector resistance, to the Movement for Black Lives, to the fight for gender justice, and so on.

The more we show up on the frontlines of justice movements, the more we risk arrest, incarceration, and prosecution. Depending on our real or perceived demographics, many of us already face these risks on a regular basis. Meanwhile, as our collective commitment to justice grows, state and corporate suppression of dissent is also growing.

Why Do We Need These Guidelines Now?

UUs have been engaged in social change efforts, including nonviolent civil disobedience, for many generations. Today, it seems that UUs who resist injustice are being arrested and detained at increasing rates. This is due, in part, to an enhanced partnership between corporations and the state in criminalizing dissent.

The sustainability of UU activism, as well as the sustainability of UU activists, well may depend upon the capacity of UU entities to provide a spectrum of support for those at the frontlines.