In the story “”Facing the Dragon,” SSL Campaign Director Caitlin Breedlove writes: ”Our faith wakes us up in the morning, reminding us that we are called to act in this time. “
Five days after the “United Against Hate” protest of a political event in Fountain Hills, AZ, a large coalition led by Puente Arizona rallied again at the State Capitol in Phoenix to protest the introduction of several new anti-immigration bills in Arizona. Many Unitarian Universalists standing on the side of love were in the coalition.
Puente is a grassroots migrant justice organization based in Phoenix. They write on puenteaz.org: “We develop, educate, and empower migrant communities to protect and defend our families and ourselves in order to enhance the quality of life of our community members.”
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If we awaken a Dragon, we need courage to face a Dragon.
Two terms of a Black President. Gay Marriage. Deeply humanizing gains in the struggle for Immigrant Rights. A new force in our country bravely declaring (in word and deed) that Black Lives Matter. In so many ways, communities experiencing identity-based violence have been speaking out, pushing back, and loving ourselves out loud.
This is causing a Dragon of cultural backlash in the United States against these communities. The ‘Trump Effect’ is not about Donald Trump or this election alone anymore. From those of us who are having our sacred Black Lives Matter banners desecrated at our churches to those of us engaging in non-violent civil disobedience who are having our lives threatened: we see rage, resentment and suffering shaped into actions that could make us very afraid.
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We’re excited to share as part of the 30 Days of Love because our collaborations with the UUs have taught us so much about love in action. De-escalating through song when armed minutemen came to our joint rally outside of Sheriff Arpaio’s jail in Arizona in 2011. Opening your doors to house and feed us as we drove cross country for the undocubus in 2012. Continuing to show up in yellow shirts over and over, a constant accompaniment that doesn’t go unnoticed. Rehanging #BlackLivesMatter banners after they’ve been desecrated. And in some cases, opening your physical institutions as sanctuary for those hunted by our own government.
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We are thrilled to welcome you to 30 Days of Love: Towards Racial Justice. Over the next thirty days, we’ll be sharing content- here, on Facebook and Twitter - about urgent organizing for racial justice happening around the country. We are thrilled to have Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen, Leadership Development Associate for Youth and Young Adults of Color at the UUA, and Carey McDonald, Outreach Director at the UUA, acting as our inaugural 30 Days of Love hosts.
In their role, Elizabeth and Carey will provide a short video reflection for each of our weekly messages. Centered around the themes of gratitude and wonder, it is our hope that the content of 30 Days of Love feeds and inspires you. Beginning next Tuesday, you’ll receive weekly messages from partners at the frontlines of organizing for racial justice in the country.
Below, hear or read a little more directly from Elizabeth and Carey. To see additional resources for your observance of 30 Days of Love, click here.
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Today, organizations around the country are participating in the End Trans Detention National Day of Action. The Day is part of the #Not1More Deportation Week of Action. The targeted criminalization and violence trans people face is only exacerbated when they are detained. Transgender detainees make up 1 in 500 of the detention population but 1 in 5 of those who experience sexual abuse.
On this day of action, we ask you to take a moment to support Christina Lopez, a 35 year-old trans woman in urgent need of medical care. She has been in immigration detention for over a year and a half and has Hepatitis C, but the Santa Ana City Detention Center refuses to get her medical attention. Add your name here to demand that ICE use prosecutorial discretion to immediately release Christina from detention. Christina’s story is an example of how ICE cannot guarantee the human rights, safety and dignity for immigrants in detention, in particular of a transgender immigrant with specific health care needs.
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