Justice Advocacy Corner
Welcome to the Justice Advocacy Corner! Here is a central hub for information sent to the UUCB Office about what steps can be taken to stand up for justice - on both local and federal levels.
Nonviolent Direct Action Training
Fundamentals for Defending Housing, Immigrant Communities, and Democracy, will be held on Saturday, June 13, from 1-5 p.m. at UUCB in Fellowship Hall.
Join us for an interactive Nonviolent Direct Action training to build the skills and relationships we need to take direct action to disrupt harm and spark momentum for the work of building stronger, more resilient communities that put people over profits and neighbors over authoritarian schemes. Led by Marla Marcum, Co-Founder and Director of the Climate Disobedience Center. Dress comfortably and bring your curiosity, a water bottle, and a notebook.
Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 50,000 acres in three counties, including Jefferson, Jennings and Ripley, and overlays that portion of the former Jefferson Proving Ground that lies north of the historic firing line where munitions were once tested. As an overlay refuge, the Army retains ownership and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the property as Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge.
The US Government is planning to close this refuge. This refuge was originally created with help from Baron Hill (former US Rep) Sign the petition to let our congresswoman (Erin Houchin) know know that we are against this terrible idea.
https://www.change.org/p/save-big-oaks-national-wildlife-refuge-restore-funding-and-protect-public-access
There is also a rally in Madison on Saturday at the Refuge Center, if you want to drive to protest in person at the entrance.
Here are the details:
SAVE BIG OAKS Rally
Saturday June 13
Jefferson County Courthouse
300 E Main St, Madison, IN
1-2:30pm
On Sunday, June 14, join us in watching “Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment,” an uplifting evening of song, solidarity, and action. Featuring an all-star lineup of performers, this free 90-minute livestreamed concert will celebrate the freedoms guaranteed by our First Amendment—of speech, religion, press, and protest—and the people power that protects them.
The watch party will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington. Here we can sing along, find inspiration in the performances, build community, and plan meaningful action together. Popcorn will be served, but please bring your own (non-alcoholic) drinks.
Offered by the Committee for the 1st Amendment, the concert will run from 7 to 8:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30 for socializing; at 6:45, we’ll introduce the main event, with background and a look at local/state threats to our First Amendment rights. At 8:30 we’ll have time to talk about what we’ve learned and tell each other about ways to confront threats to our rights.
The evening is sponsored by the Uplands Network of the Sierra Club and the UUCB Green Sanctuary Task Force. UUCB is at 2120 N Fee Lane, where Fee Lane crosses the 45/46 bypass.
Please register here: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/971055/
Space is limited. To host your own private or public event - Register Here
Find Your Legislators!
Use the link below to find your legislators.
https://iga.in.gov/information/find-legislators
- Also, consider using the "5-calls" app - Susan Swaney, our Director of Music, recently recommended this. It is an easy way to make 5-calls a day to your representatives and legislators covering the topics you would like to express. The team behind the app does research on policies and even writes scripts that are helpful to use when calling your legislators. Click this link to find out more: https://5calls.org/
- Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray recently mentioned a very helpful tool for getting in contact with her representatives - her phone! She saves all of their numbers in her phone with their names, affiliations, and job title. That way, when you have an issue you would like to discuss with their offices, their phone numbers are already saved to your phone. Taking the time to do this once makes the effort much easier later!
Resources
From Side with Love
"Grounded, Resilient, & Responsible. Responding and Organizing In Authoritarian Times" Webinar Slides (PDF)
"Grounded, Resilient, & Responsible. Responding and Organizing In Authoritarian Times" Toolkit (PDF)
Information about Bills and Policies
This is a good overview of how federal cuts in workforce personnel harms our local communities: https://mailchi.mp/monroedems/action-alert-71022-call-houchin-no-doge?e=f94d1e7939
