Category: UUFANJ News

Black Lives Matter

by UU FA Office

Cherry Hill Church’s “Black Lives Matter” Banners Stolen, February 24, 2016

Rohn BLM

Our Dismantling Racism Working Group co-chair uses an act of vandalism as an opportunity for public discussion about “the underlying issues” behind the Black Lives Matter movement in a community that he feels is open to talking about it. Read more.

 

At the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ’s annual meeting in Montclair on April 17, 2015, the joint Boards released the following statement dismantling racism. The UULMNJ is committed to the Black Lives Matter movement and to ending the systematic oppression faced by people of color in our country and the State of New Jersey.

Board Statement on Dismantling Racism

Unitarian Universalists have long been spiritually and morally committed to the elimination of racism and oppression.  We have a long history of coming forward to answer the call for racial justice, and UUs have shed their blood in these struggles.  In this we are motivated by the moral imperative of our covenant to affirm and promote the principles that are the uniting basis of our faith community.

  • The inherent worth and dignity of every person
  • Justice, equity and compassion in human relations

The work to eliminate racism continues to be a litmus test of the strength of our principles and the authenticity of our faith.

The appearance and practice of racism in our society has in many ways radically changed, yet its basic manifestations remain the same.  The illusion of a “color blind” society after the victories of the great civil rights movement and the historic election of an African American president has fully dissolved.  Even though attention is being paid to the continuing epidemic of unpunished killings of people of color by police, it took a series of increasingly disturbing incidents before anyone paid attention to a long-established pattern of violence. This demonstrates that we have far to go to address the problems of racism.  While it could be unfair to compare police killings to lynchings, the simple fact is that the rate of such killings in the last 15 years matches or exceeds the rate of some 5,000 recorded lynchings between 1882 and 1968. About 60 of these have been recorded to be of victims while in police custody. Currently the rate of police officer killings of people of color is reported to be at a rate of about two or more per week in the United States.  The divide that exists between the criminal justice system and people of color is not an accident. It is a direct result of institutional racism.

This seemingly easy and all-too-common resort to lethal force in the moment of confrontation between police and persons — usually men of color — is only the most brutal aspect of the “New Jim Crow”.  To the cry ”Black Lives Matter” we hear the casual and cynical reply “All Lives Matter.”   The problem with proclaiming that all lives matter is that it denies the particular need to focus on black lives.  Fundamentally, until our society accepts that black lives matter, the call that all lives matter is simply a denial of reality based on the limited experience of privileged people.

A basic condition of American racism is that the realities of life of people of color are not known well enough.  In all aspects of American life, already drowning in inequality, people of color, as a group, continue to be victimized in the denial of human and civil rights, employment and income, health, reproductive services and life expectancy, wealth accumulation and home ownership, and in de facto residential and educational inequality and continued segregation. African American author Neely Fuller, Jr., has written,

“No major problem that exists between the people of the known universe can be eliminated until racism is eliminated.”

Racism continues today to be a key, interactive force affecting all issues in the struggle for social progress. Issues of race and racism infect all issues that the UULMNJ and Unitarian Universalists feel strongly about. From Criminal Justice Reform and ending Mass Incarceration to Fair Housing, to Immigration, to Gun Violence, to Health Care, to the Impact of Environmental Degradation, it is crucial for us to recognize that people of privilege experience these issues in an utterly different way from people of color.  We must commit to expanding connection and understanding in order to unleash the full transformational power of a multicultural, multiracial alliance for meaningful and lasting change.

We continue to work to build the Beloved Community of all people, regardless of race, regardless of economic condition, regardless of sexual preference or gender identity, and of other seeming differences.  The differences among us are not categories for separation; they only serve to show the amazing variations and possibilities of the human race.   Seeing, understanding, and appreciating different realities and experiences is the major goal for achieving the transformational power of the Beloved Community.

The UULMNJ will continue to address the dismantling of racism on every issue and in all aspects of its activity.  We ask that the New Jersey Unitarian Universalist Congregations we serve join us in this endeavor.

The Boards of
The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey
The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey Public Policy Network
April 14, 2015

Join us in Trenton on November 16, 2015!

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Close to three hundred people gathered at Christ Episcopal Church on Tuesday evening, August 11, 2015. They came to hear a panel of experts discuss race, mass incarceration, and the role of faith in addressing these issues.

Read more and watch Senator Booker’s keynote address.

Cory Booker Town Hall

Million People’s March Against Police Brutality, Racial Injustice, and Income Inequality

150 Unitarian Universalists from 14 congregations showed their support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement in Newark on July 25, 2015. Executive Director, Rev. Craig Hirshberg was one of several leaders asked to speak at the rally.

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Learn more about this event.

 

 

 

 

2nd Annual New Jersey MUUsic Festival

by UU FA Office

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Join in a celebration of our faith, equality, compassion and justice through song. Music ensembles from congregations across the state will showcase their finest and come together for a UU All-State performance!Our 2nd Annual event will be at the UU Congregation of Monmouth County in Lincroft, just off the Parkway.

Last year 6 congregations participated with close to 100 performers. This year we will have 13 congregations represented with nearly 150 musicians! You won’t want to miss this inspiring event!

button buy tix
Tickets go on sale February 12 and seats are limited!

Do you have a company or service you would like to advertise? Would you like to send a congratulations to your congregation’s choir for their performance or say farewell to a minister or staff member? Ad space is available until February 19. Download an ad rate card here.

2016 Participants

Unitarian Church in Summit

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Somerset Hills

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair

Morristown Unitarian Fellowship

Central Unitarian Church, Paramus

Unitarian Universalist Ocean County Congregation

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton

First Unitarian Society of Plainfield

Unitarian Society, East Brunswick

Dorothea Dix Unitarian Universalist Community

Watch last year’s MUUsic Festival

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ACTION ALERT: Emergency Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities

by UU FA Office

Welcome to the new legislative session!

Advocates from across New Jersey have been working with Senate President Sweeney to respond to the ongoing problems created by the termination of the extended Emergency Assistance program for individuals with disabilities. On January 28, the Anti Poverty Network; Steve Leder, Senior Attorney from the Community Health Law Project; and Staci Berger, President and CEO of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, stood with Senate President Sweeney as he announced his proposed legislation to address this issue and provide a permanent housing solution for the state’s most vulnerable residents.

The proposed legislation will be heard in the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee this Thursday, February 4. We need your help to make sure the bill moves forward:

  1. Please email and/or call members of the Senate committee. You may email individually or send a message to the entire committee.

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Here is a sample message: I’m a voter in New Jersey and I’m calling to urge you to vote in favor of Senate President Sweeney’s Emergency Assistance bill which will ensure that individuals with long-term disabilities are not pushed into homelessness as the result of arbitrary time limits on housing aid. This bill represents an important protection against the devastations of poverty and I hope you will support it. Thank you. 

  1. Come to the committee hearing and show your support for this legislation! The committee meets at 11 am on February 4, in Committee Room 4, First Floor, State House Annex, in Trenton. I will be there to represent the Unitarian Universalist community and hope to see you there.

43 Years After Roe, What Has Changed?

by UU FA Office

Forty-three years ago today, the Supreme Court issued a momentous ruling – Roe v. Wade – which enshrined in law the right to choose whether to have an abortion, recognizing that the decision to continue or end a pregnancy was best left between a woman and her doctor.

The majority of Americans still believe that women and their families – not government – are best placed to make this very personal decision.

Yet since 1973, political restrictions have eroded women’s ability to decide if, when, and how to build a family, and imperiled women’s health in the process.

These include regulations that claim to improve patient safety but actually do not and laws that force doctors to lie to their patients against their own medical knowledge and judgment. As a result, clinics are closing around the country, even in progressive states.

Even worse, lawmakers in some states have outlawed both private and government insurance coverage for abortion, even when a woman’s health is in danger, or she has survived rape or incest. Restrictions on abortion coverage disproportionately affect low-income women, women of color, immigrant women, and young women, who are less likely to have access. They are also already disadvantaged in their access to the resources, information, and services necessary to prevent an unintended pregnancy or to carry a healthy pregnancy to term.

When women don’t have access to safe, legal abortion, they take matters into their own hands, which can be dangerous. In Texas, which has some of the country’s toughest anti-abortion laws, new research estimates that 22% of women have either tried to induce their own abortion, or know someone who has.

To those who would deny the health implications of overturning Roe, in 1965, 17% of all pregnancy-related deaths in the US were caused by illegal abortion, and the rates were even higher for poor women and women of color.

The EACH Woman Act, introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), with over seventy Congressional Co-Sponsors, is trying to change this. It ensures abortion coverage for every woman, no matter how much she earns or how she is insured.

It would prevent politicians from interfering with decisions that are best left to women and their doctors, and bar political meddling with the choices of private health insurance companies.

We stand in support of these brave Members of Congress, alongside over thirty women’s health, rights, and justice organizations from around the country who have supported the EACH woman act.

Every woman should have coverage for a full range of pregnancy-related care, including abortion. When health programs cover birth control and abortion – not just childbirth – people can plan if and when to have children. That’s good for them and for society as a whole.

 

Co-authors

New Jersey Abortion Access Fund

District 5 Coalition for Change

North Jersey People for Progress

District 4 Coalition for Change

Reproductive Justice Committee of The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood

National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section

NOW-NJ

Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey

Northern NJ NOW

Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ

 

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Video courtesy of ACLU-National

ACTION ALERT: Bills for Criminal Justice, Immigration Reform, Environmental Protection and Afford Housing!

by UU FA Office

Dear Friends,

With the holidays quickly approaching there is a race to pass important bills before the current legislative session expires. Your action is needed to ensure that legislation UU task forces have worked on this year don’t expire along with the session. Bills will be coming up for a vote very soon, some tomorrow, from many of our task forces. Contact your elected representatives today!

State Senate President Steve Sweeney will post S2444, the Renewable Energy Transition Act (RETA) for a floor vote on Thursday, December 17. S2444 is the Renewable Energy Transition Act (RETA).  As amended by the Senate environment and energy committee, RETA establishes new “Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).  These require each electric power supplier to annually increase the percentage of renewable energy — notably solar electric — within the mix of power being produced and sold by year 2050 80% of electric energy consumed in the state is provided by renewable energy sources.  Write your senator for support.

S2806 is up for a Senate vote this Thursday, Dec. 17. This bill removes the ban on NJ General Assistance grants to former drug offenders. UULMNJ provided testimony in support of this bill on December 10. Read the testimony here then write your senator and ask them to support S2806.

 

S1771/A4576 requires the lowest possible cost for inmate telephone calls from all State and county correctional facilities and immigrant detention centers.  This reforms the price gouging of a captive clientele, often far from family and with no recourse.  This bill is due for a vote in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday, December 21 before it can reach the Senate floor. Ask your senator to support this bill.

S1279/A2325 makes a FY 2016 supplemental Grants-in-Aid appropriation of $10,000,000 to the Department of Community Affairs. The Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund provides funding to address lead-based paint in New Jersey in a comprehensive and focused manner. Ask your representatives to protect New Jersey’s children from dangerous lead poisoning.

 

Another bill that may see action is S2399/A3989, requiring every NJ State, county and municipal law enforcement officer to wear a body camera.  This important bill has been buried under the radar for well over a year and is now up for a vote in the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee on Jan. 7.  We believe this bill is insufficient as stands and are in conversation with Senator Ray Lesniak to make revisions. We will keep you updated as there is progress.

Thank you for your continued dedication to ensuring that the voice of Unitarian Universalism is heard in New Jersey.

In Faith,

Rev. Craig Hirshberg

Executive Director, UULMNJ

2015 Top 10 UULMNJ Moments

by UU FA Office

It has been a red letter year for UULMNJ! Despite a fairly inactive legislative year, the Legislative Ministry remained hands on in advocating for a more just New Jersey. Take a look at some of our Top 10 Moments of 2015:

Joint Boards Release Statement Dismantling Racism

The UULMNJ is committed to the Black Lives Matter movement and to ending the systematic oppression faced by people of color in our country and the State of New Jersey. In this we are motivated by the moral imperative of our covenant to affirm and promote the principles that are the uniting basis of our faith community.

Calling for Paid Sick Leave for All

Thanks to the unwavering resolve of our coalition partners, we were able to secure passage of landmark legislation including Paid Family Leave and the minimum wage increase.

A Celebration of our Faith, Equality, Compassion and Justice Through Song

The 1st Annual New Jersey MUUsic Festival at Morristown Unitarian Fellowship benefited the work of the Legislative Ministry. Over 100 musicians participated in the first ever NJ UU All-State Ensemble in March.

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NJ Supreme Court Decision on Affordable Housing

In March, the New Jersey Supreme Court reaffirmed that no town in New Jersey may exclude working families, low-income seniors, and people with special needs.

Standing with Planned Parenthood for Reproductive Justice

In June, our Reproductive Justice Task Force made a statement of support for Planned Parenthood after vicious attacks hit the media. UULMNJ also allied with Planned Parenthood for a Legislative Summit at the State House with Sen. Loretta Weinberg.

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Bipartisan Heroin Treatment Bill Passes

Our Criminal Justice Reform Task Force had a busy year which included work on juvenile justice, solitary confinement, and this bill for medication assisted treatment of heroin addiction.

March Against Police Brutality in Newark

1,500 people showed up in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in July. 150 UUs represented 14 congregations from across the state.

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Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Domestic Gun Violence

Executive Director, Rev. Craig Hirshberg, met with Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and other lawmakers to discuss legislation to protect women and children from domestic abusers with firearms.

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Rev. Craig Hirshberg Joins Criminal Justice Panel with Senator Cory Booker

Seeking to cut government spending on incarcerating non-violent criminals, Senator Booker calls on his colleagues to “redirect resources into community policing and public defense” and a radical expansion of federally funded human services programs.

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First NJ Legislative Hearing on the Legalization of Marijuana

Rev. Hirshberg was the only clergy to testify in this closed Senate Judiciary hearing. She is seen below with NJ-NAACP president Richard Smith, ACLU-NJ executive director Udi Ofer, and President of the New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutor’s Association, Jon Henry Barr at a pre-hearing press conference.

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Providing Testimony in Support of S2806

by UU FA Office

Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey In Support of S2806

Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

December 10, 2015

 

Thank you for the opportunity to address this Committee in support of S2806.  My name is Deb Ellis and I am testifying on behalf of Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ), who unfortunately could not be here today. I represent Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout the State of New Jersey.  As people of faith, we believe that the exclusion of people with drug convictions from the opportunity to participate in Work First New Jersey General Assistance program is a violation of a just and democratic society. The exclusions conflicts with basic Unitarian Universalist moral values including: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice and equity; and compassion in human relations.

As Unitarian Universalists, the first principle of our faith is our belief that each individual has inherent worth and dignity. “Inherent” means that the worth of an individual does not have to be earned – it is present in each of us. As a consequence, we strongly believe that the General Assistance exclusion should be repealed because individuals who have been convicted of drug offenses have the same worth and dignity as all other people and thus should have the same opportunity to become productive citizens once they have repaid their debt to society. Under current law, people are disqualified from receiving General Assistance if they have been convicted of distributing even small amounts of marijuana. When we make mistakes, each of us deserves a second chance and the opportunity to rebuild our lives through participation in work programs like Work First New Jersey.

Second, we support S2806 because justice and equity are central to our Unitarian Universalist faith. Our belief that the “Beloved Community” must be realized through human effort requires our attention to how we share the wealth of our planet. We believe that there is a societal obligation to ensure that all people are able to obtain for themselves and their families the basic material needs of food, shelter, and safety. This Legislature’s action in 1997 to exclude from General Assistance benefits only those individuals who had drug convictions was part of the now discredited War on Drugs which resulted in mass incarceration and deprivation of civil and human rights for millions of U. S. citizens. Moreover, the War on Drugs extremely disproportionately focused on people of color. As people of faith, we believe that in order to have a just society, every part of the War on Drugs must now be remedied. Enacting S2806 is an important step in dismantling the injustices of the War on Drugs.

Our final reason for supporting S2806 is our Unitarian Universalist faith belief in compassion in human relations. As you know, S2806 would enable individuals with drug convictions to be eligible for the extremely low cash benefit of General Assistance (capped at $140 per month or $210 per month for those unable to work). Even though the amount is low, being able to receive General Assistance can literally be the difference between life and death, being sheltered or homeless. This is because recipients who are homeless or might become homeless can also receive Emergency Assistance, which can be used to pay for shelter stays and rental assistance. Without this help, many excluded individuals are forced to live in tent cities, abandoned buildings, or become institutionalized in hospitals or jails.

When the General Assistance exclusion was adopted in 1997, individuals with drug convictions were also excluded from food stamps and medical care. However, the rules for NJ’s Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program programs have been changed so that individuals with drug convictions have access to the life-saving assistance of food and health care. As the winter cold descends and in celebration of the holiday season, isn’t it time to also give these individuals access to shelter and the chance to rebuild their lives by participating in Work First New Jersey? As Unitarian Universalists, we believe so.

For all these reasons, I urge you to support S2806. Thank you for your attention.