MUUSJN
Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network
Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network
At MUUSJN, we are committed to bringing about meaningful change in our society
Join us for these two events that will challenge your perspective and empower you to be a force for change.
End Cash Bail, taking place this Monday, January 8 from 7-8:30 PM, will explore the impact of cash bail and the unjust criminal justice system that disproportionately punishes low-income communities and communities of color. Rubina Mustafa, Senior Staff Attorney with the Detroit Justice Center will also discuss strategies for ending this system.
Decolonize Your Mind, taking place on January 30 from 7-8:30 PM, will examine the harmful effects of white settler colonialism on Native Americans. Jaike Spotted Wolf and Bronson Herman will share personal and historical stories and offer ways to decolonize our thinking and become a source of reconciliation.
Don’t miss out on these incredible opportunities to learn, grow, and take action.
For more info contact: Jennifer Teed, jennifer.a.teed@gmail.com
Click here to register for Decolonize Your Mind
Click here to register for End Cash Bail
Mobilized our statewide network to advocate to:
Here are some tips for making sure your vote is counted:
FIND OUT WHAT’S ON YOUR BALLOT — KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
When the MVRA (SB 401- 404) was introduced on June 22nd, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson offered high praise for this legislation. Benson said “we are in a multi-year, multi-faceted battle for the future of our democracy”. The Michigan Voting Rights Act builds on the 1965 federal Voting Rights Act that outlawed discrimination in voting practices. These bills strengthen and expand access to voting rights overwhelmingly adopted as Proposal 2 in November 2022.
Here are key provisions of the Michigan Voting Rights Act (MVRA):
This legislation has been referred to the Senate Elections and Ethics Committee chaired by Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield). These bills need our support.
Urge Him to Hold a Hearing on and Adopt the MVRA for the reasons listed above
Urge Her to Make this Bill a Priority for Action
It’s been a busy year for justice-making and the work continues.
We are excited to announce a $4k Matching Grant Challenge. The Unitarian Universalist Funding Program will match all contributions to MUUSJN up to a total of $4,000. Your support will go twice as far in creating positive change!
Donate Today. Click here or scan the QR Code, then click the Donate button to pay via PayPal or credit or debit card.
Spread the word: Help us reach our match goal by sharing this challenge with fellow members of your faith community and justice loving family, colleagues and friends. Post on your social media to rally your network.
Thank you for being a driving force in the fight for justice.
Together we can do great things!
Whether you and your congregation are new to the process of becoming welcoming or if you have been inclusive for many years, this day-long conference is for you. Whether you barely tune in to the news or are a news junky, this conference will give you what you need to be informed on current concerns that have a direct impact on the congregations we serve. This is the conversation you’ve been waiting for!
“Pursuing Inclusive Justice: Crisis of the Moment, Impact for the Movement” is an opportunity to connect with other progressive religious leaders throughout the state to build strategy and network on issues that threaten to divide congregations and strip fundamental rights from targeted communities. Inclusive Justice of Michigan is a coalition of welcoming congregations dedicated to improving inclusion to LGBTQ individuals and families. Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) is a statewide network of UU congregations and allies who work together to create a more just and caring world.
This will be a hybrid conference – both in person and online. Our Keynote Presenter will be Rabbi Alana Chaya Alpert (she/her) of Congregation T’chiyah and the Founding Director of Detroit Jews for Justice. We will offer workshops on the “Best Practices of Inclusion” and “Pursing Sacred Activism.” Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is free for those attending online and $10 per person for our in-person guests (with scholarships available).
Abortion rights were added to the Michigan Constitution last fall.
Now legislators need to protect these rights in 2023
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) and its Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition, along with a broad range of organizations such as the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NARAL and Inclusive Justice, offered their support for the Michigan Reproductive Health Act (RHA) when the Michigan Health Policy Committee met last week on September 21, 2023. The Health Policy Committee gave notice today that it will meet tomorrow morning and the Reproductive Health Act is on their agenda.
So I’m asking for your immediate help of making two phone calls:
to the Committee Clerk and to your State Representative (see above).
(Just leave a message if no one answers the phone.)
Our Coalition believes strongly that all women should be treated with respect and dignity. Their freedom to choose an abortion should not be limited by their income or by policies that reduce access to health care. Here are examples how the RHA will take down barriers to women’s choice that still exist even though abortion rights were added to the Michigan Constitution:
For more information on the Reproductive Health Act, click HERE.
Passage in the House Health Policy Committee is a first step in adopting legislation to assure that Michigan women and their families can exercise their right to accessible, affordable abortions regardless of their income or where they live.
Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) has been advocating for an increase in the minimum wage in Michigan for several years as part of a MI Time to Care coalition in partnership with the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan and the Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan (EJAM).
Now we need your help!
Collectively, we have been fighting in courts to restore a raise in the minimum wage to about $12/hour and to eliminate the subminimum wage that’s now only $3.84 per hour plus tips. UU’s and other advocates helped collect enough signatures to get this proposal on the ballot in 2018.
However, this proposal was gutted by an “adopt and amend” dirty trick tactic during a lame duck session of the legislature. This case is going to the Michigan Supreme Court this fall.
By sharing real worker’s stories through news media and other media outlets, the MI Time to Care Coalition can increase the urgency of raising the minimum wage. For more information on the campaign to get the minimum wage raised by the Michigan Supreme Court ) click HERE.
BACKGROUND
On Saturday, August 26th, a young man in his 20’s deliberately shot three Black people at a dollar store in Jacksonville, Florida. This young man, according to declarations he sent to his father and swastikas on his AR-15 rifle, indicated that he identified as Nazi who hated Black people. This disgusting racial hatred and the willingness to use violence is a sign there’s a sickness in our society. It deeply violates our religious values of love and respect for the dignity of all people. There are things we can do to address this sickness
Assault weapons are considered to be the weapons of choice of those who wish kill large numbers of people in a short amount of time. As of this August, there were over 470 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
In Michigan, there has been progress in adopting gun violence prevention laws that some other states would envy: expanding background checks; requiring safe storage of guns; and red flag laws that restrict people who are a danger to themselves and others from having a gun. However, a ban on assault weapons, that has the potential to keep dangerous guns out of the hands of dangerous people. It’s a reform that should be adopted in Michigan and at the national level.
President Joe Biden has repeatedly urged Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons. An assault weapons ban has been adopted in 10 states: Delaware, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington and Washington DC. Assault Weapons Ban bills were introduced in both the U.S. House and the Senate in 2023. You are urged to contact Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow to advocate for passage of S. 25. Along with 41 other senators, they are co-sponsors of this legislation.
Individuals would be allowed to sell existing assault weapons but only after the completion of a Brady Background Check.