Media roundup: Iowa UUs raise thousands for National Mama’s Bail Out Day

Media roundup: Iowa UUs raise thousands for National Mama’s Bail Out Day

A weekly guide to stories about Unitarian Universalists from other media sources.

Rachel Walden

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Members of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City in Coralville, Iowa, pledged $5,000 to National Mama’s Bail Out Day, an initiative to help mothers who otherwise would spend Mother’s Day in jail because they cannot afford bail. Congregation member Alison Oliver credits leadership of color for pushing the action, noting that the quick turnaround time demanded by the call carried an important lesson: it demanded that activists be “more immediately, urgently, responsive, and not spend weeks and months planning and deliberating.” ( Little Village– 5.14.17)

Learn more about the Mama’s Bail Out Day campaign.

Learn more about the #UUWhiteSupremacyTeachIn.

UUs protest Trump’s visit to U.S. Coast Guard Academy

The Rev. Carolyn Patierno of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation in New London, Connecticut, helped organize the protest of President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation. Patierno said of the protest: “We want to emphasize that, in addition to our disagreement with this administration, we also want to honor graduates for all they have accomplished. Our issue is not with the cadets but with the commencement speaker.” ( The Day– 5.16.17)

More coverage:

“Controversy stirs as anti-Trump protest gears up” ( NBC 10 News– 5.16.17)

New Zealand Unitarians continue supporting Indian deportees

When Indian-born students studying in New Zealand discovered that some of their immigration papers had been forged and they were under imminent threat of deportation, they sought sanctuary in the Auckland Unitarian Church in Newton, Auckland. Although the church’s public witness efforts initially garnered some support for letting the students stay in the country, most of them eventually chose to leave the country voluntarily. The congregation continues to support the students financially and emotionally now that they are back in India. ( Stuff.co.nz– 5.14.17)

Donations to support the students can be made through Givealittle.co.nz.

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