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The Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, Maine, recently announced that it would lead a March for Our Lives: Belfast rally on Saturday, March 24. This event is one of nearly 600 satellite marches planned across the United States and in several countries abroad. The marches are an effort to call attention to deadly gun violence in America and urge legislators to take up gun reform measures. ( Republican Journal- 3.2.18)
Learn more about the March for Our Lives.
Strengthening the sanctuary network
On International Womens Day, four women currently living in sanctuary in Colorado launched a joint campaign to ask members of their community to endorse a resolution that could provide state lawmakers a blueprint for policy change. “We realized that uniting would give more strength to the movement,” says Ingrid Encalada Latorre, who has been living in sanctuary in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder since mid-December. ( Boulder Weekly- 3.8.18)
The Saratoga Immigration Coalition recently received grant funding from Church World Service to support its work advocating for immigrants in the Saratoga Springs area. The Coalition formed in June 2017 when the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs and the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church committed to supporting the sanctuary movement. The coalition hopes to use the funds to help inform immigrants in their community about local services available to them. ( Albany Times-Union- 3.7.18)
Banners still going up and still being vandalized
In Vermont, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington recently raised a Black Lives Matter Banner for the first time. Zoe Hart, justice and outreach lay leader in the congregation, affirmed that, “in keeping with our mission to act for justice, we are putting up a Black Lives Matter banner to express our commitment to and support of local racial justice organizations led by people of color and working to dismantle racism in our community.” ( VT Digger- 3.6.18)
Although dismayed by vandalism to the Black Lives Matter sign outside of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst, New York, last year, many in the community have come together in response. Many local places of worship have even put up a quote from Unitarian founder Francis Dávid that reads, “We need not think alike to love alike.” ( WBFO 88.7- 3.9.18)