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Arizona, Not in My Backyard

1 Comment | Share On Facebook| Arizona, Not in My Backyard May 06, 2010

The message below went out to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. Sign-up for these emails here.

Dear Friend,

Immigration in the United States isn’t about what happens on Capitol Hill, it is about my neighborhood.

Not long ago, the Virginia county in which I serve as minister, enacted among this country’s strongest mandates for local enforcement of federal immigration law. County law enforcement officials were deputized to check the immigration status of any citizen, just like in Arizona.

Don’t let this happen in your state, email your Governor now.

In a short time, my neighbors began to fear one another and the police. Children living on the same block with different national origins started to wonder if they should even play together. Law enforcement officers feared that they would be rendered incapable of doing their jobs underneath the additional burden.

I know that local enforcement of federal immigration law tears communities apart. I have seen it with my own eyes, and both my neighbors and I are still afraid.

But change is possible.

Neighbors and law enforcement officers spoke out and our local mandate was challenged in court. In the end, the mandate was moderated in compliance with federal law. Now, our community is slowly healing.

Take action, do what you can, make sure what happened in my neighborhood doesn’t happen in yours.

Love,
Nancy

Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists

P.S. At least seven other states are already considering similar legislation to the Arizona law. Thankfully, there are statewide efforts in 12 states to build a more welcoming America.

Because love knows no borders

No Comments | Share On Facebook| Because love knows no borders May 04, 2010

Karin Lin is a member of First Parish in Cambridge Unitarian Universalist, and helps lead the congregation’s Standing on the Side of Love Campaign.

Throughout most of my life, I wasn’t much of a demonstrator. I was raised to be a quiet kid who followed all the rules and tried her best never to make trouble. I used to associate marches and rallies with extremism and fanaticism, and anything that smacked of groupthink made me nervous. But since moving back to the East Coast and joining First Parish in Cambridge, I’ve found myself attending these events with greater frequency and looking at them with new eyes. Trying to effect change means breaking the rules—it’s often hard, scary, and lonely. It’s important for us to know we’re not alone, and it’s important for us to speak for those who cannot. There is power in numbers.

So it was an amazing experience to be with my fellow justice-seekers last Saturday as we joined with thousands of immigrants, workers, and allies to march from Everett City Hall to Chelsea City Hall and onto LoPresti Park in East Boston. Boston and Chelsea are both sanctuary cities and part of Welcoming Massachusetts with Everett’s city council considering the resolutions. A sharp contrast to the situation in Arizona, where an anti-immigrant bill was just signed into law by the governor. It was a beautiful May Day and the sun shone throughout the four hour march and rally. People lined the streets cheering and waving and motorists honked their cars, raised their fists and blew us kisses. Our contingent, which included other UUs from congregations in Medford, Jamaica Plain, Wellesley, and Community and Arlington Street Churches, was carrying a large banner proclaiming Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrant Families. We were continuously greeted with applause, cheers, and smiles. Members of Interfaith Worker Justice and the New Sanctuary Movement marched with us as well as other folks who joined up on the spot. I was so proud to be in the company of so many wonderful, beautiful, and courageous people.

At the rally, our minister, Rev. Fred Small, said, “Love knows no borders. Love is one. And we are one—all of us: one people, one life, one heart (full remarks here).”

And Fred, along with the Rev. Alan Juárez, pastor of Iglesia Cristiana Nueva Vida, spoke a litany, in part praying for Arizona immigrants, “Pero en especial queremos recordar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Arizona que están pasando por la peor discriminación racial y penalidad en la historia del Estado de Arizona. And especially for our brothers and sisters in Arizona living in fear of arrest and prosecution under racially discriminatory legislation (full litany here).”

As the daughter of immigrants myself, it meant so much to be standing with my faith community in solidarity with the immigrant community. It’s especially in hard times that people on the margins get scapegoated and so it’s more important than ever to get the message out that what we need now is policies that help people, not harm them. So yes, call me a fanatic—for justice. Call me an extremist—for compassion. Because love knows no borders; that’s why my congregation is standing on the side of love with immigrant families.

Rev. Small’s May Day remarks and litany

No Comments | Share On Facebook| Rev. Small’s May Day remarks and litany May 04, 2010

Rev. Fred Small delivered these remarks on May Day after marching with thousands of others through Everett, Chelsea and East Boston.

I am Rev. Fred Small, Senior Minister of First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, a multifaith, spirit-filled congregation devoted to love and justice. This September my church will welcome as our new Associate Minister Rev. Lilia Cuervo, our first Latina minister. I bring greetings also from the Unitarian Universalist Association and its president Rev. Peter Morales, our first Latino president.

Soy el Reverendo Fred Small. Soy el Ministro Decano de la First Parish en Cambridge, Unitaria Universalista. Somos una congregación con muchas creencias, llena del espíritu y dedicada al amor y a la justicia. El próximo septiembre damos la bienvenida a la Reverenda Lilia Cuervo como nuestra primera ministra latina. También traigo saludos de la Asociación Unitaria Universalista y de su presidente, el Reverendo Peter Morales, nuestro primer presidente latino.

Unitarian Universalists stand on the side of love, because love does not take sides. Love knows no borders. Love is one. And we are one—all of us: one people, one life, one heart.

Los Unitarios Universalistas toman partido por el amor, porque el amor no toma partidos. El amor no conoce fronteras. El amor es uno. Y nosotros somos uno—todos nosotros: un pueblo, una vida, un corazón.

Rev. Small and Rev. Juarez

Rev. Small and Rev. Alan Juárez, pastor of Iglesia Cristiana Nueva Vida, spoke this litany:

We invite you into a moment of silent reverence:

Por todos los inmigrantes que murieron tratando de cruzar la frontera

For immigrants who have lost their lives trying to cross the border

Por los obreros que han muerto en accidentes de trabajo

For immigrants injured on the job because of unsafe conditions

Por los soldados ciudadanos e inmigrantes que han muerto durante la guerra

For immigrant citizens and soldiers who have given their lives for this country on the battlefield

Queremos también recordar a todos los estudiantes jóvenes inmigrantes que son el futuro de nuestras comunidades y a quienes todavía se les niega el acceso a la educación universitaria en Massachusetts

For young immigrant students still struggling for access to higher education in Massachusetts

Las familias que sufren las consecuencias de las redadas que conduce la migra en nuestras comunidades

For immigrant families suffering the consequences of ICE raids in our communities

Los obreros que están demandado Justicia en los Supermercados Shaws

For the workers demanding justice from Shaw’s Supermarkets

Las victimas de desalojo y embargo que han perdido su propiedades

For all the homeowners and tenants who are losing their homes in the foreclosure crisis

Pero en especial queremos recordar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Arizona que están pasando por la peor discriminación racial y penalidad en la historia del Estado de Arizona.

And especially for our brothers and sisters in Arizona living in fear of arrest and prosecution under racially discriminatory legislation.

On the ground in Arizona

5 Comments | Share On Facebook| On the ground in Arizona Apr 27, 2010

The beautiful skies belied the concerns of the 3000 persons gathered in front of the Arizona Capitol on Sunday, April 25th.  Two days earlier Governor Brewer signed SB 1070 bringing tears of disbelief and causing anxiety about the future of our state.  Will Arizona be a state which will tolerate this hateful and wrongheaded law that stigmatizes people of color or accent, deprives liberties and divides communities?  The diverse crowd answered with a resounding NO.
 
Speakers from inside and outside of Arizona addressed the crowd’s concerns.  Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon talked about the legal avenues being undertaken to fight the law.  Illinois Representative Luis Gutierrez brought words of encouragement that Washington hears our cries, but cautioned to keep the pressure up.