Randy Block « Standing On The Side Of Love

Estamos Listos: We Are Ready for Immigration Reform

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Feb 14, 2013

Immigration press conference in Detroit. MUUSJN director Randy Block at the far right.

Last month, the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) and people from three UU congregations took their big Standing on the Side of Love banners to participate in immigration reform press conferences across the state of Michigan. These events, organized by the Alliance for Immigrant Rights, helped kick off a national immigration reform campaign. In Detroit and Lansing, our message of love was welcomed by media event organizers. Another press event was held in Kalamazoo, where UUs participate in an immigration reform coalition called the Michigan Organizing Project. These events were covered by the Detroit News, the Lansing State Journal, a local CBS affiliate, and other media.

At these events, hundreds of supporters gathered to ask Congress and the President to keep their promises and pass reform in 2013. Faith, community, union, social service, and elected leaders called on the President and Congress to support these important principles in a reform bill:

• Keep families together through a path to citizenship.
• Grant visas for family preference.
• Reunits the deported with their families.
• Create a worker program that serves families, not just employers.
• Enforcs humane treatment in the border and detention systems.
• Promote racial justice and an end to all discriminatory programs.
• Establish an Immigrant Integration Office.

This is just the beginning of our advocacy for compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform in 2013!

This post was contributed by Randy Block, director of the Michigan UU Social Justice Network.

Tags: Alliance for Immigrant Rights, comprehensive immigration reform, Detroit, immigrant families, immigrant justice, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Michigan, Michigan UU Social Justice Network, migrant rights, MUUSJN, Randy Block, undocumented immigrants

Witnessing for Justice in the Great Lakes State

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Sep 06, 2012

Randy Block, MUUSJN Director, at the public meeting in Bloomfield. Credit: Natasha Dado/TAAN

The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) has been hard at work witnessing for love justice in the Great Lakes State this summer.

On Tuesday evening, August 14th, a public meeting was held in Bloomfield Township to consider a proposal for a local Muslim Cultural Center. Though many attendees were opposed to the plan, MUUSJN mobilized activists from four Unitarian Universalist congregations to demonstrate on behalf of religious tolerance. They were part of an interfaith coalition that submitted testimony urging a local Planning Commission to make decisions based on respect for religious diveristy rather than Islamophobia.

Their witness received coverage in several newspapers, including this article in the Arab American News that showed real appreciation for the interfaith witness.

Wednesday, August 15th marked the first day that young, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children could apply for deferred action. That day, Unitarian Universalists in Detroit and Lansing displayed solidarity with young Dreamers and their allies by holding Standing on the Side of Love signs at press conferences held in each city. Several UUs also volunteered at special workshops to assist dreamers to determine their eligibility for deferred action status. The program allows young, undocumented immigrants to apply for work permits and gives them two years immunity from deportation.

Lansing Banner Dreamer Press Conf. 2012-08-15

Standing on the Side of Love with Dreamers outside Lansing's Cristo Rey congregation. Credit: Randy Block

MUUSJN Director Randy Block says of the event, “I was touched that Cindy Estrada, UAW International Vice President, asked if she could hold up my Standing on the Side of Love sign that said ‘Dreamers Deserve A Chance for the American Dream.’ Of course, I said yes.”

Tags: DACA, deferred action, DREAMers, immigrant justice, interfaith, interfaith solidarity, Islamophobia, Lansing, Michigan, Michigan UU Social Justice Network, MUUSJN, Randy Block, undocumented immigrants

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Passes Human Rights Ordinance

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Jul 17, 2012

Last week, the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan City Commission unanimously adopted a new human rights ordinance that would protect all people–including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people–from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The passage of the ordinance was the culmination of nearly two years of advocacy initiated by members of the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan. Members of UUFCM were involved in a variety of ways from signing the “Mt. Pleasant Welcome Petition” to attending City Commission meetings and speaking with their friends and family.

In the words of Randy Block, Director of the Michigan UU Social Justice Network:

“This important accomplishment is a direct result of the leadership skills and organizing of Norma Bailey and other activists at the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan. Norma organized an interfaith group to work on this campaign; she engaged community groups and communicated with the local City Commission every step of the way…Congratulations to the people at the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan and to the community of Mt. Pleasant!”

UUFCM members were also recognized in the local newspaper for their efforts to pass the ordinance. Thank you Norma Bailey and UUFCM members for your tireless work in pursuit of justice and equality for all!

Tags: equality, LGBT, LGBT rights, Michigan, Michigan UU Social Justice Network, Mount Pleasant, Norma Bailey, Randy Block, UU Fellowship of Central Michigan