Contact justice@uusaratoga.org for more information
- What’s Up with this Sign?
And a follow up from the Social Justice Team’s Coffee Chat on 4/6/25
I.C.E. and Our Role as a Sanctuary Space
When you return to our Meeting House, you will see this sign attached to the outside of the back door on the lower level and on the door from the sanctuary leading to the steps downstairs.
As you know, on January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded a Biden-era policy that protected certain areas—such as churches, school, and hospitals—from immigration enforcement, replacing it with an unreleased directive that gives ICE agents power to take enforcement actions in any of these spaces using so-called “common sense.” As a result, UUA joined 26 Jewish and Christian denominations in a lawsuit challenging this rescission: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/immigration-lawsuit-unitarian-universalist-association
UUA sent every congregation a list of guidelines to follow, which included identifying private vs public spaces in our building. Anyone has access to the public area, but ICE agents must have a judicial warrant to enter the private area. These signs mark our private areas in the building – everything except the sanctuary.
At the Coffee Chat on Sunday, April 6, Lucy Manning and Mark Long reviewed our status and shared suggestions on how to move forward as individuals and as a conjugation. Lucy reviewed the immigration lawsuit, the congregational resolution passed on april 9, 2017 , and explained the posting of the sign featured above.
<ark shared ideas on how to act/react during these challenging times including:
Be Informed
- Pay attention to local activity (ICE in Public Poster)
- Avoid TV news – shocking statements raise anxiety, are often retracted or reversed
- Find reliable analyses, commentary, look for recent and updated reports.
Join a Group
- Saratoga Immigration Coalition (SIC) – new members welcomed, or
Sign up for SIC’s weekly E-News list of upcoming social justice events
- Social Justice Social Hour – fourth Thursdays at Frederick Allen Lodge, 6-7:00pm
Vamos Todos Juntos! (Let’s All Go Together!)
- Engaging with allies helps us support and encourage each other
- Raise Hell! Write, call, and boy/girlcott
Take Care of Yourself
- Avoid Unnecessary Stress
- Get outside and appreciate nature, AKA “The Real World”
- Seek Inspiration – Books/Music/TV/Movies
Here are links to resources to help you remain informed and get involved!
Saratoga Immigration Coalition
Co-Leaders: Terry Diggory/Maxine Lautenberg
Website (OLF): https://www.ourlodgefoundation.org/sic
Phone/text: (518) 306 – 1313
email: SaratogaImmigration@gmail.com
UUCSS Liaison: Mark Long
Phone/text: 518-316-9740
email: 19abrican@gmail.com
Immigration Enforcement Action: What Churches need to know (UCC):
https://www.ucc.org/immigration-enforcement-action-what-churches-need-to-know/
ICE and Immigration Enforcement – Things You Should Know (UUA):
https://www.uua.org/leaderlab/ice-agents?fbclid=IwY2xjawIa9AZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTY8y9MFqXvYTGVbmq1oN_yc9zdzfWLg03f1qEdW48kcDSv4Ya-A1JSGww_aem_ltEB503ryBDBDNTosjGUOQ
Factsheet: Trump’s Recission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All (NILC): https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-02.25-Protected-Areas-Fact-Sheet-English_.pdf
- Social Justice needs a new Chair – or two or even three! Lucy Manning is stepping down in mid-May as chair of the Team and is eager and willing to share information about this opportunity. You will have a great team ready and willing to work which can provide a very rewarding experience. The position can easily be shared to lessen the workload for one person, please meet with Lucy to learn how that might happen. lucymnnng@gmail.com
- What’s next after April 5 HANDS OFF! protests?
Attend this Sunday’s Indivisible meeting and invite your friends. The only way to defeat the Trump/Musk devastation is to keep showing up bigger and louder through rallies, contacting elected officials, reaching out to voters and other pro-Democracy action. Start by registering for the Sunday Indivisible Saratoga/ADK meeting from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Milton Community Center, 310 Northline Rd in Ballston Spa. RSVP here. Note: you will receive a Zoom link with your confirmation, in case you’d prefer to join us virtually.
- It already passed the House.It’s up to the Senate to stop it. Please call your Senator!Help Stop the SAVE Act:
- New Movie Opportunity on May 3!
On Saturday, May 3rd at 3pm, we will present a screening of the new feature documentary film by Saratoga Springs resident Michael Wayne, How to Save Democracy.
How to Save Democracy is a film that looks at why democracy in the U.S. is struggling to survive. It looks at the roots of democracy, the periods when democracy has flourished and struggled, and how things can be restored to the true promise of what democracy holds.
The people interviewed in the film–Pulitzer Prize winners, journalists, authors, activists, constitutional scholars, and historians–all give depth and perspective on what it would take for the U.S. to realize the true aspirations of democracy.The film includes archival images and footage from the 19th and 20th centuries, including talks and speeches by Franklin Delano Roosevelt that will be sure to truly inspire you.
While the times we live in right now seem dark, we can’t give up hope, and this film will surely give you that hope. It tells the story of where things went wrong, and shows how things can go right.
After the film showing, the filmmaker Michael Wayne will be joining us to have an open discussion about the film, answering questions, and discussing observations and any takeaways we may have about the film.
For more information about the film and to see the trailer, go to: https://savingdemocracyfilm.com/
- Save the Date for Movie Night on May 18
We will view a collection of short films, including animations, from the Climate Future Film Festival. Check their website for a preview: https://www.climatefuturefilm.com/host-the-festival/
- NY public schools tell Trump administration they won’t comply with DEI
order. New York state officials have told the Trump administration that they will not comply with its demands to end diversity, equity and inclusion practices in public schools, despite the administration’s threats to terminate federal education funding. Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel and deputy commissioner of the state Department of Education, said in a letter dated Friday to the federal Education Department that state officials do not believe the federal agency has the authority to make such demands.
“We understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion,’” he wrote. “But there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI.” From AP News. Note: On March 27, the School Board of Saratoga Springs Central School District voted 7-1 with one abstention for a resolution reaffirming the district’s DEI policy. According to Saratoga Today, news of the resolution attracted national attention in the days preceding the vote, when the popular conservative X account “Libs of TikTok” accused the Saratoga Springs School District of supporting “radical gender ideology” in a post that garnered more than 237,000 views. The account also retweeted a post from [a local conservative blog] that listed the names and emails of Saratoga School Board members.
- Weekly Action Updates from Side With Love
https://sidewithlove.org/action-center-updates/2025/4/8/040825-action-center-weekly-updatenbsp
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IN THE COMMUNITY
- Sunday, April 13, noon – 5:00 pm. Read-In to Support Libraries. Show up for libraries by showing up AT your library! All day today, stop in the library and read for at least an hour. We’ll have cookies, comfy chairs, and plenty of reading material to choose from–from novels to magazines to audiobooks (please B.Y.O.H.: bring your own headphones). Fill out a library testimonial card explaining why libraries are important to you and grab some resources explaining how to support your local library (even if it’s not us). Please be sure to check the parking restrictions for the library lot and the surrounding streets and city lots! No registration required. At Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St.
- Attend this Skidmore Event
Please note and share this direct link for registering: https://sspl.libcal.com/event/13317040…
Register now to secure your spot on the bus and a lobby team! We’re going to have a powerful day:
- Meeting with target legislators
- Rallying with advocates and legislative champions of our bill
- Educating folks on the importance of the bill
Lunch and transportation from NYC and WNY will be provided!
We’ll have two orientation sessions on April 23rd @ 6:30PM and April 24th @ 12PM — to cover all details and assign folks to lobby teams, but please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
- . The Saratoga Area Welcome Circle (SAWC) is pleased to
announce that they were assigned a family of 6 from Afghanistan earlier this week and they just arrived after midnight very early Thursday!
The Mohsini family of 6 consists of Ihsanullah (M) and Shamim (F) and
their children Maihan (M) -8, Azin Sama (F)-4, Shahryar (M)-2 and Hasti (F) -just 2 weeks old.
Ihsanullah has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, reads and writes English proficiently and Shamim has 4 years study in law, speaks a little English. Ihsan is eager to be self-sufficient and looking for work doing anything. If you know of any opportunities, please let Lucy Manning know at lucymnnng@gmail.com ASAP!
They have a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) which has been issued to Afghan allies of the US, Afghans who worked in Afghanistan for the US government, and can no longer live in safety in Afghanistan as they are direct targets of the Taliban. These visa holders are among the few still being allowed to legally immigrate and arrive with green cards and work authorization.
The refugee family previously assigned had their flight canceled and there is no current path for them to immigrate to our country. Unfortunately, information about their present circumstances is not available and we can only hope and pray for their safety.
- SARATOGA IMMIGRATION COALITION EMERGENCY FUND
As “mass deportation” rips workers out of our community and tears families apart, SIC has re-launched the GoFundMe site to receive donations to meet immediate needs of our immigrant neighbors, in small amounts, enough to pay for a month’s rent, weekly groceries, or other daily needs while longer-term solutions are sought. Referrals come from service providers and faith leaders at work in the community, who in many cases are already familiar with the circumstances of those in need. And the fund is designed to serve the community well known to SIC, primarily Saratoga, Washington and Warren Counties.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-saratoga-area-immigrants
or search for “Saratoga immigrants” on GoFundMe homepage https://www.gofundme.com/ .