JOIN US FOR THESE IMPORTANT SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES!
Contact justice@uusaratoga.org for more information
1. UU Common Read is here in March
The 2024-25 UU Common Read is Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families (Skinner House, 2023).
Discussion Series:
March 2, 9, 16, and 30. 6:30-8pm in sanctuary
1. A bill is being introduced in Congress to make the former ICE policy protecting “sensitive locations,” including churches, a matter of law. Please urge our representative to sponsor this bill.
Congressman Tonko use form at https://tonko.house.gov/contact/
Senator Schumer: use form at https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/message-chuck
Senator Gillibrand: use form at https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/email-me/
Dear [Name],
I’m reaching out to urge you to be an original cosponsor of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act of 2025, being introduced by Representative Espaillat and Senator Blumenthal. As a member of a sanctuary church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs in New York, this issue is very important to me.
Since 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Sensitive Locations policy, also known as the Protected Areas policy, prohibited immigration enforcement actions in places that provided vital services important to being. However, on January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded the Protected Areas policy and instead directed immigration officials to use “common sense” as it applies to immigration enforcement in previously protected areas.
The guidance on limiting enforcement in and near sensitive locations plays a critical role in providing immigrant families with a sense of security in places they access every day in order to thrive and contribute to their communities. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would codify policy that had been in place for over a decade, and once again provide immigrants with that sense of safety in places, such as health care facilities, schools, child care facilities, places of worship, and other places crucial for immigrants and their families to be able to access. It is imperative that Congress codify this policy into law so that future administrations cannot disregard those protections that
provide immigrant families safety.
For a one pager on the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act of 2025, and a list of over 500 organizations that have endorsed please click here.
To cosponsor or for any questions related to the bill please reach out to Mary Rogers (mary_rogers@judiciary-dem.senate.gov) or Nia Thomas (nia.thomas@mail.house.gov)
Thanks for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address (unless already supplied on form)]
2. Grieving Your Country: When Your Government Intentionally Goes Amoral
The grief we feel in this moment is real and can be overwhelming and
debilitating. The again U.S. President and his administration have pardoned and enabled violent insurrectionists, are actively working to instate male white supremacy, are attempting to erase transgender people from existence, and have a rapacious attitude toward the earth and its resources. And the list of horrors goes on. A community healing session will be led by Maureen Monaghan, LMSW (Retired), that will:
* acknowledge and describe the physical and emotional elements of grief.
* give people an opportunity to talk about the personal impact for them
* provide techniques on how to move past the very real sadness, anger, and frustration.
* provide personally motivated actions to resist and stop the madness
Maureen Monaghan, LMSW, facilitated bereavement groups for Albany Hospice for eight years. In 2005, she started working as a Bereavement counselor for Saratoga Hospice., facilitating multiple grief groups as well as providing individual and family counseling for grieving families.
FREE
Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Place: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs, 624 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
Limit: 25 people YOU MUST MAKE A RESERVATION TO ATTEND.
If you are closed out, there will be a wait-list and there will be a second session.
RSVP BY FEBRUARY 14th To: letendre.linda@gmail.com
3. Bravo to the Saratoga Springs City School District for clearly stating their support and protection of their immigrant students with deportations happening now. Read their statement here: https://www.saratogaschools.org/safeguarding-rights-of-immigrant-students/
Please take a moment to send a note of appreciation to the Superintendent. Here is info for his email and phone number: Dr. Michael Patton, Superintendent of Schools, (518) 583-4708
4.
We are organizing an all-UU rally in Albany to support passage of the Medical Aid in Dying Bill (MAID). UU Congregations from around the state will be invited to unite and come join us on March 25! Save the date and get your yellow shirt ready!
5. Climate Justice Revival
Your Social Justice Team has a sub-group lead by Linda Giancola who is preparing a worship service on April 27 and other events highlighting activities for all ages created by Side With Love. Look for more information soon!
IN THE COMMUNITY
1. Please join MLK Saratoga on Sunday February 9 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM for a showing of the movie Origin, followed by a community discussion.
This event will be held in the Dutcher Community Room of the Saratoga Springs Public Library.
The film Origin is based on the life of author Isabelle Wilkerson and her bestselling book, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents.
2. Our president put a ‘pause’ to the Refugee Resettlement Program through which the Saratoga Area Welcome Circle (SAWC) was sponsoring a young Afghan family who was due to arrive February 7. Although they were fully vetted and about to arrive in our country legally, their flight – and many others – is now cancelled.
Your Social Justice Team asks that you contact your congressional representatives ASAP! Look for a sample letter on our website here: https://uusaratoga.org/advocate-for-refugees-stranded-by-trump/
Since this order is technically a “pause”, we need to make some noise and respond immediately. As Rev Joe reminds us, our congregation voted to support a resolution becoming a sanctuary congregation in 2017, there are multiple resolutions and statements on this social justice issue from the UUA and affirmed by the delegates to GA.
In the meantime, the SAWC is working with the Afghan-American Community Center in Albany to identify recently arrived Afghans who can use our help. Your donations are still welcomed!
Contact:
Senator Chuck Schumer at https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/message-chuck
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik at https://stefanik.house.gov/contact
Congressman Paul Tonko at https://tonko.house.gov/contact/