UU in our Larger Community Today

UU in our Larger Community Today (well, last night in particular)

I hope you will join us on Sunday for “UU Heroes Then & Now.”

Some of our own members and leaders were heroes in my book for bringing the ACLU Resistance Training to our sanctuary last night. It was full with over 100 attending! And it was abuzz with people earnestly seeking to learn how to protect the safety and rights of those at risk, including ourselves.

Board member Juliet Begley made the commitment long ago, and last night our members and leaders snapped to attention to make the crowd welcome – from Marie Anne and Jaron on opening and set up, Catherine on parking, Sue overseeing everything, and many of us in the assembled.

I felt that many of the smart, caring activists gathered would be wonderful new members! I saw this as a marvelous opportunity to reach out to a network of folks from various organizations, and for them to see the congenial, free, and supportive community we are here at UUHonolulu. (I wished I had business cards, but found other ways to connect with some.)

I was eager to learn how best to advance protections as our government grows more authoritarian. The tactics were much like we learned in civil rights and peace marches and Quaker draft counseling in the early 70’s. I was not the only one who was having flashbacks. But the times feel yet more complex now, with some of our human rights norms seeming to erode.

The assembled welcomed the updates and coaching. Here is a digest of our main presenter, senior staff attorney Emily Hills’s “own opinion” on what is required in an effective movement to preserve our democracy:

1. Unifying and focused vision that transcends party lines.
2. Sustained widespread participation.
3. Protection of voting rights to enable mass participation in the next election.
4. Effective means of combatting disinformation and propaganda.
5. Judges committed to judicial independence.
6. Open lines of communication with security forces (local police, military, ICE, National Guard, etc.)

What do you think of these suggestions for human rights protections?

Please join us for the Sunday service and bring your thoughts for TalkStory after!

Mahalo for all you do!
Rev. Deborah