The Robert’s Court gutted one of the last protections of the historic Voting Rights Act. Almost immediately, politicians in Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee called for redistricting schemes that would further entrench one-party rule and weaken Black political power across the South. That is not democracy.
In a democracy, the people choose their leaders. Any party declaring unjust and absolute control over a state is not democracy. Expelling three sitting Tennessee legislators for demanding action on gun violence is not democracy. Attacking peaceful “No Kings” attendees in Memphis and responding to calls for accountability with closed-door meetings is not democracy.
We know that the erosion of democracy and the suppression of Black communities go hand in hand. The Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act did not happen in isolation. It was a signal. Within weeks, Republican-controlled legislatures across the South moved swiftly to gerrymander congressional and judicial maps, strip away the protections and representation of all voters in these districts and attempt to restore a power structure that this country has long rejected.
Today, we must reject it again! We are not going back. Join us in taking action in whatever way you can:
Recently UUs showed up for a rapid response phonebank, called their representatives, and joined community leaders at the TN State Capitol to demand action and accountability. This is what democracy looks like!
Side With Love is investing deeply in organizing and leadership in Tennessee because we know the South and Black voters cannot be ignored or sacrificed to partisan politics and authoritarianism.
Alongside our emerging Tennessee State Action Network (TUUCAN), we are preparing for a UU the Vote Solidarity Summit in Memphis this September. This gathering will bring together local, state, and national leaders for political education on the role of faith in justice movements, hands-on skill-building and strategic training, and the sharing of concrete tools for community safety, resilience, and collective action. Just as importantly, it will create space for deep relationship-building among faith leaders, organizers, and movement partners, strengthening the collaboration needed to sustain long-term power in the region.
The Civil Rights Act was not inevitable—it was won. It was won because ordinary people like you organized, took risks, built strategy, and acted together with courage and clarity.
SAVE THE DATES: UU the Vote Solidarity Summits
UU the Vote with our State Action Network Partners are hosting Solidarity Summits to build power along frontline partners.
The Solidarity Summits are a place for learning and practice. We are working with state and local partners in order to support sustained relationships and long-term network building. We also want every training to lead directly to opportunities for practice—both at the Summit and beyond.
We are prioritizing trainings that strengthen participants’ capacity to organize in real time, build durable community infrastructure, and deepen collaboration across faith communities and movement partners. Our goal is for every session to equip participants with concrete skills, shared analysis, and actionable next steps that grow our capacity to care for one another and build power together.
Join us!
In faith and Solidarity,
Nicole Pressley
PS: This is the work we are investing in now. And it is only possible because of people like you. Thank you for being on the side of love and in support of democracy. Over the past few election cycles we have witnessed our faith make big commitments to our values and to our neighbors. That commitment has delivered in beating anti-democratic ballot measures and winning ones that have expanded reproductive rights, decriminalized our communities, and shifted the material realities of our communities.
