Partners in Justice

Around the UUWorld Brown Bag Lunch Discussion

Wednesday April 4

For the UUWorld article, "Partners in Justice" (2012 Spring) -- click here.
For the UUWorld article, "Report Catalogs Abuse of Immigrants at Mexican Border" (2012 Spring), click here.

These two articles are the topic of our discussion at the Wednesday "Around the UUWorld" Brown Bag Lunch Discussion on April 4.

Before and during General Assembly 2012 in Phoenix, AZ, Unitarian Universalists are partnering with a number of organizations for immigrant justice in Arizona, including:

- "Somos America" includes several groups with varying foci: organizers of marches; organizers of citizenship fairs and voter-registration drives; business community members decrying the effect of Arizona's law on the economy; advocates for the DREAM act; watchdogs looking at Sheriff Arpaio and the Arizona prisons.

- "Puente Arizona" is a grassroots migrant-rights organization. Puente works "to document police and detention abuses, and empowering migrants in their communities with health classes, community gardens, computer trainings, know-your-rights classes, and workshops on creating defense plans."

- "The Florence Project" "provides free legal services to people detained by ICE in Arizona and works alongside Puente and the ACLU."

- "Stand for Children" does grassroots children's advocacy.

- "Mi Familia Vota" aims "at promoting citizenship, registering eligible voters, and then getting them out to vote."

- "Arizona Immigration Ministry," headed by UU minister, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, does immigration justice work with a faith perspective.

- "No More Deaths" is a ministry of the UU Church of Tucson, AZ. "Many members of the Tucson congregation volunteer with it, as do many other UUs and other people of faith across the country."


Questions:

1. What stands out for you about these articles?

2. What can we learn about the immigration situation in Arizona and along the Mexican border that will help us address the migrant labor situation in Florida?

3. What do you think UUs in Phoenix will be able to accomplish?