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Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty: Voting Rights, Immigration, And Mistreatment Of Indigenous Communities

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, IIMay 24

President of Repairers of the Breach, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, & author of The Third Reconstruction.

Dear America,

The fight continues.

On Monday we engaged in our second week of nonviolent moral fusion direct action in Washington D.C. and over 30 states across the nation. Moral activists and impacted persons leading the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival are demanding that federal and state governments enact policies that respond to the urgent needs of the poor. We are insisting that the concerns of poor people get a hearing in our legislative halls.

This week, our theme was Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty: Voting Rights, Immigration, and Mistreatment of Indigenous Communities. Since 2010, 23 states have passed racist voter suppression laws. Instead of protecting voters, Congress has refused to restore the Voting Rights Act for over 1,700 days. Many of the same politicians who’ve refused to act on voting rights also used racist voter suppression tactics and gerrymandering laws to get elected. And now that they’re in power, they pass laws denying health care, refuse to give American workers living wages, and refuse to act on strengthening gun laws. They enact legislation that attacks women, children, the disabled, the poor, African Americans and other communities of color. Their policies hurt the most vulnerable of our people regardless of race, creed and sexual orientation, including more poor whites (in raw numbers), who overwhelmingly vote these extreme politicians into office.

These are the same politicians who deported 340,000 immigrants in 2016 who came to this country seeking better opportunities and a better life for themselves and their families. These are the same politicians who are locking up this country’s black, brown, and poor white people, keeping them imprisoned for minor infractions, creating a modern day form of Jim Crow. By incarcerating our black, brown, and poor white sisters and brothers, they can strip away their right to vote and their right to decide who is representing them in their state and federal government.

This is why activists were arrested this week from New York and Vermont, to Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and many other states. Across this nation we are crying out: somebody is hurting our people and it’s gone on far too long, and we we won’t be silent anymore!

Will you join us? We need you this upcoming Tuesday (Memorial Day is a holiday), and the following Mondays until June 23 in your state and Washington D.C. Click here to sign on now and commit to participating on the ground or share your support online using the #PoorPeoplesCampaign hashtag.

The time for action is now.

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·  

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II

President of Repairers of the Breach, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, & author of The Third Reconstruction.

Justice Group,

Suzy Monroe has alerted us to a meeting that may be of interest.  The meeting will be the day before our next Justice Group meeting at St. Paul’s and so I’m broadcasting this to you now so you can have an opportunity to attend if you wish.  If you plan to go, please reply to Suzy and me just so we can be aware.

Thanks,

Michael

When we attended the Mosque on Saturday night for the Iftar after Ramadan dinner, we were given a handout about a symposium that I thought some of our Working for Justice group might be interested in attending.  Here’s what the notice says:

“Civil Rights Symposium”

HATE CRIME & HATE SPEECH

June 13, 2018   7:00- 8:30 pm

Congregation Rodef Shalom, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh  15213

Registration and Desserts at 6:30 pm.  Program will begin at 7 pm.

Please join us and representatives from the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI & State Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies to discuss Hate Speech and Hate Crime that occur right here in Western PA.           

We will discuss the laws that govern hate crimes, what to do when you encounter hate speech and present actual Hate Crime Cases that have been prosecuted in Pittsburgh.

Registration requested:    jfedpgh.org/civil-rights

Questions?  Erin Wyland at ewyland@jfedpgh.org or 412.992.5252

The full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of the Pittsburgh Jewish Community.  If you have a disability or need an accommodation, please contact Erin Wyland.”

JUSTICE GROUP - MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 10, 2018

Dear Friends in Justice,

Our last meeting was held on Thursday, MAY 10^th.  Fourteen members attended the meeting which was facilitated by Kate Neville.  This meeting focused largely on justice issues related to gun violence.  

Information/Reports:

  1.  Pittsburgh after King (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Intersections Event): Glenn and others reported that this public meeting was very informative with a key takeaway being how the Pittsburgh’s Hill District has never recovered following the riots of the late 1960’s. Other speakers included a youth who addressed current race issues in Pittsburgh and a representative of the Steel Street Ministries.  The event was by Tony Norman of the Post-Gazette.

  2.  Justice subgroup Police Chief Meeting: The subgroup reported a very informative meeting was held on May 2^nd with participation by Chief David DiSanti (McCandless), Chief Bryan Kelly (Shaler), Chief Thomas Vulakovich (Hampton).  The overall tone of the meeting was very positive and engaging.  While many topics were covered, the focal points were: the emphasis placed by police on close community relations, the opioid crisis and activities undertaken to mitigate “active shooter” risks.  These officers were highly engaging professionals who demonstrated sincere empathy for many they interact with.  They also communicated deep insights into potential long-term solutions for some of our most urgent issues.  One example was the importance that Tom Vulakovich places on effective counseling in the school systems to address the infirmities of school shooters.  Future meetings with the police departments will be planned.   Current members of the “partnering with police” subgroup are Glenn Smith, Bill Sadler, Jeff Sterling and Michael DiMonte.

    

 3.   Progress PA Guest Speaker (Upcoming Primary Elections): Ms. Carolyn Gibb presented on the Progress PA organization.  She spoke about how the results of out last presidential election caused her to be fearful for her Jewish son’s (she is Presbyterian and her husband Jewish) which led to her becoming politically active.  She also provided information about the local Democratic party, planned meetings and various grassroots activities.  Handout copies are available.

       4.   League of Women Voters (Information): Nancy Naragon presented an overview of local activities of the League of Women Voters (LWV) with an emphasis on how to judge a candidate.  She also provided internet-based resources to gather objective information on candidates for the May 15, 2018 primary elections.  Selected key websites are as follows.

·         http://www.vote411.org/  Enter your address to find your polling place, build your ballot with our online voters' guide and much more. Sponsored by the LWV.

·         http://www.vote411.org/state_guide?state_id=Pennsylvania#.Wvee8cKWyCg  Supplements the home 411 site and is specific to PA.

       5.  St. Paul’s Summer Intern:  Jeff Sterling reported that Rev. Innis Miller has been selected as our church summer intern.  Innis is from Liberia and will be arriving in mid-June.  A few families have offered to host Innis during the summer but additional housing and transportation volunteers are needed.

Suggestions:
1.  Peace with Justice Sunday (May 27, 2018):  Jeff reminded that May 27^th will be Peace with Justice Sunday for the UMC.  A special offering will be received that day and communications from our group could be timely around that date.
2  The UMC General Board of Church and Society:  Dara Sterling provided, after the formal meeting time, some introductory information on this UMC level board.  It is dedicated to the work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace.  The board is called to seek the implementation of the Social Principles and other policy statements of the General Conference on Christian social concerns.  A link to the organizations’ site follows.  Please investigate this important site at your convenience.

·         https://www.umcjustice.org/ 

Participants:

Kate Neville, Glenn Smith, Julie McKnight, Nancy McKnight, Jeanne DiMonte, Michael DiMonte, Nancy Naragon, Don Naragon, Bill Sadler, Susy Monroe, Jeff Sterling, Dara Sterling, Linda Cox, Mary Rishel and guest Carolyn Gibbs.

Respectfully submitted:

Michael DiMonte

Welcome

Welcome to this new blog from St Paul's UMC Justice Action Team. More information will be coming soon.