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Unitarian Universalist Association Interim Co-President Sofía Betancourt was interviewed about the UUA’s efforts to dismantle white supremacy and related discussions at our annual General Assembly in New Orleans last week. “It's not about whether an individual person considers themselves a white supremacist. It's about how we're all influenced by the everyday messages we receive in our culture, by decisions that we make without even really thinking about it,” Betancourt explained. (NPR – 6.24.17)
Also at GA, Unitarian Universalists voted for the first elected woman president of the Association, the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. A media profile of Frederick-Gray noted her work supporting immigrants, and her recent statement denouncing the Supreme Court’s partial ruling on the Trump administration’s Muslim ban. (Religion News Service – 6.27.17)
More coverage:
“Unitarian Universalists General Assembly Convenes In New Orleans Today” (Biz New Orleans – 6.21.17)
“This is not a joke: Ever-edgy Unitarian Universalists just elected their first [elected] woman president” (Get Religion – 6.28.17)
UUA staff members attacked during GA in New Orleans
Warning: Some media coverage of the attack includes graphic surveillance video footage that plays automatically. We have chosen not to include links to those sites.
Two members of the UUA staff in town to work at GA, Tim Byrne and James Curran, were attacked and robbed while walking near the French Quarter in New Orleans. Curran was treated and released; Byrne remains in serious but stable condition in the hospital. Four suspects have been arrested and were in court last Friday for a bond hearing, which several UUs attended to promote restorative justice rather than long prison sentences. “We don’t want these young men thrown away,” said Jolanda Walter. (New Orleans Advocate – 6.30.17)
Columnist Jarvis DeBerry weighed in on the attack on UUA staffers, noting that his own church was asked to pray for the men. Understanding Unitarian Universalists’ commitment to seeking justice in the world, DeBerry said, “We can only hope that people who are so committed to justice don’t give up on New Orleans.” (Times-Picayune – 6.28.17)
See also: "Two UUA employees violently robbed in New Orleans" (uuworld.org – 6.28.17)