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Fifteen days after white supremacists marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Rev. Jesse Jackson visited Thomas Jefferson Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlottesville to preach during its Sunday morning worship. In his sermon, he called for the removal of Confederate monuments, spoke about the importance of protecting voting rights, and connected Charlottesville victim Heather Heyer to the same lineage as Rosa Parks and the girls who perished in the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing of 1963. Jackson said he felt it was important to reach out to the UU congregation because he had heard of their inclusive reputation. (Daily Progress – 8.27.17)
Jackson was also in attendance at the Ministers March for Justice in Washington, D.C., commemorating Martin Luther King Jr’s historic March on Washington in 1963. UU religious leaders also attended and reported feeling that their presence that day was connected to Charlottesville. "After the events of Charlottesville it is even more urgent that we gather from all over the country and all over the world across religious lines to protest against hatred and bigotry, racism and anti-Semitism and to stand for justice, love, and compassion in this society," said Rabbi Chava Bahle, who leads the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse in Traverse City, Michigan. (Deutsche Welle – 8.29.17)
More coverage:
“Black Clergy to Focus on Voting Rights in the Age of Trump” (AFRO.com – 8.30.17)
“Jesse Jackson Compares Charlottesville Victim to Rosa Parks, Criticizes Trump's Response” (Newsweek – 8.28.17)
“Report: Jesse Jackson compares Charlottesville victim to Rosa Parks” (The Hill – 8.28.17)
UU World also covered the visit by Jackson in this news story.
Faith leaders urge California governor to support sanctuary legislation
While Gov. Jerry Brown of California met with state senate leaders to negotiate a bill making California a sanctuary state, members of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity held a prayer service in the governor’s office to urge him not to amend the legislation, called SB 54. The Rev. Leslie Takahashi, daughter of a Japanese internment camp survivor, who is lead minister at Mount Diablo UU Church in Walnut Creek, California, said the legislation was particularly needed in this crucial time, given the president's recent pardon of notorious figure Joe Arpaio, as well as his threat to end DACA, the federal program protecting children of immigrants. (Los Angeles Times – 9.1.17)
More coverage:
“California Sanctuary State Legislation Runs Into Stiff Law Enforcement Headwinds” (PJ Media – 8.30.17)