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Unitarian Universalist Scott Warren, on trial in Tucson, Arizona, for his work with the humanitarian aid organization No More Deaths has testified in his own defense. Asked by his attorney why he participates in this effort to preserve the lives of migrants crossing the desert border, Warren said, “It feels choiceless. . . . How could you not do that when there are people dying around you? . . . How could you not respond?” (Tucson Sentinel, 6.5.19)
Interfaith effort focuses on Amazon revenue
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia, participated in an interfaith effort to lobby for significant revenue from the new Amazon headquarters to be directed toward affordability and equity in the surrounding community. (ARLnow, 6.10.19)
ACLU files lawsuit on behalf of UU church
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the UU Church of Fresno, California, alleging that it was illegal for the Fresno County Registrar to remove the church as a polling place after it refused to cover Black Lives Matter banners. The Rev. Tim Kutzmark, the congregation’s minister, said, “At a time when we are facing voter suppression across the country, I’m hoping that no other polling place will ever be disqualified for affirming the worth and dignity of black people and other people of color.” (Fresno Bee, 6.10.19)
UU awarded Iceland honor
The Rev. Stefan Jonasson, a UU minister and former Unitarian Universalist Association staff member, was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Falcon by Iceland’s President Guoni Thorlacius Johannesson. Jonasson edits a community Icelandic newspaper and leads tours to Iceland. (Winnipeg Free Press, 6.10.19)