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Message to the NCUU Congregation from the Social Justice CommitteeThe Social Justice Committee would like to encourage members of the NCUU Congregation to become active in promoting community and legislative support of UU principles. We cannot ignore the fact that an unprecedented suite of threats continues to converge and interact in very negative ways. The pandemic, climate change, racial tensions, voter suppression, and economic inequities are reinforcing each other by the day and LGBTQ acceptance still has far to go. The income disparity between whites and blacks is extreme and there are fewer viable opportunities for blacks in most fields of employment. A majority of those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and sea level rise are blacks, Hispanics or poor whites. Racism is thinly veiled, or even openly exhibited throughout the country. The future of the US and the world will depend on an immediate awakening to the urgent need for change. Many members of Congress as well as Nature Coast residents and policy makers are especially in need of being better informed about critical issues. One thing our members can do is to encourage awakening by writing letters to newspapers, Congressional offices and state Legislators. Letters from as many members as possible is the goal. This does not necessarily mean that everyone has to compose something original. Messages from UUA, UUSC, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, Nature Conservancy, UU Justice Florida, League of Women Voters etc. can be repackaged and reinforced. The Social Justice Committee is also willing to help draft or edit things for others to submit. But we need multiple voices and signatures. To avoid potential violations of our 501(c)3 status it may be best for us not to explicitly represent NCUU but simply to do this as individuals. Statements representing NCUU positions must be approved unanimously by the Board of Directors and must be consistent with UUA recommendations but proposals for NCUU statements are always welcome. If you have topics that you would like to address and would like help from SJC in the form of draft text modules, edits or names and addresses of your state and federal representatives please contact Don Wright ([email protected]) . The simplest way to submit letters to the editors of local newspapers is to do it online. The links for the Citrus Chronicle and Tampa Bay Times are: https://www.chronicleonline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/ and https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/submit-letter/. To find your Florida legislator, go to https://www.flsenate.gov/ https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/ . For Marion County, go to https://www.ocalafl.org/government/marion-county-s-state-federal-legislators.
Florida’s US Senators are: US Senator Rick Scott Social Justice is a defining attribute of Unitarian Universalism; we must avoid silence when we see that something is wrong or that things can be made better. The Social Justice Committee welcomes new members and input from all members and friends of the NCUU congregation. Current Issues of Concern to the NCUU Social Justice Committee
Some Social Justice Websites
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Welcome to Nature Coast Unitarian Universalists
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