Standing on the Side of Love for Immigrant Justice and Compassion
by Julie Leach
This Thursday, July 29, the Arizona Immigration Law is scheduled to go into effect, and also this week, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton is hearing several lawsuits against Arizona's proposed new law, brought by law enforcement officials and the Obama Administration. No matter how Judge Bolton rules, the broken system that precipitated the proposed law will still be in place.
It is important that we keep the injustices of our immigration system at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. In response to this injustice, communities across the country are hosting prayers and actions in solidarity. More than 100 UU’s have offered to travel from other states to join Arizona UU’s and other justice allies in their day of protest planned for the 29th.
What can we UU’s in Sarasota do? We can respond with thoughtful proposals to remedy this system, and stand for compassion and justice. One way we’re doing this is by providing funds for legal services for immigrant children who need access to and understanding of our legal system through our special collection for Gulfcoast Legal Services (see our share-the-plate offering announcement on the home page).
The Social Justice Committee has two other advocacy actions we are proposing:
(1) Call or email Senator Bill Nelson, and thank him for co-sponsoring the AG Jobs bill and express your support of this bill, a bi-partisan bill written by agricultural producers and workers rights organizations which would provide legal jobs for agricultural workers at fair wages and remedies many of the problems with the current H2-A rules; call or email Senator George LeMieux and ask him to co-sponsor this bill with Senator Nelson;
(2) Call State Senator Mike Bennett’s office and tell him we do not want an immigration bill like Arizona’s passed in our state! He is proposing to bring such a bill to the next State legislative session. Details of the AG Jobs bill are available at the SJ table in the courtyard.
Senator Nelson’s Tampa office number is 813-225-7040; Senator Lemieux’s Tampa office number is (813) 977-6450, and State Senator Mike Bennett’s office number is (941) 727-6349.
Look for advocacy opportunities every Sunday at our Social Justice table in the courtyard.
In faith and community,
Julie Leach and Susan Hallock
Co-chairs, Social Justice Committee