pandemic

T&J Edition 4: Ways to Address Injustice During COVID-19

Hello T&J Community,

In light of the news about the death and unjust handling of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, our hearts are burdened. It is unfathomable to think that a young man can be gunned down while going for a jog, yet this is as much a reality in 2020 as it would have been in 1920. The belief that life is valuable is not a shared foundation in our country, a country that at its foundation was built on the belief that white bodies are more valuable than black or brown bodies. So we lament and grieve with the Arbery family. We also ask that you would take the time to assess how you can best respond to this tragedy: through learning about our country's history of white supremacy, advocating for justice to be brought in this case, and acting in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who live in fear for the simple fact that they have black and brown skin.

Below, there are different links that can take you to articles and action items for learning, advocating and acting. Not all of the material is directly related to Ahmaud Arbery, but rather the larger systems of injustice that are evident in our country. 

LEARN

ADVOCATE

  • Demand justice for Ahmaud Arbery. Visit #RunWithMaud to sign the petition and make calls to elected officials to demand that hate crime charges be brought, and that an independent special council would be selected for this case.

  • Advocate with the Native American community to receive federal funding needed to meet economic, health, and social concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read this article as a place to start.

  • Release individuals being held in jail awaiting trial. Northwest Community Bail Fund is asking you to contact your city, state and county executives to support our call for the immediate release of all pre-trial non-violent detainees from all King County and WA state detention facilities, a halt to new arrests and bookings and wealth based detention, and the release of other vulnerable jailed neighbors based on health risk.

    • Governor Jay Inslee: 360-902-4111/email
      County Executive Dow Constantine: (206) 263-9600email
      Seattle City Attorney Dan Satterberg: 206-477-1200/ email 
      Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin: 206-684-4000/ email
      SPD Chief Carmen Best: 206-625-5011/ email

      For information on contacting State legislators, click here.
      For Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier click here.
      For Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers email

      What to say:
      Hi, my name is _____, and I am a Washington resident who is concerned about the impact of Coronavirus on people who are detained.  We are calling for the immediate release of all non-violent pretrial detainees as well as detainees with at-risk health conditions.  We further call for a moratorium on new arrests, bookings and cash bail for all crimes that do not have immediate impact on public safety. Public safety includes those we choose to lock up in close quarters.
      Can we count on you to prevent detained people from dying during this pandemic by taking these actions?

ACT

  • Join Union in attending the Poor People’s Campaign March on June 20, 2020 in a virtual march that will be the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in the nation's history. A global pandemic is exposing even more the already existing crisis of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. On June 20, the 140 million poor and low-income people across the nation will be heard!  

  • Make an extra meal for families at Compass House, or unite with a friend or another family and make 40 sack lunches that can be distributed to Immanuel Community Services, Lake Union Village, or Street Youth Ministries. Contact Adrienne if you would like to serve in this way.

  • Look at the list of other ways to engage that is attached to this email!

Thank you, friends! The only way to get through this is to stick together.

With love and gratitude.

-- 
Truth & Justice Studio MISSION STATEMENT :: Truth & Justice creates space to educate and mobilize people by lifting up marginalized voices as catalyst for social change. We are a community within Union Church in Seattle, WA. 

T&J Edition 2: More Pandemic Ways to Engage

Dear T&J Community,

There were a few additions submitted by our community members, with ways that we could continue to remain active and support our community during this pandemic.

As far as a way to gather together and continue these conversations, we wanted to reach out and see if there is interest from this community to have a monthly Zoom call/meeting? Unfortunately, Sayuko, Megan, and Nichelle, who typically organize the T&J events, are feeling quite maxed out with having our kids at home, trying to homeschool, and work at the same time, but we wanted to see if there were some of you in the community that might be interested in taking this on? Perhaps a book club (some ideas: "I Bring the Voices of My People" by Chanequa Walker-Barnes, or "The Very Good Gospel" by Lisa Sharon Harper, or "The Cross and the Lynching Tree" by James H. Cone)? Or some other format? If you feel like you would be interested in taking this on, we'd be quite supportive in helping arrange the Zoom meeting and participating as well. Please just respond to this email with your idea, and we'll help make it happen. 

Please continue to be well! 

Blessings to you all during this time of isolation.

T&J Edition 1: Ways to Engage During COVID-19

Dear T&J Community,

What a crazy and unprecedented time. We are all experiencing this together, even though we are social distancing and in our own silos. While you are at home, wondering how you can help in the community, here are a list of ideas. Places to donate, ways to advocate, and opportunities to volunteer. 

If you have any other ideas, please send them our way, and we can share with this group.

Blessings of safety and health for you all.

  • Donate to local agencies that are supporting communities in need by providing food, shelter, and services

    • Food Lifeline

    • WA-BLOC "Feed the Beach" - feeding students lunch during the COVID-19 shutdown

    • Rainier Valley Foodbank

    • Support ANY Foodbank - a list is here

    • Support Shelters - Noel House 

    • The YMCA is providing childcare to first-responders, increasing their Hunger Initiatives across the region, hosting blood drives, and continuing to care for teens and young adults in their home program

  • Donate blood - if you are healthy, there is a shortage of blood supply

  • Support your local businesses & restaurants, particularly those that are POC-owned - buy gift cards, make donations

  • Call your US representatives today and demand they pass the #FamiliesFirst coronavirus bill. It contains: 

- Free testing

- 14 days paid sick leave

- 3 months paid family leave

- Expanded unemployment insurance & food security

- Medicaid funds

Lives are on the line. (202) 224-3121

  • Advocate for those being held in jail awaiting trial: 

Northwest Community Bail Fund is asking you to contact your city, state and county executives to support our call for:

  • The immediate release of all pre-trial non-violent detainees from all King County and WA state detention facilities.

  • A halt to new arrests and bookings and wealth based detention.

  • Release of other vulnerable jailed neighbors based on health risk.

Who to contact:
Governor Jay Inslee: 360-902-4111/email
County Executive Dow Constantine: (206) 263-9600email
Seattle City Attorney Dan Satterberg: 206-477-1200/ email 
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin: 206-684-4000/ email
SPD Chief Carmen Best: 206-625-5011/ email

For information on contacting State legislators, click here.
For Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier click here.
For Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers email

What to say:
Hi, my name is _____, and I am a Washington resident who is concerned about the impact of Coronavirus on people who are detained.  We are calling for the immediate release of all non-violent pretrial detainees as well as detainees with at-risk health conditions.  We further call for a moratorium on new arrests, bookings and cash bail for all crimes that do not have immediate impact on public safety. Public safety includes those we choose to lock up in close quarters.
Can we count on you to prevent detained people from dying during this pandemic by taking these actions?


--
Truth & Justice StudioMISSION STATEMENT :: Truth & Justice creates space to educate and mobilize people by lifting up marginalized voices as catalyst for social change. We are a community within Union Church in Seattle, WA.