Summer/Fall 2016 uusc.org

RightsThe newsletter of the NowUnitarian Universalist Service Committee

Two Who Defied Hate: The Story of Martha And Waitstill Sharp Watch the PBS Special Tuesday, September 20, 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time By Tom Martorelli

hey left their children behind in declared and the Germans closing in, TWellesley, , to rescue they escaped on the Queen Mary to New people they had never met in Europe York, through seas patrolled by U-Boats as World War II began. Risking arrest intent on sinking the pride of England’s and worse at the hands of the Nazis, commercial fleet. They returned to they operated in secret to help Jews, their congregation and their children dissidents, and children escape from in Wellesley, safe at home after saving Czechoslovakia before the war – she hundreds of people. managed the details in while he traveled the continent raising money to And then they went back. fund their efforts. And then, with war Continued on page 2 In this edition of

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee advances human rights and social Rights Now justice around the world, partnering with those who Cover confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge Two Who Defied Hate: The Story of oppressive policies. Martha And Waitstill Sharp Rights Now Page 5 Summer/Fall 2016 Stop Preaching Hate: Sexual Orientation Editor and Gender Identity (SOGI) Rights in Africa Tom Martorelli Design and Production Page 8 Reid Haithcock Matching Gifts with Guest at Your Table UUSC bargaining unit employees are represented by An Interview with Stewardship Circle Member Teri Wiss Human Rights Workers Local 2661, UNITE HERE! Page 10

We Welcome Letters Small but Mighty: Oaklandon UU Church Rights Now is grateful to in Indianapolis, Indiana readers for their interest and support. We invite you to share Page 12 your questions and comments by submitting a letter to the Guest at Your Table 2016-17: Defying Hate editor: [email protected] Page 13 Rights Now Editor, UUSC The Value of Sustainable, Ethical Sourcing 689 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 Page 14

UUSC is supported by Creating Space to Confront Racism individual members, Unitarian and Grow Racial Justice Universalist congregations, and foundations that share our commitment to building a more Page 16 just world. Partner Profile Update: Zanmi Timoun © 2016 All Rights Reserved Page 18 A Doorway to Freedom…Or Prison?

uusc.org [email protected] 617-868-6600 617-868-7102/fax Defying Hate A message from UUSC’s president t’s fitting that my first letter toRights Now Ireaders introduces an edition dedicated to defying hate. And it’s an honor to mark the occasion of the September 20 PBS special about Waitstill and , the two individuals who began UUSC’s legacy of defying hate in 1939. When I watch their story, I’m struck by the scenes of parents willingly putting their children on airplanes to fly them into the hands of strangers to escape war-torn Europe. It is almost impossible to imagine conditions so horrible that the best hope for your children is to put them into the hands of total strangers and send them to a foreign land. Today, we want to believe these are stories from a distant past, but they are repeated every day. In Syria, and Central America, parents are bringing their children into the hands of strangers to keep them safe from war, violence, and danger. But instead of the welcoming arms they dream will protect them, countries in Europe detain them in camps, and in the United States, they wind up in “detention centers,” with no rights or even an understanding of why they’re there. I just returned from a visit to one of the U.S. family detention centers, where I met a young girl celebrating her sixth birthday. Her mother told me this is her second birthday spent in a detention center. It’s a crime. But it’s not the only challenge for those of us determined to defy hate. In Africa, LGBTQ people are under vicious attack by repressive governments and religious extremists just for being who they are. Under a new law, the Dominican Republic is deporting people of Haitian descent – even though they have never lived anywhere else. And in the United States, the killing of black people by police, followed by murders police officers themselves, remind us how hard we must work to defy hate, even at home. And so I invite you: join us in our work. Act to defy hate in your community. Support UUSC and our partners throughout the world. Make Guest at Your Table an opportunity to defy hate at home. There’s much to be done. As we read about the Sharps and others fighting injustice, we are reminded of the phrase, “never again.” I am so inspired by the courage and tenacity of the Sharps and so many others who have sacrificed all to defy hate. Let us join them through our relentless action to defend and promote the rights and dignity of all people.

Tom Andrews

1 Continued from cover

On Tuesday, September 20, PBS And perhaps most difficult of all, will air Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ they arranged for parents to send their War, a documentary directed by Ken children away from home and into the Burns and Artemis Joukowsky, the hands of strangers in order to keep Sharps’ grandson. Based on the letters them safe, knowing that for many of Waitstill and Martha wrote to each these families, it would be the last time other through both parts of their they ever saw each other. dangerous two-year mission, it tells It was difficult, heartbreaking the story of two of UUSC’s founders in work that could easily have cost the riveting personal detail. They invented Waitstills their own lives. As director codes for the records they kept to avoid Ken Burns says, “they did things that being discovered when their homes weren’t taught in divinity school.” were raided and searched. They created Martha and Waitstill Sharp sacrificed false travel documents for some of the much to defy the hate spreading over people they rescued to help them get Europe in those terrible two years. Like past border guards. They kept moving many of the people they helped, they west as the Nazi blitzkrieg rolled trusted others to care for their own through Poland, Belgium, and France. children while they risked everything

Martha and Waitstill Sharp 2 to fulfill their mission. In the end, they Meadville Lombard Theological School couldn’t save everyone, but they did have collaborated in creating the Defying everything possible to rescue many the Nazis UU Action Project. The project people from Nazi concentration camps. includes a “#WeDefy” action guide with Their story is an inspiring reminder resources including the an interfaith that for those of us who remember the discussion guide and UUSC’s refugee holocaust and commit to “never again,” advocacy toolkit. The action guide and there are always people before us who other resources can be found at uua.org/ said, “not now.” action/defying-nazis-sharp-story.

Tom Martorelli is UUSC’s writer and On the weekend of September 23 through editor. 25, following the screening of Defying the Nazis on PBS, UUSC is organizing To learn more about the Sharps’ a Defying Hate Preach-In at religious story and how it can inspire all of us to communities nationwide. Check with your continue their mission today, the UUA, minister or faith leader for more details. UUSC, and the Fahs Collaborative at

“Times were so desperate, people were thankful if they could get their children onto the transports. I do remember at the airport, my mother was walking up and down with my sister, arm in arm, pensively. And then we had our last meal, and my father took photographs. They thought one of us might escape and come to England. My mother and the rest of my family didn’t survive.”

Gerda Mayer, who fled Prague on March 14, 1939 3 A film by Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky

4 Stop Preaching Hate: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Rights in Africa By Jillian Tuck

exual minorities in Africa are Working with people of faith in Samong the most marginalized Africa to speak out against this culture populations in the world; institutions war is a strategic intervention because that ought to be protecting their Africa is an extremely religious rights – governments and churches continent. People look to their – actively persecute people in the religious leaders for moral guidance. LGBTQ community. Worse, they are Even where anti-LGBTQ legislation also subject to violent attacks that too is repealed, as it has been in South often go unpunished. Africa, violent homophobia remains Defying this kind of hate is a large pervasive; religious leaders can bring and difficult challenge. On her return about change by offering a more from a recent fact-finding visit to tolerant, inclusive narrative around Southern Africa, Jillian Tuck, UUSC sexual diversity. Senior Program Leader for Rights at Still, challenging Africa’s legal Risk, noted, “…trying to shift deeply systems is an important part of entrenched attitudes of religious UUSC’s strategy; the law is a powerful institutions is not a one-year project; tool for advancing human rights. Our it’s not a ten-year project. This is work partners on the ground are building that takes a generation to see tangible capacity of African lawyers to litigate results, as one layer of homophobia is strategic cases, and to develop peeled off at a time.” networks of sexual rights lawyers who are affordable and available for LGBTQ THE SEEDS OF CHANGE: clients. PROGRESSIVE RELIGIOUS VOICES AND HUMAN RIGHTS MEET OUR PARTNERS: FOUR LAWYERS ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING SOGI RIGHTS IN AFRICA Much of the discrimination against sexual minorities is cast in religious UUSC’s SOGI Rights in Africa Initiative and cultural rhetoric — that it is has generated partnerships with “un-Christian” or “un-African” to be grassroots organizations that work gay. These hateful views are supported directly with LGBTQ people progressive by right wing religious extremists in clergy. Our partners represent the the United States; they’ve funneled true diversity of Africa’s LGBTQ millions of dollars to Uganda, Nigeria, community – including lesbian, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia — bisexual, and transgender women—as countries whose authoritarian leaders well as individuals of both Christian are eager to divert public attention and Muslim faith. UUSC also works to away from issues of government connect these partners to each other’s corruption, using sexual minorities as work in an effort to foster a larger a perfect distraction. movement of inclusivity.

5 UUSC AFRICA SOGI RIGHTS PARTNERS

THE INNER CIRCLE

This organization was founded by a self-identified queer Imam to address homophobia and transphobia in Africa’s Muslim community. The Inner Circle provides educational materials bridging the gap between fundamentalist Islam and SOGI issues for Muslim human rights activists, feminists, and religious leaders throughout the continent.

INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING MINISTRIES (IAM)

This South African organization’s mission is to empower LGBTQ leadership and progressive clergy of all faiths to separate homophobia from religious orthodoxy, enabling them to build communities of faith that welcome the spiritual, psychological, and sexual identities of LGBTQ people.

LGBTQ or SOGI?

What’s up with these two terms? Our curiosity led to this answer: The first identifies a group of sexual minorities – people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. The second refers to the broad concept of sexual orientation and gender identity – who we choose to love (sexual orientation), and how we express ourselves (gender identity). While some of us identify as LGBTQ, all of us have a SOGI. Making that choice freely is a basic human right.

6 INITIATIVE FOR STRATEGIC LITIGATION (ISLA)

ISLA has created the African Sexual Rights Legal Network, a program that provides training in human rights law and coordinates a network of “movement lawyers” to represent LGBTQ clients. This network will bring strategic cases to local and national courts to advance the rights of sexual minorities.

TULINAM

This Namibian organization’s mission is to support LGBTQ individuals, their allies, and sympathetic clergy as they confront religious intolerance. Tulinam also works with mainline denominations to create faith communities where sexual minorities are welcome to participate fully and freely.

Jillian Tuck is UUSC’s senior program leader for Rights at Risk.

Photo: Ludovic Bertron

7 Matching Gifts with Guest at Your Table An Interview with Stewardship Circle Member Teri Wiss Conducted by Tom Martorelli

“ ’ve read a lot about Waiststill and In a recent interview conducted IMartha Sharp and their mission during her morning walk in to save dissidents and refugees in Sunnyvale, California, UUSC Europe during World War II. Before I Stewarship Circle Member Teri became a good friend of my Unitarian Wiss discussed the ways she might Universalist fellowship, I was raised use the story of how the Sharps Jewish. The people the Sharps saved defied hate for her annual Guest in World War II could have been us at Your Table presentation to her because they were us.” congregation. Each year, she takes

8 a unique approach to inspire fellow at the beginning of her congregation’s congregants to match her $5,000 Guest at Your Table campaign. “Each matching gift. 2016 marks the 14th year, I find something that UUSC year of her matching program. has done, or I read from the ‘Stories Teri remembers the day she and of Hope,’ to talk about the reasons her husband Gary Hartz discovered why I contribute. Last year, I was how they could put social justice into deeply moved by the refugee crisis their lives. It was at a dinner with UU and UUSC’s ongoing work to protect minister and author John Buehrens, the most marginalized among us. who quoted from Rev. Thomas Starr Nina Kalmoutis, our minister, had King’s story about the need to not read a poem, “No One Leaves Home,” only teach a man to fish, but to build a by Warsan Shire, a Kenyan-born path to the fishing hole. Gary had the Somali poet. It really spoke to me, idea that instead of just making their particularly the last line: own donation to UUSC, they would ‘You have to understand, that no one make it a challenge grant, asking puts their children in a boat unless the others to join them by matching every water is safer than the land...’ gift dollar for dollar. Teri and Gary I often think about how terrible started at $2,500 that first year, and that choice must be, and how we it’s been growing ever since. ought to do everything we can to Sadly, Gary died in 2010, but his keep anyone from having to make it,” name lives on in the Gary W. Hartz Teri says. Memorial Matching Grant Program. “He was such an activist, I know Would you like to join Teri Wiss in he’d be proud to see his name on it,” organizing a Guest at Your Table she says. “I think starting your own Matching Gifts Program for your matching gifts program is an idea congregation? Contact Carly Cronon, a lot of UUs can do. You can start Associate for Congregational Giving anywhere. Dollar for dollar works for Programs, at [email protected] me, but $0.50 per dollar is also okay – whatever is comfortable.” Beyond her Tom Martorelli is UUSC’s writer and work managing a successful matching editor. gifts program, Teri also owns her own business as an occupational therapist working with children who have special needs, and makes her contribution to UUSC through her business; it helps her qualify for the maximum tax deduction. “People starting a similar program should consider this too,” Teri notes. Perhaps her favorite part of the program is the way she launches it with a personal story from the pulpit

9 Small but Mighty: Oaklandon UU Church in Indianapolis, Indiana By Carly Cronon

aklandon UU Church is a Osmall lay-led congregation in Indianapolis, made up of around 40 members. Their support for UUSC has likewise been small through the years—until now. In the span of a single year, this self-proclaimed “small but mighty” congregation ran three robust UUSC programs and raised as much money to support our human rights initiatives – including the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund – as many larger congregations do. A common aspect of Oaklandon’s three programs is hands-on activity. The congregation created prayer flags when they focused a service on the Nepal Earthquake, made their own With our interpersonal bonds of Guest at Your Table boxes, and in faith, family, and friendship, religious their program about the intersection communities are uniquely positioned of economic justice and women’s to run intergenerational, interactive rights, they put together hygiene kits programs, such as those organized and notes for girls and women at a by Oaklandon UU. Together, we local emergency shelter. can inspire reflection, encourage Every congregation is different. discussion, and raise vital funds Oaklandon UU runs successful for UUSC’s work to advance human hands-on activities along with rights worldwide. full-group discussions, while other How does your congregation engage congregations may be looking to with UUSC? support and engage with UUSC in their own unique way. Some Carly Cronon is UUSC’s associate for congregations are large; others are congregational giving programs. small. But, as I’ve learned in my time as UUSC’s new Associate for Congregational Giving Programs, all are mighty.

10 GATHER Come together with your family, friends, community, and UUSC.

LEARN Read about UUSC’s grassroots partnerships around the globe.

MOVE BEYOND STATISTICS Hear stories of real people connected to UUSC.

REFLECT Use our worship resources to consider a theme related to UUSC’s mission and model for change.

SUPPORT Work together toward a fundraising goal to support UUSC’s groundbreaking human rights programs.

SPREAD HOPE Become inspired in your own efforts to contribute toward positive change in the world.

Guest at Your Table is UUSC’s annual intergenerational program to raise support for and awareness about our work to advance human rights around the globe. Learn more, find program materials, and donate to GAYT at uusc.org/guest or by contacting Carly Cronon at [email protected]. 11 Guest at Your Table 2016-17: Defying Hate By Carly Cronon

hen families fleeing violence This year’s Guest at Your Table Walong treacherous migration theme—Defying Hate—is meant routes are turned away as they reach to do just that. In response to hate safe ground, it is important to share and injustice, we share stories of their stories of resilience, generosity, hope, and bolster the work of UUSC and strength. partners defying hate related to race, When conservative U.S. religious religion, and sexual orientation/ groups export discrimination against gender identity. LGBTQ individuals to African Guest at Your Table is a long-held nations, we stand with grassroots UUSC tradition. Our booklet, Stories organizers who provide safe spaces of Hope, shares the stories of real for all, and who advocate for the people who defy hate and advance rights of LGBTQ people to live their human rights. When there is so much lives on their own terms. injustice in the world, and when When unaccompanied minors too many deny it exists, there are are deported from the Dominican always stories of hope. Become a part Republic simply because they are of Guest at Your Table: Defying of Haitian descent, we support Hate. Read these stories, and help organizations that offer these make many more of them possible. children the resources they need to build new lives in an unfamiliar Join us at uusc.org/gayt or by country. contacting me at [email protected]! When loud voices assign blame to innocent people and fan the flames of Carly Cronon is UUSC’s associate for fear, prejudice, and xenophobia, we congregational giving programs. must amplify the voices that counter with words of hope, welcome, and support. GUEST AT YOUR TABLE

12 The Value of Sustainable, Ethical Sourcing Support human rights with every purchase. By Eric Grignol

s a UUSC member, you know that Here at the Good Buy, it’s been Ayour dues and donation dollars thrilling to see a community of go a long way toward advancing people grow with us, asking your human rights. But did you know that own questions about sourcing and when you shop at thegoodbuy.com, workers’ rights, and asserting your all proceeds go to UUSC’s programs? right to know that the products When we created the Good Buy, you buy do no harm to the people we began with a simple goal: help who make them and the earth that people with modern purchasing sustains us all. needs live more sustainably. It’s a Exercise your power to choose place where our social justice values differently. Check out the latest of environmental stewardship and selection of products — from workers’ rights intersect. By finding delicious artisanal fair-trade food and goods made by those who share our drink to all-natural wellness products commitment to human rights and and gifts, and more! We hope you’ll connecting artisans to buyers, we’re continue to support us when you leading the dialogue of what makes shop online, as together we build the something “good” for the earth and global economy we want for the world for its workers. — and the world wants from us. When we say “ethically sourced,” we mean it, because we’ve done our Eric Grignol is UUSC’s eCommerce and homework about our vendor partners merchandising officer. and the products we sell.

13 Creating Space to Confront Racism and Grow Racial Justice By Angela Kelly

t had happened again. Another black Justice Renewal. As the struggle for Iman had been shot dead by police, racial justice lives on in our streets another life lost to the brutality of and courtrooms, congregations racism, another painful reminder of and communities, it was a timely the urgency of the Movement for Black opportunity for young activists to Lives. News of Philando Castile’s death deepen their faith, lift their spirits, in Minnesota came less than a day after build community, and develop skills the police shot Alton Sterling in Baton for organizing within and beyond Rouge. They weren’t the last to die: with Unitarian Universalism. terrible frequency, other men, women, In two uniquely tailored, parallel and transgender people of color are programs, young adults of color killed just for being themselves – and and white young adults explored not just by police. These tragedies, and their racial and ethnic identities, the long-standing systems of oppression reflected on the effects of internalized behind them, weigh heavily on all who racism, and considered how their seek to defy hate. own experiences compel them to In response, 30 young adults action. They shared stories, struggles, gathered in July in the sanctuary of songs, and practices of resistance the First UU Church of New Orleans and resilience. The two groups then for the opening worship of Grow came together to learn skills in anti- Racial Justice. They sat in a circle racist facilitation and grassroots around the steady flame of a chalice, organizing from long-time movement and to the rhythm of a beating leaders Aesha Rasheed and Caitlin drum, spoke their intentions in Breedlove. They left with a shared turn: Healing. Courage. Compassion. commitment to lead the work required Humility. Rigor. Accountability. to advance racial justice in their home Resistance. Community. Clarity. Love. communities and within themselves. For the next five days, Grow Racial Participants echoed one another in Justice offered participants the reflecting on the value of the program. tools, resources, and relationships to One young adult of color shared, support their racial justice leadership. “My time at Grow helped me form a The UU College of Social Justice deep, action-oriented commitment and the UUA’s Thrive Program for to racial justice. I’ve been inspired to Youth & Young Adults of Color preach sermons that speak the truth organized the retreat and training, in about racial (in)justice and my own collaboration with two other groups: experiences, to volunteer with my Standing on the Side of Love, and the local Black Lives Matter chapter, and Center for Ethical Living and Social to be public with my own actions,

14 thoughts, and struggles in the fight Like the participants in Grow, for racial justice. I can do all of this the youth left this training with because I know there is a community new bonds of friendship, a deeper of support, helping me move forward.” understanding of systemic racism, Another participant from the and a stronger commitment to taking white cohort added, “I believe Grow the next steps in their social justice transformed my work from ‘facebook journeys. activism’ into true action. I better Too much hateful rhetoric has filled understand how organizing for change the airwaves this year. Unrelenting means matching commitment with acts of racist aggression continue a plan for how to do it… If we truly to distress and dishearten us. Still, want to show up for the world in the the voices of the young leaders who ways our principles commit us to, we joined us at Grow and Activate Racial need to do white-on-white work to Justice offer hope. They remind us dismantle white supremacy.” that joining together to defy hate A third, who participated in the through personal transformation and Thrive cohort, said, “This was a life- strengthened activism can help us changing experience - physically, undo racism and foster our collective mentally, and most important, liberation. spiritually. I can’t wait to create movements with these people.” Please visit us at UUCSJ.org to learn Shortly after Grow Racial Justice more and follow us on social media for concluded, the UU College of Social updates on ways you can join us in the Justice brought together 15 teenagers quest for racial justice. for Activate New Orleans: Racial Justice and the Beloved Community, Angela Kelly is UUCSJ’s senior associate also hosted by the Center for Ethical for justice training. Living and Social Justice Renewal.

15 Partner Profile Update: Zanmi Timoun Worse than homeless: Stateless children at the border By Michael Kourabas

n June 2016, Michael Kourabas, arrive. It’s a human rights disaster IUUSC Associate Director for unfolding right before our eyes. Program and Partner Support, UUSC became involved in human traveled to the border town of rights work in Haiti following the Belladère, Haiti, with Kathleen 2010 earthquake that killed 160,000 McTigue, Director of the UU College people and left 1.5 million more of Social Justice. They went there to homeless. Our partner organization, see first-hand the crisis caused byla Zanmi Timoun (“Friends of sentencia, a 2013 Constitutional Court Children”), which had been helping ruling in the Dominican Republic abused and enslaved children (D.R.) that revokes citizenship for since 2001, was already providing anyone who cannot provide proof of humanitarian relief to earthquake legal access into the country. Being survivors when they became a UUSC born in the D.R. is not enough; the partner. Through this collaboration, Haitian-Dominicans targeted by this we learned of the persistent ruling must prove that their ancestors discrimination against people of arrived there legally, as far back as Haitian descent in the D.R., and the 1929. impending effects of la sentencia. La sentencia is a hateful, With additional support from UUSC, discriminatory law designed for the Zanmi Timoun began providing sole purpose of forcibly removing humanitarian aid to children caught people of Haitian descent, and it’s in these mass deportations, helping enforced by Dominican border guards reunite them with their parents, and – police and military personnel working with the Haitian government – whose training is supported by to repatriate unaccompanied children. foreign aid from the United States. Still, children – the most vulnerable Dominican police and military among tens of thousands of deportees routinely select people they assume – remain at risk of arriving in Haiti to be Haitian (they are profiled with minimal, if any access to food, because of their darker skin), sending clothing, shelter, or bathing facilities. them to detention camps without Already, cholera has been reported at access to food or sanitation facilities. some border crossings. Then – without notifying family Michael recalls, “When we arrived members – the D.R. deports them at the border, we noticed two Haitian to Haiti, a country they never called Red Cross vans heading to the Haiti home. Worse, Haiti doesn’t have Office National de la Migration (ONM) the resources to provide for these building, where Zanmi Timoun works deportees’ most basic needs once they to receive and document deportees.

16 They dropped off about 10 young men sums up the challenge before us. “In who had just been deported from the crises like these, when the survival of D.R. As soon as they were registered children is at stake, it is important for by Zanmi Timoun and ONM, these our country to defy the hate behind young men snuck back into the D.R. the official policies of nations we using an ‘unofficial’ border crossing.” call allies. Demanding that we stop Had these deportees been minors, providing aid to a military force that they would have faced an even graver regularly abuses children is only the situation. “In May, the government first of many things that need to be locked the Brigade for the Protection done. Calling attention to the forced of Minors (BPM) building, which removal of Haitian-Dominicans Zanmi Timoun had been using to must be followed by successful work assist recently deported minors,” to ensure that the human rights Michael explained. “Unfortunately, of children are respected in the Zanmi Timoun’s supplies remain Dominican Republic and Haiti.” locked in the BPM building, so they do not even have sanitary kits to give Michael Kourabas is UUSC’s associate to deportees.” director for program and partner Pamela Sparr, Associate Director for support. UUSC’s Justice Building Programs,

Members of Zanmi Timoun and the Haiti Office National de la Migration interviewing recent deportees from the Dominican Republic.

17 A Doorway to Freedom…Or Prison? Fear for their families causes Central American refugees to flee. Why do they wind up in jail? By Tom Martorelli

hile most of the world’s on an unprecedented scale. Recently- Wattention is focused refugees arrived refugees are routinely escaping Syria and the Middle classified as “economic migrants,” East to face an uncertain future in denied an opportunity to seek asylum, Europe, there is another serious and sent home. Those who remain refugee crisis here in our hemisphere join a growing population of women that has too often been met with and young children held in jail-like silence. Thousands of men, women, conditions for a year or more before and children are fleeing El Salvador, their cases are heard. Honduras, and Guatemala, three Last summer, 80 immigrant countries that collectively reported women held at Karnes Detention over 17,500 homicides in 2015. Center in Texas went on a hunger Families cannot keep their children and work strike. Beginning on safe from criminal organizations, August 8 of this year, another 22 narcotraffickers, and other dangers, asylum-seeking mothers at the and governments in the region are Berks County Detention Center in failing to provide them with the most Pennsylvania began a second hunger basic protection. Their only choice is strike protesting conditions there. In to escape, no matter the risk. And so Berks, several young children are on they embark on long journeys through suicide watch after threatening to kill unfamiliar lands, risking death from themselves. exposure, arrest by border guards, or The Central American refugee crisis betrayal by the smugglers they pay to is not new; nor are the efforts of assist them along the migration trail. UUSC and our partner organizations Their goal is safety, freedom, and the to address it. Rights Now readers opportunity to live with dignity and may recall previous stories about the security in the United States. But what unspeakable violence these families do they find when they arrive? try to escape, and the intolerable Despite occasionally welcoming conditions they find in U.S. “family rhetoric, the current U.S. detention centers.” UUSC and the administration has pursued some UU College of Social Justice have of the most aggressive enforcement consistently engaged volunteers actions in recent history: expanded to advocate for refugee rights, family detention, raids on family supported their release to family and homes targeting women and friends willing to care for them, and children from Central America, mass demanded an end to family detention. deportations, and family separation 18 Our country’s inhumane treatment • Along the border between the of mothers and children may be the United States and Mexico, we most immediate aspect of this crisis, are partnering with the Kino but it is not the only one UUSC is Border Initiative (KBI) addressing. With our partners, we in Nogales to bring public also seek to reduce and ultimately attention to abuses committed eliminate the violence that causes against migrants and refugees families to flee their homes, and to by Mexican authorities, and to provide humanitarian assistance advocate for policy changes end for in-transit refugees along the these human rights violations. dangerous migration route through Mexico. Examples of these efforts • Within the United States, include: UUSC is supporting CIVIC in California to build capacity for • In Honduras, UUSC supports self-advocacy among detained a coalition of 17 grassroots migrants and asylum seekers. women’s organizations to CIVIC is starting a national confront gender-based violence 24/7 hotline for immigrants in by accompanying women detention to connect with family through legal procedures members, receive attorney and searches for housing, referrals, and challenge the and pressuring Honduran conditions of their detention. government officials to end the escalating militarization of their UUSC is also working on an states. investigation into the Central

Photo: Jeff Pearcy

19 American Minors (CAM) in-country renewed calls for President Obama to processing program, which allows a release young families from detention, parent with documentation in the grant protected status to asylum- United States to apply for refugee seekers from Central America, and status for children who are still in permanently close all U.S. family Central America. We will release a detention centers. report in the winter of 2016 that UUSC President and CEO reveals the challenges families face Tom Andrews notes the special when they attempt to use CAM. responsibility the United States These range from a lack of Spanish- bears for this crisis, “Throughout the speaking staff to help families 1980s and earlier, successive U.S. fill out their applications to the presidents and Congress supported risk of violence and even death brutally repressive and corrupt as children wait in the Northern dictatorships in each of these Central Triangle for their applications to be American countries. Our tax dollars processed. The report will provide were used to provide funding, arms, the Obama Administration and the and training to military dictatorships Department of State with concrete and their paramilitary death squads. recommendations to better secure the They carried out a reign of torture, human rights and dignity of Central ‘disappearances,’ and assassinations. American children seeking asylum or In the 1990s, brutal gangs created refugee status in the United States. far-reaching criminal networks amidst Other recent actions include UUSC the chaos, desperate poverty, and participation in the “Diapers in absence of the rule of law that was Detention” initiative protesting the the previous decade’s legacy. Today, incarceration of young children, and the police and military forces in these

USSC President Tom Andrews and his son at DC Rally4Refugees.

20 countries are, at best, unequal to the To see a video of Tom Andrews at a task of protecting their citizens from recent rally for refugees visit: these criminal networks.” http://tinyurl.com/rally4refugeesUUSC The time has come – once again – for action to renew respect for refugees’ Tom Martorelli is UUSC’s writer and human rights, and to provide the editor. opportunity for safety, freedom, and opportunity for Central American families with no alternative other than asylum here in the United States.

Join the UU College of Social Justice Border Witness Program

Every month, thousands of Central American refugees arrive at the US border, driven from their homes by violence, climate change, and poverty.

Will they be greeted by ever higher border walls? In a climate of fear and exclusion, let’s proclaim the radical inclusion of our faith. Join us!

Stand on the side of love. Join us on a Border Witness Program uucsj.org/journeys/borderlinks/

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