UU Solidarity Summit Report by Kristin R.
The TN UU Solidarity Summit was last weekend in Memphis. Rev. Denise, Caren S-S, Kristin R., Nancy C., and Zenith V. attended.
On Friday night we met our UU friends representing congregations from all over Tennessee over dinner from Cedars Restaurant (Lebanese). This vendor, as well as all food vendors, were chosen specifically because they are part of the Free the 901 BUYcott / Boycott movement in Memphis. BUYcott vendors refuse to serve ICE or federal agents, and the community supports them. Vendors that offer discounts to those agents are boycotted. What a great community led way to protest and stand up for what you believe in!
Then, author Emily Yellin, spoke, introducing the book she cowrote with Reverend James Lawson Jr, Nonviolent: A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation, and Love. Emily, who grew up knowing Reverend Lawson’s family, spent the pandemic interviewing him for this book. She told us stories from east, middle, and west Tennessee and inspired us with the dedication and effort that the Civil Rights leaders put into their nonviolent protests. Several of us bought the book - let us know if you would like a loaner when we are done reading!
On Saturday, there were several UUA-led worships. We Are Builders focused on how faith communities could identify destabilizing events (the condition), identify support assets and resources (organizing resources), identify and maintain relationships (networks), and build and maintain infrastructure.
For me this emphasized how important it is that we, as a small congregation, are involved with NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action and Hope), as well as our Climate Justice Green Sanctuary initiative. I ask that members and friends consider joining me at the NOAH Public Meeting on this Sunday, September 27 at 3 PM. This is an opportunity to build community power around public safety accountability, closing corporate tax loopholes, and ending ICE overreach. This meeting will have expert speakers, lived-experience speakers, and direct actions you can immediately take to create an impact in your community. Let’s stand up together as Nashvillians to make sure that no one gets left behind whether at a traffic stop, a grocery line, or a detention camp. Register here.
Then, we had Skill Building Workshops. Caren, Nancy, and I went to the Safety breakout, where I learned what a Safety Marshal does during a protest. A protest safety marshal (or peacekeeper) is a trained volunteer who helps keep a demonstration organized, peaceful, and safe for all participants. They guide crowds, de-escalate tensions, monitor safety, and act as a communication link between the crowd, organizers, and sometimes law enforcement. This was eye opening to me - it complemented the idea Emily Yellin spoke of - nonviolent resistance is not sporadic, but well planned, constantly weighing benefits with risks.
For lunch we had De Sammich Spot, another BUYCOT vendor.
Then, we heard from MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope). They educated us on what has been going on with the ICE and Federal Agent occupation of Memphis. We learned more about different types of people power - symbolic actions (flying “Free the 901” flags — 901 is the Memphis area code, supporting signs in businesses, citywide marches/protests), noncooperation (Boycott complicit businesses, worker strikes, refusal of service, jury nullification, and redirecting traffic) , and building alternatives (mutual aid, neighborhood watches, block parties providing resources/medical care/training in noncooperation). We learned that it takes 3.5% of the population to win against authoritarianism. In Memphis that is 21,000 people. We also learned how to have an organizing conversation.
Planned Parenthood then spoke about their statewide advocacy. I was not aware of how involved they were in Tennessee and am so glad we supported them via Share the Plate. If you want to know about some of their current goals, reach out! I also encourage you all to join the Unitarian Universalists X Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi GOTV Phone Bank on October 8th, from 12-1 CT on Zoom.
Then, we heard from Young, Gifted, and Green, a national civil rights and environmental justice organization that works at the federal, state, and local levels. They believe that clean air, clean water, and a healthy home are not privileges. They are basic rights every person deserves. They do this by building bridges between the community and the government, meeting people where they are, and turning residents into advocates. In Memphis, they have programs like Lead Free Memphis and the Data Center Freedom Coalition. Families in the 38109, the most polluted zip code in the state, face more than 17 polluting industries including a refinery, and now an AI supercomputer powered in part by gas turbines. This would be a great Share the Plate in the future!
On Sunday, we had Sunday Service led by ministers from all over our state, which left me feeling proud to be a Tennessee UU, a concept that is relatively new to me.
After lunch at Central BBQ, we headed to the National Civil Rights Museum to hear Rep. Justin Pearson, among other speakers. Rep. Pearson talked about the importance of relying on mutual solidarity to hold elected officials accountable. He also reflected our UU value of Love at the center saying, “No one is coming to fix it or to save us, and unfortunately a lot of our elected leaders have abandoned our communities,” Pearson said. “It is the love that stitches us and binds us together and is uniting us even through what is one of the darkest and most difficult periods in modern Memphis history... When you bring hundreds of people together to say, ‘I see you, I appreciate you, I know it’s difficult, but I’m going to be there with you,’ it gives you so much more hope, so much more spirit, and so much more fight to keep going and keep journeying ahead. We’re not tired yet.” (from Faith leaders demand an end to Memphis Safe Task Force as one-year mark of operations approaches)
The Solidarity Summit was featured twice in the news:
With love at the center,
Kristin R.
