Beloveds,

In the last two weeks, the Twin Cities have become the focus of national concern as ICE escalates its presence and its agents carry out actions that undermine both human rights and dignity. As a result, an interfaith coalition in Minnesota put out a call to faith leaders from across the country to come to Minneapolis on January 22-23 for A Day of Witness against the surge of ICE violence. They are issuing this call in the tradition of the call that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put out in 1965 for faith leaders to come to Selma. Those of you who were in worship on Sunday would have heard Rev. Jo share that she is answering the call to go to Minneapolis from Wednesday through Friday.

Rev. Jo shared this during worship on Sunday: “I need to answer the call to love and justice, I need to be on the ground there to witness the occupation and the incredible courage of those who call Minneapolis home. My faith and my values call me to be present as an act of solidarity and of love. My courage calls me forward in the rise up against occupation and fascism.”

Members of our congregation signed Rev. Jo’s yellow Side with Love Stole, which she will wear as a visible sign of her values and faith, and as a blanket of love from all those on the journey with her. In the words of the South African anti-apartheid hymn “Courage, my friends,” she “journeys not alone.”

What We Can Do From Home…

Some of you may be wondering how we can support Rev. Jo, her colleagues, and all Minnesotans from home over the next few days. We’ve compiled a short list of things you can do from home to witness in solidarity with Minnesota.

• Side with Love has created a SWL Minnesota Resource Toolkit to help UUs and allies respond to this moment with clarity, courage, and fierce love. Scroll down to the section “If You Are Outside the Twin Cities” for a list of suggested actions we can take from here in NY.
• The Minnesota-based community organization ISAIAH is hosting a national prayer call in support of Minnesotans on Friday, January 23, at 9:30 am EST. You may register here.

Upon Rev. Jo’s return…

Rev. Jo will be back on Sunday morning for worship. We hope you will join us for “After the Call with Rev. Jo,” a time of reflection and processing from Minneapolis, from 11:45 am-12:30 pm this Sunday, January 25, in the Sanctuary. This will be offered on Zoom as well as in person, so if you are joining worship from Zoom, just stay on the call.

As Side with Love wrote in their own communications about this weekend, “To immigrants, undocumented neighbors, and all those living under fear, we say clearly: you are not alone. Your lives are sacred. Our faith calls us not only to pray for safety, but to organize so that safety becomes real.”