A Year of Resistance

On January 18, 2017, in the face of looming threats to our communities and neighbors, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee issued a call to people of faith and conscience to join us in affirming our profound commitment to the fundamental principles of justice, equity, compassion, and truth in the face of an incoming administration built on fear, othering, and hate. Thousands of you responded by signing our Declaration of Conscience.

Moved by your commitment and coming together in deep partnership, our organizations set to work creating a campaign to help us all carry out our commitment to oppose any unjust government actions to deport, register, discriminate, or despoil our communities. That campaign has become Love Resists.

We introduced many people to the campaign’s unique approach to justice work—centering the voices and needs of communities most impacted and partnering with movement leaders made up of members of these communities—at the UUA’s General Assembly in New Orleans last June. Check out the recording of our art-and-story-filled public witness event which began with a joyous second-line parade marching through the streets of New Orleans:

Over the past year, Love Resists has built community through regular conscience calls and clergy calls. Through webinars, we have been able to connect to leaders in the resistance movement to get a better understanding of how communities are targeted so we can better resist these efforts on all fronts.

This year, we’re launching monthly webinars to help keep this work going. We’ll update our website with new information about upcoming opportunities as they develop and share past webinar recordings and resources for you to use in your congregations and communities.

Watch our criminalization webinar to get insights from movement leaders at Mijente, Muslim Justice League, Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, and the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal—Love Resists partner organizations and allies—on how racist policies that criminalize an individual’s identity rather than their actions are at the heart of the government’s mass incarceration, deportation, and surveillance efforts today.

Love Resists also offers resources for spiritual grounding, centering, and support in carrying out what can be painful and personally-discomforting work. Love Resists is in this for the long haul and we know that we must continually kindle hope and courage if we are to sustain ourselves mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Check out our wonderful and growing collection of prayers, songs, and other spiritual guidance for the work of resistance.

It has been a tremendous year for the Love Resists campaign—and for all of us who care deeply about building diverse, strong, and thriving communities where all people can feel safe. How have you resisted hate and oppression this past year? Let’s fill our social media feeds with messages of resolve, of unapologetic and hopeful resistance for one another by sharing what you’ve done using the hashtag #LoveResists.

We at Love Resists will keep moving forward. We have some exciting opportunities for you in the coming year. We hope you’ll join us and bring others along, too. There’s much work still to be done.

How did you resist hate last year?

Let’s fill our social media feeds with messages of resolve, of unapologetic and hopeful resistance for one another by sharing what you’ve done with the hashtag #LoveResists.

Follow #LoveResists

Love Resists Webinars: Supporting Accountable Resistance

From Love Resists

To help individuals, groups, and congregations deepen their understanding of accountable resistance, Love Resists offers webinars led by some of our partners and resistance movement leaders. See the list below for upcoming learning opportunities and check back regularly for updates....

Love Resists Webinars

Supporting impacted communities: DACA, Dreamers & TPS

Love Resists has journeyed with DACA recipients and Dreamers throughout the past year to secure legal status for these talented and courageous Americans. We continue to amplify their call.

Learn how you can help