The UUA Condemns Trump's National Emergency Declaration for Border Wall

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) denounces President Trump’s racist and xenophobic decision to declare a national emergency to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico.

“This administration is targeting the most marginalized and at risk people for political gain,” said UUA president, the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. “He is fabricating a crisis to assume even more authoritarian power. His targeting of immigrants, children and refugees is legitimizing hate, immorality, cruelty and child abuse.”

The first principle of Unitarian Universalism declares the inherent worth and dignity of all people. We refuse to be silent as the Trump administration continues to escalate violence and terrorism against people because of their ethnicity and immigration status.

This manufactured need to declare a national emergency furthers a dangerous narrative that immigrants, undocumented people and those who are migrating are dangerous. Villainizing entire groups of people to justify detaining, hurting, or isolating them is not new. History shows us that without righteous indignation and faithful disruption, families will continue to be separated and lives will continue to be lost.

Our faith calls us to be on the side of justice. And our compassion calls us to be on the side of the most vulnerable.

As Unitarian Universalists, we also believe in democracy, so we are called to speak out when the democratic process is under attack. We condemn President Trump’s attempt to circumvent the democratic process and use billions of dollars for bigotry.

“Creating fear through racism and bigotry to justify ‘emergency actions’ is a common play of fascist politics, and the notion that you are not accountable to the rule of law or that you can make your own laws to serve your own interests is supremacy at its most pure,” said Unitarian Universalist Association Executive Vice President, Carey McDonald.

We recognize that it is especially crucial for us to follow grassroots organizations who continue to respond prophetically to the global resurgence of unapologetic fascism. We reaffirm our commitments to following those who are most impacted and centering the narratives of those who have the most at stake because of the Trump administration. We are on this journey with you, fighting for our intertwined destiny.