Black Mamas Bailout — A Call to Action to all People of Faith
from the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism Organizing Collective
2019 marks the third year that the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism Organizing Collective (BLUU) has participated in amplifying and calling our own Unitarian Universalist faith to show up to support the annual Black Mamas Bailout (#FreeBlackMamas) organized by the National Bail Out collective. Our BLUU Principles call us deeply to the work of ending money bail and freeing our people from the chains of incarceration.
For many, the idea of “religious folks” or “people of faith” being partners in justice work gives them pause. Concerns about fundamentalism, judgment, marginalizing others and themes of religious superiority can be at the root of their skepticism and with good reason: faith communities haven’t always had the best ethics or practices when engaging in justice-making with community partners.
In our recently released vision statement, we declare boldly: “BLUU harnesses love’s power to combat oppression and foster healing as a spiritual and political imperative. We know the power of love to be life-changing, inclusive, relational, uncomfortable, unconditional and without end.” Our faith as Black Unitarian Universalists is radically inclusive, grounded and informed by our religious heritage and various wisdom traditions, and demonstrated by our practice of love and justice-making.
This vision includes work like our upcoming Babies & Bailouts Panels, Watch Parties, and Donation Drives all in support of the 2019 #FreeBlackMamas campaign both in local communities and at the national level. This unique event will feature a live online panel of organizers, experts, and mothers who have needed support while incarcerated, with almost 50 watch parties scheduled around the country filled with people who will be hosting donation drives to support local bailout efforts along with supplies for recently incarcerated mothers. We welcome and encourage you to host a watch party as well, either on April 28th or shortly thereafter, with a recording of the panel.
After a weekend of major religious holidays that recognize the miracle of faith, today we specifically feel called to extend a direct invitation to all other people of faith to join us in lifting up the work to end systems of pretrial detention and ultimately mass incarceration and more specifically to take up a special collection between now and Mother’s Day to benefit the 2019 Black Mamas Bailout donating directly to the National Bail Out collective.
It is imperative for us as people of faith, to dismantle systems of oppression and work to build contexts for thriving, not just surviving, for all people. For us, it’s all about justice-making and liberation THROUGH our faith.
If your answer to our call is yes, add your name to this letter and include your organization, congregation, synagogue, temple, mosque or other religious community to the growing list of people of faith taking action via special collections in the coming weeks. Complete the form to add your voice: bit.ly/peopleoffaithbailout.
Our organizing centers our commitment to creating authentic links between faith held resources and Black Liberation Movement spaces. We hope you’ll join us in the work — there is plenty to do.
National Bail Out Fund Donation Information:
To donate via credit card:
To donate via check:
- Make payable to: Highlander Research and Education Center with National Bail Out in the memo line.
- Mail to: Highlander Research and Education Center, 1959 Highlander Way, New Market, TN 37820
We join the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism Organizing Collective’s Call to Action in support of the 2019 Free Black Mama’s campaign and the work to end systems of pretrial detention and mass incarceration.
- Christine Edgar — University Unitarian Church
- Rev. Laurie Bushbaum — Retired
- Rev. Terri Burnor — Worthy Now Minnesota
- Maryam Kashani — Believers Bail Out
- Kathy Scarbrough — The Unitarian Society, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Kia Bordner — First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
- Lisa Nosal — Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma
- Lóre Stevens — First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville
- Molly Baskette — First Church Berkeley UCC
- Anna Bethea — UU Church of Tallahassee
- Nichola Torbett — First Congregational Church of Oakland
