3-11-26
Send an email today to tell your U.S. Representative and Senators to:
Stop pouring funds into the ICE and CBP budgets to criminalize and attack immigrant communities without restraint.
Pass strong, proactive measures like the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act to protect civil and human rights.
Protect sensitive locations such as churches and other houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Demand true accountability.
War in Iran. This EXCELLENT excerpt from the JUSTICE AND MERCY WEEKLY ACTION ALERT from Arvada United Methodist Church (which is phenomenal) is filled with background info and text from our UM Social Principles. Thanks to Nell for sending this Prayer for the Middle East. 5Calls.org has a script to support a bipartisan war powers resolution.
Letter to Highlands REIT regarding proposed Hudson Detention Center. Chicago-based Highlands Real Estate Investment Trust (Highlands REIT) owns the Hudson, CO building identified as a potential ICE detention center. Learn more here. Use this contact info linked here on their website and ask them to reconsider allowing their site to become a detention facility. Draft of letter to Highlands REIT. When you get a letter mailed let us know and we will celebrate our collaborative effort.
Oppose the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act (Brennan Center article) would require proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, to register to vote in federal elections, creating significant barriers for millions of eligible citizens. Use this info and script to call our senators at 5calls.org.
Check out the Colorado Rapid Response Network Trainings. CRRN operates a statewide hotline, verifies reports of ICE activity, coordinates trained volunteers, and connects community members with legal and humanitarian resources. Judy and I are doing the March 21 training.
It is caucus season - Check out this initial FAQ document.
Dems Caucus info March 3 is virtual
GOP Caucus info and here
For your Calendar:
Shape Colorado’s Green Energy Future - with Sarah Tresedder of the Sierra Club & former Co PUC Chair, Jeff Ackermann. Thurs., March 12, 7–8 pm, Zoom. Learn about current practices and policies of Xcel Energy and the PUC and what we, as citizens and utility consumers, can do to help reform incentives, establish clean energy standards and maybe even lower our utility bills. We need to chart a more ambitious and responsible path toward a clean energy future in our state. More info and register here For additional info contact Tom Abood at greenfirst@firstuniversalist.org.
Love INC Presentation, Mon., March 16, 12:00 noon, Littleton United Methodist Church. Join us in Grant Fellowship Hall for coffee, light refreshments, and a special presentation by LOVE, INC! We'll learn about a valuable community resource that provides support for the homeless.
Dr. Martin Luther King -Terrific Tuesday. Tues., March 17, 12:00 p.m, Littleton United Methodist Church. Come learn about the life and work of Martin Luther King, presented by Hank Wyeno. Please call Littleton United Methodist Church’s office (303-794-6379) to RSVP so we can plan the amount of food.
South Front Range Chapter of Together Colorado, Wed., March 18, 6 - 8 pm, St. Andrew UMC, 9203 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch. “How can we truly hear the cries of the marginalized, and act in ways that bring real change?” We believe action, guided by our faith, can have an impact. We are conducting research actions with local officials, including mayors, city councils, county commissioners, law enforcement, and others to address our priority issues (Immigration, Food Security, Education). On March 18 we’ll share what we have learned so far, identify commonalities and clarify potential action. RSVP HERE.
Together Colorado Lobby Day at the State Capitol. Mon, March 23. This will be a multi-faith Lobby Day at the State Capitol from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP here. There are several of us attending. Our plan is to ride light rail together so let us know if you can join.
No Kings Centennial. Sat., March 28, 9:30 am - 1 pm, E. Dry Creek Road & S. University Blvd. This will be a nationwide No Kings Rally. We will join together - LUMC, St. Luke’s, and St. Andrew United Methodist Churches - to unite our voices and take a stand against the injustices occurring in our country.. Though the rally begins at 10:00, we will gather at 9:30 at the NE corner of S. University and E. Dry Creek (in the parking lot near Burger King). More details and sign up here.
What You Should Know About Election Security. Sun., March 29, 2 - 3:30 p.m. Bemis Public Library. Arapahoe County Elections Dir. William Mast will discuss how Arapahoe County conducts secure, accurate and transparent elections. Learn about local voter demographics, ballot preparation and voting options, including mail and in-person processes. The presentation will highlight signature verification, audits and transparency safeguards. Discover resources for voter registration and opportunities to serve as election judges. Register here.
Path to Love and Liberation Rally. Sun., March 29, 2 pm. People of faith and conscience will gather on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax Ave.. Together, we’ll raise a clear moral voice against systems that tear families apart and spread fear—and commit to building communities, and public policies, rooted in compassion and justice. Join us to pray, witness, and take action so that all Coloradans can live in safety, belonging, and hope. More details and RSVP here.
Ongoing opportunities:
Demand Guardrails for Immigration Enforcement. Call your representatives to urge them to hold firm to demands for reasonable guidelines for immigration enforcement before agreeing to Department of Homeland Security funding. Here are the Democrat's 10 demands. Use 5calls.org - No Continuing Resolution for DHS.
Giving Heart (4358 S. Broadway) - Current Needs. Men’s jeans, adult belts, adult shoes, boots, blankets, sleeping bags. Bring them to the LUMC breezeway.
HAAT Force Update. Freezers are almost refilled after our recent severe weather event but HAAT Force could still use more individual “to be frozen” meals. Contact Julie for details and to coordinate drop off (jhall@haatforce.org). Additional items needed include adult sweat pants (all sizes), underwear, individual packs of cereal, hot hand warmers, adult winter jackets, and adult gloves. Bring to the LUMC breezeway.
Ask Governor Polis to stand firm re Tina Peters. Bill and I attended the presentation by Former US Rep. Claudine Schneider. She recommended calling Governor Polis to ask him not to commute Tina Peters’ sentence. When the constitution is being tested and when President Trump is threatening federal interference in our elections, commuting her sentence would signal the Governor’s lack of respect for judicial decisions and tacit approval for breaking the law. Use this link to contact Gov. Polis.
A Call to Faithful Resistance. This is a call to all Christians to speak out and to actively resist the rise of autocracy by signing this statement. The “Call to Faithful Resistance” statement is not owned by any particular organization or church. It seeks to bring clarity to this current moment in the U.S., and therefore awaken followers of Jesus to faithfully resist the rise of autocracy. It was written by Len Tang, a local pastor in Pasadena, CA. Several of us have signed this document.
Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice, Watch the ecumenical and interfaith leaders and communities in Washington, DC virtually, for a public witness grounded in worship, moral courage, and solidarity with our neighbors. More details here.
Dental Material Recycling
Green Team and Children’s Ministry invites you to keep dental care materials out of landfills. We are accepting used Crest, Oral-B, & Fixodent oral care products for recycling. The collection box is located in the breezeway.
About Flock and Ring - Flock tracks license plate data; This Denver Post article details the ongoing debate about how Flock Cameras are being used in Colorado and around the nation. Colorado has two Senate Bills that have been proposed to put guard rails on their use. (SB26-070 and SB26-071). Also: Ring partners with Flock. Without a Ring subscription, Ring does not record or store event footage, meaning there is no recorded data to provide to third parties like Flock Safety
Aligning our Spending with our Values -
We previously mentioned Better World Shopper (linked here). This site makes social and environmental data available to consumers who wish to utilize their dollars as votes in order to help build a better world.
Another tool is GoodsUniteUs.com. “The average consumer indirectly contributes 3x more to political campaigns through everyday purchases than through direct donations. And some of those profits get donated to politicians and causes you might not agree with.” This website tracks the political contributions of many businesses and evaluates where these businesses stand on campaign finance reform.
The Good Shopping Guide: https://thegoodshoppingguide.com/
Vouchers. Karen highlighted the vouchers Issue that is part of the Big Beautiful Bill. Gov. Polis is planning to opt in, allowing funds generated by 1 to 1 tax credits to fund private schools. Public funds would be effectively reallocated to support private programs that lack accountability for what they teach and that are allowed to discriminate against children with disabilities or who identify as LGBTQ+. It is because public schools have public accountability that they deserve public funds. We must not fund programs that lack that accountability. Read this news story here.
The Trump admin to dismantle NCAR: The Trump Administration announced plans to dismantle the National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the US' leading weather and climate research institutions. Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action immediately. To take action: https://act.ucsusa.org/3MAr3mJ
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Take Action Against Key Lime Air - Englewood, CO. (From Indivisibile) Did you know that Key Lime Air, based in Englewood/Centennial Airport) has a contract with ICE to fly those being deported to concentration camps in other states? This article was written about it a month ago and IPT leader, Dana M, discusses Key Lime on 9 News.
Other Info and Reminders:
North Littleton Promise
We continue to support North Littleton Promise in a variety of ways. As always, the "get involved” page linked here offers many volunteer opportunities.
PragerU - Thanks to Harriet for making us aware of the movement to make PragerU resources a part of school curriculums. This organization provides inaccurate, simplistic, and biased information on current and historical events. (Examples include videos presenting Black Lives Matter protests in a disparaging light and defending Columbus using a cartoon Columbus to state that slavery is “as old as time” and then adding that “being taken as a slave is better than being killed, no? I don’t see the problem.”) To learn more and to sign a petition click here.