SOCIAL JUSTICE
To the Hebrews it was
mishpat; to the Greeks eunomia. We call it social justice, but that implies
laws and litigation too much. (Which is not to say that law and the rule
of law cannot be an important part of social justice.) But to the Hebrew
people and the first Christians social justice was about right relationships
between people.
We use our financial
and personal resources to promote justice and understanding. We have supported
AIDS Interfaith/NY, the Sunset Park Emergency Food Program, the former
780 Youth Council, the Flatbush YMCA and the East
Timor Action Network.
RECENT DIRECT ACTION EVENTS
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An interfaith panel shared their various perspectives on world-wide justice issues, the UN, and the importance of faith from the perspective of different world religions.
The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office Annual Youth Spring
Seminar: this year's event was titled, "All in the Name of Faith: Rights, Religion and Responsibility."
Youth from around the country were treated to films, panel discussions and of course a tour of the United Nations.
More photos of the event can be seen
[ here ]
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Keynote speaker Rev. Meg Riley addresses the Saturday morning gathering of the UU District of Metro NY (Jersey City, NJ).
This year's annual meeting of the NY District was themed, "Turning Outward, Acting on Faith." Numerous social justice projects being carried out by UU folks from within the district were celebrated and shared.
More photos of the event can be seen [
here
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Satyagraha ("soul force")
Devotees of the great Indian spiritual leader Mahatma
Gandhi gathered in Union Square.
Inspired by Gandhi's message, "You must be the change you wish to see
in the world," walkers, consisting of the general public and members
of various social, environmental, faith-based, and educational
institutions, proceeded from four locations in Manhattan to Union Square
Park, the location of New York's Gandhi statue. |
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The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office hosts "Building a Culture of Peace" seminar. |
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UU's from all over the country attended the three day UU-UNO annual spring seminar, Building a Culture of Peace.
Several panels of distinguished experts (such as this one shown here) shared their peacemaking stories from places
such as Rwanda and South Africa. |
Sam Cook of the Women's International League of Peace and
Freedom speaking as part of the Human Rights, the United Nations &
Conflict Resolution" panel, part of the Intergenerational Spring
Conference (April 3, 2008) at the UN. |
Portraits of Prior Secretary Generals of the UN (in the
area open to the public at the UN). |
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Iraq: 5th Anniversary
A smattering of protesters marked the 5th anniversary of the US
invasion of Iraq with demonstrations and actions in Washington DC
(pictured here) and across the country.
More of Rev. Tom Martinez's photographs
can be seen here. |
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Protests at the United Nations
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
(click on a photo to see larger image)
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Activists took to the New York City Streets with the ultimate
destination of dag hammarskjold Plaza by the UN.
Many wore orange jumpsuits (such as those pictured at right) to call
attention to the human rights abuses taking place in Guantanamo.
Speakers at the event included members of Code Pink, students from Union
Seminary, a father of a slain US soldier (killed in Iraq) and Rev. Luis
Barrios. |
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A Speaker From Code Pink addressing the crowd near the U.N.
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Rev. Luis Barrios speaking - Mr. Arredondo, background, lost his son
Alex, in Iraq. |
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Protests in Washington D.C.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
(click on a photo to see larger image)
An anti-war protest in DC drew thousands of concerned citizens calling for an end of the war.
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Fourth Anniversary of the US Invaision of Iraq
Monday, March 19, 2007
(click on a photo to see larger image)
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Activists prior to civil disobedience marking the
4th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. |
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Several different groups including the War Resister's League interrupted traffic in the Wall Street area of Manhattan, resulting in numerous arrests. |
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Read More
On-Line: Reuters
Editor
& Publisher Village
Voice |
Brooklyn Parents for Peace Annual Peace Fair
Each
year Brooklyn Parents for Peace
holds a Peace Fair to raise support/awareness re the most
pressing social justice issues of the day. At the October 2006 event
the toll of the Iraq war was a major theme. This
exhibit ("Eyes Wide Open") uses empty boots to symbolize the soldiers
killed in the war. Another exhibit used photos of each soldier
(which covered an enormous wall at Long Island University (the
Brooklyn campus).
(click for larger image.)
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ASBC participated in a major Darfur Rally in
NYC Central Park on Sunday afternoon, September 17, from 2:00-5:00 pm in the Central Park East Meadow, close to
5th Avenue at East 97th Street. The focus of this world rally was to encourage a UN Security Council Resolution for an international
United Nations peacekeeping mission, adequate support for the African
Union Mission in Sudan during the interim, and safety for humanitarian
workers. For more, see www.uu-uno.org. |
Manhattan — Hiroshima Day Events, August 5 (Saturday), 1 to 7 pm: the
NYC War Resister's League is sponsoring an exhibit about the Hiroshima
and Nagasaki bombings to be displayed in Tompkins Sq. Park (St. Marks
Pl. and Avenue A on Lower East Side); 7 pm, there will be a solemn
procession from the park to the west side of Manhattan; for more
information, contact
or 718-768-7306
Sunday, June 10th 2006, Brooklyn Pride Parade: Join us for New York City's second-largest Gay and Lesbian Pride event of the season. The Festival takes place at Bartel- Pritchard Circle and along Prospect Park West from 15th Street to 9th Street. The Parade begins at Bartel-Pritchard Circle (Prospect Park West at 15th Street) and travels up 15th Street to Seventh Avenue, continuing north on Seventh Avenue to Lincoln Place. To walk behind the ASBC banner with members and friends of the church, contact Rev. Tom Martinez at (718) 941-2640.
Sunday June 18th 2006, 3rd Annual Children of Abraham Peace Walk: a beautiful interfaith event beginning at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge, where brief tours of the mosque will be offered (at 1:30PM). After a brief service of sharing and interfaith prayers for peace, we'll walk to the Park Slope Jewish Center (14th St. and 8th Avenue).
All Souls Bethelehem Church, Brooklyn, NY
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