Plenary

There were actually several plenary sessions in which reports were given, speeches made, music, breakout congregations recognized, and of course, voting on changes to the bylaws, a statement of conscience, the AIWs (action of immediate witness), CSAI (Congretional Study Action Issues), and the two business resolutions.

The plenary in which the business resolution vote on Arizona was scheduled was perhaps the most well-attended and emotional. By this time, the resolution had changed dramatically. It was no longer about boycotting Arizon, but about holding a special 'justice' GA there in 2012.

Section Four of the amendment now said “to explore options within the Phoenix area that would minimize our financial contribution to the Arizona business economy.” Some felt that this might hurt our allies, and/or unfairly punish businesses who oppose the law as much as we do. I kept hearing the Arizonan's voice in my head, "There WILL be lists," and I still can't get behind this or even believe that UU's are talking about blacklists.

Salvadore Reza of Puente spoke at plenary. He was great. In essence what he seemed to be saying was or what I heard his say was: do what you will in 2012, but come NOW, we need you NOW. Everyone cheered him, but I didn't hear anyone talk about partnering or working for justice in Arizon NOW.

Gini Courter did a great job reminding us that we are all on the same side of the issue and such before the time opened up for debate. The line at the Pro microphone were very long. I couldn't see the Con mic, but there were so many procedural questions that not many people got to speak pro or con. Then after 15 minutes of debate (I believe), the floor is open for amendments, and there were a few.

Like the mini-assembly, the people speaking for the amendment talked about how horrible the SB1070 law is, and not about whether a 'justice' GA in two years is the best response to opposing the law. It felt as though if you were against the resolution, you were against the cause. The amendment passed overwhelmingly and with great joy.

Now, what? I will be interested to see how many people answer Puente's call to come to Arizona NOW, and be part of the National Day of Non-Compliance on July 29, the day that SB1070 goes into effect, in this Arizona summer of human rights.

I just now came across a letter that Salvadore Reza of Puente and the head of NDLON (National Day Laborer Organizing Network) wrote to Rev Morales on June 8, 2010, in which they wrote:

We invite you to transform your General Assembly scheduled for June, 2012 in Phoenix into a Unitarian Universalist convergence for human rights in Arizona. We urge you to call UUs across the country to support the movement on the ground here in Arizona and to coordinate your activities with Puente and NDLON.

Perhaps I missed it in both mini-assemblies and plenary, but I did not hear anything about this letter, that the idea of using GA as a convergence for human rights was the idea of Puente and NDLON. I heard a lot about  the work of LUUNA (Latina/o Unitarian Universalist Networking Association), DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries), and ARE (Allies for Racial Equity), and how they all worked into the early hours of the morning to draft an amendment that they could all agree to, and about the "many hours of deep listening, tears, and prayer" that the ARE President talked about.

And so, I'm curious, what will UU's do now?