Dissent is under attack, and personal, international, and systemic violence seems encouraged and culturally accepted, making this a difficult year for peace and justice advocates. From my perspective and experience this reinforces the vital need for UFPJ’s work. And it reminds me of a lesson I learned as a young child from my grandmother.
My family struggled financially in the rural South, but I remember a short time when we had some financial stability, my parents bought me my own bed, and we even a had full refrigerator, which was a rare occurrence in a low-income household with 7 children. One early December morning our woodstove malfunctioned and our house burned. I was devastated. I remember sitting on the floor of what had been my room, looking over the burned sheets and blankets on the bed I’d slept in only a few times, when I felt my grandmother’s hand on my shoulder. I couldn’t imagine why things had been destroyed just when we had achieved a small bit of security. Grandma held me in my distress and said, “It’s hard, and cry now, but baby there’s work to do. Even when all is NOT well, you got to remember you’ve got work to do!” UFPJ has work to do, and we need your support to continue that work.
Therefore, for me, 2018 has been an excellent year to be the UFPJ staff person. I have worked to build connections across issues, deepen relationships with allies and colleagues, and assist in developing strong resistance to war and militarism.
Some Highlights:
- Participating in the state and national leadership team for the Poor People’s Campaign; A National Call for Moral Revival, planning 40 Days of Action. UFPJ supported these organizing efforts and participated locally during the week that highlighted the War Economy (several CC members were arrested).
- As a member of the Poor People’s Campaign Political Education committee I focussed on connecting the dots between war, militarism and the ongoing dilemmas facing low wealth people and communities in our country.
- In early November while in California, I met with local peace activists to see how UFPJ might help amplify peace voices. Concerns ranged from the arms sales to the Saudis that are being used in the Saudi/UAE war on Yemen, to the ‘greying’ of the peace community, to liking the idea of more networking and including updates at the website.
- UFPJ has a new intern who has been contacting member groups about their current work for peace so that we can foster networking and highlight their work on the UFPJ website. The website is currently being updated and will have a “Current Organizing Feature”
- I represented UFPJ at several national convenings. In late September the Black Alliance for Peace held a membership meeting in Atlanta. Organizing from a Human Rights framework was also a theme at a Human Rights Cities meeting last month. And I found Code Pink’s December 1 Iran Summit to be uplifting and inspiring.
The work of Peace and Justice requires intentional, patient work over the long run, deep attention to relationships, and willingness to see and address the many consequences of our government’s domestic and foreign policy. in short – UFPJ has work to do, we all have work to do, and thank you for supporting that work!
In Solidarity,
George Friday, UFPJ National Organizer
