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Building a UU Democracy Leaders Community

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Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice

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Fred Van Deusen

Dale Anderson

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Credit: Motortion

Stock photo ID:1183327151

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What You Will Learn

1. What is UUSJ?

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1. What is the UUSJ Democracy Action Team?

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1. Why was the UUSJ Leaders Group Formed?

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1. What is happening to our democracy and what can Democracy Leaders are doing about it.

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1. How can congregations form a Democracy Action Team?

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1. Why are Pro-Democracy coalitions critical?

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1. What actions should your DAT pursue?

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1. What needs to happen going forward?

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OUR PURPOSE TODAY. . . . . .

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UU for Social Justice

Vision

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A just, compassionate, and sustainable world community

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Mission

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Advance equitable national policies and actions, aligned with UU values, through engagement, education and advocacy.

Values

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• We are effective and responsive
• We are faithful to our UU Principles
• We respect others

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• UUSJ is a 501c3 NFP organization founded in 2000 and based in Washington, DC

UUSJ is entirely donor-funded and receives no subsidy from UUA or other UU organizations

Unitarian Universalist for

SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Selecting issues strategically that are moving in Congress
2. Arranging meetings with Congressional offices
3. Publicizing Action Alerts
4. Maintaining Issue -specific Action Teams
5. Conducting workshops and webinars
6. Organizing witnessing activities

UUSJ works to make our Government fairer and more inclusive by the following actions: 

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• UUSJ advocates for policies that reflect UU values on Capitol Hill

UUSJ -A National Organization

Pablo DeJesus

Executive Director

UUSJ Democracy Action Team

Fred Van Deusen

Co-Convener

The Democracy Action Team was formed in 2019

Ursula Scott

Co-Convener

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UUSJ Democracy Action Team

ADVOCACY ON THE HILL

• UU Priorities - We assess and prioritize democracy areas of focus and align these areas with legislation in Congress.

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• Engage - We then select the legislation to focus on and meet with selected offices of Representatives and Senators to advocate for (or against) the legislation.

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UUSJ- DAT’s Traditional Work:

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John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

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D.C.

Statehood

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Democracy Action Team

PIVOTS

In late 2023, with Congress in gridlock and the looming potential of a GOP sweep in 2024, UUSJ Democracy Action Team pivots . . .

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Congregational Survey

1. Does your congregation have a democracy action team (or equivalent group) organized and working to help strengthen and save our democracy?

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Image: AndreyPopov

Berlin, Germany - iStock

UUSJ Democracy Action Team Survey

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Short survey sent to more than 900 congregations to learn what they were doing to support democracy in January, 2024. 129 responded from 94 congregations.

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Democracy Leader’s Group Formed

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UUSJ –DAT

LEADERS GROUP

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• Open to any UU member

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• Monthly meetings
• (90 minutes – 4^th Wed 7:30 pm)

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• Resource center

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• Presentations on organizing to protect democracy

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• Guest speakers

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• UU-DAT case presentations

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• Small group discussions

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The “Democracy Leaders Group” was created February 2024.

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Understanding the Threat – Taking Action

Raise the Alarm

Your Personal Plan

Forming “DATs”

Democracy Movement

Local DAT Actions

Forming Coalitions

Project 2025

Election Security

Personal Security

Auth. Playbook

Civil Resistance

Action Planning

Leaders’ Group Formed

Election 2024

2025

2023

2024

Plan Strategy

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What do we call what is happening?

RAISING THE ALARM –DESCRIBING THE THREAT

UUSJ-Sponsored Webinars

“A Fascist Campaign in Full View”

Dale Anderson, UUSJ Trustee

Oct. 11, 2023

“Recognizing and Resisting Fascism as People of Faith”

UU Reverend Celia Kingman

Oct. 11, 2023

“How We Win the Civil War”

Steve Phillips - Author

Feb. 6, 11, 2024

“Saving Democracy – A User’s Manual”

David Pepper - Author

Jan. 10, 2024

• Extreme Right wing Populism
• Illiberal Democracy
• Plutocracy
• Authoritarianism
• Competitive Authoritarianism
• Tyranny / Totalitarianism
• Personalist Dictatorship
• Fascism

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ALL MEAN THE END OF

DEMOCRACY

&

LOSS OF FREEDOMS

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PREDICTING AN AUTHORITARIAN / FASCIST COUP

A FASCIST STATE

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"You know you are living in a fascist state if dissent is punished, propaganda replaces truth, minorities are scapegoated, and power is concentrated in the hands of a single party or leader."

Has it already arrived?

2017

2018

2018

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Dismantling our Democracy

PROJECT 2025

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GOV’T OVERSIGHT INSTITUTIONS

(Ethics Committees)

• To check the potential high-level corruption

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TRUSTWORTHY LAW ENFORCEMENT

• To administer the law equally.

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D E M O C R A T I C N O R M S

Source: Ill Winds, Larry Diamond 2017

*“Liberal” in this context refers to freedoms and not belief along the political spectrum.

INDEPENDENT

JUDICIARY

• To uphold the Rule of Law principle.

Separation of Church and State

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Is the Future Fascist?

June 4, 2019

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Umair Haque

“Fascism is best seen as a kind of theft from the nation. A deep and profound theft- the deepest theft of all.

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It proceeds as:

• Theft of Rights
• Theft of norms and values
• Theft of democracy
• Theft of decency and humanity

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BRUTAL FACTS

Source: Toward a People-Powered Democracy

James Mumm & Scot Nakagawa, June 6, 2023

How We Win the Civil War - Steven Philips

Rebellion – Robert Kagan

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What We Learned?

1. The political threat to our democracy is real, immediate, and undeniable.

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1. Our President, certain GOP leaders and their MAGA followers are all on board with the assault and open in their desire to install an autocratic regime . . one with obvious parallels to previous fascist governments.

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1. The forces of autocracy are well organized, loaded with cash and backed by powerful propaganda networks and certain foreign adversaries.

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1. Defenders of our democracy have been generally silent, out-organized and underfunded for the challenge we face.

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1. Our pro-democracy political party alone cannot protect our democracy. We will need a broad, inclusive grass-roots movement to counter this autocracy.

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1. Every American who cares about our nation and future must be ready to make sacrifices and find ways to contribute protection of our democracy.

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WHAT CAN WE DO?

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HOW CAN WE SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY?

What Can We Do?

1. PERSONAL PLANS

Create opportunities for individuals to find their role in saving our democracy.

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1. DEMOCRACY ACTION TEAM

Create and Support a Congregational Democracy Action Team.

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1. PRO-DEMOCRACY COALITION

Launch or join a pro-democracy coalition in your community – connect to state and national coalitions as they form.

THREE THINGS

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Personal Plans

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“Action is the antidote to despair”

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Joan Baez

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Poll Question #1

What Percentage of your congregation’s members would you estimate are currently actively engaged in actions to help save our democracy?

• Less than 10%
• 10 to 25%
• 25-50%
• 50-75%
• More than 75%

Make It Your Mission

Step 1 – Change Your Mindset

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Make one simple decision: Incorporate “saving democracy” into your personal mission statement.

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YOUR MISSION

(“ should you choose to accept it ” )

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• Make saving democracy a priority in your life
• Decide what to invest in terms of time and dollars
• Tell friends and family of your new commitment – it will make it real.

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Source: Saving Democracy: A User’s Manual - 2023

How to become

Civically Engaged

Sami Sage

Emily Amick

KEY SECTIONS

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• The Importance of Civic Engagement

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• Create Your Personal Mission Statement

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• Identify your Civic Personality

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• Create your Civic Calendar

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• Develop your Civic Network

Our Democracy’s

Decline

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"The solution to our problems is all of us, each stepping up in our own unique ways. 

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You don’t need to do everything, but we really need everyone to do something.“

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Democracy in Retrograde (2024)

A combo of self-help and political manifesto that is perfect for anyone who wants to save our democracy but doesn’t know where to start.”

DEMOCRACY ACTION TEAM

(“DAT”)

2.

CONGREGATIONAL DAT

PURPOSE:

• Engage members in democracy activism:
• Electoral work
• Legislative work
• Civil resistance
• Educate / train on “saving our democracy”
• Coordinate with UU for Social Justice DAT.
• Coordinate with State Action Network.
• Coordinate with UUA - UU THE VOTE.

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Congregational

DAT

UU State Action

Network

Local Pro-Dem

Organizations

Creating Your Democracy Action Team

(“DAT”)

Steps to Launch your DAT - Larger Congregations

Protest and Persuasion

Symbolic Public Acts

Getting Started

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“In situations in which the population feels powerless and frightened . . .

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. . . it is important that initial tasks in the public sphere be low-risk, confidence-building actions.”

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Initial Steps (examples)

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• Displays of flags / banners
• Wearing T-shirts / symbols
• Bumper stickers
• Letters of opposition or support
• Posting on social media
• Formal statements
• Public proclamations
• Signed public statements
• Group or mass petitions

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Develop a Faith-based Messaging Strategy

UU Democracy Action Teams

Develop a Faith-Based Messaging Strategy

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Use moral and spiritual language: Frame democracy as a sacred trust and civic engagement as a faith practice.

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Train spokespeople: Clergy and lay leaders should be able to speak to both faith and policy.

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Utilize all platforms: Social media, newsletters, sermons, podcasts, community bulletins.

Use This Strategy for:

DAT Example

First Parish in Concord

Our goal is to reclaim our democratic rights as citizens of the United States of America to have a government that truly represents and supports the needs and desires of all people.

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Banners / Symbols – display Black Lives Matter, Pride Flag, and “We Believe in Democracy”

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Speakers - hosted: Steven Levitsky, Daniel Ziblatt, David Pepper, Lawrence Lessig, Danielle Allen, Nancy MacLean, Adam Eichen, Jeff Clements

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Rallies / Marches - sponsored numerous rallies on our front lawn, and attended many marches

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Festivals - organized two Democracy Festivals where > 25 groups participated and several hundred attended

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Newsletter - we publish a biweekly newsletter

ReclaimOurDemocracy.org

Reclaim Our Democracy Team

(formed 2016)

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Poll Question #2

Does your congregation currently have a group of people focused on protecting democracy – a Democracy Action Team or equivalent?

• Yes
• Yes, and I am on the team
• No, but I believe there is interest in starting one
• No, but I will take back the information from today and see if there is interest in starting one
• No

Pro-Democracy Coalitions

3.

Coalitions are crucial for movements and campaigns because they:

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• enhance visibility, 
• increase the likelihood of success,

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• build a more powerful voice for change by uniting diverse groups around a common goal. 

Build Partnerships & Coalitions

UU Democracy Action Teams

What is a coalition?

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A community coalition is a group of individuals representing many organizations who agree to work together to achieve a common goal.

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LWV

UCC

UU

Indivisible

Benefits

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• Build power
• Increase public visibility
• Expand reach & access
• Exchange ideas /strategies
• Share resources and talents
• Reduce duplication / efficiency
• Speak in concert
• Increase community ownership
• Strengthen legitimacy & trust
• Increase resilience

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COALITIONS – Levels of Involvement

Reflections on Pro-Democracy Coalitions

CONSIDER

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1. Vision – May be useful to discuss a vision . . Do we want to be sustainable?

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1. Focus – Do we want to focus on specific issues, e.g. immigration vs. more general pro-democracy activities.

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1. Coalition type - (a.) share info; (b.) coordinate; (c.) plan actions; (d.) initiate actions.

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1. Scope – (a.) local, (b.) state, (c.) regional, (d.) national (or some combination).

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1. Rapid Response – Impacted people must be represented in the design.

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1. Sustainability – depends on the leadership and perceived need.

David Roitman

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Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence

Massachusetts

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You or your organization may be participating in multiple coalitions with different focuses, goals and timelines.

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Examples: Immigrant protection; “summer vigils”; legislative advocacy . . .

Source: Conversations with UUSJ DAT member David Roitman who has been active in three coalitions in Massachusetts

STRATEGY CONSIDERATIONS

http://www.vectormine.com

Image :

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POWER is not a DIRTY WORD

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Strategy of the Movement should be focused on building

POWER

Power is the ability to achieve a purpose. Whether or not it is good or bad depends upon the purpose. “Power is not a thing you have; it’s an influence created through interdependence.” - Marshall Ganz

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We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that we will be able to make of this old world a new world.

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Get Real About Power

Pillars of Support and Power

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• Social movements have a moment when autocracy gets pushed out.

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• Autocratic power relies on pillars of support (media, government, corporations, ICE, workers).

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• Nothing happens without the consent of the people doing the actual work to make them happen.

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• Faith groups can get in the way of the system

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Credit:rasslava

When People Say “No”. .

Regimes Fall

Target Autocrats Pillars of Support

Faith-based Organizations (FBO)

Regime

Pillars

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• Police
• Military
• Veterans
• Courts
• Corporations
• Billionaires
• Financial services
• Religious Groups
• Media
• Gov’t Workers
• Unions
• Universities
• Health providers
• Ethnic groups
• LGBTQ+
• Small Bus Owners
• Agriculture workers
• Other

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Stay Home

Stop $$$

Vote

Go Public

The FOUR “Bs”

One way to think about your Democracy Action Team strategies is by considering the “Four Bs”:

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1. Bridge . . . Finding common ground
2. Block . . . Preventing harm
3. Break . . . Disrupting the Regime
4. Build . . . Growing the movement; planning the future

BLOCK�stopping as much harm from happening as possible

• Partner with other immigrant protection organizations to protect communities and individuals under threat; "Know your rights" red cards
• Witness, record, and make public, violent or illegal activities
• Support organizations that are using the courts to stop authoritarian legislation and executive orders
• Advocate against harmful legislation

DRAFT

BREAK �Weakening, cheapening, and ultimately breaking authoritarian political strength and its popular support

• Organize, promote, and participate in protest events
• Training for intervention
• Support strikes, boycotts, and non-cooperation actions
• Build coalitions / strengthen the movement
• Pressure and weaken pillars of support, take advantage of backlash
• Pick fights that highlight unpopular anti-democratic actions and get media attention

BRIDGE�Bring groups together and help move more people into our pro-democracy coalition. �

• Help others find actions they can take – UUSJ Actions & Events list
• Bring people together to engage in discussions; Braver Angels can help
• Build relationships with other groups; get out of our bubble
• Experiment with faith/values based messaging and letters to the editor
• Write a regular democracy team community newsletter

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If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

Nelson Mandela

BUILD�Grow our power. Deliver transformative change.

• Most groups will want to build on what they are already doing – growing their membership, increasing participation, improving communications – activities to help build and strengthen the democracy movement
• For groups interested in transformative change and longer term  thinking it will involve assessing the main issues that need to be improved in our current systems and researching ideas and solutions for what can be done.
• The shorter term task is to develop a vision that will have broad appeal.

Multiple “B” Strategies in one DAT

CIVIL RESISTANCE TRAINING

Ghandi advocated for training and discipline among his followers, focusing on truth, non-violence, and self-suffering. His methods included non-cooperation, civil disobedience, and peaceful protests, with the goal of converting the opponent rather than destroying them. 

Organizing for Mass Action - Training

Hardy Merriman

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Hardy Merriman

Consulting

CORE MEMBERS of

DAT

Understanding Civil Resistance

- Resources -

From Dictatorship to Democracy

Three broad categories:

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1. Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion
2. Noncooperation
• Social noncooperation
• Economic noncooperation (boycotts and strikes)
• Political noncooperation
3. Nonviolent Intervention

Gene Sharp

198 Tactics

Audiobook Recommended

Rise for Freedom Training

UUSJ a Participating Organization

Going Forward . . .

1. Federal Rapid Response Team
2. Deeper UU Connections & Coordination

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1. Faith-based Pro-Democracy Coalition Campaigns
2. Deeper Civil Resistance Training
3. Coalition Building
4. Growing Our Leaders’ Group
5. Advocacy on the Hill
6. Coordinating Strategies

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UUSJ Democracy Leaders Group Meetings

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• 4^th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 on Zoom

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• Sign up on UUSJ Website - Democracy Action Team's page.

To Support our Work:

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1. Vote for our Actions of Immediate Witness

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1. Visit us at our UUSJ table

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1. Join our Leaders Group Meetings

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1. Check out our Democracy Action Resources

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5. Sign up for the UUSJ e-News

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5. Donate to UUSJ on its website

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NEXT STEPS

And now . . . .

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Please take 5 minutes to think about what you have heard at this presentation and write down what you will do with the information you have learned, both personally, and for your congregation.

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Go to https://uusj.net/wp1/dat-resources/

DISCUSSION