The Social Action Committee in collaboration with our Social Justice Initiative has designated Interfaith Impact of NYS for our May Social Action Shared Offering (SASO). Interfaith Impact is a statewide coalition of congregations and individuals from Protestant, Reform Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and other faith traditions working for the common good through progressive religious advocacy. Items on their agenda this session include reproductive justice, early voting and other election reforms, a moral budget, just taxation, HALT (solitary confinement), cash bail, environmental and climate issues, public education, health care justice, and gender identity non-discrimination among others.
After years of advocacy, we and Interfaith Impact have finally seen significant progress in New York this year. But the work is far from done: Interfaith Impact of New York State has designated Monday May 6 (9:30 am-3:30 pm) as IINYS Annual Legislative Advocacy Day. All are invited to attend and support their efforts on behalf of justice and democracy.
Dick Gilbert (President of IINYS) wrote earlier this year, “Interfaith Impact of New York State urges the newly constituted legislature to create the new state budget as a moral document. Budgets are a reflection of the values of the community that is the Empire State. Funding priorities should be public education, health care for all and support for people of low income. Taxes should be a reflection of the ability to pay: therefore, we support continuation of the “millionaire’s tax. In a time of political uncertainty, a moral budget would be a welcome sign of justice and hope.”
But advocacy takes money! In response, we have designated our Social Action Shared Offering (SASO) on May 12th to benefit the work of Interfaith Impact. On that day we will also have a letter-writing activity after church to encourage everyone to contact their Assembly and Senate members on the issues of the elimination of cash bail and solitary confinement (HALT). Both money and advocacy are needed on these issues and a number of others. To learn more about the work Interfaith Impact does, please see their website and join us on May 12th to learn what else you can do to move New York to a more moral state.