Racial Justice

UUSDers gather for the MLK Parade

Every person has value as a member of the human family. The creation of fair and loving communities requires addressing the suffering caused by racism and ethnic bias. We work to end racial and ethnic discrimination and injustice, starting within ourselves and moving into the world around us. We advocate for stopping racist policies like mass imprisonment, attacks on voting rights, and racially biased policing and sentencing, including the death penalty.

In support of this commitment, UUSD will provide education for our members and the public on anti-racism, support repeal of the death penalty and other criminal justice reforms that disproportionately impact people of color, support legislative efforts that expand access to voting, and improve law enforcement accountability.

Our Racial Justice Work

  • Partner with Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice.  We co-sponsored a 4-part series on the book, The New Jim Crow; Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander and encouraged participation in Dialogue to Action.
  • Participate in activities during Martin Luther King Jr. week, including the parade in Lewes and services jointly held with other faith-based groups. See photos from the parade in Our Photo Gallery
  • Worked with groups to provide clean water for underserved African-American residents in Ellendale
  • Participate in the Community Minority Liaison Committee that is working with Cape Henlopen school administrators to increase hiring of minority faculty, address the disparity in achievement scores between minority and majority students and disciplinary actions against minority students, especially expulsions and suspensions
  • Worked to get Lewes to rename 4th street as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Way and create an African American Heritage Commission to capture the history on the area
  • Hosted a congregation-wide common read of White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, including discussion groups
  • Posted Black Lives Matters signage in front of the church, along with the message , “Enough is Enough: Equal Justice for All”
  • Actively advocate for criminal justice reform in Delaware, recognizing the disproportionate burden on black citizens; also working to get Use of Force guidelines for law enforcement changed