Last Thursday the legislative Joint Finance Committee (JFC) received the last testimony from citizens about the 2021-23 State Budget.  Immediately after the comment period ended, the Committee’s leaders released a huge list of items they intend to "remove from consideration."  Clearly, the list was prepared before they heard or reviewed the public comments.  The timing of the release gives the impression that they intended to make clear that they were not paying attention to the input from citizens and taxpayers.
 
The Committee will be meeting on Thursday, May 6, beginning at 11:00am.  Please call the Committee members using the list below and protest the removal of so many vital and important items from the budget that would go a long way toward improving the lives of so many Wisconsin residents.
 
Some of the many items the JFC intends to remove from consideration in one big motion on Thursday include:

• Provisions that would have protected people’s ability to vote
• Expansion of Medicaid
• Drivers' licenses for undocumented people
• The "raise the age" provision that would send 17 year-olds back to the juvenile system

 
Their list includes much more - see the Memo from JFC here.
 
Please take action to let JFC members know that you are unhappy with their decision to summarily remove from consideration so many items from the state budget.  Let them know if there are items you are particularly concerned about.  Or, let them know that you are upset by the complete lack of transparency in the process.
 
The Joint Finance Committee intends to meet and to pass their omnibus motion on Thursday morning at 11:00 am.  We are asking each of you to call one or more members of the Joint Finance Committee Thursday morning at 10 am.  Ask them to slow down and re-consider this sweeping show of disregard for the people who believed there was meaning to their participation in the process the JFC itself established.  Below are the names, emails and phone numbers of the JFC members.
 
Please, make at least one phone call Thursday morning.  Do not accept the excuse that they are "just removing policy that shouldn't be legislated through the budget."  All of these items have significant budget impacts. 
 
Here are the members of the Joint Finance Committee:
Representative Mark Born (Co-Chair)
Rep.Born@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2540
Senator Howard Marklein (Co-Chair)
Sen.Marklein@legis.wiscosin.gov
(608) 266-0703
Senator Duey Stroebel
Sen.Stroebel@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-7513
Senator Dale Kooyenga
Sen.Kooyenga@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2512
Senator Mary Felzkowski
Sen.Felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-2509
Senator Kathleen Bernier
Sen.Bernier@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-7511
Senator Joan Ballweg
Sen.Ballweg@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0751
Representative Amy Loudenbeck
Rep.Loudenbeck@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-9967
Representative Terry Katsma
Rep.Katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0656
Representative Shannon Zimmerman
Rep.Zimmerman@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-1526
Representative Jessie Rodriguez
Rep.Rodriguez@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0610
Representative Tony Kurtz
Rep.Kurtz@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-8531
Representative Evan Goyke
Rep.Goyke@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0645
Representative Greta Neubauer
Rep.Neubauer@legis.wisconsin.gov 
(608) 266-0634

WISCONSIN FAITH VOICES FOR JUSTICE STATEMENT ON THE CONVICTION OF DEREK CHAUVIN
 
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice is grateful at the triple guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd.  We pray that George Floyd’s family is able to find some peace and some comfort in this verdict. 
 
However, we are cognizant that, far too often, police are afforded a presumption of innocence when their use of force results in injury or death.  The verdict today is a victory for justice, but we cannot allow it to be an isolated incident. We hope that this verdict reflects a sea change in the ways that this country is willing to value black lives and hold police accountable for their actions against black bodies. 
 
Let us celebrate this victory while also continuing the fight to hold police responsible for their actions: ban the use of chokeholds, knee holds, and other deadly use of force; end qualified immunity; and bring about a justice system that is truly just and equitable; one that serves and protects all citizens equally, regardless of their color. One important first step is to press our Senators to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
 
There is still much work to be done. Let us move forward, together.
 
 

Equity in vaccine distribution has been a problem across the country, no less so here in Wisconsin.  Recognizing this problem, the Racine Interfaith Coalition (RIC) decided to be pro-active in problem-solving.  RIC Co-president Tamerin Hayward shared with us the steps they took.  We hope this will inspire others around the state to take similar actions in their localities.

1) Racine Interfaith Coalition observed from documents and first-hand testimony that the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccinations was not equitable toward our inner-city minority neighborhoods. This applied to both African American and Latinx communities. Racine is about 45% people of color.
 
2) We wrote a letter to the County Health Department expressing our concerns with the evidence we had seen of this inequity. They responded but in a manner that was less than concerned and seemingly not believing there was a good answer to our issues, but almost inviting us to suggest something better.
 
3) We decided to do just that and asked if they would meet with and accept suggestions from an advisory committee comprised of impacted persons. Even before we received an answer, we started to connect with other groups in Racine that could suggest persons for the committee such as the African American Round Table, NAACP, LULAC etc. One of our members remained on the committee, but otherwise it was made up entirely of people of color. Some were fairly well known in their communities and would therefore be trusted by their communities. We had equal numbers of African Americans and Latinx members.
 
4) We were therefore prepared when we got a tentative acceptance from the County and could move right into setting a date for the first joint meeting. 
 
5) We did encourage our Advisory Committee to meet alone first to set their agenda and discuss their responses and plan who would lead the group and who would take notes.
 
6) They have now met several times and while not perfect, there have been improvements such as a community vaccination site opening on a bus line and the bus company announcing that anyone who says they are going to get a vaccination will ride free in both directions. They continue to meet.
 
Tamerin Hayward, co-president
Racine Interfaith Coalition
 

No matter our race, background, or zip code, most of us want Wisconsin to be a place where freedom is for everyone, we can make our voices heard, and we can easily and fairly participate in elections.

Together, we can ensure every eligible Wisconsinite has the freedom to vote and that the results of our elections reflect the will of the people of Wisconsin.

That’s why we’re coming together, from Up North to Milwaukee’s northside, to thank Governor Evers for including important measures in his budget like extending early voting hours, implementing automatic voter registration, and making voting accessible to all in Wisconsin. Send an email to the Governor to show your support for fair and accessible voting policies in the state budget. 

Sample Thank You Email (please personalize with your own thoughts about why access to voting for all is important to you)
:
Dear Governor Evers,
Thank you so much for including automatic voter registration and other important pro-voter policies in your budget. We know how important voter access is to Wisconsinites across the state. We appreciate your commitment to voter access and making sure every Wisconsinite has the freedom to vote.
​
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Email]
[Your Address]

As people of faith, we have always held the right to vote as a sacred obligation. The Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign mobilized our faith communities in 2020 to help make sure every eligible voter was able to cast their vote. This work paid off as we saw the greatest voter turnout nationwide in US history.
 
This turnout was a great victory for democracy.  Sadly, that victory is now at risk, as anti-democratic forces in our state houses are doing all they can to restrict people’s ability to vote.  Over 250 anti-voter bills have been introduced in 43 states in the last two months. Thirteen such bills are currently being proposed in our state legislature which will create steep barriers to exercising the right to vote.
 
Some of the more egregious elements in these bills include forbidding the Wisconsin Election Commission from sending out absentee ballot applications to every voter, as they did for the November election. They include forbidding more than one dropbox in every community, regardless of the size of the community, and the dropbox must be attached to the building where the city clerk’s office is located. 

Employees in nursing homes are forbidden from helping residents to vote, and the family of residents must be notified whenever special voting deputies come to the facility to register voters.  Elderly, disabled, and indefinitely confined voters no longer would be able to request an absentee ballot for all upcoming elections, but have to make the request and provide ID for each and every election.  Anyone indefinitely confined would need to affirm their status under oath, and if they are under 65, the sworn statement has to be signed by their health care provider.  Further, anyone who identified as indefinitely confined between March 12, 2020 and November 3, 2020 would lose that status and have to reapply.

These are just a few of the many anti-democratic, anti-voter bills being proposed.  Sadly, polls show that few people are aware of these measures, not just in Wisconsin but nation-wide.  The best way to counter these extreme voter suppression efforts is to shine a spotlight on them.  The more people become aware, the more there will be a public outcry.  Please help spread the word and raise your voices with your Senators and Assembly members and tell them you are counting on them to protect our democracy and people’s right to vote!

Read more information on these bills here. 

To find your legislator -  Call the toll-free legislative hotline at 1-800-362-9472 (266-9960 in Madison).
Or go to the directory for State Senators and for Assembly members. 

February 19, 2021
 
Dear Friends
 
On February 16, Governor Evers announced his proposed 2021-23 Wisconsin State Budget.  Any budget, whether for your family, an organization, or the state, reflects its values and priorities. As people of faith, we hope the state budget will reflect our values, prioritizing people over corporations, the more vulnerable over the wealthy, building toward the future rather than preserving the status quo.
 
Of course, this proposal is just the first step on a long road to finalizing the budget.  The Joint Finance Committee will look at the proposal, immediately take out any items deemed to be policy and non-fiscal and decide whether to work from this proposal or write their own.  In previous years, hearings were held around the state to give the public an opportunity for input. What that will look like this year due to the pandemic remains to be seen. From there, the legislature will work on the final proposal to be voted upon.  The Governor then has the option of signing, vetoing, or signing after vetoing portions of the bill.
 
The Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign and the ACLU-WI held a training webinar on Feb. 23 led by Molly Collins, Advocacy Director at the ACLU-Wisconsin. The budget process was explained, and participants were trained in how to be good advocates for a just and moral budget.

You can watch the recording of the training here.
 
The Governor, the Joint Finance Committee, and individual legislators are holding hearings and listening sessions, both virtual and in-person, to give you opportunities to share your values and your vision for what you want to see in the state's budget over the next two years.  Go  here to find out more about these opportunities to share your voice. 
​
Some key items in the proposal that align with our values and priorities:

1. Directs the Department of Transportation to implement automatic voter registration,
2. Modifies voter ID requirements, particularly requiring the UW system to issue student IDs that comply with voter ID laws,
3. Extends absentee voting timeframe,
4. Requires the legislature to go by the Fair Maps Commission recommendations when redrawing district boundaries, abide by open meetings rules, and retain records of their deliberations on redistricting for ten years,
5. Funding to improve broadband access,
6. Funds two new DMV offices in Dane and Brown Counties, which will help with access to obtain appropriate ID for voting,
7. Creates new offices and grant opportunities to promote equity and inclusion in all aspects of government and in our communities,
8. Provides funding to increase access to affordable childcare, particularly in areas that are currently childcare deserts, and stipends for childcare workers based on educational attainment and longevity in the field,
9. Raises the age for juvenile offenders to be treated as adults from 17 to 18,
10. Repeals aspects of Act 10 to restore some collective bargaining rights and strengthen unions,
11. Accepts Medicaid Expansion to cover adults making up to 138% of poverty, establishes a state-based health insurance marketplace in accordance with the federal Affordable Care Act, establishes a program to provide premium assistance for those making between 138 – 250% of the federal poverty line, repeals BadgerCare work requirements,
12. Repeals work requirements and drug screening for FoodShare recipients,
13. Allows in-state tuition for immigrants who meet certain requirements,
14. Allows for drivers licenses/state ID for undocumented immigrants,
15. Raises the minimum wage to $10.15/hr by 2024 and sets up a commission to study the feasibility of raising to $15/hr.

The following is a guest blog from Ramiah Whiteside, Community Organizer for EXPO - Ex-Prisoners Organizing. Read his important message on the disenfranchisement of thousands of Wisconsin citizens due to felony convictions, and hear from him why we should all care about this issue!  Then join us for a webinar on March 1 at 7:00 pm when you can hear directly from Ramiah himself. Register for the webinar here to receive the Zoom link.

My name is Ramiah Whiteside and I am a Community Organizer/Coordinator for EXPO; "Ex-incarcerated People Organizing." EXPO is a group led by directly impacted people who are committed to dismantling all systems that support mass incarceration and excessive supervision. We are dedicated to creating systems with policies that build healthy families and safe communities. 
EXPO is a statewide effort. Throughout the year, EXPO offers leadership training opportunities for formerly incarcerated people. EXPO recruits, trains, and supports people with conviction histories to be part of the movement for change.

   EXPO has played a pivotal role with the following:
• Ban the box for federal jobs
• Ban the box for local jobs in Madison, Milwaukee, and Racine
• Expand TAD funding (Treatment Alternatives and Diversions)
• Reduce the use of solitary confinement in WI prisons
• Expand funding for WI transitional jobs program
Other campaigns include:
• End crimeless revocations
• Restore the Vote/Unlock the Vote
• #Closemsdf
• #JUSTICEnotjails
• FREE- Lifting women's experience with incarceration and reentry
As a directly impacted person, currently on Parole Supervision, I am barred from voting. In fact, I will not be eligible to vote for at least another fifteen years. Along with me, there are over 40,000 additional Wisconsinites currently on felony supervision who are ineligible to vote. My case had nothing to do with voting. Reinstating my voting rights does not endanger the community in any way. My taxes are paid in full. My community engagement is far above average. In addition to my job, I also volunteer in the community. Even if I discovered the cure for ALL cancer and could change water to wine, I would still not be allowed to vote. While this is not the classic voting disenfranchisement, it is still a form of voter suppression.
 
Why is this relevant or important to anyone else? 

Voter suppression to one of us is suppression of all of us! Our Country was established on the premise that we would not allow a monarchy to tax us and then not represent us (taxation without representation). 

Today, we witness the effects of years of a myriad of systemic inequalities. EXPO has stood in solidarity with many other organizations locally and nationally to bring about changes in our Criminal Justice System. The data is overwhelmingly clear when we look at the arrest and conviction rates for minorities compared to everyone else. The data is overwhelmingly clear when we look at all of the disparities minorities suffer just because of their skin color or zip code. When we are not allowed the right to vote, we are unable to represent the priorities that we have in our communities. When we are not allowed to represent our communities, someone not from our communities makes laws that disproportionately HURT our communities. From years of felony disenfranchisement, our Black communities have been redistricted from an abhorrent system of gerrymandering. The right to vote is critical in rebuilding the Black Community. To that end, help EXPO Unlock the Vote! 

--
Ramiah Whiteside
Relational Organizer Fellow/EXPO

A Statement from Wisconsin Faith Leaders

January 15, 2021

We, the undersigned Wisconsin faith leaders, are profoundly disturbed by persistent attempts over the last two months to overturn the will of the people as expressed in the November election, which has been called “the most secure in American history.”[1] These efforts came to a head last week in the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol and our democratically elected leaders of all parties. As leaders of faith, we claim our role as part of our country’s moral conscience. We decry attempts to subvert and overthrow democracy. We lament that President Trump has encouraged these acts and, in so doing, has violated his oath to defend the Constitution. His actions have put the country, its leaders, and our democratic institutions in danger. Our prayers go out to the families of the five people who died as a result of this attack.

January 6, 2021, was a day of great moral reckoning. Leading up to it, we had witnessed the remarkable strength and perseverance of voters who braved a pandemic to make their voices heard, election officials who worked diligently to ensure safe and honest vote counts, and public officials, notably judges across the country, who carefully examined all alleged instances of fraud and ultimately certified the results as sound. We looked forward to Congress completing the process by formally certifying the results.

Instead, we witnessed an attempted coup. We watched in horror as a mob, led by white supremacists, antisemites, conspiracy mongers, and seditionists—incited by the President and encouraged by some Congress members—stormed the Capitol, physically abusing the seat of our national government and forcing members of Congress to flee for their safety. We saw as well how the indulgent treatment of this armed and dangerous crowd by some law enforcement officials compared with the ways in which police around the nation have all too frequently subjected unarmed Black Lives Matter protestors to highly aggressive crowd control. Some crowd members hoisted the banner of the secessionist Confederacy, which fought to uphold slavery and its racial ideology proclaiming that all human beings are not created equal. As people of faith, we are called to witness against the immorality of that claim and its inversion of our country’s highest ideals.

This attempt to overturn the election ultimately failed, but it reminds us that our democracy is fragile and needs protection. Because we cannot accept half-measures to defend our nation’s safety and stability, we join together to call for:

1. The impeachment and conviction by Congress of President Donald Trump in order to restore the rule of law.
2. The resignation or expulsion of the 8 Senators and 139 Representatives, including Wisconsin Congress members Scott Fitzgerald and Tom Tiffany, who supported attempts to overturn the election by voting against the certification of duly and legally selected electors.
3. The passage of bills by the Wisconsin Legislature to protect the voting rights of all the state’s citizens and to redraw maps of the state’s legislative and congressional districts in a fair and non-partisan manner.
4. Those who wish to protest to do so in a non-violent manner which respects our democratic institutions and does not harm any person.

Signed,

Organizations
Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)
Pastors United
Souls to the Polls
Wisconsin Council of Churches
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
 
Individuals
Rev. Beth Abbot, Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ, South Milwaukee
Rev. Dr.Curt Anderson, retired minister, United Church of Christ
Rev. Jane B.Anderson, Associate Conference Minister, Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ, Appleton
Rev.Karen Armina, Minister, James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Madison
Rev. Joseph B. Baring, Jr., African Methodist Episcopal Church, Madison
Rev. Roger Bertschausen, Interim Minister, First Unitarian Society, Madison
Rev. Claire A. Beutler-Cruise, United Church of Christ, Milwaukee
Rabbi Jonathan Biatch, Madison
Rev. Winton Boyd, Pastor–United Church of Christ and Retreat Leader–Center for Courage & Renewal, Madison
Rev. Carin Bringelson, Minister, Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church, Hartland
Omega S. Burckhardt, Unitarian Universalist Candidate for Ministry, Milwaukee
Rev. Erik David Carlson, Lead Minister, Bradford Unitarian Universalist, Kenosha
Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson, Minister of Religious Education, First Unitarian Society, Milwaukee
Rev. Denise Cawley, Minister, Unitarian Universalist, Milwaukee
Pastor Adam Clausen, Pastor, Life Center Madison, Madison
Charles Cohen, E. Gordon Fox Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison
Rev. Ruth Costello, Pastor, Community Church of Fontana, United Church of Christ, Fontana
Pastor Marianne Cotter, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Baraboo
Rev. Kelly Crocker, Minister of Congregational Life, First Unitarian Society, Madison
The Rev. Monica L. Cummings, Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care, Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist, Kenosha
Rev. Joseph W. Ellwanger, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Milwaukee
Rev. Alissa Kretzmann Farrar, Pastor, Lake Park Lutheran Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Dr. Jerry Folk
Rabbi Betsy Forester, Rabbi, Beth Israel Center Madison
Rev. Kelly R. Fowler, Pastor, Our Lord’s United Methodist Church, New Berlin
Rev. Selena Fox, Senior Minister, Circle Sanctuary, Barneveld
Rev. Reirin Gumbel, Milwaukee Zen Center and Buddist Peace Fellowship, Milwaukee
Rev. Karen Hagen, Pastor, Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Sonja L. Ingebritsen, Minister, Community of Hope United Church of Christ, Madison
Rev. Joseph H. Jackson Jr., President, MICAH, Milwaukee
The Rev. Dr. Andrew C. Kennedy, Minister Emeritus, First Unitarian Society Milwaukee
Rev. David Kraemer, Minister, United Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Waukesha
Rev. Erik J. Koepnick, United Church of Christ, Milwaukee
Pastor Walter Lanier, Minister, Progressive Baptist Church, Milwaukee
Rev. Tony Larson, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church North, Mequon
Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy, Senior Minister, Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Appleton
Minister Greg Lewis
Rev. Suzelle Lynch, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church West, Brookfield
Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Executive Director, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, Madison
​Rev. Dr. Trinette V McCray, Urban Center Milwaukee, American Baptist Black Caucus of Wisconsin
Rev. Dena McPhetres, Associate Minister, First Unitarian Society, Milwaukee
Rev. Dr. Sydney A. Morris, retired minister, Unitarian Universalist, Oshkosh
Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Society, Milwaukee
Rev. Dr. Sarah Oelberg, retired minister, Unitarian Universalist, West Allis
Rev. Diane Olson, Milwaukee
Rev. Jennifer Olson, ELCA, Milwaukee
Rev. Leah Ongiri, Associate Minister, Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Appleton
Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council of Churches, Madison
Rev. Kenneth L. Pennings, Associate Pastor, Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, Madison
Rev. Ellen Rasmussen, Pastor, Brown Deer United Methodist Church, Brown Deer
Rev. Karon Sandberg, Community Minister, Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Appleton
Rev. Karla Schmidt, Campus Minister, The Crossing, Madison
Rev. Dr. Larry Sexe, Board President, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, Deerfield
Rev. Valerie Showalter, Pastor, Madison Mennonite Church (MC USA), Madison
Rev. Patrick Siegler, Madison
Rev. Bryan Sirchio, Pastor McFarland UCC, McFarland
Rev. Daniel J. Stark, Pastor, Christ Church UCC, Milwaukee
Reverend Tory V. Topjian, Senior Minister, Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, Milwaukee
Pastor Alexis Twito, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Cedarburg
Rev. Nick Utphall, Pastor, Advent Luther/Madison Christian Community, Madison
Rev. Marlene Walker, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rock Valley, Rockton (IL)
Mallory Yanchus, Executive Director, The Crossing Campus Community, Madison
Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, Madison
 
[1] https://www.cisa.gov/news/2020/11/12/joint-statement-elections-infrastructure-government-coordinating-council-election
 

WISCONSIN INTERFAITH VOTER ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON THE INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL

Shock, Grief, Horror, Fear, Disgust, Anger, Anxiety – we have felt all this and more in the last few days. Our country will never be the same. On Wednesday, armed insurrectionists surged into the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn by force the lawful election of Nov. 3. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives during the attack on the Capitol. We support every American’s right to peaceful protest.  However, this was not a protest, but a violent and dangerous attack on our democracy. Its perpetrators, from the top down, must be held accountable and brought to justice.

We cannot help but note the stark contrast between the response of police to this gang of White vigilantes and how police have responded to Black Americans protesting racism. After the murder of George Floyd last summer, the streets of Washington DC were filled with police in riot gear and peaceful protestors were greeted with smoke bombs and pepper spray. On Wednesday, the Capitol police were lightly scattered around the Capitol and neither the DC police nor the National Guard were called until after the building had already been breached. 

We can take comfort in the fact that those who tried to seize our Capitol and defeat democracy have failed. Democracy survives: Congress reconvened after the Capitol was secured and, at 3:41am Thursday, formally declared Joseph Biden the winner of the presidential election.

We fervently hope that the events of Wednesday will prove to be a wake-up call for our nation and that the new administration will help the country heal from the last four years. It is clear that we cannot go back to business as usual but need to start fresh and look at what needs to change in our country for the good of all.  As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. said in his final speech before his assassination: “Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation”.

All of you who have participated in the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign have been part of this work of making America a better nation.  You have phone banked, written letters and postcards, registered voters, given rides to the polls.  Your efforts were part of what gave this past election the largest voter turnout in our history. This work continues with renewed energy and vigor in this new year, with all its challenges and opportunities.

On Inauguration Day we will celebrate the successful transition of power, as we have done for 244 years. Then, our newly elected representatives must get down to the business of governing, to stem the spread of the pandemic, to help our hard-working families that are struggling in this economy, to address, finally, the looming issue of climate change, and to root out the racism that has too long poisoned our society. Rev. Kerri Parker of the Wisconsin Council of Churches said, “As a Christian, I believe in repentance. I believe there is always time for turning around and seeking a better way....and so, my prayer today is one which calls forth respect, honor, and right relationship.”

As we look to tomorrow, we pray for restoration of sanity to our country. We pray for an end to partisan rancor and that the forces that seek to use misinformation and disinformation to divide us fail. We pray that we can rebuild trust in factual information, trust in our democratic processes, and trust in those institutions that protect democracy, including objective and factual reporting on the workings of our government.  We pray for leadership that will bring us together, heal a nation afflicted by a deadly pandemic, and protect and strengthen our democracy for the good of all, rather than undermine it to preserve the power of a few.
But prayer alone is not enough. As people of faith who are committed to making real the ideals on which our nation was founded, we must join together in the fight to protect our democracy.  There are those in our state houses and Congress who would take recent events as an opportunity to enact new restrictions on the right to vote and on the right to protest. 

Instead, we must break down barriers to voting and protect and defend the right to raise our voices together in nonviolent opposition to injustice.  This is the time for us all as an interfaith community to unite to protect our democracy and our country. Nothing less than our democracy is at stake.
​
Dr. King famously said, “the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”  But it will not bend on its own, it will take all of us working together. So let us rise together as Dr. King called us to do so many years ago, with greater readiness and greater determination, to make America a better nation!
 
From the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign, a joint project of Wisconsin Council of Churches and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice