The People Failed the Homeless in Chicago

 

Matthew 25:31-46 MSG
^31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
^34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.’

^37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’  

It is so clearly written in the Christian Bible, how we should care for each other, that I sometimes am left to wonder why it can be so difficult to move people to feel compassion for those left stranded on the lower rungs of our society.

The Bring Chicago Home referendum failed to get the votes needed to pass, during the election held March 19, 2024. This referendum would have created a consistent revenue stream, estimated at $100M+ a year, to address homelessness in Chicago. It would have increased real estate transfer fees on properties that sold for a million dollars or more, and reduced fees on properties of less than a million dollars. 95% of property sellers would have realized a savings on these fees . . . yet it failed.

This was a grassroots effort that had been in the works for around 6 years. I have personally been involved with the work for several years, through the Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless. I've attended many rallies, addressed the Chicago City Council on a couple of occasions, and was working a poll location on Election Day. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement . . .

Unfortunately, as with most of our elections, I found the people I talked with at the poll, not very aware of the workings of the referendum, many simply regurgitating talking points from opposition advertising (most of which were either not true, flat out lies, or simply misleading). 

We aren't yet finished with the analysis of why the referendum failed, but you can be sure we will do a serious self-evaluation on this. In the end, as with so much good that folks try to do for "the least of these, [God's] children," big money, big lies, and hard hearts obstruct the way. In this case, the money that was spent on opposition advertising, spreading false information to confuse voters was one issue. The other, the hard heart part, was the fear and loathing that many in our community feel toward the migrants that have recently been bussed into Chicago, and their dread that this funding may have been used to help them.

Of one thing you can be sure, this fight isn't over. Chicago spends a pittance on the homeless among us compared to other cities of a similar size, and even cities much smaller. We need to do better, if not because Jesus asks this of us, then because it is simply the right thing to do. "To love your neighbor as yourself" is not unique to Christianity, but can be found in just about all holy books and faiths. 

We must do better . . .

Daryle Brown

Director of Social Justice

Matthew 25:41-43  (continued) 

^41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

I was homeless and you gave me no bed,

I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,

Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

⁴⁴ “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’

⁴⁵ “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

⁴⁶ “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”

Standing Up For a Friend

As we began monitoring more closely Immigration Reform and its impacts on the African immigrant/refugee community, on June 30, 2013, Trinity UCC’s Africa Ministry, hosted a panel discussion addressing Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Its Impact on Black Immigrants.

One of the keynote speakers on the panel was Alie Kabba, an advocate for social justice on behalf of minority immigrants and refugees in Illinois (and nationally), and a friend of Trinity UCC,. Today, we ask each of you: Are you willing to stand for our friend?

Brother Kabba is the current Executive Director of the United African Organization, the largest African organization in the U.S. Mr. Kabba is also the first African to be elected President of the Board of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights.

Born in Sierra Leone, Mr. Kabba never forgot his people. At the young age of 19, he was forced into exile – due to his outspoken resistance to injustice, corruption and the one-party dictatorship of his country. Upon arrival in the U.S., he studied Political Science and Public Policy Analysis at the University of Illinois, Chicago. 

Mr. Kabba is a fearless and dedicated servant to the minority immigrant and refugee community and to the people of Sierra Leone.  As a proud Grand Chief Patron Member of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), he has joined 9 other aspiring candidates for the role as flag-bearer of the SLPP, campaigning for the Presidency of Sierra Leone. 

This past December, upon arriving in Sierra Leone for a 3-week kick-off to his presidential campaign, he was arrested on trumped up charges.  Once released, the government seized his legal documentation, preventing him from being able to return to the U.S.

While efforts by federal, state and local advocates is ongoing; there is still much help needed! Mr. Kabba was originally scheduled to be in Sierra Leone for only three weeks; the trip has now lasted 6 months and has caused a severe financial burden. Clearly, the government’s attempts were to derail Mr. Kabba’s presidential campaign. Yet, to their utter dismay, their efforts have only increased Mr. Kabba’s national profile and raised the awareness of the ruthlessness of their actions.

How can I help?

There are a number of ways to support Mr. Kabba and to ensure his safe return to the U.S. The simplest way is to contact the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) to thank them for the work they’ve already done and to strongly urge that they continue their support. Below are the names and contact details for three entities needing to hear from all of us:

• Jason Hughes (Sierra Leone Desk, U.S. Department of State) - +1 202-647-2637;
• Linda Thomas-Greenfield (Assistant Secretary, U.S. Bureau of African Affairs)  +1 202-647-4440; and
• Sierra Leone Embassy (Freetown) - +232-99905008 or by e-mail: consularfreetown@state.gov

To discover other ways to support of Alie Kabba while he is still detained in Sierra Leone, please visit:  www.AlieKabba.com

For additional information, feel free to also visit the official United African Organization web page.   www.uniteafricans.org

Lynda Holiday Lawrence

Trinity UCC Justice Watch Team

A Lesson in Power Dynamics

What the students – Payton Head, Missouri Student Association President,

Graduate student, Jonathan Butler, the #ConcernedStudent1950 organization, their football team, and others – at the University of Missouri accomplished by forcing the UM System President Tim Wolfe to resign is game-changing. (Read about it by clicking here.)

I’ve often wondered how African Americans could play sports for many of these southern universities with such a rich and dark history of mistreatment of Blacks.  Basketball, and particularly, football, feed the coffers of these institutions with teams made up of 50, 60, or 70% African Americans, while the universities’ “Student” populations range in the mid-single digits. Missouri specifically sits at 8%.

One can only imagine the long road of protests, sit-ins, op-eds, fasting, prayers, etc., that would have been necessary to bring about this resignation – if, indeed, that would have ever been enough.However, when the football team engaged in the work of justice activism, well, “stuff“ happened fast.

Incredible.

Across the country, you’d better believe university boards, and athletic directors and coaches are ruminating over what happened in Missouri. Could it happen at their school? Or importantly, what should they be doing to reduce the possibility of a similar situation.

Some will take the high road. Perhaps reviewing diversity policies, documenting processes to effectively handle harassment, proscribing response times to concerns, and developing an office of the ombudsman to address discrimination claims, all in an effort to create a better campus environment.  

Unfortunately, some will take that low road. Roger Groves, in his article in Forbes Magazine (Read it here) suggests that one of their solutions might be to ask their coaches if they are “recruiting the ‘right kind of people.’”

Out of all of this, one thing is clear and evident. Disruption, particularly of finances, and also of reputation, morale, and perceptions, is a lever that can be used to create change. My prayer is for our students and student-athletes to embrace this lesson as we move this country, kicking and screaming, into a more humane and less racist society.

This tectonic shift in power dynamics, has given me an answer to my earlier ruminations: Our brothers who take the courts and fields each week to toil for these universities are critical partners for real change in these institutions that have for so long been steeped in racial trauma and white privilege.

#BlackLivesMatter

Daryle Brown

Trinity UCC Justice Watch Team

Ferguson in Fresh Perspective

While the unrest sparked by the decision of the grand jury not to prosecute Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown, Jr., is still smoldering - in Ferguson, MO, as well as cities and capitals around the country - there is consistent sensationalism over the property damage caused by a subset of the protesters.

You who walk in the privilege of power, whatever the power is, don't get to determine how the oppressed rage.  

- Tweet from Emma Jordan-Simpson

In an incredibly insightful article, Carol Anderson, Associate Professor of African American studies at Emory University, digs below the surface of what is typically described as black rage against police or American's justice system and uncovers the more devious and systemic presence of white rage against racial progress in America.

Check out this powerful, mind-opening piece by clicking here.

Working within the system to effect change is only one tool, and often without the pressure of active protest, an ineffective one.

My your anger become motivation, and may your motivation be baptized in genuine love for people who are vulnerable.  Amen.  - Tweet from Rev. Otis Moss III

When your grandchildren ask, "Where were you when justice became a reality instead of an ideal?" what will you have to say?

A call has gone out for no shopping on Black Friday, as a show of unity and impact for we who are seeking justice. Please join us as we enjoy family and friends. #BLACKOUTBLACKFRIDAY

The video below is from the group Blackout for Human Rights, one of the groups encouraging the Black Friday Boycott:

This has got to stop!

God bless.

A luta continua,

Daryle Brown
Trinity Justice Watch Team
The Next Movement

 

Now What?

So, Election Day has come and gone. The political landscape in Illinois and in most of the country has changed. We heard how the President has turned a deaf ear on the American people, and this is why many Democrats were defeated. In fact, some Democrats did not want their respective campaigns associated with President Obama, due to his disapproval rating. Some folks (who will remain nameless) took to the airwaves and some pulpits claiming how a party change (not Jesus) is the only hope for Black folks, as Republicans replaced Democrats in both federal and state offices. (I hope they get to the bank before the checks bounce.) I think we still need to ask the question, “Where does that leave ‘us’?” When it is all said and done, what will change for the “least of these”?

On the eve of the midterm elections in 2010, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) made the infamous remark during an interview with the National Journal, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”  Now that Congress is controlled by the GOP, it will be said this election was a mandate on the economy, Affordable Health Care Act, immigration reform, “big government”, Ebola, etc., and that the Obama administration showed incompetence in dealing with “bread and butter” issues. Now that Sen. McConnell will become the Senate Majority Leader, I can safely assume his priorities have shifted (obviously) from President Obama being a one-term president, to being the leader of an obstructionist movement to make the President a “lame duck” before the 2016 elections. Guaranteed, the rich are salivating. Meanwhile, the Democrats believe they have lost touch with their base…the middle class. What about us….the faithful… going to the polls that vote “blue” regardless of whether it is in our best interests or not? Neither party talked about helping the working class and the working poor during the campaign. Remember, welfare reform, which sent millions below the poverty line, was under the Clinton administration, and he was not a Republican.

I think we still need to ask the question, “Where does that leave ‘us’?” When it is all said and done, what will change for the “least of these”?

What does the change in Congress and state houses mean for unemployment and underemployment, affordable health care, affordable housing, and so many of the issues that have plagued Black folks? To some, all the problems are a result of Democrats in control, almost as if institutional racism and neo-Jim Crow policies, police misconduct, crime, lack of opportunities, and an apartheid-style education system were the Democratic platform.  In reality these are, and will continue to be problems, regardless of which party is in office, as long as the rich are in control.

I can hardly wait to hear “Plan B” that will resolve ALL of the woes and failures not resolved under President Obama and state Democratic administrations.  And of course, if unemployment reaches double digits, health care costs skyrocket, public education receives less funding, and the economy begins to tank even more, somehow the Democrats will be blamed, even though they are no longer in charge of Congress. It really doesn’t matter which party is in Congress or the White House….many of us are still in the “outhouse.”  Until the political landscape changes in favor of the majority of Americans, and when people, and not profits, are on the top of the list of any party platform, the question still stands, “What will change for the ‘“least of these’?”

What do you think?

Kevin Tyson

Trinity UCC Justice Watch Team

Do You Even REMEMBER our Daughters?

Five months ago, over 250 young girls were abducted from the Chibok boarding school in Nigeria. Although 53 successfully escaped, the other 223 left behind … along with scores of others (including young boys and men) have been added to this number.

In an article posted by Charlotte Alfred in the Huffington Post’s The WorldPost segment, Alfred describes in detail an 8-point fact brief on what has happened since then. To read that entire article, CLICK HERE.

Why should we care?  There’s something very disturbing about the attention span of our society when we can skip from crisis to crisis like changing clothes one day to the next. Whatever is the “hot spot” item on the news becomes our “hot spot” attention-getter. 

Here’s why we need to be concerned. Of the additional scores of kidnapped persons in Nigeria, it is reported that several of the young boys and men have been rescued. Well, what about our girls? None have been rescued. 

There have been numerous attempts and global interceding on the part of France, Canada, Israel, the UK and the U.S. – all of which still have not proved successful. Sightings mean nothing without rescue. Negotiations that stop short of release are meaningless. Are we indeed saying, “The foreign collective has no ability to stop mindless thugs like Boko Haram…”?

As a community of people committed to the welfare, freedom, and human dignity of our fellow sisters and brothers of humanity, we have got to keep the pressure high. We need to continue to write our governmental leaders, press our global partners, and urge the Nigerian government to resolve this tragic problem or see their power be disintegrated by the power of the voting pen at election time! In every society, we have got to stand firm, acknowledging that our daughters are equally as valuable as our young boys and men! 

Anything less, is simply unacceptable and inexcusable!

Keep hashtag #BringBackOurGirls flowing on your media web pages.  Accept nothing less!

Sis. Lynda Holiday Lawrence

Trinity UCC, Africa Ministry

Find our Daughters!

Nigerian school girls abducted April 16th from a school in Chibok, in the country’s rural northeast.

Convoy disappears with hundreds of school girls

According to reports, armed members of Boko Haram overwhelmed security guards at the all-girls schools, herded the girls out of bed and forced them into trucks in the town of Chibok. The convoy of trucks then disappeared into the dense forest bordering Cameroon.

On Friday, Nigerian authorities updated the number of girls kidnapped to 276. At least 53 of the girls escaped, leaving 223 in the hands of their captors, police said.

Authorities said that the new figure for missing girls — 223 — could grow as police fill in spotty school enrollment records.

The Danger for our Daughters is Growing

The longer the girls are missing, the longer they are at risk and exposed to sexual violence, psychological oppression and death. Let’s work together to return these daughters to the arms of their families and communities. And further, let us take a stand so such acts of violence will not continue. These girls are sacred and we cannot remain silent. We must find them, return them home and bring charges against the abductors and anyone linked to their suffering.

Act Now

Please sign the petition on to President Obama (link and QR code on the reverse side) to insist the U.S. take action to intervene on behalf of these innocents.

Sign the petition by clicking here.

Listen to Mrs. Monica Moss discuss human trafficking on Empowering voices, by clicking here.

And let's keep this in the op of trending by keeping these hashtags active: #BringBackOurDaughters #BringBackOurGirls

"When I Was Hungry, You Fed Me . . ."

⁴²For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ ⁴⁴“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ ⁴⁵“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’  Matthew 25:42-45

As a food justice advocate, I am deeply moved to raise my voice in response to the implications of the Farm Bill legislation currently under consideration. However, as a mother who has access to wholesome food to feed my children, I am appalled. As a citizen, I am terrified; and, as a Christian woman of faith, I am called to action for those of us who will be most deeply impacted!

Our federal government is in the process of stripping out legislation that provides food for millions of Americans, particularly children and seniors, the most vulnerable among us. If these significant cuts are implemented, we can be assured that people, many of whom already face daily food insecurities, will indeed starve. Proposals from the U.S. House and Senate include:

• Limiting Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps resulting in a $90 a month cut for over 1.7 million people
• Changing requirements so that 1.8 million lose SNAP benefits; 210,000 children lose free school meal access
• Reducing Commodity Supplemental Food Program for Seniors and Seniors Farmers Markets
• Remove/Reduce programs for Native Americans, including Food Distribution, Native grown food support and support for Urban Food Enterprise Development

It is estimated that over 3 million Americans would lose access to SNAP - 136,000 in Illinois! We can do better to serve and protect one of our most basic and important needs as human beings - access to wholesome and nutritious food.

Your, our, voices must be heard. Please take a moment to call AND write your Illinois U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative, and tell them that we must retain food assistance programs for the most vulnerable among us. For your convenience, information for our senators is below, as well as a web site to locate the telephone numbers and addresses of your U.S. Representative.

Senator Dick Durbin 711 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-2152

Senator Mark Kirk 524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC, 20510 (202) 224-2854

To find your representative Click Here and simply enter your Zip code.

Thank you, and God blessings to you and your families,

Mrs. Monica Moss

And Still We Love . . .

“You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous…. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-45, 48

After listening and praying about the verdict of George Zimmerman’s trial, I thought about the beginning of this struggle to attain "justice" for Trayvon Martin. Students of the Atlanta University Center marched to the state capitol in downtown Atlanta last February to protest the Stand Your Ground law in Georgia. I thought about what our community should do to move past our tremendous hurt and disappointment now that our judicial system has rendered its decision. I was taken back to this familiar passage of scripture from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. After much prayer and conversation, I understand that the most transformative, liberating, and difficult thing we should do as a community is love. George Zimmerman should not be a target of our hate but a recipient of our love. In killing Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman operated out of fear. The same fear that prompts racial profiling is what motivated George Zimmerman to pump a bullet into Trayvon’s chest last February. Hatred cannot reduce fear; it only causes it to grow and spread like the cancer it truly is. Only love will liberate and transform. 

In reference to the 48th verse, one of my Morehouse brothers, Kyle Stevenson, suggests, “Jesus is saying to me in order to be like God, in order to be both fully human and divine, you cannot have enemies. Jesus calls us not only to be cordial to those who oppose us or mistreat us but to welcome, affirm and to humanize them.”

Jesus’ philosophy of love was certainly unique for it disregarded the need for the reciprocity of love. there was something Jesus was conscious of, and that was the inherent value of human life. We cannot love expectantly, for our expectations will fail us. But love must be rooted in the humanity which we share. Transcend beyond our identity and actions and love for what we essentially are: People. We are people formed from the same origins though we were cultivated in different environments. We are inextricably connected to one another because of the spirit we have which is of God. God is the common spirit which operates and resides in all people.

Therefore, we cannot allow for artificial boundaries of identity or action to form in our minds for boundaries suggests division. Division renders bitterness and soon bitterness becomes hate, the antithesis of love. Hate does nothing for the oppressed. To hate another person and work for the destruction of their being is to validate the end of civilized nature and disregard any possibility of peace – peace within ourselves, peace with one another and peace with God. In our hatred, we may also lose value in ourselves. After we work to belittle our supposed “enemies,” what fulfillments have we gained? In his work Jesus and the Disinherited, Howard Thurman suggests that “Jesus rejected hatred because he saw that hatred meant death to the mind, death to the spirit, and death to communion with his father in Heaven. He affirmed life; and hatred was the great denial.”

The love of an oppressed people is peculiar. Love generally is one of the great mysteries of God. In these mysteries, we confront struggles which may prompt hopelessness. However, in the words of Fredrick Douglass, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” 

In our love, we become workers rectifying the unjust systems of our world whether we recognize it or not. This work is necessary of all people, regardless of status or struggle, to establish the beloved community.
     
Please do not misunderstand me; I am angry. I am angered by the fact that my life and the lives of my unborn sons and daughters are not valued because of our black skin and African heritage. I am certainly angered that our criminal justice system would surmise through a “not guilty” verdict on all accounts that Trayvon is the one to blame for his untimely death. However, as a minister of the gospel, I am compelled to do what George Zimmerman was not willing to do the night Trayvon was murdered. That is to love so deeply and boundlessly that we would see each other differently and value the divinity in our humanity. Only then will we prevent another family from bearing the tremendous burden of burying their child.
     
Love in the midst of oppression is a peculiar yet transformative phenomenon. 

Ubuntu (I am because we are),

Min. Devon J. Crawford
Trinity UCC Pastoral Intern