TO: UUA Congregations, Ministers and Concerned UUs
FROM: The UUA Washington Office for Advocacy

Judge Alito is a Threat to Civil Liberties!
He Should Not Sit on the Supreme Court!

Join the UUA in Opposing Alito's Confirmation.

Take Action Today!

• CALL OR FAX your senators. Tell them you are opposed to Alito's confirmation:
  Your senators NEED to hear from you. Senators return to Washington December 12th and will be back and forth to their home states during the holidays. Call them today!! Visit www.saveourcourts.org  for information on Alito and on how to contact your Senators by email, phone and fax. Be a part of the MOVEMENT! Email grassroots@civilrights.org  to let national organizers know how your call or visit went.
   
• Place FLYERS on your congregation's bulletin board urging other members to call or fax their Senators: Download a flyer  to share with members of your congregation. Use flyers to provide information that can help shape your letter writing – the more hand-written letters the better! You can have a call-in during coffee hour and provide a space and cell phones for members and visitors to call their senators' offices after worship ends. Provide paper and pens for letter writing after services and fax the letters to Senator's offices Monday morning.
   
• VISIT your Senators' home offices to tell them you oppose Alito: An in-person visit to your Senator or their staff by you and members of your congregation is the BEST way to influence their vote. Visit www.senate.gov  to find the office closest to you. For more information on arranging in-district meetings call the UUA Washington Office at 202-296-4672. For information on grassroots coalitions against Alito in YOUR state, email grassroots@civilrights.org .
   
• WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR of your local paper expressing your opposition: Make your voice heard! A letter from individual UUs, your minister or your congregation can make a great impact in your town and on your Senator. See Tips on Writing Letters to the Editor  for further information.
   
• WRITE AN OP-ED piece for your local paper: A longer opinion piece gives more space to express your opposition and appeal to your Senators to vote against the Alito nomination. This is a great action item for Ministers or Congregation Presidents!
   
• Encourage your Congregation to JOIN a STATE COALITION: Over 20 states have Coalitions for a Fair Judiciary. Email grassroots@civilrights.org  or call 202-296-4672 for information on coalition activity in your state! Becoming a member of a state coalition is a great way to participate in actions and other community events opposing Alito.
   
• PREACH on the Judiciary and the Alito Nomination: Justice and Civil Rights are the values at stake with Mr. Alito's nomination. A moral voice is imperative. Ministers and Lay Leaders, visit the UUA's website and www.saveourcourts.org  for more information on the UUA's opposition and Mr. Alito's recordand to shape a sermon on this important topic.
   
• PASS A CONGREGATIONAL RESOLUTION opposing Mr. Alito's confirmation: Individual actions are important, collective action has even more impact! A Congregational Resolution stating why the congregation joins the UUA in opposing Alito should be sent (or delivered) to your Senators' home and Washington DC offices before hearings begin January 9, 2006.
   
• Send your congregation's resolution to local press, other local congregations, and coalition partners: Be sure to identify a spokesperson (ideally the minister) to speak to reporters for more information. Please contact 202-296-4672 for information on messaging and talking points.
   
• REACH OUT: If your Senators have already indicated they will vote NO on the Alito confirmation, organize a phone bank to contact other UUs in other states: Let UU congregations in key states know that their voice is needed and ask them to contact their senators. Use your power to spread the word! For more information on key states, call the UUA Washington Office at 202-296-4672.

UUA Opposes Alito Confirmation as Threat to Civil Liberties

Unitarian Universalist Association
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