by Brian Dugas

Yesterday, March 8th was International Women’s Day. The theme “For all Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

Michelle Wu - Mayor of Boston
Jasmine Crockett - Congresswoman from Texas
Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez - Congresswoman from NY
Janet Mills - Governor from Maine

What do they have in common? All are women, 3 of the 4 are minorities, all have been elected to leadership roles where they live - but now there is something more. All four have chosen to take on the role of national leadership in this country's time of need. In this country, great leaders have always emerged in times of crisis. For those of us who were lucky enough to learn and teach about American history, we recognize that it is precisely those times of crisis that we are forced to rise to the challenge, for great leaders to emerge, and for major changes to occur.

This country and the majority of the world has been led and controlled by men throughout history. Stop and think for a minute where this has gotten us - to this very spot we are in right now. I personally feel it is time for a new type of leadership in this country and the world. I believe that we are currently in one of those critical periods and on the verge of great change. I hope that we have the wisdom to support great leadership regardless of race or gender. At this point it seems like it is our only hope.

Now I’d like to share some opportunities for those who want to get involved:
Sunday, March 23rd, after the service - workday at the community garden. We will start clearing and organizing the community garden at Hillside Farms. Everyone is invited to join in the work and to reap the bounty during harvest time. If you want to participate somehow, but the community garden is too much, perhaps you can have a garden at your own home this year. I have learned from personal experience that it is not too difficult, and your property really can support a garden regardless of how small it is. If this is of interest to you, but you don't have the knowledge to feel comfortable with starting your own garden, then speak to one of us. There is a wealth of gardening knowledge right here in our congregation and we would love to share. We can even organize classes if that would help. So get your green thumb on, and get gardening!

Wednesday, March 26th, 6:30PM at Burke Auditorium on King’s College for A Conversation with Attorneys. We have worked with other organizations in the Wyoming Valley to provide people with the latest legal information available on a wide variety of topics. Lawyers from the valley and beyond have offered to speak and answer questions. Their concern about the status of our rights is quite evident through the interactions we have had, and I would urge you to join us at this event for your own benefit, and for those who might need support in the future. There is no fee or registration required, and everyone's invited.

Thursday, April 24th, 10:00 - 3:00, Daryl Lewis, Black Lives Matter, on Wilkes Barre Square, Wellness Fair, Volunteers help with set up, registration, operations etc. The Wellness Fair provides medical assistance and support for a variety of medical issues to the public in collaboration with the City of Wilkes Barre Health Department.

by Lilly Gioia

Here’s an interesting LIST:  What could all these businesses have in common?  MATTEL TOYS - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE –  EXPEDIA -  TYSON FOODS –  SANOFI PHARMACEUTICALS – NIKE SNEAKERS – ANHEUISER BUSCH - IBM - ALASKA AIRLINES – MORGAN STANLEY – & MICROSOFT ??  45 Companies in all.  It turns out that they are on Stephen Miller’s DEI Investigations List!

Stephen Miller is one of President Trump’s closest allies and serves in the White House as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.  He has a history of violent opposition to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in any form.  President Trump’s early Executive Orders banned DEI in all federal agencies and the military.  They resulted in the firing of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Air Force General Charles Brown and Navy Chief of Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman ever to serve on the Joint Chiefs.  General Brown is a highly decorated leader with over 40 years of outstanding service.  He just happens also to be Black.  Half of Admiral Franchetti’s 40 year Naval career was spent at sea. The new Defense Chief Pete Hegseth believes they were merely DEI hires.

Agencies began erasing DEI in February by erasing Black History Month.  Thousands of federal agency website pages were taken down where there was any reference to words connected to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.  

But two weeks ago Business Week reported tactics led by Stephen Miller to pressure private businesses to end DEI, threatening US Justice Dept. criminal investigations and legal actions if private businesses refuse to abandon their DEI initiatives.  These companies targeted for “illegal DEI” have a combined market value of almost $10 trillion.  Miller is after any hiring practices based on gender or race, any scholarships based on race, and funding for startups owned by underrepresented groups.  Miller’s group, America First Legal, has been the most active in pursuing DEI programs that they say discriminate against white men Business Week said.

Beyond the issues of equal opportunity and DEI elimination, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker spelled out the danger we are facing in his recent State of the State speech when he warned:
“It’s in fashion at the federal level right now to just indiscriminately slash school funding, healthcare coverage, support for farmers and veteran’s services.  they say they’re doing it to eliminate inefficiencies. But only an idiot would think we should eliminate emergency response in a natural disaster, education and health care for disabled children, clean air and water programs and  monitoring of nursing home abuse, nuclear reactor regulation and cancer research. 

If you think I’m overreacting and sounding the alarm too soon, consider this:  it took the Nazis one month, 3 weeks, 2 days, 8 hours & 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic.  
All tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance.  Democracy requires your courage.  so gather your justice and humanity Illinois and do not let the tragic spirit of despair overcome us when our country needs us the most.”

Thank you Governor Pritzker – I hope that goes for Pennsylvania too!