Dr. Toni was honored to represent the Southwest Conference UCC in Washington, DC in support of Oak Flat- Apache Stronghold in their case before the Supreme Court last Wednesday.
Here are pictures of Dr. Toni with National UCC staff from the DC office and Cleveland office, with John Maddaus of First Congregation UCC - Albuquerque, NM, with other Arizona clergy, and with Rev. Dr. William Barber II, and a poignant photo of Wendsler Nosie.
Many people along with our indigenous siblings from around the country converged at the Supreme Court steps for prayer.
Please continue to join us in prayer.
Read MoreFirst Congregational UCC of Albuquerque, in cooperation with Albuquerque Mennonite Church, Monte Vista Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and Interfaith Power and Light of New Mexico and El Paso, hosted Apache Stronghold on their prayer journey to Washington, DC, from Sunday evening, August 18 to Wednesday morning, August 21. Apache Stronghold, in turn, blessed us with their presence, prayers, ceremony, and message.
From the Southwest Conference, Dr. Toni and Rev. Tracy Howe will join other clergy from all over the country in a show of support.
Read MoreFrom AZ Poor People’s Campaign newsletter:
Earlier this month, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) released a Public Notice that it intends to issue an Individual Industrial Recycled Water Permit to Resolution Copper Mining. The permit would allow Resolution Copper to deliver water obtained from the dewatering of their mine facilities at Oak Flat and near Superior to the New Magma Irrigation and Drainage District (NMIDD) where it would be mixed with water coming from the Colorado River via the CAP canal and used for irrigation.
A 30-day public comment period is open, ending on April 7, 2024. No public hearing is currently scheduled.
Please write a letter to ADEQ to extend the comment period and to ask for a public hearing.
Read MoreOak Flat will continue to be a sacred place of congregation if we continue to uphold the obligation of the U.S. Government to protect places of worship, Indigenous rights, and the water. Right now, there are two ways you can join the Apache Stronghold in this movement.
Read MoreWill you come to pray with us at Oak Flat November 4? Prepare yourself in prayer and plan your own transportation to this sacred site located an hour east of Phoenix, Arizona.
Apache Stronghold also invites churches and other faith groups around the world to join the prayer-rising November 4 from their own locations and to share their prayer actions via social and other media. Will you organize your spiritual community to pray with Oak Flat on November 4?
Read Morefrom Rev. Jennifer Hawks, Associate General Counsel, BJC - Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty:
Thank you for your continued support of the Save Oak Flat Act. I’m writing to share the next phase of our campaign: garnering grassroots support. We want to show Congress that support for this important legislation extends into our local networks.
BJC is launching an individual sign-on letter for the Save Oak Flat Act today. First, I invite you to sign the letter yourself. Second, and most importantly, I hope you will consider asking your constituents to add their names. The letter will remain open through the end of September and will be delivered to Congressional offices for Indigenous Peoples Day.
Read MoreFrom Rev. Jennifer Hawks, Associate General Counsel for BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty):
The final letter, as sent to all House and Senate offices, is attached for your records. We had a total of 112 organizations which almost doubles the support we had on the letter's first release last summer!
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