First Unitarian Church member Tim DeChristopher was sentenced to 2 years in prison and $10,000 fine on July 26, 2011 for his act of civil disobedience thwarting a oil lease auction in 2008. Recent articles about Tim DeChristopher:
I Do Not Want Mercy, I Want You to Join Me - Common Dreams
Tim DeChristopher gets two years in prison - Grist Magazine
The Courage to Stop Pretending: Tim DeChristopher Sentenced - Yes! Magazine
First Unitarian Church is in Solidarity with Tim DeChristopher
- Transcript of Tim DeChristopher addressing the Congregation of First Unitarian Church
- Article from the Salt Lake Tribune - March 7, 2011 -- DeChristopher's Church Supports His Cause
- Many members of First Unitarian Church can be seen in this beautifully shot video from the events surrounding Tim's trial
- Tim's inspiring speech given after the verdict can be seen in this video.
- Article from KSL.com - DeChristopher protest show changes for environmental movement
- Full story on Tim DeChristopher's trial and background of the lease bidding on Democracy Now! - March 4, 2011
- UU World Articles Nov 2010 - present
- Resolution Supporting Ethical Commitment to the 7th Principle - Resolution passed by our congregation in May 2010 supporting the the non-violent civil disobedience action by Tim DeChristopher
Unitarians and Unitarian Congregations Standing in Solidarity with Tim DeChristopher
- In the August 2011 issue of the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, WI newsletter (The Chanticleer – see page 7), Eric Hansen and Terry Wiggins, of their Environmental Committee urge members of their congregation to: (1) sign a petition asking President Obama to pardon Tim DeChristopher and (2) take part in the action to ask President Obama to refuse to license the Keystone XL, a pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico that would facilitate “the most environmentally devastating project on earth”: the Tar Sands oil extraction project.
- Ten members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford, MA have signed a statement standing in solidarity with climate champion Tim DeChristopher as he awaits sentencing on July 26, 2011.
- In Newark, New Jersey, Unitarian Universalists Sally Jane Gellert and Jo Sippie-Gora, and Jerome Wagner of US Climate Action Now, have organized a rally in solidarity with Tim DeChristopher. Rally starts at 3:00 pm ET at the federal courthouse.[action map]
- At the UU Peace Fellowship in Raleigh, NC, Carole Stephens reports that they will hold a discussion focusing on Tim DeChristopher's action.
- Rachel Mark of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, PA has organized an action at the federal building in Harrisburg, PA at 11:30 am ET. Check out the Facebook event.
- Vince Pawlowski reports that the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northwest Tuscon, AZ stands in solidarity with climate champion, Tim DeChristopher, as he awaits sentencing on July 26, 2011.
- The Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth writes: "Unitarian Universalists have had a long history of supporting radical actions of civil disobedience since Henry David Thoreau's essay On Civil Disobedience. Thoreau made clear the connection between environmental issues and human welfare, just as Tim's action has called attention to the perils resulting from our pillaging of our fossil fuel resources. The Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth stands in solidarity with Timothy DeChristopher and the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City in their Resolution Supporting Ethical Commitment to the Seventh Principle in alignment with all our denomination's sources and principles."
- Tonia Becker VerShaw of the Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Congregation,Grayslake,IL are urging their members to stand in solidarity with Tim DeChristopher in their posting Environmental Warrior, Tim DeChristopher
