TUUCAN Update: Stand in Solidarity with Memphis

by Curtis D.

Reminder--the Solidarity Summit in Memphis is being held September 18-20. There is a

flyer on our cork board in the church, and flyers were left in the sanctuary last week. Please

contact me (Curtis) for any questions about the summit. I am happy to help.

I am choosing to start this blog with two questions for everyone to consider.

1. Why is it important to stand in solidarity with Memphis in this moment?

2. How can we help?

Q1- Reflecting on this question, the first thing that comes to mind is our shared values as

UUs. While all the shared values can be applied to the ongoing situation in Memphis, there

are two that stand out to me; transformation and generosity.

Starting with the shared value of generosity- We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.

How does this apply? For example, gratitude for the folks in Memphis for their strength in

this moment. Their city has been under siege since October 2025. That is almost a year

at this point, and this must be exhausting. And hope that standing in solidarity with

Memphis, bearing witness, and sharing their burden will give them time to catch their

breath and help boost their energy. There is strength in numbers.

And now for transformation--we adapt to a changing world. The world we live in is

changing fast and on so many levels. It can be challenging (and exhausting) to keep up.

While we might be tempted to look away, we are called now more than ever to witness and

engage. This moment calls us to move, to transform, from passive to active, which is the

perfect segue to the next question.

Q2- How can we help? My favorite answer to this is, go to the summit! It will be a great

opportunity to experience what is happening in Memphis up close and personal. It will also

be a great opportunity to be with other UUs, which is always good for the soul. There are

two UU congregations in Memphis and making in person connections with them is a way to

help support them.

But Memphis is a long drive. Maybe folks don’t have the time or finances to go to Memphis

for three days. Here is where we can be creative. We can write letters to the two UU

congregations there, maybe we can sponsor someone to go to the summit, we can write

opinion pieces in local newspapers, we can push ourselves to find out more about what is

happening. I know there are so many more ways we can help. Westsiders are great at

making things happen.

I’ll end on this. The one thing we cannot do is let this become normal. Many of us may

remember that at Kent State, on May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four

students and wounded nine others. It was a national outrage. It inspired the song “Four

Dead in Ohio”, it was captured in iconic images that are still heart wrenching.

In July of this year, two National Guard members shot and killed a citizen in Memphis.

Where is the outrage? Where are the images? This is not normal, and we should never let it

become normal. Join TUUCAN and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Memphis

in this moment, in any way possible.