This summer, Detroit Jews for Justice hosted an event series in partnership with several community organizations to recollect, interrogate and contextualize the 1967 civil uprising. Participants came away from the events with a more nuanced understanding of the summer of '67 and how its legacy impacts our relationships to Detroit today. 

This blog post represents a wrap on our '67 Rebellion summer programming! That is, the scheduled ​commemorative events have come to a close. Look out for book talks and learning groups possibly coming your way. 

We're pleased to announce that we've signed on to a very exciting new initiative -- the Housing Trust Fund Coalition. This self-sustaining fund would provide funding for low-income Detroiters' housing and is being sponsored by City Councilperson Mary Sheffield. Read more about the effort below. You or your organization can endorse here and learn more about how you can mobilize in the coming months.

We were proud to represent Jewish community with the Birmingham Temple and other Jewish groups at an anti-deportation protest downtown on June 21. We raised our voices in support of the ACLU lawsuit against the mass deportation of Iraqi community members in Metro Detroit -- and stood in solidarity with all those who fear the separation of their families.

The Detroit Jewish News covered the event and featured a quote from DJJ leader Lori Lutz and photo of her sign (below):

We had a lot going on this week!

On Tuesday at our June general meeting, leaders Sam and Mikell proposed next steps for DJJ's water justice work this year. We watched clips from documentary filmmaker Kate Levy about water struggles in our region (which you can view here, here, and here) and we were joined in conversation by Lila Cabill, a water warrior and fellow faith leader on the People's Water Board. Stay tuned for updates on how DJJ is mobilizing for water justice and how you can get involved.

I’ve been feeling overwhelmed, scattered, and powerless lately.  The sensation blows through my body and spirit as a weather front, linked with the ominous fear of something even worse on the news horizon.  Finding myself looking inward, I keep questioning if any action will be enough.  These problems we’re wrestling with as a community are bigger than any one person, or even small group of dedicated folks like DJJ, can solve.  The mass foreclosure, auction, and displacement crisis in Wayne County is one such challenge.

We are pleased to have formally endorsed Breathe Free Detroit, a campaign to shut down the Detroit incinerator. Read more about the incinerator and the campaign below in a statement from BFD. Here are three things you can do to support right now:

We learned so much at the International Social Movements Gathering On Water! Thanks to Michigan Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO) for putting so much work into this powerful program. We are smiling in the selfie, but this is a serious issue. Check out http://www.socialmovementsonwater.info/ for more information on the gathering and stay posted to gear up for DJJ's water work moving forward.

We heard these powerful remarks from our friend Graham Kovich of Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan on Economic Justice Lobby Day in Lansing on June 6. Thanks to Graham for allowing us to post -- and to ROC and all our partners at Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan for all the amazing work you do!

My name is Graham Kovich. I am a 20 year veteran of the food service industry and an organizer with the Restaurant Opportunities Centers of Michigan, also known as ROC-MI for short. In my 2 decades of experience, I’ve stood behind concession stands and bar counters; I’ve had to stand in front of fryers, bakery ovens and stove tops and I’ve had to stand in line at an underfunded urgent care clinic after grabbing a butcher knife by the blade with my bare hand because a careless supervisor dropped it in the sudsy dishwashing sink and didn't tell anyone. 

A photo of us heading back from Lansing today -- where we joined our partners in talking to our state representatives about earned paid sick time and water justice. Thanks to Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan for putting together a great day!

Dear community,

Many of us wondered whether post-election fervor would die down by this time in the year. In these past months, the weather was gloomy and so was much of the news. Yet we’ve seen our community staying active in response to bleak policies - on the phone lines of legislators, in progressive organizations and in the streets. In particular, I am immensely proud of what DJJ has accomplished.