Celebrate Human Rights Day

Dear Friends,

Please join Social Justice Fund in celebrating Human Rights Day.

Human Rights Day is a reminder of the continuing struggle to win recognition of the human rights of all people, a cause that is given even greater import by the tragic events leading to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  63 years ago, the memory of the destructive force of hate – of European fascism, the holocaust, and the war in the Pacific – were fresh in the minds of world leaders, paving the way for near consensus for the creation of an international declaration of human rights as a first step in securing the rights and dignity of all people.  

For Social Justice Fund, Human Rights Day is a day to acknowledge this great achievement, and to cast light on the history of our own region and the importance of winning recognition of human rights here at home.  

We remember that Social Justice Fund was founded as A Territory Resource Foundation in 1978, full of the promise of the major progressive movements of the 60s and 70s, but with clear recognition that a major backlash was afoot, and the forces of prejudice and hate were on the rise.  In that year, the Supreme Court gave recognition to the concept of reverse discrimination in the Bakke vs University of California anti-affirmative action case. Two years later, Ronald Reagan would be elected President.  

These reactionary wins sent a message to hate-mongers that the time was ripe to build political power. Here in the Northwest, neo-Nazi and Christian Patriot groups answered this call and claimed our region as a white homeland.  Hate groups proliferated and hate violence rose.  Oregon became known in the national media as the “Mississippi of the North.”

By the 90s, reverse discrimination became “special rights.”  Using this slogan, reactionary political groups successfully launched political attacks on the human rights of people of color and GLBT people in states like Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

It was a tough time in Northwest history, but throughout it all Social Justice Fund was there, serving as a critical resource for human rights advocates. SJF led the way in providing financial support to the growing networks of human rights groups in places like Bonner County in Idaho and Kitsap and Whatcom Counties in Washington.

SJF brokered national resources to give to groups in our region.  We also marshaled national money to convene groups, opening the door to statewide and regional networks and organizing.  

On Human Rights Day, we celebrate the achievements of Social Justice Fund grantees and Social Justice Fund members who took action and made a real difference.  And on this day, we look forward to the work ahead of us, work that will be critical to the advancement of human rights in our region in the new century.

Today, the world looks a little different than it did back then.  Many of the same struggles continue, joined by new issues, new challenges, and new and growing opportunities.  In 2008, Social Justice Fund took action to address the new challenges and opportunities before us by establishing a new initiative, Civic Action: Delivering on Change!  

We recognized that the victories that were achieved in the 2008 election were a signal that time was ripe for civic action strategies like voter registration, education, and mobilization drives; grassroots lobbying; and political infrastructure building, especially in the communities that have traditionally been excluded from the political process.  Groups in the field were taking this challenge on and succeeding, but finding it hard to secure the funds necessary to build upon the momentum of their achievements.  

And, we knew from our own history that with every step forward, reactionary forces would push back, organizing opposition, banking on hate.  We see it everyday.  Lies about death panels.  Ridiculous claims about the president’s nationality.  The continuing erosion of reproductive rights for women.  Attacks against same sex marriage.

SJF Civic Action grantees are anchoring statewide efforts to deliver on change and advance human rights through direct action in the political arena, where our opposition is organizing and where grantees see the most immediate opportunity for building real power.   

Today, on Human Rights Day, we ask that you take an action to recognize the great achievements of SJF grantees, and the major challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them by making a gift to the Social Justice Fund NW today.

Your gift will allow us to continue our amazing legacy of giving to progressive social change organizations in the Northwest and Northern Rockies.

Take action.  Please renew your membership today.  You can do it right online by clicking here!  If you're already a member, consider inviting a friend to join you in your support of Social Justice Fund.

Si se puede!

~Leno

For more on Human Rights Day, visit the United Nations website.