The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) is a Unitarian Universalist religious organization that advocates for broadly left-of-center policies on racial, environmental, economic, and LGBT issues, as well as more maximalist left-wing positions on topics including abortion and election security. ¹ Its advocacy is broadly aligned with Democratic Party policy priorities, and it has actively promoted elements of President Joe Biden’s policy agenda. ²

History and Leadership

Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network was founded in 2002 by members of Unitarian Universalist congregations across Michigan who were politically active in left-of-center causes. ³ Its director is Randy Block, a professional social worker who has led the organization since its founding. ⁴

Block is also the co-chair of the left-of-center advocacy organization Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit and chair of the National Council of Gray Panthers Networks, which lists the same address on its Facebook page as MUUSJN. ^{5 6}

Policy Positions and Advocacy

Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network promotes broadly left-of-center policies and societal principles that frequently align with Democratic Party legislative agendas at the state and federal level. ⁷

Economic Policy

MUUSJN supported the Biden administration’s proposed Build Back Better Act, advocating before Michigan’s federal lawmakers on its behalf. ^{8 9}

It also supports efforts by organizations such as Americans for Tax Fairness to change the prevailing state and federal income tax model to one where governments treat unrealized gains in asset values as taxable income, enact wealth taxes, increase IRS funding, and undo federal tax cuts passed during the Trump administration. ¹⁰

Sexuality and Gender Policy

MUUSJN has opposed efforts by concerned parents in Michigan to ensure that books addressing sexually explicit themes were managed in an age-appropriate fashion by school librarians. ¹¹

In 2013, MUUSJN compiled and distributed a list of clergy and county clerks across Michigan who were willing to perform same-sex marriages in advance of a federal judge’s ruling that struck down the state’s existing prohibition on recognition of such unions. ¹²

Election Security and Redistricting

MUUSJN has opposed efforts to improve Michigan’s election security, including changes to rules that had previously allowed voters without identification to cast provisional ballots and limits on the use of unattended ballot drop-boxes. ¹³ Many of these changes had been originally proposed by Republican state legislators after their investigation into the 2020 election had confirmed the election’s results in Michigan, but identified areas for potential security improvements in future elections. ¹⁴

MUUSJN also supports efforts to increase voting by convicted felons, who may vote legally under Michigan law if they are not currently serving a prison or jail sentence. ¹⁵

In 2020, MUUSJN supported a successful ballot campaign by Voters Not Politicians that changed the way the boundaries are drawn for Michigan’s state and federal legislative districts. ^{16 17} The campaign was presented to the public as nonpartisan, but the largest donors to the campaign were from left-wing progressive groups and a Detroit News investigation uncovered that VNP’s board was largely made up of donors to the Democratic Party, with no Republican or third-party donors. ^{18 19}

The resulting maps from the redistricting commission played a role in flipping partisan control of the Michigan Legislature from Republican to Democratic majorities in 2022, but remain the subject of an ongoing lawsuit from 20 Detroit voters who claimed the maps violated the federal Voting Rights Act by redrawing formerly Black-supermajority districts to create electoral advantages for suburban white Democratic Party candidates. ^{20 21}

Abortion

As part of a coalition led by Planned Parenthood of Michigan, MUUSJN supported maximalist legislative efforts to implement a pro-abortion constitutional amendment approved by Michigan voters in 2022. ²² These included support for Medicaid funding of abortions, elimination of 24-hour waiting periods, decreased licensing requirements for abortion providers, elimination of written informed consent forms by patients, and requirements that insurance providers offer abortion coverage for purchase. ^{23 24}

Some of MUUSJN’s preferred policies were unable to receive sufficient support among the state legislature’s Democratic majority to be included in the final Michigan Reproductive Health Act signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) in 2023. ^{25 26}

Affiliated Organizations

MUUSJN lists Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, Inclusive Justice, Showing Up for Racial Justice, Michigan United, National Council of Jewish Women, and United Church of Christ Michigan Conference as “affiliates” on its website. ²⁷

1. “Home.” Michigan UU Social Justice Network. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.uujustice.org/.
2. “Environmental, Justice Advocates Hold Demonstration at U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s Office to Urge Passage of the Build Back Better Act.” Michigan League of Conservation Voters, September 30, 2021. https://michiganlcv.org/environmental-justice-advocates-hold-demonstration-at-u-s-rep-elissa-slotkins-office-to-urge-passage-of-the-build-back-better-act/.
3. “Accomplishments.” Michigan UU Social Justice Network. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.uujustice.org/accomplishments/.
4. Block, Randy. “Randy Block – Public Policy Professional.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-block-b3517517.
5. “National Council of Gray Panthers Networks .” Facebook. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/NationalCouncilofGrayPanthersNetworks/.
6. Block, Randy. “About: Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit.” GrayPanthersMetroDet. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.graypanthersmetrodetroit.org/about.
7. “Home.” Michigan UU Social Justice Network. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.uujustice.org/.
8. “Environmental, Justice Advocates Hold Demonstration at U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s Office to Urge Passage of the Build Back Better Act.” Michigan League of Conservation Voters, September 30, 2021. https://michiganlcv.org/environmental-justice-advocates-hold-demonstration-at-u-s-rep-elissa-slotkins-office-to-urge-passage-of-the-build-back-better-act/.
9. Coleman, Ken. “Enviro, Social Justice Activists Rally in Metro Detroit for Biden’s ‘build Back Better’ Plan.” Michigan Advance, October 19, 2021. https://michiganadvance.com/2021/10/19/enviro-social-justice-activists-rally-in-metro-detroit-for-bidens-build-back-better-plan/.
10. “National & State Organizations Endorsing ATF Campaign Principles.” Americans for Tax Fairness, January 14, 2014. https://americansfortaxfairness.org/files/1_14_14-National-State-Endorsers-on-Letterhead.pdf.
11. Michael, Jason A. “Fiery Speeches from Religious, Political and Community Leaders Dominate Rally to Protect Democracy.” Pride Source, September 22, 2022. https://pridesource.com/article/fiery-speeches-from-religious-political-and-community-leaders-dominate-rally-to-protect-democracy.
12. Brasier, L.L. “Michigan Same-Sex Couples Await Go-Ahead to Marry.” USA Today, October 14, 2013. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/14/michigan-gay-marriage-ban/2982429/.
13. “Oakland County Commission, Community Organizations Oppose Efforts to Restrict Voters’ Rights.” Voters Not Politicians. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://votersnotpoliticians.com/oakland-county-commission-community-organizations-oppose-efforts-to-restrict-voters-rights/.
14. Eggert, David. “Michigan Senate GOP Probe: No Systemic Fraud in Election.” AP News, June 23, 2021. https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-election-2020-elections-government-and-politics-4b6643aa699480dc63cbce8555aac946.
15. “Coalition Partner Organizations.” Voting Access For All. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://votingaccessforall.org/about/organizations/.
16. Voters Not Politicians. “About”. Votersnotpoliticians.com. https://votersnotpoliticians.com/about/
17. Block, Randy. “With Your Help — We’ve Made Real Progress for Justice in 2022.” Michigan UU Social Justice Network, 2022. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/With-Your-Help—-We-ve-Made-Real-Progress-for-Justice-in-2022.html?soid=1102168754671&aid=YqbhKekaoo0.
18. Beggin, Riley. “Michigan redistricting group brings in whopping $13.9 million”. Bridge. October 26, 2018 https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-redistricting-group-brings-whopping-139-million
19. Oosting, Jonathan. “‘Nonpartisan’ redistricting board has partisan ties”. Detroit News. August 31, 2017. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/31/voters-politicians-petition-committee/105151114/
20. “Michigan House of Representatives Elections, 2022.” Ballotpedia. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2022.
21. Nichols, Anna Liz. “Lawsuit Arguing Racial Gerrymandering in Michigan’s Legislative Districts to Go to Trial.” Michigan Advance, August 30, 2023. https://michiganadvance.com/2023/08/30/lawsuit-arguing-racial-gerrymandering-in-michigans-legislative-districts-to-go-to-trial/.
22. Watkins, Kathryn. “Abortion Advocates Call on Michigan House to Pass Reproductive Health Act in Full.” Planned Parenthood of Michigan, October 20, 2023. https://www.miplannedparenthood.org/post/abortion-advocates-call-on-michigan-house-to-pass-reproductive-health-act-in-full.
23. Jackson, Colin. “Michigan Senate Passes Part of ‘Reproductive Health Act.’” Michigan Radio, October 20, 2023. https://www.michiganradio.org/health/2023-10-20/michigan-senate-passes-part-of-reproductive-health-act.
24. Block, Randy. “Testimony.” Michigan House of Representatives, September 14, 2023. https://www.house.mi.gov/Document/?Path=2023_2024_session/committee/house/standing/health_policy/meetings/2023-09-14-1/documents/testimony/091423%20HB%204949%20thru%20HB%204959%20Randy%20Block%20MUUSJN.pdf
25. Jackson, Colin. “Michigan Senate Passes Part of ‘Reproductive Health Act.’” Michigan Radio, October 20, 2023. https://www.michiganradio.org/health/2023-10-20/michigan-senate-passes-part-of-reproductive-health-act.
26. Nichols, Anna Liz. “Michigan’s Reproductive Health Act Has a Questionable Future as Democrat Objects.” Michigan Advance, September 20, 2023. https://michiganadvance.com/2023/09/20/michigans-reproductive-health-act-has-a-questionable-future-as-democrat-objects/.
27. “Links to Our Affiliates.” Michigan UU Social Justice Network. Accessed January 3, 2024. https://www.uujustice.org/allies/.