Violet Johnicker

Always good to be in Springfield and see so many dedicated people in the halls advocating for justice and progress!

Absolutely horrifying.

Download and print your own sign here: drive.google.com/drive/folder...

My mom put this up outside her house today. She said attendance has been low where she teaches after two students from the community college were abducted by ICE last week. Every day I see more people speaking up and taking a stand, and it gives me hope!

CHICAGO: REBUILD is providing therapy to folks detained by ICE. Please feel free to let people know.

findmeatherapist.org

BREAKING: A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Trump from deploying federalized National Guard troops into Chicago.

This ruling reinforces what we already knew: It is illegal for the president to use manufactured emergencies to send soldiers into our cities.

So proud of the moral courage of many people of faith, especially my United Methodist clergy colleagues quoted here!

A Facebook post by Jaime Andrade promotes a tamales and champurrado sale for Ms. Maria on Thursday, October 9th, at Kedzie & Byron to support her family. The flyer features tamales, a mug, and contact/payment info.

I love people's creativity and the various ways they have found to support each other. I've seen several examples of people doing this in Chicago. If you know a local vendor, can you do the same for them? Sell their goods so they won't be vulnerable to ICE?

Feeling hopeful and inspired after getting to see @johnfugelsang.bsky.social in Chicago tonight! A sold out crowd with a sold out book - this guy is on to something...

Waukegan, IL has a weekly pro-democracy protest and today my parents and I got to join. Thank you to everyone out there fighting for justice in whatever ways you can.

Thank you

Pick one or two lanes and keep at it. You are one person and cannot do everything or take 10 actions a day.

In Ps. 26:11 today: 'Save me! Have mercy on me!' In South Shore Chicago last night armed agents knocked down doors & disappeared men, women, & children, in box trucks, not even with time to dress. Zip-tying children in the US. Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy those who love God. Mercy is my work today.

Mormons raise $200,000 for family of gunman who attacked their church In the days after a shooting at the LDS Church in Michigan, members of the church raised money for the families of the victims — and the family of the shooter.

A powerful witness:

“The Epistle of James says that we should care for the widows and orphans,” Butler told The Washington Post. “I wanted to make sure that we were taking care of them, and thousands of people, it turns out, agree with me.”

YouTube video by Violet Johnicker Bishop Schwerin and Pastor Violet on United Methodist theology for 2025

Just about every expert says our attention span is 30 seconds or less, but I believe in a radically countercultural Jesus... so here's 30 minutes of conversation between me and my pastor, Bishop @danschwerin.bsky.social I think it'll give you some encouragement.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDP8...

In Ps.37:6: 'He will make your vindication shine like the light.' The conceits of Christian Nationalism will not stand. Truth will come to the light. Racism is incompatible with Christian teaching. God will use a remnant to teach love of neighbor. Shine is my work today.

In Ps.40:2 today: 'He lifted me out of the pit of death, out of the mud and filth..' In the psalms, the pit is a metaphor for distress, danger, despair, and death. We are in a pit of eroding freedoms, but we have an Exodus God. Out is the direction of love. Out is my work today.

Love your neighbor.
And here's the longer version - my sermon from this morning: bit.ly/3V7mXmZ

ESSAY: Ending cash bail shows that we shouldn’t lead with fear • The TRiiBE The Pretrial Fairness Act has shown us possibilities; we can have safety without incarceration.

The president brought up no cash bail and Chicago today.

Here’s a reminder: Data emerging from the Circuit Court of Cook County shows that the law is working

thetriibe.com/2024/07/essa...

In Ps.82:3 today: 'Give justice to the lowly in the orphan.' True religion, for James 1:27, is care for the widow & orphan. Eckhart said God & justice are completely one. Cornell West says justice is what love looks like in public. Live ubuntu. Justice is my work today.

On Sunday, July 6th at 10am I'll be preaching at The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL on the topic, "The Faithfulness of Protest and Prophetic Truth-Telling" and sharing the book, "Speak Up!" I'd love to see you there!

What's a phrase you repeat to yourself when you're trying not to engage with trolls / bullies / counter-protesters? Something like, "I know we're on the side of justice" or "Not gonna give them the satisfaction of the photo op with me" or "Ain't worth my time"

God loves LGBTQ+ people and so does this pastor! 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ Happy Pride!

"Courage, history shows us, is contagious."
- Colleen Connell, Executive Director of @aclu.org of IL

I voted!

March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility but we’re celebrating all month long!

Eden Bookstore is proud to offer books celebrating and supporting transgender and non-binary gendered persons.
edenbookstore.shop/collections/...
#EdenReadin #EdenBookstore #lgbtqia2splus #RaciallyInclusive

A good way to start Women's History Month!

Tyranny requires your fear, your silence, and your compliance.

Democracy requires your courage.

And the essay version! drive.google.com/file/d/17DAo...