This time is crucial for UNA-USA members to express their support for the UN. Defunding bills are being floated in Congress, an Executive Order outlining defunding the UN may be in the works, and the vital work of the UN is being attacked.

 

Here is UNA-USA Executive Director Chris Whatley's letter addressing our advocacy needs.

 

Dear Chapter Leaders:

 

I want to thank everyone for rallying to our most recent advocacy action. I can report that we are already having an impact. Our "Save the UN" action alert asking members to call, tweet, and email the White House received responses from over 800 UNA-USA members (and counting) and the latest rumors are that the White House has put the UN Executive Order on hold. Certainly this apparent decision was motivated by many factors, but an unanticipated surge of calls from UN supporters could well be one of them.

 

However, that's just the beginning. You will soon receive an email action alert to respond to the trauma that has been unfolding in airports due to the refugee Executive Order. We are asking our members to both tweet to Congress (it's amazing who is paying attention to Twitter these days) showing your support for refugees and to also change your Facebook profile photo to show your support for #WithRefugees. We have also been tracking the growing rumors about an impending new Executive Order designed to strip away LGBTQ discrimination protection measures set in place by the Obama administration.  We will need to have our members ready to light up the White House switch board as early as tomorrow. In this case, we may need to pull the trigger even before we see a leaked copy of the order.

 

I also want to let all of you know that we are listening to the eloquent and impassioned views that have been shared on this list serve and in calls and conversations with so many of you. We will always be a nonpartisan organization committed to standing for our core beliefs, enshrined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and not against any individual elected official. UNA-USA members belong to both parties, every state, all faiths, and a multitude of backgrounds. We have to keep our focus on the ideals that unite us and which still can be found on both sides of the aisle. I have been inspired, for example, to see Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA), nephew and namesake of the founder of the Business Council for the United Nations, speaking out forcefully against the refugee Executive Order. But in this new era we clearly can't be shy in defense of our convictions.

 

Thank you as always for your leadership.

 

Chris Whatley

Executive Director

United Nations Association of the United States of America

A program of the United Nations Foundation

 

You can follow specific bills traveling through Congress at www.govtrack.us and ask for alerts through that website.