Tree of Life UU Congregation Presents Poets in Resistance II

The Social Justice Team of Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, presents Poets in Resistance II, a public reading and rally on Friday, March 13 from 7 to 10 pm.

The first Poets in Resistance program was held in March of 2017 and was one of the most successful public events that Tree of Life has hosted. Social Justice Team Chair and event organizer Patrick Murfin said, “It has been the historic mission of poets to be the prophets, Cassandras, and voices for the voiceless often in defiance of authority and at great personal risk Now perilous times, climate disaster, war, oppression, and existential threat to democracy demand that those voices be heard again.”

The program hopes to feature poetic voices of all ages, gender identifications, races, ethnicities, and spiritualties and of poetic styles including poetry slam, hip-hop, performance art, observational, personal reflection, traditional, rhymed, unrhymed, and quirky.

Among the poets slated to perform are Tricia Alexander, Jan Bosman, Joe Cavillo, Egan Click, Terry Loncaric, and Sue Rekenthaler.

The event will be free and open to the public but those in attendance are urged to “vote” by making voluntary donations of $10 or more to any or four organizations representing grass roots resistance—Extinction Rebellion U.S., the youth-led climate activists inspired by Greta Thunberg; March for Our Lives, the student-led anti-gun violence organization first organized by survivors of the Parkland High School shooting; No More Deaths which provides humanitarian aid to border crossers and whose members and supporters have been prosecuted for their life-saving work; and Black Lives Matter Chicago, an intersectional movement that values Black people and the right to self-determination fighting for justice for families impacted by police violence and other oppression.

Coffee, water, soft drinks, adult beverages, and light refreshments will be available at no charge or for donation.

For more information visit the Tree of Life web page, the Facebook Event, call the Tree of Life office at 815 322-2464, or email Patrick Murfin at pmurfin@sbcglobal.net.