Speaking Up Against Injustice

For parochial school kids, Lent and Easter marked a period of reflection and sacrifice, reinforcing our sense of community. The experiences of people who observe Ramadan or Passover are similar. We gather to reinforce our faith, to remember the sacrifices and struggles of our communities, to reflect on fairness and justice, and to show gratitude for all who speak up against injustice.

Folks have been asking when I'll be performing Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?  It’s currently on pause while I’m working on a new play. I will be revising some scenes of my old play to reflect what we are witnessing in our country right now: the rewriting of history, the suppression of dissent, the tearing down of government agencies that provide services WE the taxpayers support, efforts to further enrich the wealthiest, and the abduction and disappearing of immigrants from our communities. Fortunately, many people and institutions are standing firm, we are resisting and saying, Not in OUR Name. Countless court decisions, including an emergency order issued by the US Supreme Court, have told the Trump Administration to cease various activities (at least temporarily) until the courts can evaluate the legality of their MAGA regime’s actions.

This Sunday, being Easter, I am sharing the story of an unfortunate situation I experienced many years ago. I never cease to marvel at how someone can be so misguided about the meaning of Easter and the traditions around this holiday/holyday. I told this story on stage at Solo Sundays, a beloved storytelling program in San Francisco, which sadly no longer exists. As many of you know, many theaters have shut down over the past several years and did not survive the ravages of the COVID Pandemic. When you can, support theaters that are still offering live performances, because the closest distance between two people is a story.

Our sense of fairness is innate. Even as toddlers and young children, we know when something isn't right, "he got two cookies and I only got one." That's not fairness. Many things we experience as individuals and a groups are unfair, and it's important we speak up against injustices. Everyone can do something, and most of you already are. Thank you for your commitment to making a difference. It really matters.

Pleased to report that I will be the Keynote Speaker at this year’s ILRC (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) Phillip Burton Immigration & Civil Rights Awards Event on May 22, 2025 in San Francisco. ILRC is one of the nation’s most effective organizations, “working with and educating immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to help build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people.” They will be honoring NY Congressman Adriano Espaillat (https://espaillat.house.gov) and the California Padilla Defenders for their steadfast advocacy of immigrant communities. I hope to see you there, tickets available at https://www.ilrc.org/burton25

Thank you for reading. If you have 20 minutes, I invite you to watch the video of my performance on Solo Sundays from several years ago. Based on past comments from those who attended or have watched this, it will both entertain and outrage you.

Sending my best wishes to you and your loved one.