Big Tech calls it "progress." Communities call it exploitation. An important new report from our friends @mediajustice.bsky.social exposes how data centers in the South are draining resources — land, water, and energy. Read & share:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at UCC Media Justice. May your season be filled with peace, love, and hope.

✨ Day 24: Abolition, Advent & Apocalypse Sarah & Angelina Grimké became some of the first women to speak in public against slavery, defying gender norms & risking violence. Beyond ending slavery, their mission was to promote racial & gender equality. 👇🏾 Full reflection

"When government intimidation stifles the press, it silences us all." Civil rights leaders are calling out FCC Chairman Carr's attacks on press freedom:

"Legal guardrails against algorithmic discrimination do not require alteration of truthful outputs or production of false results." Trump's AI executive order distorts how AI works to attack civil rights protections. Read more:

Every person bears the image of God and deserves fair treatment. When AI systems quietly label some people as "too risky" because of the community they come from, that's a spiritual problem as well as a legal one.

New research from WACC Europe: Women in European news are portrayed as victims, or asked for opinions—rarely as experts. Media representation matters.

UCC Gender and Sexuality Justice Ministries has joined UN Women's 16 Days of Activism to end digital violence against women and girls. Violence against women and girls—whether online or offline—is incompatible with the Gospel vision of love and dignity. Here's how to join the #NoExcuse movement:

🙏🏾 Let's pause for a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives to mass killings & gun violence, & for those who loved them. "There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.” -Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson 👉🏾 Read the full blog: https://ow.ly/UMK550XKWl3

Same cart, different price. A new study from @groundwork.bsky.social, @consumerreports.org, and @moreperfectunion.bsky.social finds Instacart's AI-assisted pricing experiments could cost families about $1,200 a year.

As Jewish families light the menorah this week, we send our warmest Hanukkah wishes. Chag Sameach!

NEW REPORT from @publiccitizen.bsky.social: Big Tech is building AI data centers at breakneck speed—electricity bills up 250%+, 56% powered by fossil fuels, communities kept in dark by NDAs. Meanwhile, Amazon, Google & Microsoft get massive tax breaks. We need accountability NOW.

Trump already eliminated Biden's AI safety standards. Now he wants to sue states & cut their broadband funding for protecting residents from the harms of AI. This is OpenAI & big VC firms writing policy. We say NO. Add your voice: buff.ly/YjcznBd

When algorithms decide who gets a job, housing, or fair treatment by police, discrimination doesn't disappear—it scales. Every person bears the image of God and deserves fair treatment. That's why we support the AI Civil Rights Act. Read more on the UCC Media Justice blog:

The FCC approved AT&T's spectrum purchase shortly after the company committed to ending DEI programs. This follows similar sequences with T-Mobile and Verizon. Equity programs address real barriers. They shouldn't be treated as obstacles to approval.

In partnership with @npquarterly.bsky.social, we’re excited to launch Digital Colonialism, a NEW series that amplifies organizers, community leaders, and residents who are resisting data center expansion in their communities. nonprofitquarterly.org/series/digit...

We want AI innovation, not discrimination. Call on your congressional representatives to co-sponsor the AI Civil Rights Act to ensure a fair and equitable #AIFuture for all.

✨ Day 7: Abolition, Advent & Apocalypse "Have you ever felt like the lone, solitary voice 'crying out in the wilderness?' I suspect many an abolitionist has had that experience at one point (or perhaps many points)." 👉🏾 Read the full reflection: https://ow.ly/SfSZ50XF6n2

Our maternal and infant health crisis isn’t just about hospitals and doctors — it’s about broadband. When moms in rural communities can’t get online, they can’t reach telehealth, mental-health care, or specialist support during pregnancy and postpartum.

We were proud to join @freepress.bsky.social, @publicknowledge.bsky.social & @techfreedom.org at a protest outside the annual FCC Chairman's dinner on Wednesday evening in D.C. in opposition to his assault on free speech. Thank you to the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church for hosting us!

Important new data from Benton: Wireline broadband adoption is basically flat, and more low-income families are stuck in “cell-only” plans that can’t support school, telehealth, or work. This isn’t a tech problem — it’s an injustice problem. We must treat broadband like the essential service it is.

We don’t just talk about media justice — we show up in courtrooms, at the FCC, and in Congress. This #GivingTuesday, make a gift to UCC Media Justice so we can keep pushing back when powerful interests try to silence truth-tellers and squeeze vulnerable communities: buff.ly/eceKsIk

AI isn’t just an abstract “future threat” — it’s already shaping people’s inner lives. As a ministry rooted in faith and justice, we believe communication is a sacred trust. No corporation should be allowed to experiment on people’s mental health in the dark:

This Thanksgiving, we’re holding gratitude and truth together. We’re grateful for the storytellers, organizers, faith leaders, journalists, and families who refuse to be silent in the face of injustice.

A must-watch: @justiceucc.bsky.social recently hosted an important conversation on #Project2025, examining how the policy landscape has shifted over the past year and how the UCC is at the center of a just, faith-rooted response:

The FCC just hiked the cost of prison and jail calls — draining an estimated $215M a year from families already struggling. This op-ed from civil rights attorney Natasha Baker makes the case that these price hikes mean less safety, not more (as prison phone providers claim).

Conversations about AI and the future of work often ignore the people most affected: workers themselves. This @inequality.org piece highlights labor's vision for tech with real guardrails, stronger worker power, and a fair share of the gains — not just the profits.

Public media isn’t just “nice to have” — it’s a lifeline, especially in rural and tribal communities. @lastweektonight.com looks at what Trump’s public-media cuts really mean: fewer local newsrooms, fewer emergency alerts, and a lot more disinformation filling the void. 🎥 Watch here:

When a president threatens to yank a broadcaster’s license for asking hard questions about Epstein and Jamal Khashoggi, that’s not just bluster — it’s an attack on a free press and an abuse of power. An independent FCC should never be a weapon against truth-telling.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. 🏳️‍⚧️

A new AI megaproject in Michigan raises a core question for our digital future: Who bears the risk, and who reaps the benefits? Read @404media.co's powerful report:

Your phone, your messages, and your location history. None of it is “just data.” It’s your life. @civilrightsorg.bsky.social's Center for Civil Rights & Technology has a new step-by-step digital security guide to help you assess your risk + lock things down. Bookmark this: buff.ly/fGUFBFn

We agree with @agomezfcc.bsky.social: defending free expression and a free press is everyday work. As people of faith, we know our democracy cannot thrive if those in power can silence truth-tellers. Watch her full remarks from #ParkerLecture2025: buff.ly/jb5ugav

AI should serve human dignity — not help tear it down. WACC Africa’s latest reflection shows how generative AI is being abused to spread political disinformation and to facilitate gender-based violence. More from @waccglobal.bsky.social:

ICYMI: The FCC increased prison phone and video rates and is making it more expensive for incarcerated people to keep in touch with loved ones. Their vote will cost ordinary consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. #PhoneJustice

🏳️‍⚧️ 🕯️Trans Day of Remembrance embodies our belief in the power of naming Trans beloveds we have lost to violence. 🏳️‍⚧️ 🕯️ We'll share space in remembering our trans siblings, celebrating the divine within them, and honoring God's uniqueness & gifts. 👉🏾 Join us: https://ow.ly/11oB50XqSTS

We're still celebrating a successful Parker Lecture and reflecting on @safiyanoble.bsky.social's powerful remarks. Watch her remarks: buff.ly/sYuJinp Read the recap on our blog: buff.ly/2i2kZ7p

When a North Carolina lawmaker’s voice was cloned by AI for an ad she never approved, it wasn’t a glitch — it was a violation. One truth remains clear: technology without ethics endangers us all.

“Advocating for the dignity and rights of immigrants and LGBTQ individuals is a testament to our belief in a God who champions love over hate [and] compassion over indifference[.]" -Rev. Freeman Palmer, Conference Minister for Central Atlantic Conference Read more: www.ucc.org/conference-m...

Ethical journalism demands independence — especially from the industries it covers. By teaming up with Securus on a "correctional telecom" event — a company that profits from prison phone + video calls — Broadband Breakfast is platforming industry interests while silencing those most affected.

The FCC’s cap on prison phone and video rates is increasing, and costs for families in Oklahoma and all across the country are rising again. No one should profit from a mother’s call to her child. It’s time for lasting #PhoneJustice.

What a day! We can't believe the 43rd Annual Parker Lecture & Awards Breakfast was more than a week ago! Read the full recap on the blog: buff.ly/2i2kZ7p Watch the full video of the event: buff.ly/YSr0GEz

What an incredible morning. The 43rd Annual Parker Lecture wasn’t just a celebration of the Reverend Dr. Everett C. Parker’s legacy — it was a charge to action. Check out the event video, select photos of the event (more to come soon!) and our recap press release.

If today’s Parker Lecture inspired you, help us keep this work going. Your gift supports faith-rooted advocacy for communication rights and media justice. Give today: buff.ly/LdWalL5 #ParkerLecture2025

Stay connected with UCC Media Justice! Join our email list for updates on how people of faith are advancing communication rights and access for all. Sign up today: buff.ly/FY9okLa #ParkerLecture2025

Commissioner @agomezfcc.bsky.social lays out the Trump FCC’s immoral and inhumane attacks on inclusion, connection, dissent, and diversity of viewpoint at the @uccmediajustice.org #ParkerLecture2025.

Dr. Safiya Noble joins us as this year’s Parker Lecturer. Her groundbreaking work exposes how tech can reinforce inequality—and calls us to build technology rooted in fairness and equity. Watch the keynote now: www.youtube.com/live/zKqoWmR... #ParkerLecture2025

The media justice movement lost a true champion this year. Brandi Collins-Dexter made such an impact. We’re grateful to @stevenrenderos.bsky.socialis of @mediajustice.bsky.social who is here to help us honor her work through our 2025 Parker Award. www.youtube.com/live/zKqoWmR... #ParkerLecture2025

Honoring courage and truth in public service. Rev. Donna Schaper presents @agomezfcc.bsky.social with the Newton N. Minow Award for her fearless commitment to serving the public interest. Watch live: www.youtube.com/live/zKqoWmR... #ParkerLecture2025

Faith in action means advocacy in public. Rev. Shari Prestemon of the @unitedchurch.bsky.social calls for media justice as essential to racial, economic, and environmental justice. Join the live stream: www.youtube.com/live/zKqoWmR... #ParkerLecture2025