Our Share the Plate recipient for August will be the Connecticut Bail Fund, a part of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. The Connecticut Bail Fund, founded in 2016, posts bail for defendants who otherwise cannot pay, allowing them to fight their charges from a position of freedom and return to their families and jobs. It also operates a weekly participatory defense meeting, a learning network where people fighting cases can build community, develop action plans to defend themselves in court, and collectively organize against mass criminalization. The Bail Fund also operates the Immigrant Bail Fund for Connecticut residents in federal ICE detention.
The Connecticut Bail Fund also advocates for criminal justice reform and specifically for the abolition of cash bail. During the 2017 legislative session, the Bail Fund successfully advocated for An Act Concerning Pretrial Justice, which prohibits judges from imposing money bail in nonviolent misdemeanor cases.
This year, we hope to use our Share the Plate donations to help stem the effects of racism and discrimination against the marginalized in society who suffer from discrimination and oppression, whether because of race, minority status, economic status, immigration status, and gender identity. By donating 50% of our cash offering each week to a designated organiation, we offer our congregation and all who visit SUUS a chance to become aware of the many needs in the area and the opportunity to make a difference in the world.