Why Risers?

By Carl Woestwin

I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.
-​Bob Dylan

On November 22,1963 I was driving to class during my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee when I heard President Kennedy had been assassinated. That stunning moment brought tears to my eyes and my first inkling of political consciousness. That consciousness slowly grew through my college years as the Vietnam War ground on and the military draft became a feared thing. Then, in June 1968, as I was graduating from college, both Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated. That August, a group of us drove from Milwaukee to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where we were witness to the violence of both Chicago police and protestors. Hubert Humphrey won the presidential nomination over Eugene McCarthy, the progressive peace candidate, and then Humphrey lost to Nixon. Politics for me, became something to both pay attention to and hold at a distance.

A few months later, I moved to the New York City area and met with the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) who helped me establish my Conscientious Objector status. I honor the sacrifice of everyone who served in Vietnam and feel fortunate that I did not have to go. However, I still felt the need to service in a different way and over the years have taken part in marches, doorbelling, making calls for and donating money to causes and political candidates.

At a Seattle Unity fundraiser in 2007 my wife Marcia bid and won a week’s stay at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. In November 2008, we landed in Johannesburg the day after Barack Obama was elected President. We brought Obama buttons to give out – a huge hit! Everyone was excited! During the following eight years, though marred by racist claims about the President and an intransigent Congress, I felt pride in our country and relieved to know people were operating with integrity at the top.

However, since then, politics have become more of a concern, due to decisions and policies of the current administration. Though I’ve wanted to ignore what was going on, I found I could no longer do so. As my concern deepened, an urgent need grew in me to do something, and when I heard of One Million Rising through Indivisible, I knew this was the step I needed to take, at our church.

In September 2025 we held the first Risers meeting. There was a big turnout and people really wanted to talk and be heard about the state of the country and the current administration. As the months have gone on we’ve stood at the corner of Westlake and Denny (by Whole Foods) and waved signs. We’ve made phone calls and whistle kits (to warn about ICE presence). We’ve shown up as a team at No Kings Marches and we’ve written emails and letters. Equally important, we’ve listened to each other, our fears and victories, and learned from people who have worked with other organizations to support voting and immigrants.

The Risers now meets the first and third Sundays of the month, after Service. We take action on the first and share and learn during the third. Though we each come to the Risers with our own expectations, together we are creating a purposeful community within our spiritual community, for collective impact. We’re still getting our political legs under us and have faith our actions make a difference. We appreciate your ideas and input and invite you to join us at any and all actions and/or meetings.

I’m grateful for the support of Unity members and attendees, Reverend Diane, and our Steering Committee, including Bets Graef, Annette Sacksteder, Marcia Rutan and myself. Any of us on the Steering Committee would be happy to have a conversation with anyone who wants to know more about the Risers and how you might participate. Find any of us after the service or contact me at carlherne@gmail.com

Or just come to the next Risers meeting on Sunday, 5/17, 11:30 in the Sanctuary. Everyone is welcome!

To get on the Risers email list, please contact Bets Graef (betsygraef@gmail.com).