FB group, and NYC Burner Occupiers

[Mel]

We started a FB group several moons ago, also in hopes that we would
get some ranger input. There were women being molested in the park.
That didn't come to fruition. Now there is outright misogyny going on
in the movement. Maybe we can help each other brainstorm ways to
combat it. WOW (Women Occupying Wall st) is planning a self defense
training that we then hope to offer the rest of the community. It's a
first step. http://www.nycga.net/groups/wow/home/

FB burner occupiers: http://www.facebook.com/groups/bmoccupiers/?notif_t=group_activity

Great to see the left coast banding together as well. Lets bridge the
whole country ...

We WILL prevail,

Mel

[Angela Martenez]

FYI - there is a 'Safety Cluster' including members of Safer Spaces,
Support, Security/De-escalation, Mediation/NVC and Medics, which I believe
is also going to include folks from Housing/Town Planning. We began working
together on a 6-step de-escalation protocol when we occupied the park that
we are now looking to adapt to housing sites where our occupiers are
staying. And there are several groups, including Safer Spaces, POC Caucus
and Anti-Oppression Allies, that are developing trainings and responses to
oppression in our various spaces.

So, as a member of the Safety Cluster, I'd love to hear ways we can expand
the dialogue and brainstorming in making our occupation - in all the places
it lives - a safer one for all.

[Rocky Mullin]

HUGE issue. anyone molesting or assaulting others is simply not worthy of being a member of the 99. we have to do everything in our power to stop it.

also, this stuff getting public could do real damage to the movement.

[Mel]

This issue is possibly the biggest thing that will splinter us all. I
feel it's really important to find ways to work together, find
solutions, and follow through. Allowing folks to bring any kind of
harm to each other is simply unacceptable.

AS for the FB group, anyone know if there are any other BM FB groups
relating to OWS? I've been thinking it might make sense to have a
"Global BM Occupy" group. Sorry to those I have not yet approved. I
was thinking, and it seemed to make sense for us to have both a local
group (NYC or CALI) and a global, or world wide group.

Temperature check?

Love,
Mel

[Shazzbar]

i'm not sure if this is the same Mel that i was talking to outside of
60 Wall a couple days ago, but i mentioned to someone that a lot of
these issues might be addressed and even partially resolved through
simple discussion groups. i have been pushing for a sex caucus (or
cuntis if you prefer) to help foster positive sex narratives with a
touch a levity, just to get this discussion started.

this is actually one of the reasons i joined this burner listserve,
because i feel this community has been successful in navigating
between full blown disrespectful hedonism and puritanical political
correctness. not to excuse misogynist behavior, but from personal
experience i can attest that a lot of male jerkiness is for lack of a
better role model.

i think we can all agree that as a society we still do a poor job of
discussing sex. for example, even this thread seems to be dwelling on
aggressors and victimization, and not enough on bigger picture trends
and solutions.

so my simple solution is to talk about sex in a healthy, honest and
open way, as it comes up. for example, i just had an interesting
conversation yesterday morning here on the farm in upstate new york
with a girl who's been with the occupy movement for a while now. the
temp check out there definitely is one of female disenchantment. all i
could offer was possibly a way to promote female (identified etc)
comfort and security, reasoning that especially since we're coming
with baggage from an overtly misogynistic society we are going to have
our work cut out for us.

and personally, it makes sense that happy comfortable females will
lead to more social/physical interactions which will lead to happy
comfortable males.

the temp check for healthy social relations in a community might be
the presence of diverse, strong and empowered women. as went that
aspect of the movement, so went zuccotti park, up to the current
identity issues we have today.

i'm proud that we've kept our opposums on this farm for however long,
and that they've added in no small way to our nascent community,
including checking the testosterone with a Total Eclipse of the Heart
singalong and 6 hrs of horse training videos.

to get the opposum reference, please read the linked sci fi short
story reference by perhaps one of the most interesting male/female
writers of the 20th century.

http://www.lexal.net/scifi/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/tiptree2/tiptree21.html

sorry for the length of the post, don't do well in short form...

--
sb
occYOUpy<3
909.728.1884
--------------------------------------------
Q: Why is this email five sentences or less?
A: http://five.sentenc.es

[Mel]

SB, I don't think you and were the ones that had this conversation.
Perhaps. But there are two Mels and we are both in WOW. There are
also two Larisas in WOW. Kinda weird, but also kinda cool. I'm Mel
G, if you spoke with a Mel that is with Code Pink, that is Mel B. :)

I don't think a simple discussion group will resolve the issue of a
ranting "rabbi" or that of a creepy dude who gives angry stares, and
shakes his head vigorously when he disagrees with you mid sentence.
There are some mental health issues in our midst that ought to be
addressed for sure.

Several moons ago, I asked my few friends who I knew were rangers
whether they could help to do an info transfer, or training, or
something similar with the folks who were doing security in Liberty
Plaza. From what I understand, it became a hugely long blow up on the
ranger list. Sad.

But I am super psyched to hear talk of that happening now, even though
there have now been several cases of molestation, and actual rape, not
only of women but of trans gender folks too.

Survivors will need support. And hopefully, they are getting that. I
agree we need to be careful about creating a victim mentality around
this. But we also need to address this shit as a community. Every
community has dregs in it. Folks whose mental illness or lack of
restraint slip through the cracks, and eventually bring harm to the
community. But if we are building a new paradigm, we need to address
this monumental task of making sure this kind of behavior is nipped in
the bud early.

Would love to have your input if you are able to make our WOW
meetings. We have one tonight at 6, at 60 wall of course. And
another on Sunday same time and place.

Peace and solidarity,
Mel G

> http://www.lexal.net/scifi/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/tiptr...

[Shazzbar]

i'll be driving back from the farm in a few, i might be able to make
the 6pm meeting, at least to drop in.

thanks for the feedback. i'll reply in person hopefully!