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Got removed from a Palaeontology Facebook group (Paleontology!) for denouncing casual racism at SVP in Albuquerque 2018 by the administrator of the group. Maybe a group of amateurs, but hey-ho... That's how I started my Thursday.
So, if you're in this group and you see someone saying that a comment got removed because it was obviously fabricated,... That's me and it wasn't a fabrication. He claims it was fake because, well, there's plenty of Hispanics in SVP, how could I have faced racism?!
I get it, the dude doesn't want me in his forum and doesn't want that speech in his group. But it seems the guy was a senior and I don't want my early career stage to be compromised because someone says I'm a liar without me being able to speak out.
This is the comment that got called bullshit by the administrator and I stand by every single word. He claims that there's too many Hispanics in SVP, so my story can't be true. This is the post that this person is talking about.
That's the response I got before being removed. Just to be clear, my comment was about the convention center and the staff, also the Uber drivers, not about SVP per se. The aim of the comment is to show we don't live in a bubble and that SVP is not isolated.
Since this thread has taken off, I will just put the highlights that this discussion brought up in the Palaeocast Facebook Page:
It's not just about inclusion, you need to make sure the community you want to include is protected. Here are some ideas:
It's not just about inclusion, you need to make sure the community you want to include is protected. Here are some ideas:
-Organise scientific conferences in cities that do not have frisk and stop policies or no-knocking warrants. Black delegates could be arrested because they are walking to a conference centre.
-Make sure your vulnerable delegates don't have to commute as much.
-Make sure your vulnerable delegates don't have to commute as much.
Think of the delegates who might face racial profiling by the community and whose lives may be in danger because they are walking towards your conference.
-Scrutinise the city and the venues. Be aware that the conference is happening in a context that kills people.
-Scrutinise the city and the venues. Be aware that the conference is happening in a context that kills people.
