Alright, not going to be pretty and I'll keep adding into the night with breaks but let's get started 1/? https://twitter.com/GwenEats/status/1275894407527612416

Fears of thought policing can be valid, it's not any league's or the WFTDA's responsibility to change hearts and minds. We're all charged with upholding the integrity of the game, and the existence of audible racism and prejudiceit compromised that integrity esp re Black skaters

It can seem isolated but that's anecdotally proportionate to the lack of representation at events. In short, anti-racism needs to be part of training as much as any other rule that can see a skater or team ejected from play. Even if you're a small league, it's not reasonable ..

engage we the play with another league especially in the case of tournaments without training from officials to alternates in anti-racism. Your training is incomplete then to uphold a match, individual perceptions of the validity of gameplay notwithstanding

Anti-Black and Indigenous racism is of paramount importance because this is the blueprint. It's built into daily American lives and is the genesis of other highly effective forms of racism, homophobia, transphobia etc. because it works and is an adaptable resource for racism..

independent of the perceived intent. Pull that string and you'll see discriminatory arguments of all kinds lose their teeth.

Most leagues are LLCS. or non-profit corporations and have the right to make the rules for their spaces. Like "no shirt, no service" this is that entities' right to set standards of allowable conduct outside of discrimination of protected classes. One's opinions don't quality.

Actionable Policy Thread:
First, review the standing WFTDA wording on diversity policy and append that the recent statement following the forum on future intent. Review this not as a wishlist but as Precedent and the standard to be referenced. Examples of policy to follow:

COC is a punative last resort, having an "expectations" clause referencing social media use disparaging protected classes an individual doesn't belong to. Note, this is not an impediment to Free Speech, it is the exercise of a league free speech via disassociation of hate.

Another donation and I'll break down the importance of analyzing Mota's progression in a thread here.

This is important because their actions are a living example. Takeaway 1: The idea that participation and contribution to WFTDA derby entitles them to a perpetual equity in the sport and using that equity to shout over Black voices, erase Black comments, while giving voice

To the "disenfranchised" white pride ppl. So this is textbook abuse and gaslighting. Claiming they've been cancelled but have in no way been deplatformed or edited. The white supremacy game is built around economics. Take notes as to the free fall a diverse market put them in

Leagues take note:
Co-option of terms being used against the Black community:
"We're being Canceled, after all that work!"
"Echo Chamber"
"Woke"
"Thought police"
I've heard these misused to silence valid concerns in every derby community I've been near.

The WFTDA made a shrewd decision.
-Mota mass promoted mlm under the brand they supported.
-Posted a boot promoting a movement started by trolls to devalue a post Ferguson BLM
-Deleted calls for for thoughtful dialogue.
-Kept retailers out of the loop long after plate prod. Ended

-Started lashing out with racial overtones and playing victim

-Specifically used Anti-Black coded language

The WFTDA made a smart business choice in cutting ties (encouraging diversity can be amazing for business if you make your intent clear)

Unnwindimg some of the coding Mota used through selective conflation. Labeling large protests as violent riots while saying most police are good while some police did some bad things but most are good. A common narrative lately that should be broken down in no uncertain terms...

Say you go to the beach, everyone is there for leisure and one group sets up speakers blasting licenced music and live-streaming which is illegal. Everyone else there is autonomous and the fact of their proximity does not mean they've done anything illegal or all Music Pirates...

Now imagine it's a firm hired to stop music piracy blasting on live stream, in company uniform. Everyone is now accountable for participation or not doing their jobs in stopping it. This is the correct order of things and is often flipped, like Mota did. It's worse because...

One is a protected class and the other is a career when talking about the BLM movement vs. The Police. This is a bad comparison and instant red flag regardless of sentiment and without even digging into history. Which if you're interested 'The Torture Letters' by Laurence Ralph