Read on Twitter
Since my words are being publicly misconstrued, since my mentions are a mess. I'm going to make a thread.
And since this is a public ask. I'm answering publicly.
All of these are my own personal opinions.
If you want org statements, I welcome you to reach out to org emails.
And since this is a public ask. I'm answering publicly.
All of these are my own personal opinions.
If you want org statements, I welcome you to reach out to org emails.
Before I proceed, here's some recap of the last few weeks, and months, and. . . Years of work honestly https://twitter.com/raanibegum/status/1275932842204319745?s=20
Let me 1st reiterate @PhillyRUA + @safephila latest letter. Our original letter named organizational & institutional harm. That should tell you that we have survivors, leaders, and experienced organizers in our orgs.
Here is the original letter again. https://www.phillyrua.com/blog/open-letter-to-pahrc
Here is the original letter again. https://www.phillyrua.com/blog/open-letter-to-pahrc
A week after it was written, this is the only real institutional way this was engaged with. Harm Reduction coalition wrote a statement. And frankly, it felt like institutional gaslighting.
(I think they're the only ones who named and defended PAHRC?)
https://harmreduction.org/miscellaneous/calling-ourselves-in-to-collective-accountability/
(I think they're the only ones who named and defended PAHRC?)
https://harmreduction.org/miscellaneous/calling-ourselves-in-to-collective-accountability/
IN THE MEANTIME, multiple testimonies came out about Devin Reaves. They were public and private and varied. They documented not only interpersonal harm, but reflections by community members on how they felt frozen as bystanders. Of feeling like they were forced to "fall in line"
These statements were being collapsed with our original letter. When these were distinctly different harms being named. We were collapsed as survivors instead of seen as leaders. This is erasure of our labor. https://twitter.com/raanibegum/status/1282712133218836482?s=20
People still don't know how to deal with abusers on interpersonal level AND institutional level in harm reduction. There is either the lack of skill to deal with issues distinctly, or lack of capacity, or lack of will power
That is what I was naming: https://twitter.com/raanibegum/status/1282711470422319110?s=20
That is what I was naming: https://twitter.com/raanibegum/status/1282711470422319110?s=20
Also named early on personally that Devin Reaves was not named institutionally. It was confusing and triggering. I expressed that. Nobody reached out to me.
That's cool. It was a personal ask on a public platform. Not an organizational ask. https://twitter.com/raanibegum/status/1276996431564464129?s=20
That's cool. It was a personal ask on a public platform. Not an organizational ask. https://twitter.com/raanibegum/status/1276996431564464129?s=20
When we wrote the 2nd letter, we felt compelled to name these VARIOUS dynamics playing out. Our original letter was not engaged with. It was not honored.
And we felt it a duty that naming this not come at the expense of other survivors not in our orgs. https://www.phillyrua.com/blog/follow-up-an-open-letter-to-the-harm-reduction-community
And we felt it a duty that naming this not come at the expense of other survivors not in our orgs. https://www.phillyrua.com/blog/follow-up-an-open-letter-to-the-harm-reduction-community
Why did we not engage with every single survivor that publicly posted something? Because frankly, we don't have the capacity to reach out to every single one of Devin's survivors all over PA. We only have the capacity to support our own members and continue our public facing work
Knowing all of this:
1) We named Devin, and named that any accountability process that happens regarding and around Devin needs to happen with the input and on the timeline of all survivors. Same survivors that experienced direct, interpersonal harm from him.
1) We named Devin, and named that any accountability process that happens regarding and around Devin needs to happen with the input and on the timeline of all survivors. Same survivors that experienced direct, interpersonal harm from him.
2) that all survivors have a right to how they name the harm they experience. That calling it "call out culture" is dismissive of survivors.
3) that PAHRC needs to honor all survivor asks INSTITUTIONALLY.
3) that PAHRC needs to honor all survivor asks INSTITUTIONALLY.
Organizationally, WE need PAHRC to fold. Obviously, we've also (tried) naming institutional needs of survivors.
These are distinct and differing needs. They are not in conflict and should not be seen in conflict
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1282875144956981255?s=20
These are distinct and differing needs. They are not in conflict and should not be seen in conflict
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1282875144956981255?s=20
In case it's not clear, Devin's direct survivors who're standing members of signatory organizations had a huge say in how this second letter was crafted.
I'm at a loss atm on how naming our needs and having boundaries around our own organizational capacity is a bad thing.
I'm at a loss atm on how naming our needs and having boundaries around our own organizational capacity is a bad thing.
We deliberately tried naming survivor needs as distinct needs from our own as organizations. Just because we don't have capacity to support all survivors doesn't mean they shouldn't be getting INSTITUTIONAL support.
We named this, EXPLICITLY, in our asks.
We named this, EXPLICITLY, in our asks.
If you as an onlooker cannot hold these complex realities and experiences all together without negating one?
I'd recommend "Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement" as a resource.
I'd recommend "Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement" as a resource.
Lastly, two things:
there is racial microaggression being targeted at me and others behind scenes. I don't find it useful to name the specifics, but it's really fucking triggering and angering. Frankly, idk how to navigate this piece right now.
there is racial microaggression being targeted at me and others behind scenes. I don't find it useful to name the specifics, but it's really fucking triggering and angering. Frankly, idk how to navigate this piece right now.
Secondly, individual members of our orgs have been supporting individual survivors outside of our orgs. There's other individual support offered.
We're not therapists nor did we, as an organization, offer to lead any accountablity processes. Ever.
We have limits. And that's ok
We're not therapists nor did we, as an organization, offer to lead any accountablity processes. Ever.
We have limits. And that's ok
And now. Public one on one answer:
You didn't start this institutional process.
You're not the only one experiencing backlash, public or otherwise
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1283220281629310979?s=20
You didn't start this institutional process.
You're not the only one experiencing backlash, public or otherwise
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1283220281629310979?s=20
Yes, you were offered one on one support. We didn't have organizational capacity, and therefore that was not offered.
We focused on organizational harm. You and Bekka are not part of either orgs. Therefore, you and other individuals were not consulted.
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1283218946523619328?s=20
We focused on organizational harm. You and Bekka are not part of either orgs. Therefore, you and other individuals were not consulted.
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1283218946523619328?s=20
You've been having a very hard time hearing this very important piece. You're in a lot of pain, and I empathize.
But as organizations with diverse members and needs, we have our own limits. That doesn't negate your needs.
That's that.
Please stop coming into my mentions.
But as organizations with diverse members and needs, we have our own limits. That doesn't negate your needs.
That's that.
Please stop coming into my mentions.
Individuals you're angry against offered you support to write a survivor letter modeled on the other survivor letters coming out.
You were offered significant, individualized support from members of @PhillyRUA and @safephila
Please don't negate that
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1283223578343870467?s=20
You were offered significant, individualized support from members of @PhillyRUA and @safephila
Please don't negate that
https://twitter.com/Oliver_Tryst/status/1283223578343870467?s=20
