This just came out: my coverage of the CNDH Okupa with photog Victoria Razo. It& #39;s been an intense month of witnessing internal & external disputes, state violence AND, most recently, the statement that the Okupa is now a trans*exclusionary space. (THREAD) https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/10/29/block-feminists-okupa">https://www.aljazeera.com/features/...
I felt a lot of conflict about continuing to cover this, particularly after early ruptures that hurt some people I care about a lot. As a journalist covering social movements, I see this kind of conflict alll the time. ALL THE TIME. It almost never makes it into the story.
I decided to do this story, though, to provide an alternative to the narratives that either 1) idealize & glorify the occupiers as the representatives of Mexico& #39;s feminist movement, or 2) dismiss them as having a paid ulterior agenda.
Especially because of how publicly the conflicts played out—and because of the deep significance the Okupa, as a symbol, has had for many people—I felt it was necessary to examine those ruptures in my work.
A constant challenge in covering social movements is romanticizing & idealizing them. I usually cover movements with which I have some affinity; they give me hope; they move something in me. So it& #39;s easy to get carried away by portraying them as heroes or saints or martyrs.
And they aren& #39;t. Or they are, in the sense that we all fight with courage & love at times. And we also make mistakes & hurt people & act from petty, selfish instincts.

THAT SAID. Transphobia is NOT "a mistake." Hate speech is NOT "a mistake." It is violence.
(I feel 1000% comfortable saying that as a journalist. To affirm the dignity of trans* people is NOT to take an ideological line.

If that bothers you, would you feel uncomfortable with a journalist saying that racism is violence? Think about it please.)
The CNDH Okupa briefly united feminists, victims of human rights violations, survivors of sexual violence & many more. It& #39;s since been the site of many ruptures & even hate speech. It remains a powerful symbol. I ask: a symbol of what? https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/10/29/block-feminists-okupa">https://www.aljazeera.com/features/...
This was one of my biggest challenges ever as a journalist.

I hope I have written critically & fairly, for everyone who saw themselves in this movement, for everyone who it inspired, for everyone it hurt, for everyone who it targeted with its hate speech.
I have very strong feelings about it, and I won& #39;t pretend that I don& #39;t. I believe in fairness, not objectivity; often the best we can do is to listen critically both to our voices & to the voices of others.
And if anyone wants to talk with me about this story, my DMs are open. No transphobia tho. If you read this far, thank you, I love you https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💖" title="Funkelndes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Funkelndes Herz">
(I will try to rewrite this thread in Spanish later ah this was so long I need to shower thanks for reading I love you)
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