#occupypgh

By Amber Kelsie in OccupyPGH Marginalized Communities and Allies  Workgroup · Edit Doc · Delete 

This is a living document. Inspired by the the Internal Solidarity  Statement and Memorandum of Solidarity with Indigenous People put  forth by Occupy Boston, we the members of Occupy Pittsburgh put forth  this Statement of Internal Solidarity and Solidarity with Indigenous  Peoples.   The Occupy Pittsburgh community has the right and  responsibility to edit this document on an ongoing basis. We welcome  feedback and new ideas. 

We are the 99%, and our task is to unify the 99%. Unfortunately, we  live in a society that is racist, sexist, classist, homophobic, and  ridden with various other forms of oppression.  We recognize that the  United States was founded upon the attempted extermination of  indigenous peoples and the colonization of their land, the continued  and ongoing exploitation of black and brown bodies through the  machinations of slavery, imperialism, nationalism, the prison-  industrial complex, and capitalism.  We further recognize that the  Occupy movement is made possible by the many movements and struggles  of oppressed people which have preceded it and that continue through  the present. 

Pittsburgh has been founded upon the extermination, colonization and  dislocation of the First Nations of Haudensaunee, Lenape, and Shawnee  peoples from their ancestral lands.  Pittsburgh has been built via an  economy of labor that has exploited a working class that was then  discarded when we no longer benefited those in power.  Black and brown  people continue to suffer in Pittsburgh due to police, gentrification,  neglect and political invisibility.  Despite these oppressions,  Pittsburgh has been a vital place for struggle on behalf of our  communities. 

As the Occupy Pittsburgh community, we will consciously and urgently  work on dismantling these systems of oppression in our movement.  We  are working on creating a community where everyone’s rights are  respected, protected, and treated equally. We are working to  acknowledge and incorporate a diversity of tactics which requires that  we place those who have been in this struggle at the forefront of our  movement.  We all have different levels of privilege that we strive to  acknowledge and educate ourselves about in order to ensure that these  privileges are not used to oppress others. We want to have an  inclusive atmosphere of ideas in which we do not police each other’s  thoughts, but we have absolutely no tolerance for oppressive or  intimidating words or actions. We respect the need for a diversity of  tactics and actively seek the involvement of the First Nations, people  of color, women, LGBTQ people, and others in the development of our  movement. If a conflict arises it should, if possible, be settled  through democratic discussion or debate. 

We do not welcome any of the following in our community: 

    White supremacy or separatism (racism against people of all  colors)      Patriarchy (sexism)      Ageism      Discrimination based on ability      Homophobia or heteronormativity      Transphobia      Anti-Arab sentiment      Anti-Jewish sentiment      Religious intolerance or intolerance of nonreligious people      Islamaphobia      Class oppression (classism)      Cultural intolerance      Discrimination based on immigration status      Discrimination based on experiences with the justice system      Disregard for indigenous rights      Weight-based discrimination 

This is a living document on specific safety concerns for marginalized individuals.  It has been put together from concerns and resources compiled by the members of the Marginalized Communities and Allies Group in conjunction with the POC working group, but has not been voted on within the group.

In the interests of time (13 hours to go), I am posting it for all affected individuals to consider necessary safety measures.  please review and add your own comments.

Proposed MCAA Statement of Safety Concerns

This movement disavows violence, if someone attempts to disrupt your life or your gathering in this way call it out, get support from likeminded people, surround and disavow if possible.

Maintain awareness of inappropriate actions around you, and be mindful of the safety of your fellow marchers, protestors and occupiers.

POC are at a greater risk for arrest and police brutality

LGBTQA individuals are also at a greater risk for police brutality and abuse.

Women are always at an increased risk of assault during events and by police and in jails.

Individuals with mobility issues and other health concerns are at a greater risk for unintentional harm

Anyone represented here is at a greater risk for harassment by participants, counter-protesters and police

Anyone represented here may be in danger for a variety of reasons if they are arrested and spend time in jail.

1. When ppl are arrested, the bystanders usually repeatedly chant, "Let Them Go." For POC targeting, bystanders should use the "race card" to their advantage by shouting, "why are you arresting a black man" or maybe "stop your racism".   It's simply another tactic, but its one that acknowledges the reality POC face each and every day.

2. For queer folks, especially those who cannot pass as straight, and trans folks, jail can be a very dangerous place and cops can be very abusive in  multiple ways. Misgendering, homophobia, transphobia, assault, and other  things have been reported quite a bit at ACJ and with Pittsburgh COs and  police. Transgender people are at a high risk of sexual/physical/emotional assault once in jail, if the police realize the person they're dealing with is trans.

We've had decent luck calling ACJ over and over (and over and over... we filled up their answering machine) when a friend of mine, a nursing mother, was arrested and held for four days without cause. We managed to get her a breast pump. A similar strategy would probably work to get people the correct food, medication, maybe even to get them moved to a gender-appropriate block.

3. For differently abled people, physical accessibility needs, medications, food, etc may be needed to enter events and upon arrest. For neuroatypical  people, medication needs, extra counseling needs, and so on are relevant.

If you have a medical or neurological issue that isn't obvious just from looking at you (sometimes they are called "invisible" disabilities) it might be good to carry an alert card or bracelet on you in case of the worse case scenarios, even if you don't in your day to day life.

For example, if you are an Autistic person there are cards that are written in case of a police encounter so if you become disoriented or over stimulated, they know (or at least have been informed, even if they  ignore it) that your behavior is disability related, not you being  difficult. Other Neuroatypical people may wish to consider similar steps.

If you are on life sustaining medications, you should have some on you in a labeled from the pharmacy bottle. You should also have a safe person who has a copy of your script papers/an extra bottle and transportation in case you lose your medication in the process of an arrest. Tmight not let someone bring the pills in, but they are obligated to get a script filled.

If you have major health concerns, make sure you have a back up person who knows your doctor's contact info and so forth.

If you are denied your medication while in jail, please contact your civil rights law organization.

Here is the PA code section about healthcare and medication in Jails in PA:

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/037/chapter95/chap95toc.html#95.232.

PLEASE NOTE: The Allegheny County Jail has a KNOWN problem with getting people their medications in a timely fashion, and the health care there is such that it is one of the top 12 deadliest jails because of it.

Also, for people who treat themselves with tinctures or herbal medicine, might be a good idea to have that stuff on you. There is a slim to none chance of getting it in jail, but to have it as soon as you get out is good.

In some cases, especially when in custody, keeping a mental difference quiet may be the right choice to avoid further mistreatment.  If you have the privilege of doing so due to the nature of your mental difference, please weigh your options. For other people who do not share this they may need to choose to disclose their mental state, but there should definitely be support on the outside to ensure they are being treated properly.

If your rights are denied or you are targeted because of disability- particularly Mental Health disability- the Disability Rights  Network of PA might be a good place to have in your contacts list. (412) 391-5225, [email protected]   They do have a focus in one of their initiatives for those in jail, particularly those with MH issues.

  Occupy Pittsburgh March: Freedom corner (hill district) to Market Square, Freedom Corner - Crawford & Center Avenue (Map)  Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Saturday, October 15th, 10:00 AM

OccupyPittsburgh Day of Action  

Saturday, October 15, 2011 

Beginning Rally 11:00 am Freedom Corner 

March from Freedom Corner to Market Square: 11:45 am 

Movement Kickoff Rally 1:30 - 3 PM Market Square 

Occupation of Pittsburgh begins 4 pm  @ Mellon Green, Grant St. & Sixth Ave