We will learn from a community of people who have practiced not calling the police for more than 20 years while living through their own collective traumas, colonization, gentrification, family violence, eviction, incarceration, displacement, betrayal and attempted takedown.
A description from POOR Magazine/Homefulness:
“This workshop will include teaching on poor and traumatized peoples accountability, how to REdefine a western wite supremacist notion of security, and how to hold each other through trauma and into a true definition of interdependent safety.
Walking this walk among a poor and indigneous peoples-led movement means facing our demons ALL THE TIME because we all come out of collective trauma experiences of racism, wite supremacy, ablism, family violence, false borders, eviction, houselessness, criminalization, elder/child abuse, sexual violence, rape, incarceration, poLICE violence genderism, hate crimes and so much more.”
Accessibility:
First Congregational Church of Oakland is working to live into our commitment to accessibility while contending with the reality of a nearly 100-year-old building built at the top of a steep hill. Here are some details about accessibility:
The church is at the top of a steep hill, and there is currently no accessible route from the street-level sidewalk and bus stop to the accessible entrance. We are looking into ways to address this, but for now, guests in wheelchairs or scooters need to drive or be dropped off at the top of the back parking lot.
Wheelchair users do access the building with assistance by driving or being dropped off at the top of the back parking lot. There are several designated disabled parking spots and there is a ramp with ADA-compliant slope from the back parking lot to a sidewalk leading to both the sanctuary side door and the blue door through which most ground-floor rooms are accessible. NOTE: This is NOT the steep ramp but the more gradual one to its right as you face the building. Even so, assistance might be helpful with this ramp.
Unless a member of your group has propped the door open, wheelchair users will need assistance opening the blue door since there is not yet a push button switch on it.
Once inside, most ground-floor rooms are accessible using a wheelchair.
Please come scent-free; for information on how to do that, see this FAQ: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/. A radically scent free seating area will be established.
If you have other questions or access needs, please contact us at alternatives-to-policing@googlegroups.com.
This event is co-hosted by First Congregational Church of Oakland, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area, and the Anti Police-Terror Project.
Check the Facebook page for the most up-to-date information about this event.