As part of our ongoing series LGSM Learns, this month we will be discussing The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and the movement forming to resist it.
In spite of high-profile coverage of police violence and institutional racism, the police have lobbied the government for yet further powers to abuse. The Bill is a sweeping attack on everyone's rights - to protest, to picket, to assemble - but will also give police greater powers to attack already marginalised communities.
While a burgeoning movement is forming to resist the Bill, our speakers will fill those gaps in knowledge we might have about the detail of the Bill.
LGSMigrants exists as a solidarity group because this history of criminalisation unites queer people with migrants, refugees, and all groups at the sharp end of government oppression. We do not exist in mutually exclusive communities; our struggle must be intersectional and coalitional.
How will The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill impact people already victims of police abuse of power? Join us with a panel of activists to find out what is happening right now and what we can do to offer solidarity and support.
About LGSM Learns:
LGSMigrants are hosting an ongoing conversation series with different groups and organisations relating to migrant and refugee rights, activism and solidarity, to find out what is happening and how we, as groups or individuals, can act in solidarity.
Safer Spaces Agreement:
By attending our events, you agree to our Safer Spaces Agreement. The basic tenet is respect. LGSMigrants is committed to making our events as safe as possible, whilst recognising that it’s not possible to create spaces that are completely safe for everyone.
- Respect each other (our backgrounds, identities, ideas and bodies) and respect the spaces we create together and are part of.
- Everyone has an equal right to be heard and an equal responsibility to listen – be aware of how people might express themselves differently to you.
- However strongly you feel about a particular topic, abuse is never tolerated. Respect other people’s right to speak.
- Any behaviour that demeans, marginalises or dominates others, or perpetuates hierarchies, is not welcome.
- Identify your own privileges – the things that sometimes give you an easier ride than others – and try to be aware of them.
- Be aware of the range of people’s identities (gender, race, class) and avoid making generalisations or assumptions about people.
- Be aware that anyone in the space could be a survivor of a particular form of oppression, for example, violence or racism.
- If someone is feeling uncomfortable, do not hesitate to raise this.
- It is everyone’s responsibility to challenge prejudice and oppression, and if we ignore it we are complicit in it