After our no cops in pride action our pride, our next instalment of LGSM Learns will take a deeper dive into what it means to be an abolitionist.
With scrutiny recently falling on the Met police’s conduct in light of numerous failings, calls for reform have been amplified. Similarly, the Rwanda deportation flights have seen many call for a more humane border policy than currently exists. Whilst the demands are well meaning, contemporary abolitionists recognise that these, alongside prisons, are unreformable institutions, with racism, misogyny, queerphobia and classism hard baked into their DNA. Instead, they call for abolition of police, prisons and borders, through a programme of non-reformist reforms designed to reduce the harm experienced by all our communities.
We recognise that these are radical demands, with many in our community concerned as to how we could stay safe without the supposed protection of these institutions. Our LGSM Learns session will address these concerns, with our expert panel explaining how we can move from the illusion of protection currently afforded, to a world where people can genuinely live in safety.
Speakers confirmed: Jodie Beck, Abolitionist Campaigner and co-founder of Our Empty Chair, a grassroots collective sharing stories of full hearts kept apart by prisons and detention centres https://twitter.com/ouremptychair
More speakers to be announced!
The event will take place on Zoom. The link will be sent on the day. Make sure you register to receive it.
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