,CRIME?,9C4 ,CONV]G5CE ,CONTROV]SY 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,?IS IS A BRIEF /ATEM5T FOLL[$ BY P]SONAL ACC\NTS DETAIL+ ! EV5TS ( A CONTROV]SIAL DISRUPTION ?AT HAPP5$ AT ! 5D ( ! ,CRIME?,9C4 ,CONV]G5CE 9 ,PITTSBUR< ?IS ,JULY4 ,!SE TEXTS HAVE BE5 WRITT5 BY SOME AN>*I/ PEOPLE ( COLOR :O P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! CONV]G5CE & W]E PRES5T ! NI<T ( ! DISRUPTION4 ,!RE HAS BE5 SOME DISCUSSION AB\T IT ON ! 9T]NET1 BUT WE HOPE TO (F] PEOPLE MORE CONTEXT FROM \R P]SPECTIVES AB\T ?AT NI<T4 ,/ILL1 MO/LY QUE/IONS REMA9 AB\T H[ TO PROCE$4 ,HOPEFULLY AT LEA/1 !SE ACC\NTS WILL PROVOKE HONE/1 OP51 HUMBLE CONV]SATIONS AB\T ALL ( ! ISSUES RAIS$1 SO ?AT WE CAN FIGURE \T H[ TO MOVE =W>D AS RADICAL COMMUNITIES 9 /RUGGLE4 

,!RE IS SO MU* GR\ND TO COV] TO CONVEY :AT HAPP5$ ?R\<\T ! WEEKLONG CONV]G5CE4 ,*ECK BACK SOON = FUR!R REPORTBACKS AB\T ! RE/ ( ! CONV]G5CE4 

,BRIEF ,/ATEM5T 

,:AT SEEM$ LIKE AN AWESOME1 P]=MATIVE DISRUPTION--A RECLAMATION ( SPACE1 AN EXPRESSION ( ANG]1 AN OP5+ UP ( DIALOGUE--%IFT$ QUICKLY 9TO SOME?+ ELSE 5TIRELY4 ,AT ! 5D ( A NI<T ( ,CAB>ET AT ! ,CRIME?,9C4 ,CONV]G5CE 9 LATE ,JULY1 AB\T HALF A DOZ5 AN>*I/_/AUTONOMI/ PEOPLE ( COLOR--SOME :O HAD P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! CONV]G5CE ALL WEEK & SOME :O CAME 9TO T[N JU/ = ?IS 0ACTION0--/ORM$ 9TO A HALL FULL ( PEOPLE1 READ+ A /ATEM5T AB\T G5TRIFICATION & :ITE SUPREMACY1 :ILE SCREAM+ SLOGANS4 

,PEOPLE WAT*$ 9 SIL5CE1 UNC]TA9 ( H[ TO RESPOND TO SU* 9T5SE AGGRESSION FROM ?IS SMALL GR\P ( FRI5DS4 ,) NO PROVOCATION1 ! DISRUPT]S"9"9 />T$ GRABB+ PEOPLE'S BACKPACKS & SLEEP+ BAGS & ?R[+ !M \T 9TO ! HALLWAY1 UND] A RALLY+ CRY (1 0,GET ! FUCK \T ( H]E6 ,GET ! FUCK \T ( ,PITTSBUR<6 ,WE'RE NOT FUCK+ KIDD+60 ,!Y CLE>$ PEOPLE'S BAGS FROM ! %ELVES1 FROM (F ! GR\ND2 !Y GRABB$ LAMPS1 *AIRS1 ANY?+ !Y C\LD GET !IR H&S ON4 ,TOSS+ EV]Y?+ \T ( ! ROOM1 PEOPLE'S BELONG+S W]E DUMP$ 9TO JUMBL$ PILES EV]Y:]E4 ,! DISRUPT]S SCREAM$ ?AT :ITE PEOPLE W]E G5TRIFY+ ! NEI<BORHOOD ! ,CONV]G5CE WAS 9--NEI<BORHOODS EV]Y:]E--& ?AT !Y W\LDN'T /OP :AT !Y W]E DO+ UNTIL ALL ( ! :ITE PEOPLE FROM ! CONV]G5CE W]E \T ( ! BUILD+1 \T ( ,PITTSBUR<4 ,IT WAS ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T1 & ALMO/ EV]YONE HAD BE5 /AY+ 9 ?AT BUILD+4 ,) NO:]E TO GO1 MANY PEOPLE />T$ TO LEAVE4 

,! DISRUPT]S BECAME 9CREAS+LY AGGRESSIVE ) ! PEOPLE 9 ! ROOM4 ,!Y GOT UP 9 PEOPLE'S FACES1 & YELL$ AT !M TO LEAVE1 0,GO BACK TO ,EUROPE6 ,I'M SICK ( LOOK+ AT Y\R :ITE FUCK+ FACE60 ,PROVOK$ 9TO FE> & PANIC1 MANY PEOPLE LEFT ! ROOM1 TE>S /REAM+ D[N !IR FACES4 ,O!RS RESPOND$ ) A V>IETY ( RACI/ COMM5TS DEMON/RAT+ JU/ H[ F> A LOT ( PEOPLE HAVE TO GO 9 T]MS ( UND]/&+ :ITE SUPREMACY & PRIVILEGE4 ,! DISRUPT]S US$ ?9LY VEIL$ 9TIMIDATION & ?REATS1 LIKE SCREAM+1 0,GET ! FUCK \T ( H]E6 ,I AM NOT A PACIFI/60 :ILE PULL+ BAGS \T ( PEOPLE'S H&S2 !Y MUSCL$ PA/ ! PEOPLE :O TRI$ TO BLOCK ! FL[ ( BACKPACKS & PURSES \T 9TO ! HALLWAY1 ?RU/+ ! BELONG+S 9TO PEOPLE'S HEADS1 BACKS1 & O!R P>TS ( !IR BODIES4 

,9 AN ATTEMPT TO DEESCALATE ! SITUATION1 PEOPLE EV5TUALLY />T$ 5C\RAG+ EV]YONE TO LEAVE4 ,CONV]G5CE ATT5DEES P\R$ \T ONTO ! SIDEWALKS1 & />T$ ORGANIZ+ ALT]NATE H\S+ & C>POOLS4 ,MANY PEOPLE'S BELONG+S W]E /ILL LO/ & /REWN ALL OV] ! CONV]G5CE SPACE1 BUT ) ! POLICE >RIV+ TO 9VE/IGATE ! SC5E1 EV]YONE HAD TO GO SOME:]E4 ,BY NE>LY #b AM1 ALL ( ! PEOPLE :O DID NOT ID5TIFY AS PEOPLE ( COLOR--& ALL ?OSE TOO TRAUMATIZ$ BY ! AGGRESSION ( ! DISRUPT]S--W]E \T ( ! UP/AIRS1 YET ! DISRUPT]S /ILL REFUS$ TO LEAVE4 ,SOME PEOPLE ( COLOR FROM ! CONV]G5CE CALL$ A CAUCUS ) ! DISRUPT]S1 BUT AFT] AN UNPRODUCTIVE ATTEMPT AT DIALOGUE1 F9ALLY1 ! DISRUPT]S LEFT4 

,APP>5TLY1 A FEW FRI5DS ( ! DISRUPT]S HAD KN[N AB\T ! PLANN$ DISRUPTION BE=EH&1 BUT AFT]W>DS1 EV]YONE APOLOGETICALLY EXPLA9$ ?AT !Y HAD EXPECT$ ! DISRUPTION TO HAVE A RADICALLY DIFF]5T *>ACT]4 ,SOME PEOPLE M5TION$ ! FEM9I/ DISRUPTION ( AN AN>*I/ GA!R+ 9 ! ,U,K :]E WOM5 HIJACK$ A MEET+ TO SCRE5 A MOVIE AB\T FEM9ISM :5 DESCRIB+ :AT !Y HAD IMAG9$4 ,WE C]TA9LY HOPE PEOPLE W\LD HAVE 9T]V5$ IF !Y HAD =ESE5 ! AGGRESSION & VIOL5CE ! DISRUPT]S *OSE TO EMPLOY4 

--FROM PEOPLE ( COLOR :O ATT5D$ ! CONV]G5CE & OPPOSE ! DISRUPTION 

"9,WE >E REF]R+ TO ?IS GR\P ( PEOPLE AS 0! DISRUPT]S0 BECAUSE ! ONLY WAY !Y REF]5C$ !MSELVES WAS AS PEOPLE FROM ,A,P,O,C 7AN>*I/ PEOPLE ( COLOR74 ,H[EV]1 !Y W]E C]TA9LY NOT ACT+ ON BEHALF ( ALL ,A,P,O,C]S4 ,& LIKE ) ANY DEC5TRALIZ$ GR\P /RUCTURE1 :5 A FEW PEOPLE DO FUCK$ UP ?+S UND] A BANN] ?AT MANY PEOPLE FEEL AFF9ITY )1 ?OSE PEOPLE RISK DELEGITIMIZ+ ! :OLE MOVEM5T RA!R ?AN BE>+ ! RESPONSIBILITY = !IR [N ACTIONS4 ,TO BE CLE>1 ?IS DISRUPTION WAS ,N,O,T AN ,A,P,O,C ACTION4 

,ACC\NT #a 

,IT SEEM$ REALLY COMPLICAT$ = MANY PEOPLE ( COLOR :O W]E NOT A P>T ( ! DISRUPTION TO SORT \T !IR FEEL+S AB\T IT ?AT NI<T BECAUSE IT WAS ALL TOO EASY TO RELATE TO ! LEGITIMATE ANG] & DI/RESS ?AT SEEM$ TO MOTIVATE ! DISRUPT]S4 ,I TALK$ ) MANY O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR ?AT NI<T AB\T \R [N FEEL+S ( ISOLATION1 ! PA9 ( \R [N 9VISIBILITY ORGANIZ+ 9 AN>*I/ SPACES DOM9AT$ BY PEOPLE ) MORE PRIVILEGE4 ,WE TALK$ AB\T ! 9T5SITY ( ! :ITE SUPREMACY WE HAVE FAC$ 9 RADICAL CIRCLES1 & ! S]I\S NE$ TO ADDRESS IT4 ,BUT WE ALSO TALK$ AB\T ! WAYS ! K9D ( CO]CIVE ACTIONS TAK5 BY ! DISRUPT]S C\LD OBSCURES ?OSE REALITIES1 MAK+ IT H>D] TO ACTUALLY WORK ?R\< ?IS /UFF ) \R POT5TIAL ALLIES 

,= ME ?AT NI<T1 ?\<1 IT WAS SIMPLE TO SORT \T :AT SIDE ,I WAS ON4 ,WAT*+ ! DISRUPT]S TE> AP>T PEOPLE'S BELONG+S1 IT WAS CLE> ,I HAD TO 9T]V5E4 ,WAT*+ MALE-BODI$ DISRUPT]S SCREAM 9TO ! FACES ( WOM5 ) TE>S /REAM+ D[N !IR *EEKS1 ,I HAD NO *OICE BUT TO PUT MY BODY 9 BETWE5 !M4 ,REALLY1 WAT*+ ! DISRUPT]S ( ANY G5D] BR+ !IR RAGE UPON MY :ITE FRI5DS ( ANY G5D]1 IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO GET 9VOLV$4 

,I AM A SMALL1 WOMAN ( COLOR4 ,I HAVE BE5 ASSAULT$--PHYSICALLY1 SEXUALLY1 EMOTIONALLY4 ,MY :OLE LIFE4 ,! HATR$ 9 ! VOICES ( ! DISRUPT]S AS !Y SCREAM$ ! ABSURD1 0,GO BACK TO ,EUROPE10 WAS SIMPLY TOO REM9ISC5T ( ! X5OPHOBIC SLURS ,I'VE HE>D S9CE *ILDHOOD4 ,! WAY !Y MANIPULAT$ & CONTROLL$ 9DIVIDUALS & GR\PS1 SCREAM+ ?REATS & RAMPAG+ ?R\< ! ROOM1 FELT JU/ LIKE LIFE ) MY ABUSIVE EX-H\SEMATE4 ,I WILL NEV] WAT* ?AT K9D ( VIOL5CE & DO NO?+4 ,EV5 IF NO?+ ?AT ,I DID ?AT NI<T WAS USEFUL1 IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME ?AT ! DISRUPT]S C\LD FEEL MY OPPOSITION2 IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO RESI/4 

,BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT$ TO TAKE S]I\SLY ! CONC]NS ?AT ! DISRUPT]S BR\<T UP1 IT ALSO SEEM$ REALLY COMPLICAT$ = :ITE PEOPLE TO FIGURE \T H[ TO 5GAGE ) !M4 ,EV5TUALLY1 FOLL[+ ! LEAD ( PEOPLE ( COLOR1 SOME :ITE FOLKS />T$ TO PASSIVELY RESI/ ! DISRUPT]S BY BLOCK+ ! DOORWAYS & REMOV+ /OL5 BAGS FROM ! DISRUPT]S' H&S1 BUT BECAUSE ! DISRUPT]S W]E AN>*I/S1 COMRADES1 FRI5DS1 NO ONE WANT$ IT TO BE A NE$LESS CONFRONTATION4 

,BUT ! DISRUPT]S MADE IT CLE> TO ME ?AT !Y W]E !RE = A CONFRONTATION4 0,?IS IS W>10 !Y TOLD ME4 0,PEOPLE GET HURT 9 REVOLUTION40 0,WE >E NOT AFRAID1 & WE >E NOT PACIFI/S60 ,= SOME REASON1 ?\<1 ! DISRUPT]S HAD DECID$ ?AT !IR CONFLICT WAS ONLY ) ! :ITE PEOPLE AT ! ,CONV]G5CE4 ,!Y CONSI/5TLY SCREAM$ AT EV]Y :ITE P]SON TO LEAVE1 :ILE LEAV+ ! PEOPLE ( COLOR ALONE1 & SO ! PEOPLE ( COLOR LEFT 9 ! SPACE W]E UNIQUELY POSITION$ TO TRY TO DEAL ) ! MESS4 ,! DISRUPT]S TRI$ TO >GUE ?AT IT WASN'T AB\T US--IT WASN'T AB\T ! PEOPLE ( COLOR LEFT 9 ! SPACE4 ,BUT = ME1 IF Y\ FUCK ) PEOPLE ,I LOVE1 EV5 IF Y\ NEV] DO ANY?+ TO ME1 ?AN1 YES1 Y\R FI<T IS ALSO ) ME4 

,I SP5T MU* ( ?AT NI<T TRY+ TO GET ! DISRUPT]S TO LEAVE4 ,I TRI$ TO TALK TO !M4 ,I TRI$ TO /OP !M FROM DE/ROY+ PEOPLE'S P]SONAL BELONG+S4 ,I PUT MY BODY 9 BETWE5 !M & O!R PEOPLE--TRI$ TO /OP ! YELL+ & SCREAM+1 FACES 9*ES AWAY FROM EA* O!R4 ,I TRI$ TO /OP ! FI<T4 ,I TRI$ TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE 9DIVIDUAL DISRUPT]S FROM ?AT SPACE4 ,I TRI$ DESP]ATELY TO /OP ! FI<T4 ,?AT NI<T ,I FELT SO ALONE4 ,SO ISOLAT$4 ,IT WAS CLE> TO ME ?AT ,I NE$$ TO RESI/ ! ABUSE ?AT WAS HAPP5+4 ,BUT ,I DIDN'T WANT TO BE FI<T+ !SE PEOPLE ?AT W]E TRY+ TO SAY EV]Y?+ ,I ALSO NE$$ TO SAY4 ,I %\LD HAVE BE5 /&+ ALONG SIDE ! DISRUPT]S1 WE %\LD HAVE BE5 SPEAK+ \R FURY TOGE!R1 BUT !Y MADE ?AT IMPOSSIBLE4 ,! DISRUPT]S MADE NO SPACE = DIALOGUE4 ,!Y MADE NO SPACE = ME--OR O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR :O NE$$ ROOM = !IR RAGE4 ,!Y TOLD US ALL ?AT WE C\LD TALK LAT]4 ,:5 EV]Y?+ WAS OV]4 ,BUT EV5 N[1 EV]Y?+ IS F> FROM OV]4 

,WE TRI$ TO REASON ) ! DISRUPT]S1 TO GET !M JU/ TO LEAVE4 ,I ASK$ !M H[ !Y FELT AB\T H[ %ITTY !Y MADE PEOPLE FEEL1 & !Y QUICKLY DEF5D$ ?AT !Y 0GAVE PEOPLE W>N+0 TO LEAVE4 7,?AT W>N+ WAS !M 5T]+ ! ROOM YELL+ & ?R[+ PEOPLE'S BAGS \T47 ,ANO!R DISRUPT] RESPOND$1 0,DON'T Y\ SUPPORT QUE]S BA%+ BACK80 ,& ,I TOLD !M1 ,I'M ALL = QUE] PEOPLE--ANYONE1 REALLY--ATTACK+ !IR ATTACK]S1 BUT ?AT ,I DIDN'T EQUATE ?AT ) 9DISCRIM9ATELY ATTACK+ A ROOM FULL ( /RANG]S4 ,I ASK$ !M H[ !Y FELT AB\T ALL ( ! WOM51 QUE] PEOPLE1 TRANS PEOPLE1 & O!RWISE M>G9ALIZ$ PEOPLE !Y W]E PU%+ \T ONTO ! /REET 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T4 ,! DISRUPT]S RESPOND$ ?AT !Y'D BE SAFE :]EV] !Y HAD TO GO BECAUSE ( !IR :ITE FACES4 ,BACK & =?1 WE TRI$ TO GET ! DISRUPT]S TO RESPOND G5U9ELY1 BUT !Y GAVE UP ONLY RHETORIC & NONS5SE4 

,AFT] LIT]ALLY H\RS ( ?IS1 AFT] EV]Y BAG WAS CLE>$ \T ( ! ROOM1 AFT] ALMO/ EV]Y P]SON WAS GONE & ! DISRUPT]S W]E JU/ /&+ 9SIDE ( ONE ( ! DOORWAYS1 REFUS+ TO LEAVE1 ,I TOTALLY BROKE4 ,) NO?+ LEFT TO DO1 ,I TOLD !M ALL TO GET \T4 ,I TOLD !M IT WAS OV]1 IT WAS TIME TO GO4 ,!Y JU/ LOOK$ AT ME4 ,I HAD BE5 SAY+ ?IS ALL NI<T1 BUT ?IS TIME ,I NE$$ IT TO BE REAL1 ,I NE$$ IT TO BE DONE4 ,I WAS DONE4 ,I W5T BEH9D ! DOOR ?AT TWO ( !M W]E LEAN+ AGA9/ TO HOLD OP5 & />T$ PU%+ ) ALL MY /R5G? TO CLOSE IT4 ,IT CLOS$ HALFWAY1 & !N ! /RUGGLE REALLY BEGAN4 ,I DON'T REMEMB] EV]Y?+ ?AT HAPP5$4 ,! DISRUPT]S W]E SCREAM+ AT ME4 ,I WAS SCREAM+ AT !M4 ,TE>S W]E SCREAM+ D[N MY FACE2 EV]Y MUSCLE 9 MY BODY CRI$ \T4 ,AT SOME PO9T O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR />T$ HELP+ ME PU% ON ! DOOR4 ,EV]Y?+ HURT4 ,EV]Y?+ WAS PA94 ,EV]Y?+ WAS BROK54 

,?AT NI<T1 Y\ BROKE ME4 

,I AM CRY+ /ILL AS ,I WRITE ?IS ONE WEEK LAT]4 ,ALL ( ! COMPLICAT$ PA9 & HE>TBREAK WON'T LET GO4 ,I WANT TO BE TALK+ AB\T :ITE SUPREMACY 9 \R MOVEM5TS4 ,I DON'T WANT TO BE TALK+ AB\T Y\4 ,I DON'T WANT TO BE WAT*+ US SELF-DE/RUCT1 TAK+ SIDES1 FALL+ AP>T4 ,I WANT TO BE TALK+ AB\T ! WAYS \R PRIVILEGE & 9T]NALIZ$ OPPRESSION MAKE US HURT EA* O!R4 ,I GUESS ?AT'S :AT ?IS IS1 BUT IT ALL FEELS SO NE$LESS1 SO ?\<TLESS4 ,I DON'T WANT TO DEAL ) Y\R %IT JU/ BECAUSE Y\ DIDN'T ?9K ?R\< Y\R ACTIONS1 BECAUSE Y\ ?\<T ?AT EV]YONE W\LD JU/ COME BACK 9 AFT] Y\ LEFT1 ?AT ALL ( ! PANIC ATTACKS & PA9 C\LD JU/ BE ]AS$1 ?AT :5 PEOPLE'S HE>TS /OPP$ RAC+ !Y W\LDN'T FEEL ! L+]+ FE>4 

,SOMEH[1 !RE WAS A MOM5T ( /ILLNESS :5 EV]YONE ELSE WAS GONE1 & SOME PEOPLE ( COLOR CALL$ = A CONV]SATION ) ALL ( US1 ! DISRUPT]S & ALL ( ! O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR ?AT W]E LEFT4 ,WE CLOS$ ! DOORS TO ?AT UP/AIRS ROOM1 & EV]Y?+ WAS QUIET = A MOM5T4 ,FOLKS ( COLOR />T$ TRY+ TO ASK ! DISRUPT]S AB\T :Y !Y DID :AT !Y DID1 TRY+ TO REASON ) !M4 ,IT FELT PO9TLESS TO ME4 ,! DISRUPT]S W]E SP\T+ ! SAME RHETORIC & ABSURD DEF5SES !Y HAD BE5 SAY+ ALL NI<T4 ,!Y EXPRESS$ FEEL+ GOOD AB\T DISPLAC+ PEOPLE = ! NI<T BECAUSE !Y WANT$ PEOPLE TO GET A TA/E ( H[ G5TRIFICATION DISPLACES PEOPLE P]MAN5TLY4 ,:5 ,I ASK$ H[ !Y FELT AB\T BE+ A =CE ( DOM9ATION1 JU/ LIKE G5TRIFICATION1 !Y RESPOND$ ONLY ?AT G5TRIFICATION IS A GREAT] =CE ( DOM9ATION ?AN !Y W]E ?AT NI<T4 ,I'M GLAD AT LEA/ ?AT ! DISRUPT]S W]E LESS ( A =CE ( DOM9ATION ?AN G5TRIFICATION1 BUT ?AT SETS ! B> PRETTY L[ = H[ WE 9T]ACT ) ONE ANO!R4 ,EV5 OPPRESS$ GR\PS ( PEOPLE CAN DOM9ATE PEOPLE ) MORE SOCIETAL PRIVILEGE ?AN !Y HAVE4 

,PEOPLE ALSO BR\<T UP H[ DANG]\S & IRRESPONSIBLE IT WAS = ! DISRUPT]S TO DO SOME?+ ?AT C\LD BR+ SO MU* EXTRA POLICE ATT5TION TO ?IS POLITICAL EV5T4 ,) ! HI< LEVEL ( SURVEILLANCE ( ! CONV]G5CE1 ! POLICE C]TA9LY C\LD HAVE TAK5 ADVANTAGE ( ?IS OPPORTUNITY TO RAID ! SPACE OR O!RWISE 9T]V5E4 ,P]HAPS ?AT DIDN'T HAPP5 ONLY BECAUSE ) SOME K9D ( 9TELLIG5CE ON ! 9SIDE1 IT WAS CLE> ?AT ! DISRUPT]S W]E DO+ A BETT] JOB ( CREAT+ DIVISION1 PANIC1 & CONTROV]SY ?AN ! POLICE OR ,F$S C\LD HAVE4 ,SOMEONE LAT] SAID TO ME ?AT IF ! POLICE HAD RAID$ ! SPACE1 IT PROBABLY W\LD HAVE BR\<T PEOPLE TOGE!R AGA9/ ! POLICE1 BUT ?IS K9D ( DRAMA WILL 5SURE S*ISMS F> WID]-REA*+ & LONG]-RUNN+ ?AN ANY?+ ! POLICE CAN DO TO US4 

,9 ?IS CONV]SATION ) ! DISRUPT]S1 WE ALSO TRI$ TO TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY AB\T :Y !Y DID :AT !Y DID4 ,FROM ?IS VANTAGE PO9T1 ,I HONE/LY ?9K ?AT ! RHETORIC AB\T G5TRIFICATION WAS SOME:AT ( A RUSE = ! AGGRESSION4 ,NONE ( ! DISRUPT]S W]E FROM ,PITTSBUR<4 ,?REE ( !M HAD >RIV$ ?AT DAY & NOT SP5T ANY TIME 9 ?AT NEI<BORHOOD4 ,!Y CLAIM$ ?AT ! NEI<BORHOOD DIDN'T WANT ! CONV]G5CE !RE1 BUT 9 \R CONV]SATION1 !Y C\LDN'T (F] A S+LE /ORY AB\T TALK+ TO A NEI<BOR ) COMPLA9TS4 ,:]EAS ,I HAD DOZ5S ( 9T]ACTIONS ) PEOPLE 9 ?AT NEI<BORHOOD :O W]E AMBIVAL5T TO EXCIT$ AB\T ! CONV]G5CE BE+ !RE--& ,I KN[ MANY O!RS DID1 TOO4 ,I MET NEI<BORS :O W]E CURI\S AB\T :AT WE W]E DO+1 NEI<BORS :O (F]$ US FOOD1 NEI<BORS :O HELP$ \T ) COPWAT*1 & NEI<BORS :O CAME TO ! CONV]G5CE SPACE TO HANG \T4 

,:5 FUR!R PRESS$ = 9=MATION AB\T :Y !Y W]E TAK+ ?AT ACTION1 ! DISRUPT]S SAID ?AT !Y CAME !RE ONLY BECAUSE !Y W]E ASK$ TO DO ?IS BY 0,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C40 ,ACCORD+ TO ONE ,A,P,O,CI/A 9 ,PITTSBUR<1 !RE ISN'T AN ACTIVE ,A,P,O,C GR\P !RE1 BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A C\PLE ( 9DIVIDUAL ,A,P,O,C FOLKS LIKELY ASK$ ! GR\P TO COME4 ,:5 ASK$ AGA9 TO TRY TO DEF5D :Y !Y W]E ACT+ !Y WAY !Y W]E1 ! DISRUPT]S EXPLICITLY SAID ?AT ANYONE C\LD HOLD 0,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C0 ACC\NTABLE = !IR ACTIONS4 ,! DISRUPT]S SAID ALSO ?AT !Y W]E ACT+ ) ! FULL SUPPORT ( ,*ICAGO & ,PHILLY ,A,P,O,C1 AS WELL AS PEOPLE 9 ,MILWAUKEE4 

,I WANT TO MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLE> ?AT SUPPORT+ ?IS 0ACTION0 IS NOT JU/ SUPPORT+ A MILITANT ACTION TAK5 BY PEOPLE ( COLOR2 IT IS SUPPORT+ ABUSE4 ,US+ 9TIMIDATION1 ?REATS1 CONTROLL+ PEOPLE'S BELONG+S & !IR MOVEM5TS IS VIOL5CE4 ,! VIOL5CE PEOPLE ( COLOR FEEL 9 !IR DAILY LIVES & 9 AN>*I/ CIRCLES IS REAL & LEGITIMATE1 BUT ?AT 9 NO WAY JU/IFIES ?IS 9DISCRIM9ANT USE ( VIOL5CE AMONG FRI5DS & POT5TIAL ALLIES4 ,IT'S LIKE A WOMAN1 :O DI/RAU<T AT ! EXPRESSION ( PATRI>*Y 9 H] EV]Y DAY LIFE1 =CES H]SELF ON H] LOV]4 ,IT IS FUCK+ ABUSE1 & WE %\LDN'T IGNORE IT JU/ BECAUSE IT'S COMPLICAT$4 

,AS = :AT HAPP5S NEXT1 ,I'M NOT SURE4 ,! WAY ! DISRUPT]S ACT$ IS A TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE WAY TO TREAT COMRADES OR POT5TIAL COMRADES1 & ! ONLY MODEL ,I HAVE = SORT+ \T H[ TO MOVE =W>D ?R\< ?IS IS SOME K9D ( P]PETRATOR ACC\NTABILITY PROCESS--AL?\<1 ?AT K9D ( ACC\NTABILITY CAN ONLY HAPP5 )9 COMMUNITIES ( FRI5DS4 ,?AT NI<T1 ! DISRUPT]S SAID !Y W\LDN'T CALL ANY ( ! :ITE AN>*I/S !RE COMRADES1 & MAYBE ?AT IS SOME?+ !Y WANT TO /ICK BY4 ,= N[1 ,I KN[ ?AT ,I DON'T WANT TO ORGANIZE ) OR 9T]ACT ) ?OSE DISRUPT]S UNTIL SOME K9D ( S]I\S ACC\NTABILITY PROCESS CAN TAKE PLACE4 

,?AT NI<T WAS 9T5SELY TRIGG]+ = MANY PEOPLE4 ,= ME4 ,= H\RS1 ,I WAS UND] ?IS CONSI/5T1 M$IUM LEVEL ATTACK4 ,I CAME \T ( ?AT NI<T ) CUTS & BRUISES1 TORN CLO?+ & TRAUMA ?AT ONE WEEK LAT]1 /ILL WON'T REL9QUI% MY BODY BACK TO ME4 ,I DON'T GET TO BE NEUTRAL OR PRET5D IT DIDN'T HAPP54 ,I HOPE WE ALL TAKE ?IS S]I\SLY4 

--MONICA 

,ACC\NT #b 

,I AM PU]TORICAN4 ,I TOO AM F$ UP ) ! SUBTLY ALI5AT+ SUB-CULTURE ( ,CRIME?,9C4 & MANY O!R RADICAL SPACES ) !IR IGNOR$ HI]>*IES & COLD1 9DIVIDUALI/ BEHAVIORS4 ,IF IT W]E 5TIRELY UP TO ME & IF ,I HAD NO ONE TO C>E AB\T 9 ! CONV]G5CE1 ,I W\LD'VE PROBABLY GRABB$ BAGS JU/ ! SAME & SCREAM$ JU/ AS L\D4 ,BUT LIB]ATION IS NOT ?AT SIMPLE1 & ?ANK GOODNESS IT ISN'T1 OR ELSE A FLA%Y VANGU>D MI<T'VE BE5 ALL IT TOOK = ! OPPRESS$ ALL ALONG4 ,& WE'RE DEF9ITELY NOT 9TO ?AT VANGU>D BULL AFT] SEE+ ! H>M IT'S DONE 7444RI<T874 

,WAT*+ ! DISRUPTION UNFOLD & ! SPLIT WID5 9 ! MA9 ROOM WAS LIKE WAT*+ MY [N FAMILY FI<T ) EA* O!R4 ,I DON'T KN[ :I* SIDE ,I %\LD TAKE OR IF !RE >E SIDES TO TAKE1 & ?AT MADE ME FEEL ALL ! MORE P[]LESS4 ,Y\'D ?9K ?AT WAT*+ FELL[ ,A,P,O,C ACT 9 AUTONOMY & AGA9/ :ITE SUPREMACY W\LD MAKE ME FEEL EMBOLD5$ TO TAKE FUR!R ACTION444 BUT ,I FELT ,I C\LDN'T DO ANY?+ ELSE BUT TO SIT !RE FROZ5 & TRY TO TAKE ALL ! SURFAC$ CONFLICTS 9 BY =CE4 ,I DON'T KN[ IF IT'S JU/ A TRIGG] ( M9E TO FREEZE UP 9 !SE SITUATIONS1 OR IF ,I WAS JU/ PLA9 AFRAID TO JO9 ANYONE4 ,SOME PEOPLE'S FACES LOOK$ LIKE ?AT ( :ITE T\RI/S BACK 9 ,P,R :O JU/ GOT !IR LUXURI\S VACATION RU9$4 ,SOME ( ! DISRUPTORS W]E COMPLETELY IGNOR+ ! TRIGG]S ! VIOL5T BEHAVIORS 9 ! SPACE SET (F = MANY ) AN ABUS$ PA/4 

,AT A PO9T :]E ,I WAS FEEL+ ! CRACK TOO MU*1 ,I PLEAD$ TO SPEAK TO A DISRUPTOR FACE-TO-FACE4 ,! REASON+ = ! ACTION WAS MU* ( :AT ,I EXPECT$3 F$ UP ,A,P,O,C :O WANT TO TEA* A LESSON ! L\D WAY4 ,AS ,I LI/5$ ON1 IT />T$ TO S\ND LIKE SOME 9DIVIDUAL DISRUPTORS W]5'T ALL ?AT SURE AB\T !IR ACTION AFT] ALL4 ,:ILE ON ! SIDEWALK A SQUAD C> RAC$ BY ) SIR5S BLA/+ & SP$ (F4 ,I ?\<T TO MYSELF ?AT ! 9FILTRATORS MU/ BE LAU<+ !IR ASSES (F AB\T ?IS BACK AT ! /ATION4 ,I SPOKE !N ) A ,LAT9O FRI5D ?AT CAME BACK ON ! BIKE :O WAS GLAD ?AT F9ALLY PEOPLE W]E TAK+ ?IS CONV]G5CE S]I\SLY4 ,YEA1 TRUE1 IT DID WIPE \T A LOT ( ! ROSE T9T1 BUT IT C\LD ALSO CREATE A :OLE NEW BL9DFOLD4 

,AFT] ! CONFLICT SETTL$ D[N1 ! DISRUPTORS W]E \TSIDE & ,I CONFRONT$ ! L\DE/ ( !M 7AT LEA/7 :O EXPLA9$ !Y W]E ACT+ AS 9DIVIDUALS 7SO MU* = !IR TALK AB\T :ITE PEOPLE OPPRESS+ ! NE>BY NEI<BORHOOD1 APP>5TLY !Y W]5'T SPEAK+ ON !IR BEHALF7 & TALK$ AB\T SOME HI/ORY ( !SE ,P,O,C GR\PS & M5TION$ A V]Y TR\BL+ T]M3 0AN>*O-NATIONALI/04 ,! FACT ?AT 0AN>*O0 & ANY?+ ?AT MEANS C\LD EV] BE RELAT$ TO 0NATIONALI/0 IS CONFUS+ 5\<1 BUT ,I F9D ! SIMPLE UPHOLD+ ( 0NATIONALI/0 TO BE FUCK$ UP4 ,PU]TO ,RICO'S NATIONALI/ GR\PS1 ?\< GREATLY MY?OLOGIZ$1 HAVE !IR [N HI/ORY ( V]Y1 V]Y FUCK$ UP %IT 9 ! NAME ( NATIONAL P[] = ! 0PU]TORICAN0 SO MANY PEOPLE /ILL REV]E4 ,FROM ,ALBIZU ,CAMPOS'S CORRESPOND5CE ) ,NAZIS TO CON/ANT & /ILL GO+ TALKS ( 0CLEANS+0 ! PU]TORICAN CULTURE 7:ATEV] \R CULTURE IS1 ANYWAYS1 ESOS SON OTROS VE9TE PESOS71 NATIONALI/ GOALS DIDN'T EXACTLY CONJURE ! LIB]AT$1 AUTONOM\S COMMUNITIES WE ALL /RIVE =4 

,I TALK$ ) PEOPLE ( ALL SORTS ( CONTRA/+ EXP]I5CES & CONV]SATIONS DUR+ ! DISRUPTION BUT !RE'S A V]Y UNIQUE ONE ?AT ,I WI% TO %>E4 ,%ORTLY AFT] F9ALLY CALM+ D[N & WALK+ )\T TREMBL+1 A MALE-BODI$ P]SON :O ,I HAD ONLY MET BRIEFLY BE=E APPROA*$ ME4 ,!Y ASK$ = ADVICE4 ,!Y W]E P>T ( ! ORGANIZ+ = ! DISRUPTION BUT COMPLETELY *ANG$ !IR M9D AT A MOM5T !Y FELT NO ID5TITY4 ,! P]SON WAS ( MIX$-RACE4 ,!Y DIDN'T ID5TIFY AS A P]SON ( COLOR ?\< BECAUSE ( !IR EXP]I5CES ( HAV+ JU/ AS MU* PRIVILEGE AS ANY :ITE P]SON BUT 9 O!R WAYS1 LIKE CLASS & G5D]4 ,& !IR SK9 WAS LI<T1 & COMPLEXION C\LD BE JUDG$ AS :ITE AS WELL4 ,DID ?AT MEAN !Y W]E G5TRIFY+ & OPPRESS+ JU/ AS MU* AS :ITE PEOPLE8 ,NEI!R ( US KNEW AN EASY ANSW]4 ,BUT TO ME1 IT DOES %[ ?AT G5TRIFICATION ISN'T AS SIMPLE AS JU/ RACE1 AS ,I MYSELF HAVE MANY PRIVILEGES ?AT C\LD BE EASILY IGNOR$ W]E ,I TO TAKE A QUASI-NATIONALI/ /ANCE BAS$ ON RACE 7,I AM MALE-BODI$1 MIDDLE-CLASS1 & MY ,AM]ICANIZ$ UPBR++ 9 ! COLONY1 9CLUD+ KN[+ ! LANGUAGE WELL1 HAS MADE IT EASI] TO BE 0ACCEPT$0 9 ,NOR? ,AM]ICAN 0CULTURE074 ,& ALSO1 WE NE$ TO BE CON/ANTLY EVALUAT+ :AT IT MEANS TO BE A 0P]SON ( COLOR0 & :AT ROLE DO BO?1 \R APP>5T & \R ID5TITY RACE_/RACES PLAY AS OPPRESSOR OR AS ! OPPRESS$4 

,ON MY RIDE BACK FROM ! CONV]G5CE1 ,I ?\<T TO MYSELF ( H[ IT C\LD'VE 5D$ IF !RE W]E NO DISRUPTION4 ,MAYBE 9T]NALIZ$ :ITE SUPREMACY W\LD'VE GONE IGNOR$4 ,MAYBE1 AFT] ALL1 WE C\LD'VE F9I%$ ! CONV]SATIONS 9 SOME?+ PRODUCTIVE & CONCRETE4 ,WE'LL NEV] KN[ & IT'S ACTUALLY UNPRODUCTIVE TO ?9K ( :E!R OR NOT IT WAS NECESS>Y4 ,IT MADE CRACKS & IT CREATE SOME BONDS :ILE %ATT]+ O!RS4 ,IT GOT A BALL ROLL+ OR AT LEA/ MADE ! BALL BIGG] ON CONFRONT+ \R [N SPACES' RACISM4 ,IT HURT SOME PEOPLE & CAUS$ SOME DAMAGE ?AT A M]E 0SORRY0 WON'T HELP4 ,IT BR\<T \T SOME FUCK$ UP /ATEM5TS 7SOME R&OM P]SON CLAIM$ 0Y\ CAN'T KICK ME \T1 ?IS IS ,M,Y SPACE044474 ,IF ANY?+1 LET'S NOT IGNORE :AT DISCUSSIONS NE$ TO HAPP5 FACE-TO-FACE1 :ATEV] SIDE WE W]E ON4 ,NO CAUS+ A MESS )9 [N FRI5DS & !N LEAV+ ! CITY LIKE NO?+ HAPP5$ 7ISN'T ?AT :AT WE BLAME SO MANY CORPORATIONS & COPS SO MU* =874 ,I WANT TO SPEAK ) ALL Y'ALL & MAKE HONE/ CONNECTIONS4 ,AN>*I/ PEOPLE ( COLOR >E ALL ,I HAVE1 BECAUSE WE REFLECT ! COMPLEXITIES ,I NE$ TO CONFRONT SO BADLY & NE$ HELP )1 9 A WORLD ?AT 5=CES A S+LE 0NORMALITY04 ,& ,I SURE AS HELL DON'T JU/ WANNA IMPOSE SOME O!R K9D ( SIMPLE & SEP>ATI/ 0NORMALITY04 

,5TRE AMOR Y LU*A1 

,LUIS HACKTIFFL].<AT.>RISEUP4NET 

,ACC\NT #c 

,!RE IS A LOT TO BE SAID AS F> AS ,I AM CONC]N$ >\ND ! DISRUPTION ?AT HAPP5$ DUR+ ! ,CRIME?,9C4 ,CONV]G5CE1 BUT MAYBE ?IS IS NOT ! =UM 9 :I* TO SAY IT ALL4 ,?IS IS A %ORT 7RELATIVE TO EV]Y?+ ,I WANT TO SAY7 ACC\NT ( MY EXP]I5CE >\ND ! DISRUPTION4 

,:5 ! DISRUPTION />T$1 ,I DIDN'T REALLY KN[ H[ TO RESPOND4 ,9 ITS BEG9N+ IT SEEM$ ?AT ! DISRUPTION WAS A P]=MATIVE PROTE/ AGA9/ ISSUES 9VOLV+ G5TRIFICATION >\ND ! CONV]G5CE1 A MORE REBELLI\S %[ ?AT IS A P>T ( ! CAB>ET1 SOME?+ ?AT WAS DONE MORE TO MAKE A PO9T ?AN ANY?+ ELSE4 ,V]Y SOON IT BECAME CLE> TO ME ?AT ! DISRUPTION WAS AIM$ T[>DS SOME?+ ELSE 5TIRELY4 

,9 ! DAYS BE=E ! DISRUPTION ,I WAS EMOTIONALLY EXHAU/$ BY SEV]AL M$IATION PROCESSES ,I WAS 9VOLV$ 91 & SPECIFICALLY BY WORK >\ND G5TRIFICATION4 ,:5 ! DISRUPTION />T$ ,I HAD NO EMOTIONAL CAPACITY TO TAKE 9 ANY ( :AT WAS GO+ ON4 ,I /OOD !RE1 WAT*+ FRI5DS TRY TO /OP ! DISRUPTION1 TAK+ BAGS & BELONG+S \T ( ! DISRUPT]S' H&S1 )\T ! ABILITY TO REACT OR TO GET 9VOLV$4 ,SOMEONE APPROA*$ ME & ASK$ ME TO GET 9VOLV$1 TO DO SOME?+1 BUT ,I C\LDN'T4 ,IF ,I AM REALLY HONE/1 EV5 ?\< ,I WAS PROTECT$ BY MY ID5TITY AS A P]SON ( COLOR1 ,I DID NOT FEEL SAFE4 ,I HAD A P]SONAL RELATION%IP ) SOME ( ! DISRUPT]S1 BUT NOT ) ! TWO MO/ AGGRESSIVE ONES4 ,I ACTUALLY FELT ?AT AN 9T]V5TION FROM MY SIDE MI<T 5D ) A PUN* TO MY FACE4 

,A :ITE FRI5D ( M9E WAS SITT+ 9 ! CORN] CRY+1 & ,I W5T TO !M & HUGG$ !M1 TRY+ TO GIVE !M SUPPORT4 ,!IR TE>S & SADNESS BR\<T MY EMOTIONS TO ! SURFACE4 ,I FELT OV]:ELM$ BY ! SADNESS ?AT CAME ) ! RECOGNITION ?AT APP>5TLY WE CANNOT ALL JU/ GET ALONG4 ,EV5 ?\< WE >E A P>T ( A MOVEM5T1 IT SEEMS LIKE SOME ( US FEEL LIKE AGGRESSION IS ! ONLY WAY TO GET RESULTS FROM \R COMRADES1 & !RE IS SOME?+ SO HE>TBREAK+ AB\T ?AT4 

,:ILE ME & A FRI5D W]E COM=T+ ANO!R FRI5D1 ONE ( ! DISRUPT]S CAME TO US & ASK$ IF WE W]E GO+ TO LEAVE4 ,! O!R COM=T] REPLI$ RA!R CYNICALLY1 0,WELL1 ,I AM ,COLOMBIAN1 IS IT OK = ME TO /AY80 ,! DISRUPT]1 NOT NOTIC+ ! TONE 9 :I* ! WORDS W]E SAID1 REPLI$ ?AT WE C\LD /AY4 ,:5 ,I ?9K AB\T ! DISRUPTION ,I KEEP GO+ BACK TO ?AT MOM5T4 ,!RE IS SOME?+ SO IRONIC 9 ! DISRUPT] APPROA*+ A GR\P ( MO/LY PEOPLE ( COLOR ) A REQUE/ TO LEAVE4 ,:5 Y\ >E AT W>1 MAYBE !RE IS NO SPACE = DI/9CTIONS--& SO PEOPLE ( COLOR TURN 9TO :ITE AS Y\ ASSUME EV]YONE >\ND Y\ IS ! 5EMY4 ,& EV5 IF WE W]5'T PEOPLE ( COLOR1 IT SEEMS SO HE>TLESS TO APPROA* PEOPLE 9 TE>S Y\ CAUS$ 9 ORD] TO PROMOTE Y\R 9T]E/S4 ,AT ?AT MOM5T ! DISRUPT]S MADE IT CLE>1 SOME VAGUE POLITICAL IDEA WAS MORE IMPORTANT ?AN US1 ! PEOPLE :O SAT ) !M 9 G5TRIFICATION WORK%OPS ALL WEEK4 

,A FEW MOM5TS LAT] ONE ( MY :ITE FRI5DS APPROA*$ ME & (F]$ ME A HUG4 ,I DON'T REMEMB] EXACTLY :AT !Y SAID TO ME1 BUT !RE WAS SOME?+ 9 !IR WORDS ?AT FELT LIB]AT+4 ,?R\< ! :OLE DISRUPTION ,I FELT SO DEHUMANIZ$1 AS IF ,I WAS ]AS$1 COMPLETELY UNPRES5T & UNRECOGNIZ$4 ,! CONTRADICTION ?AT SU* A FRI5DLY MOM5T (F]$ HELP$ ME SUDD5LY NOTICE ! DEHUMANIZATION ,I FELT = SO LONG4 ,?IS WAS A BITT]-SWEET EXP]I5CE4 

,SOON AFT] ,I W5T D[N/AIRS4 ,!RE ,I WAS AGA9 GREET$ BY MANY CONC]N$ FRI5DS (F]+ HUGS & ASK+ :AT ,I NE$$4 ,I LEFT ! SPACE A LITTLE LAT]1 ,I FELT DRA9$ & WORRI$ & WANT$ TO BE 9 A SPACE ?AT FELT SAFE4 

,! DAY AFT] ,I FELT V]Y CONC]N$ AB\T GO+ BACK TO ! SPACE4 ,I WAS WORRI$ ?AT ! CONV]SION AB\T YE/]DAY'S EV5TS WILL FOCUS MO/LY ON ! FUCK$ UP WAY 9 :I* ! DISRUPTION TOOK PLACE1 & NOT 5\< ON ! FEEL+S ?AT MOTIVAT$ IT4 ,TO ME ! DISRUPTION WAS MO/LY A WAKE UP CALL1 & ,I WANT$ O!RS TO TAKE IT AS SU*4 ,HAPPILY1 ,I ?9K ?AT MO/ ( ! P>TICLES ( CONV]SATIONS ?AT HAVE REA*$ MY E>S W]E FOCUS$ ON ! BREA* ( TRU/ PEOPLE ( COLOR FELT T[>DS !IR :ITE ALLIES4 

,AFT] ! REALLY REALLY FREE M>KET WE ALL MET & W5T ?R\< AN ACC\NTABILITY PROCESS >\ND SOME RACI/ REACTIONS SOME :ITE PEOPLE HAD T[>DS ! DISRUPTION4 ,! PROCESS CAUS$ ME TO FEEL A LOT ( ANXIETY4 ,9 ! MOM5TS BE=E IT ,I TOOK MANY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT+ T9CTURES1 & DRANK TEA4 ,I WAS SC>$ ( H[ ,I W\LD FEEL AB\T ! ?+S ?AT W\LD BE SAID1 & WAS WORRI$ ,I W\LD NOT HAVE ! CAPACITY TO CONTA9 MYSELF4 ,! BEG9N+ ( ! PROCESS WAS V]Y FRU/RAT+ = ME4 ,!RE WAS A LOT ( DISCUSSION >\ND H[ ! PROCESS %\LD GO1 :AT PEOPLE CAN OR CANNOT SAY1 ETC4 ,TO ME1 A LOT ( ! DISCUSSION SEEM$ LIKE AN ATTEMPT TO EVADE ! ACTUAL ACC\NTABILITY ?AT NE$$ TO BE TAK54 ,MY FEEL+S AB\T ! CONV]SATION %IFT$ COMPLETELY :5 WE ACTUALLY />T$ GO+ ?R\< ! LI/ ( RACI/ REACTIONS TO ! DISRUPTION4 ,I WAS SURPRIS$ BY ! FACT ?AT PEOPLE ACTUALLY ADMITT$ :5 !Y DID NOT KN[ :Y SOME?+ WAS WRONG OR (F5SIVE4 ,?+S W]E NOT JU/ BRU%$ UND] ! C>PET1 BUT EA* ACT WAS EXAM9$ BY ! :OLE COMMUNITY & EXPLA9$4 ,! /RONGE/ P>T ( ! PROCESS WAS :5 PEOPLE ACTUALLY /OOD UP & ID5TIFI$ !MSELVES AS ! ONES :O TOOK SOME ( ! (F5SIVE ACTIONS1 & RECOGNIZ$ !IR MI/AKES 9 FRONT ( ! :OLE COMMUNITY4 ,IT FELT LIKE A V]Y DEEP PROCESS />T$ 9 ?AT CONV]SATION1 ONE ?AT WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE LONG T]M AFFECTS ON \R COMMUNITY AS A :OLE & ON EA* ( US AS 9DIVIDUALS4 ,TO ME1 ?IS PROVES ?AT WE HAVE ! POT5TIAL TO PROTECT EA* O!R & FI<T = ONE ANO!R4 ,I CAN GET Y\ TO ?9K AB\T MY OPPRESSIONS )\T BREAK+ Y\4 

,I GUESS ?AT ! MA9 ?+S ,I AM LEFT ) FROM ?IS EXP]I5CE >E QUE/IONS AB\T ! 9TEGRITY & HONE/Y ?AT WE HAVE T[>DS ONE ANO!R4 ,?R\<\T ! CONV]G5CE ,I WAS CLOSELY 9VOLV$ ) SOME ( ! ATTEMPTS TO CONFRONT ! CONV]G5CE'S G5TRIFY+ EFFECT ON ! CITY4 ,(T51 IT SEEM$ LIKE ?OSE ATTEMPTS W]E V]Y CON/RUCTIVE & SUCCESSFUL4 ,AFT] H\RS ( CONV]SATIONS ON ?IS SUBJECT1 ,I FELT LIKE WE W]E GETT+ SOME:]E4 ,FROM MY PO/-DISRUPTION P]SPECTIVE1 ,I AM NOT TOO SURE :AT TO ?9K AB\T ?OSE CONV]SATIONS N[4 ,SOME ( ! DISRUPT]S P>TICIPAT$ 9 ?OSE CONV]SATIONS1 & ,I AM LEFT TO WOND] :AT !IR 9T5TIONS W]E 9 DO+ SO4 ,A P>T ( ME FE>S ?AT !Y US$ ?OSE CONV]SATIONS 9 ORD] TO HAVE A ONE-WAY CONV]SATION1 9 ORD] TO $UCATE O!RS AS TO !IR FEEL+S >\ND G5TRIFICATION )\T REALLY TRY+ TO COME TO A RESOLUTION >\ND ! PROBLEM4 ,I WANT TO BELIEVE 9 ! HONE/Y ( ! DIALOGUE WE HAD1 BECAUSE D\BT+ IT WILL HAVE HE>TBREAK+ CONSEQU5CES = ME1 BUT AT ! SAME TIME1 ,I DO NOT WANT MY NAIVETE TO HELP ANYONE GET (F ! HOOK TOO EASILY4 

,I ?9K ?AT ,I AM /&+ 9 A UNIQUE POSITION T[>DS :AT HAS HAPP5$4 ,I HAVE CLOSE P]SONAL RELATION%IPS ) ! CONV]G5CE ORGANIZ]S & SOME ,CRIME?,9C4 WRIT]S1 & AT ! SAME TIME ,I AM A P]SON ( COLOR :O UND]/&S ! RAGE ( ! DISRUPT]S & (T5 FEELS DISAPPO9T$ ) :ITE 0ALLIES40 ,9 MANY WAYS1 ,I FEEL ,I AM 9 ! MIDDLE ( ?IS4 ,?R\<\T ! CONV]G5CE ,I HE>D SOME ( ! DISRUPT]S 7AS WELL AS O!RS7 CRITICIZE ,CRIME?,9C41 CRITIQUES ,I %>$ AS WELL4 ,AT ! SAME TIME ,I WAS SURPRIS$4 ,MY EXP]I5CE ) HAV+ ! EXACT SAME CONV]SATIONS ) 9DIVIDUALS :O >E 9VOLV$ 9 ,CRIME?,9C4 OR ! CONV]G5CE HAVE ALWAYS BE5 POSITIVE4 ,I'VE ALWAYS F\ND LI/5+ E>S TO MY DIFFICULTIES1 & HAVE ALWAYS RECEIV$ 9VITATIONS TO /EP 9 & CREATE SPACE = :AT ,I WANT & NE$4 ,:5 ,I TRI$ TO CONVEY !SE FEEL+S TO O!RS !Y REPLI$ ?AT !Y W\LD NOT P>TICIPATE 9 A DIALOGUE BECAUSE IT W\LD BE FRUITLESS4 ,?IS DESPAIR IS ACTUALLY BAS$ ON LEGITIMATE PA/ EXP]I5CES1 & IT IS SO DEPRESS+4 

,I HOPE ?AT PEOPLE WILL TAKE ! DISRUPTION AS A SIGN AS TO H[ PEOPLE ( COLOR SPECIFICALLY FEEL 9 ?IS COMMUNITY4 ,!RE IS A HUGE BREA* ( TRU/ :5 IT COMES TO H[ WE RESPOND TO :ITE SUPREMACY4 ,SO MANY TIMES 9 ! PA/ ?IS COMMUNITY HAS NOT RESPOND$ TO ABUSIVE OR OPPRESSIVE 9DIVIDUALS1 & N[ MANY ( US FEEL LIKE O!R AN>*I/S DO NOT HAVE \R BACK4 ,H[ >E WE SUPPOS$ TO /& TOGE!R AGA9/ ! ?REAT ( PRISON TIME OR PEPP] SPRAY1 :5 WE DON'T /& TOGE!R 9 FRONT ( ! MIRROR8 ,I NE$ ?IS COMMUNITY TO HAVE A V]Y CLE> Z]O TOL]ANCE POLICY T[>DS OPPRESSION4 ,I NE$ US ALL TO MAKE IT V]Y CLE> TO EA* O!R ?AT WE >E 9 ?IS TOGE!R4 ,I EXPECT NO?+ LESS FROM US4 

,I HOPE ! DISRUPT]S KN[ :AT !Y'VE DONE4 ,I HOPE !Y UND]/& !Y HAVE TORN ?IS COMMUNITY AP>T4 ,& N[1 ,I DO NOT KN[ H[ TO GO BACK HOME1 H[ TO DEAL ) FRI5DS :O >E TRAUMATIZ$1 H[ TO ?9K AB\T MY ID5TITY AS AN AN>*I/ P]SON ( COLOR1 :AT TO DO ) ONE ( ! DISRUPT]'S PHONE NUMB] ?AT IS /ILL 9 MY PHONE BOOK1 H[ TO DEAL ) 0FRI5DS0 :O HAVE SUPPORT$ Y\R ACTION4 ,N[1 ,I AM NOT TRAUMATIZ$1 BECAUSE ?IS FUCK$ UP %IT HAS BROK5 MY HE>T TO A PO9T :]E ,I HAVE NO SPACE TO BE TRAUMATIZ$4 ,I HAVE NO SPACE TO FEEL ANY?+4 ,\R ID5TITY AS PEOPLE ( COLOR IS MEAN+LESS :5 Y\R ACTIONS BR+ TE>S TO \R EYES4 ,MAYBE IT WILL SEEM RUDE OR 9APPROPRIATE1 BUT ,I HAVE BUT ONE ?+ TO SAY3 FUCK Y\4 

,MAYBE Y\ %\LD CONSID] ! /RUGGLE AS A TWO-WAY ROAD4 ,= ME ! DISRUPTION IS A WAKE UP CALL TO H[ WE COMMUNICATE ) EA* O!R AS A COMMUNITY1 >\ND :ITE SUPREMACY AS WELL AS O!R ISSUES4 ,WE NE$ TO CUT EA* O!R SOME SLACK & TAKE MORE LEAPS ( FAI?4 ,WE >E ALL A P>T ( A COMMON /RUGGLE = LIB]ATION1 & MAYBE WE NE$ TO TRU/ ?AT O!RS WILL BE 9T]E/$ 9 HE>+ :AT WE HAVE TO SAY & GO ?R\< AN ACC\NTABILITY PROCESS ) US :5 NE$$4 ,IT IS SOME?+ ?AT IS H>D TO DO1 BUT ASSUM+ ?AT O!R AN>*I/S >E FUNDAM5TALLY ON \R SIDE WILL HELP US CREATE A /RONG] COMMUNITY4 ,! ALT]NATIVE IS :AT BR\<T ! DISRUPT]S TO PLAY AN ABUSIVE ROLE T[>DS O!RS4 ,ADMITT+ ?AT WE DO NOT %>E COMMON 9T]E/S & 9 FACT DO NOT FUNCTION AS A COMMUNITY IS SOME?+ ,I AM NOT WILL+ TO EV5 CONSID] AT ?IS MOM5T4 

--,L4 

,ACC\NT #d 

,! ACC\NT BEL[ IS A P]SONAL1 P>TIAL1 & SITUAT$ P]SPECTIVE ON ! DISRUPTION ?AT TOOK PLACE AT ! #bi ,CRIME?,9C ,CONV]G5CE4 ,I CLAIM TO BE SPEAK+ ON BEHALF ( NO ONE EXCEPT MYSELF1 AL?\< ,I AM SPEAK+ FROM ! POSITION ( A QUE] WOMAN ( COLOR :O ATT5D$ ! CONV]G5CE1 P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS ?AT TOOK PLACE AT ! CONV]G5CE1 & WAS PRES5T DUR+ & AFT] ! DISRUPTION4 ,H]E IS MY ACC\NT ( :AT HAPP5$4 ,AL?\< ,I CANNOT CLAIM TO BE MORE 0RI<T0 ?AN ANYONE ELSE1 ,I CAN TRY TO (F] AN HONE/ P]SPECTIVE4 

,AB\T A WEEK HAS PASS$ & H]E ,I SIT1 TRY+ TO SORT ?R\< NOTES1 ?\<TS & FEEL+S1 BUT FEEL+ LITTLE MOTIVATION TO PULL IT ALL TOGE!R BECAUSE :AT GETS WRITT5 H]E WILL JU/ BE ONE PIECE AMID ! ,W> ( ,REPRES5TATION :I* HAS ALREADY BEGUN4 ,BUT SOME?+ NE$S TO BE SAID2 BECAUSE !RE >E PEOPLE \T !RE CLAIM+ TO BE SPEAK+ ON BEHALF ( ,A,P,O,C & PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 G5]AL1 & IT NE$S TO BE KN[N ?AT !Y >E NOT SPEAK+ ON BEHALF ( ME4 ,IT NE$S TO BE KN[N ?AT AL?\< ,I %>E ! RAGE1 FRU/RATION1 & HURT FELT BY ! 0DISRUPTORS10 ,I DO NOT AGREE ) !IR ACTIONS4 ,NOT ONLY BECAUSE :ITE PEOPLE W]E HURT & =C$ ONTO ! /REETS )\T W>N+1 BUT BECAUSE O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR W]E HURT & FELT SIL5C$ BY ! DISRUPTORS' ACTIONS4 

,I CAN'T TALK AB\T ! DISRUPTION )\T FIR/ TALK+ AB\T ! %IT ,I WAS FEEL+ & ALL ! ?+S ?AT HAPP5$ LEAD+ UP TO DISRUPTION4 ,I WOKE UP ON ! SAME MORN+ AS ! DISRUPTION ?9K+1 ,I NE$ TO GET \T ( ,PITTSBUR<4 ,SOME?+ AB\T ! SPACE FELT ALI5AT+--,I DIDN'T KN[ MANY PEOPLE !RE1 CONV]SATIONS (T5 FELT DI%ONE/ & POL>IZ$1 & ,I WAS (T5 ! ONLY WOMAN ( COLOR 9 V>I\S WORK%OPS4 ,I FELT SMALL & UNMOTIVAT$ TO SPEAK4 ,IT W\LD BE UNFAIR TO SAY ?AT AN ATMOSPH]E ( HO/ILITY T[>D PEOPLE ( COLOR IS :AT CAUS$ ?IS FEEL+4 ,AL?\< ,I DID HE> RACI/ COMM5TS GET ?R[N >\ND BY A SMALL GR\P ( IGNORANT FOLK1 IT WAS L>GELY ! RESULT ( BE+ \TNUMB]$ BY :ITE BOYS1 & FEEL+ LIKE !RE WAS NO PLACE OR 5TRY PO9T = MY P]SPECTIVE4 

,! MORN+ ( ! DISRUPTION ,I SAT WAIT+ = A DISCUSSION ON CULTURAL APPROPRIATION TO BEG94 ,I SAT NEXT TO ANO!R P]SON ( COLOR1 :O LAT] WAS A P>TICIPANT 9 ! DISRUPTION4 ,!Y 5GAG$ ME 9 CONV]SATION & WE EX*ANG$ CONTACT 9=MATION4 ,IT FELT GOOD1 ESPECIALLY AFT] FEEL+ 9VISIBLE = MU* ( ! CONV]G5CE4 ,:5 !Y ASK$ ME H[ ,I WAS FEEL+ AT ! CONV]G5CE1 ,I />T$ CRY+ & QUICKLY LEFT ! ROOM4 

,LAT] ?AT DAY ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS MET4 ,! DISCUSSION REVOLV$ MA9LY >\ND ! ISSUE ( G5TRIFICATION1 & RACISM_/ALI5ATION 9 ! RADICAL COMMUNITY4 ,T[>D ! 5D ( CAUCUS ,I />T$ CRY+ AGA91 & WALK$ BACK TO ! CONV]G5CE SPACE ) ANO!R WOMAN ( COLOR4 ,WE HAD AN AWESOME CONV]SATION1 & %E ASK$ ME IF ,I WANT$ TO BE ! ,M,C AT ! ,CAB>ET1 :I* WAS ! EV5T HAPP5+ ?AT EV5+4 ,AT D9N] ,I TALK$ BRIEFLY ) ANO!R P]SON FROM ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS1 :O LAT] WAS A P>TICIPANT 9 ! DISRUPTION4 ,AL?\< AN ACTION_/9T]V5TION HAD BE5 PLANN$1 NO?+ WAS M5TION$ TO O!R ,A,P,O,C]S DUR+ ! CAUCUS4 ,A FEW PEOPLE FROM ,PHILLY1 :O W]E NOT AT ! CAUCUS1 MET 9 PRIVATE ) A FEW PEOPLE AT ! CONV]G5CE :O W]E 9 ON ! PLAN1 BUT O!R ,A,P,O,C]S W]E 9T5TIONALLY EXCLUD$4 

,SO ,I WAS ONE ( ! ,M,CS AT ! ,CAB>ET1 ! EV5T ?AT WAS TAK+ PLACE :5 ! DISRUPTION HAPP5$4 ,:5 ! LA/ PLANN$ ACT F9I%$1 ! \TBUR/ HAPP5$4 ,! DISRUPTORS />T$ YELL+ AT :ITE PEOPLE TO GET ! FUCK \T1 SCREAM+ 0,WE'RE NOT FUCK+ KIDD+6 ,WE >E NOT PACIFI/S60 ,A P]SON ( COLOR FROM ! CAUCUS CAME UP TO ME & :ISP]$1 0,>E Y\ ) US8 ,HELP US GET PEOPLE'S BAGS \T ( H]E40 ,?IS IS :AT REALLY PISS$ ME (F4 ,:AT ! FUCK WAS ,I SUPPOS$ TO DO8 ,!SE PEOPLE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO TALK TO ME AT ALL1 LEFT NO ROOM = DIALOGUE ) O!R FOLK ( COLOR & YET EXPECT$ US TO JO9 !IR ACTION4 ,:5 ?IS P]SON ASK$ ME TO JO9 ,I FELT PRESSUR$ TO *OOSE ALLEGIANCES4 ,9 SOME WAYS1 ,I DID FEEL LIKE IT WAS MY 0DUTY0 AS A P]SON ( COLOR TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! 0EVICTION10 BUT AT ! SAME TIME ,I KNEW ?AT :AT !Y W]E DO+ WAS FUCK$ UP--?AT ! 9DISCRIM9ATE EVICTION ( & AGGRESSION T[>D :ITE PEOPLE 7MANY ( :OM W]E SURVIVORS ( ABUSE & QUE]1 TRANS1 & WOMYN ID5TIFI$7 WAS NOT OKAY4 ,SO ,I DID NOT P>TICIPATE4 ,BUT P>T ( ME FELT GUILTY4 ,BECAUSE ,I %>$ !IR RAGE T[>D RACISM1 BUT FELT ALI5AT$ BY !IR TACTICS & EXCLUSION>Y APPROA*4 

,IT %\LD BE KN[N ?AT NONE ( ! PEOPLE :O ACTUALLY P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! EVICTION W]E FROM ,PITTSBUR<4 ,YET ! RHETORIC US$ BY ! DISRUPTORS WAS A RHETORIC ( EXT5SION1 & BY ?IS ,I MEAN ?AT PEOPLE :O DECL>$ W> ON ! :ITE PEOPLE AT ! CONV]G5CE W]E CLAIM+ TO SPEAK ON BEHALF ( 0! NEI<BORHOOD0 & PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 G5]AL4 ,I FELT 9FURIAT$ BY ! S5SE ( 5TITLEM5T & >ROGANCE ( ! LANGUAGE US$ DUR+ ! EVICTION1 BECAUSE :5 Y\ SPEAK ON BEHALF ( O!R PEOPLE Y\ ESS5TIALLY SIL5CE !M4 ,& ,I KN[ FROM TALK+ TO O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR ?AT MANY O!R P]SPECTIVES W]E SIL5C$ BY ! ACTION4 

,AL?\< ! 0SMACK A :ITE BOY P>T #b0 /ATEM5T RELEAS$ BY ! DISRUPTORS FRAM$ ! O!RS AS ! AGGRESSORS1 :AT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE WAS A TWO-WAY AGGRESSION 9/IGAT$ BY ?IS SMALL GR\P4 ,EMOTIONS W]E FUCK+ HI<4 ,YELL+1 PU%+1 & (F5SIVE COMM5TS W]E EX*ANG$ BACK & =? BETWE5 :ITE PEOPLE & ! DISRUPTORS1 PEOPLE ( COLOR & ! DISRUPTORS1 :ITE PEOPLE & :ITE PEOPLE4 ,! *AOS W5T ON = :AT MU/ HAVE BE5 A C\PLE H\RS4 ,EV5TUALLY1 IT WAS JU/ A FEW :ITE PEOPLE & A GR\P ( PEOPLE ( COLOR FROM BO? SIDES4 ,ONE ( ! LA/ :ITE PEOPLE 9 ! ROOM WAS AN >ROGANT :ITE BOY :O WAS ACT+ COCKY1 MAK+ 9APPROPRIATE COMM5TS1 & SITT+ %IRTLESS ON A *AIR4 ,I YELL$ AT HIM TO GET ! FUCK \T ( ! ROOM1 & HE LEFT4 

,SOME FI<T+ TOOK PLACE BETWE5 PEOPLE ( COLOR & DISRUPTORS & !Y MADE IT CLE> ?AT !IR W> WAS NOT ) US 7O!R FOLK ( COLOR74 ,!Y TOLD US WE C\LD /AY1 BUT :5 !Y W]E ASK$ TO LEAVE BY A WOMAN ( COLOR AS SOME FI<T+ WAS HAPP5+1 ?OSE :O W]E PEOPLE ( COLOR NOT P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! ACTION W]E CALL$ 0,OBAMA10 A RACE TRAITOR1 & ACCUS$ ( SID+ ) ! OPPRESSORS4 ,ONE MIX$ P]SON WAS ACCUS$ ( SID+ ) 0! P>T ( HIM ?AT WAS A COLONIZ]40 

,! CONFLICT AMONG PEOPLE ( COLOR WAS />T+ TO REALLY WE> ME D[N EMOTIONALLY4 ,BO? SIDES DID NOT WANT TO TALK4 ,I />T$ TO CRY AS PEOPLE W]E PU%+ ON BO? SIDES ( A DOOR & ASK$ IF WE C\LD SIT D[N & HAVE HONE/ CONV]SATION AB\T :AT WAS HAPP5+4 ,A FEW ( ! DISRUPTORS KNEW FROM ! CAUCUS H[ ALI5AT$ ,I HAD FELT ?AT DAY1 BUT ,I MADE IT CLE> ?AT ,I FELT EQUALLY ALI5AT$ BY !IR ACTIONS4 ,I C\LD TELL BY ! LOOK ON ! FACES ( ! DISRUPTORS ?AT !Y G5U9ELY FELT BAD AB\T ?IS1 ?AT !IR 9T5TION WAS NOT TO HURT O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR4 ,:5 ,I ASK$ !M :Y !Y EXCLUD$ MYSELF & O!RS FROM DISCUSSION AB\T ! ACTION1 ONE P]SON SAID 0,WE DIDN'T TELL ,X & ,X BECAUSE WE KNEW !Y W\LDN'T APPROVE1 & WE DIDN'T TELL Y\ BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KN[ IF Y\'D BE ) US40 ,?IS APPROA* & ! 9T5TIONAL EXCLUSION ( PEOPLE :O MAY DISAGREE SEEM$ SUSPICI\SLY VANGU>DI/ TO ME1 ESPECIALLY :5 ACT+ ON BEHALF ( ,A,P,O,C4 

,:5 P>TICIPANT & NON-P>TICIPANT PEOPLE ( COLOR F9ALLY SAT D[N TO TALK1 ! FIR/ ?+ ,I ASK$ WAS1 0,IS ANYONE H]E ACTUALLY FROM ,PITTSBUR<80 ,SADLY1 NOT ONE P]SON WAS4 ,H]E WE W]E1 >GU+ AB\T ! FEEL+S ( A COMMUNITY ?AT WAS NOT \RS1 & ,I WOND]$1 :Y DO WE FEEL 5TITL$ TO SPEAK & ACT ON BEHALF ( A NEI<BORHOOD WE >E NOT FROM8 ,! :OLE ?+ FELT EMB>RASS+ & 9S9C]E4 

,BUT ?AT'S NOT TO M9IMIZE ! ISSUE ( G5TRIFICATION4 ,:AT K9D ( IMPACT W\LD A #f-DAY CONV]G5CE HAVE ON A NEI<BORHOOD8 ,H[ DID ! NEI<BORHOOD RESID5TS FEEL AB\T ! \TSID] PRES5CE8 ,I IMAG9E ! RESPONSE WAS V>I$ & 9CAPABLE ( BE+ R$UC$ SIMPLY TO POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE4 ,:5 ,I WALK$ >\ND ,I SMIL$ & SPOKE ) PEOPLE1 ONE P]SON (F]$ ME HELP AS ,I WAS FIX+ MY BICYCLE1 ANO!R P]SON ASK$ ME IF WE'D BE COM+ BACK NEXT YE>4 ,BUT :O KN[S1 MAYBE MY P]SONAL POSITIVE 9T]ACTIONS ) LOCALS WAS ! RESULT ( ALSO BE+ A P]SON ( COLOR :O DOESN'T LOOK P>TICUL>LY PUNK4 ,I KN[ !RE W]E ALSO CONC]NS RAIS$ AB\T 9CREAS$ POLICE PRES5CE1 & ?IS IS DEF9ITELY A LEGITIMATE CONC]N4 ,BUT A MEAN+FUL & PRODUCTIVE RESPONSE TO ! ISSUE ( G5TRIFICATION IS NOT ONE %EA!D 9 DI%ONE/LY & DOGMA4 

,OV] A WEEK LAT] ,I SIT H]E CONTEMPLAT+ ! SIGNIFICANCE ( IT ALL1 BESIDES FEEL+ SLI<TLY TRAUMATIZ$ & DRA9$4 ,I FEEL SOME:AT DISILLUSION$ ) \R CAPABILITY AS PEOPLE ( COLOR1 AS AN>*I/S_/ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS_/AUTONOMI/S1 TO SPEAK FROM A PLACE ( HONE/Y & NOT IDEOLOGY1 TO ACT ON AN E?IC ( C>E & NOT 5TITLEM5T1 TO LET \R RAGE BE KN[N )\T ALI5AT+ ! PEOPLE WE CLAIM TO BE FI<T+ =4 ,I FEEL ANGRY AB\T :AT TOOK PLACE 7BO? ! DISRUPTION & ! RESPONSE ( SOME :ITE PEOPLE71 CONFUS$ AB\T MY ALLEGIANCES1 BUT ULTIMATELY1 ,I CAN'T HATE ! PEOPLE :O P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! DISRUPTION4 ,BECAUSE !SE >E ! SAME PEOPLE :O HAD REA*$ \T TO ME E>LI] ?AT DAY AS ,I SAT ALONE FEEL+ 9VISIBLE1 ! SAME PEOPLE ,I'VE TALK$ TO AT O!R ,A,P,O,C CAUCUSES1 ! SAME PEOPLE :O %>E MY DISDA9 = :ITE SUPREMACY1 ! SAME PEOPLE ,I WILL PROBABLY BE FI<T+ ) 9 ! FUTURE4 ,BUT !RE NE$S TO BE ACC\NTABILITY TAK5 = H[ !IR ACTIONS R5D]$ O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR 9VISIBLE1 & HURT BO? ALLY :ITE FOLK & PEOPLE ( COLOR4 

--,JACKIE BITTE.-E9.-KUSS@aYAHOO4COM 

,ACC\NT #e 

,! DISRUPTION ( ! CRIME?9C CONV]G5CE IS1 AT ! V]Y LEA/1 A COMPLICAT$ ISSUE4 ,!RE >E SOME V]Y LEGITIMATE ISSUES RAIS$ BY ! DISRUPTORS3 ! LEVEL ( P]MISSIV5ESS & LACK ( 9T]NAL CRITIQUE OR REVIEW SURR\ND+ MATT]S ( RACISM1 RACIAL PRIVILEGE1 & :ITE SUPREMACY )9 ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T = ONE4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 !RE IS ALSO ! AGGRESSIVE1 IMP]T95T1 & P]EMPTORY *>ACT] ( ! DISRUPTION4 

,! DISRUPTORS /AT$ CLE>LY & REPEAT$LY ?AT !Y W]E NOT 9T]E/$ 9 CONV]SATION1 NEGOTIATION1 OR M$IATION2 & !Y ISSU$ NO DEM&S EXCEPT ! IMM$IATE DISP]SAL ( EV]YONE PRES5T4 ,EV5 9 !IR [N /ATEM5T AFT] ! FACT !Y (F] ONLY A RAMBL+ ACC\NT ( :AT !Y DID & :Y !Y *OSE ?IS C\RSE ( ACTION1 :I* DEMON/RATES A M>K$ LACK ( CLE> ?9K+ O!R ?AN CREAT+ CONTROV]SY & SPECTACLE4 

,DESPITE CLAIMS ?AT 0! CONV]G5CE WAS 5D$ EFFECTIVELY & EFFICI5TLY0 ! S*$UL$ EV5TS RESUM$ ! NEXT MORN+ & PEOPLE SLEPT 9 ! BUILD+ ! NEXT EV5+4 ,9 T]MS ( EFFECT ON ! SURR\ND+ NEI<BORHOOD ! DISRUPTION WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE 9 CREAT+ A BRIEF MOB SC5E 9 FRONT ( ! BUILD+ & AN 9CREASE 9 POLICE ACTIVITY 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T ON DAY FIVE ( A SEV5-DAY CONV]G5CE4 

,9 REC5T CONV]SATIONS ) A FRI5D :O CONSID]S HIMSELF A 0MEMB]0 ( ,A,P,O,C S9CE #b#c1 HE EXPLA9$ TO ME ?AT ,A,P,O,C WAS ALWAYS SUPPOS$ TO BE PEOPLE ( COLOR ORGANIZ+ 9 NON-AU?ORIT>IAN FA%IONS )9 !IR [N COMMUNITIES--NOT 5GAG+ :ITE PEOPLE OR TAK+ ON ! ROLE ( 0RACISM POLICE0 7HIS WORDS74 ,! DISRUPTORS' 9T]E/ 9 NOT ONLY HAV+ ! EVICTION BE A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION BUT CLAIM+ IT AS A REVOLUTION>Y ACTION BETRAYS !IR PURPORT$ DIS9T]E/ 9 ! ATT5TION ( :ITE AN>*I/S4 

,I WAS AS TORN 9 ! MID/ ( ! DISRUPTION AS ,I AM N[ WOND]+ :E!R MY VOICE HAS A LEGITIMATE PLACE OR VALUE 9 ?IS DISCUSSION4 ,I HAVE ALWAYS ID5TIFI$ AS ,NIC>AGUAN1 AS ,I HAVE ALWAYS BE5 AW>E ( ! PRIVILEGE GA9$ FROM MY :ITE SK94 ,?IS PLAC$ ME 9 A PECULI> POSITION AS 9DIVIDUALS WALK$ >\ND ! ROOM ON ! NI<T ( ! EVICTION S+L+ O!RS \T & YELL+ 9 !IR FACES 0,:Y >5'T Y\ LEAV+80 ,I WOND]$ :E!R IT WAS BETT] TO AID 9 DEESCALAT+ ! SITUATION BY LEAV+ OR TO /AY ON PR9CIPLE 9 ORD] TO DEMON/RATE ?AT ! SITUATION WAS NOT1 9 A V>IETY ( WAYS1 AS BLACK & :ITE AS IT WAS BE+ FRAM$4 ,:5 ! QUE/ION WAS LEVEL$ AT ME ,I HE>D ! WORDS 0,I'M ,NIC>AGUAN1 DOES ?AT C\NT80 LEAVE MY M\? & ,I DECID$ TO /AY4 

,:ILE ,I WAS TRY+ TO CONV9CE A P>TICUL>LY BELLIG]5T :ITE MALE TO LEAVE ,I WAS *A/IS$ = EV5 5GAG+ HIM 9 DISCUSSION4 ,I WALK$ OV] TO :]E PEOPLE :O KNEW EA* O!R1 OR AT ! V]Y LEA/ W]E FRI5DLY ACQUA9TANCES1 HAD BE5 =C$ ON TO EI!R SIDE ( AN >GUM5T4 ,9ITIALLY ! DISRUPTORS W]E US+ GR&IOSE LANGUAGE CLAIM+ TO BE ! VOICE ( ,A,P,O,C1 ! 5TIRE NEI<BORHOOD1 & ALL G5TRIFI$ NEI<BORHOODS2 ESS5TIALLY REPRES5T+ A LOT MORE ?AN !Y PROBABLY HAD AG5CY TO DISCUSS4 ,:5 *ALL5G$ AB\T !IR RI<T TO REPRES5TATION !Y W\LD FALL BACK ON ! EXPLANATION ( 0AUTONOMY0 :5EV] !Y FELT BACK$ 9 TO A CORN]4 ,?IS CLE>LY ILLU/RAT$ ! ABS5CE ( A LOGICAL F\NDATION = ! 0ACTION40 ,AT ?IS PO9T ,I LEFT FEEL+ COMPLETELY FRU/RAT$ & HELPLESS TO IMPROVE ! SITUATION4 

,! NEXT DAY !RE WAS A MEET+ = PEOPLE TO COME & DISCUSS :AT HAD HAPP5$4 ,! MEET+1 ?\< NECESS>Y1 WAS FRU/RAT+ = A V>IETY ( REASONS4 ,MO/ ( ! :ITE PEOPLE :O HAD MADE ! MO/ EGREGI\SLY (F5SIVE /ATEM5TS HAD OPT$ NOT TO ATT5D ! MEET+1 & MISS$ ! DISCUSSIONS & EXPLANATIONS ( :Y ?OSE COMM5TS HAD BE5 HURTFUL4 ,A LOT ( TIME WAS SP5T PA9/AK+LY CREAT+ A RECORD ( :AT HAD HAPP5$ & ONLY AN H\R AT ! 5D WAS SP5T ) AN EYE TO ! FUTURE4 

,I REMA9 V]Y UPSET & ANG]$ BY DEF5SIVE RACI/ COMM5TS MADE DUR+ ! EVICTION4 ,I %\LD HAVE KN[N BETT] ?AN TO HAVE TRU/$ ! LEVEL ( UND]/&+ ( PRIVILEGE PR(ESS$ BY SOME ( ! :ITE PEOPLE PRES5T4 ,IF ANY?+ CAN BE GA9$ FROM ?IS EXP]I5CE IT IS ! KN[L$GE ?AT AS AN ASPIR+ C\NT]CULTURE WE >E MU* FUR!R BEH9D 9 ! DEP? ( \R DISCUSSION ( RACISM 7& MANY O!R =MS ( OPPRESSION7 ?AN IS ACCEPTABLE4 ,WE'RE LEFT ) A LOT ( ! SAME PROBLEMS ?AT RADICAL COMMUNITIES HAVE BE5 ATTEMPT+ TO ADDRESS = DECADES4 ,H[ CAN WE FO/] A COMMUNITY ?AT 5ABLES PEOPLE TO COM=TABLY ADDRESS 9/ANCES ( RACISM 9 A PRODUCTIVE MANN]8 ,H[ CAN WE CREATE & DEM& ACC\NTABILITY = 9/ITUTIONS AS WELL AS 9DIVIDUALS8 

,SITUATIONS LIKE !SE >E UN=TUNATE BECAUSE !Y =CE MANY PEOPLE TO *OOSE SIDES :5 !Y W\LD RA!R NOT4 ,!RE >E CLE> & CRITICAL WAYS ( 5GAG+ ) EA* O!R >\ND ISSUES ( RACISM1 SEXISM1 HET]ONORMATIVITY1 ETC4 ,?IS WAS NOT ONE ( !M4 ,HOPEFULLY WE CAN AVOID ! /EPS BACKW>D 9 ALL DIRECTIONS ?AT \R CURR5T SITUATION 9VITES4 ,HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION 9/EAD ( DIVISION4 

-- WEL% 

,ACC\NT #f 

,IT TOOK ME A:ILE TO PUT ?IS TOGE!R1 BUT H]E IS MY ACC\NT & RESPONSE3 

,A,P,O,C ,CAUCUS 

,I ATT5D$ ! CAUCUS ?IS YE>1 & HAD BE5 A P>T ( ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUSES AT BO? ! ,A!NS '#g & ! ,MILWAUKEE '#h ,CRIME?,9C4 ,CONV]G5CE4 ,LIKE MANY ( ! ORGANIZ+ VOLUNTE]S ?AT YE>1 ,I HAD BE5 DI/RACT$ FROM ! CONV]G5CE BY DRAMATIC DYNAMICS 9 MY P]SONAL LIFE & ! ANXIETY ( HAV+ SU* A L>GE GA!R+ 9 A CITY4 ,I HAD ORIG9ALLY MADE ! CALL = AN ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS1 & PUT IT ON ! WORK%OP S*$ULE4 ,SI/AH ,S\LJAH APPROA*$ ME AB\T *ANG+ ! TIME TO SOME?+ ?AT W\LD WORK BETT] = !IR S*$ULE1 & ,I AGRE$4 ,!Y MOV$ IT TO ! 5D ( ! DAY ON ,FRIDAY4 

,:5 ! TIME CAME >\ND = ! CAUCUS1 ,I WAS OV]COME ) ALL ( ! ?+S ,I WANT$ TO TALK AB\T4 ,I WAS LOOK+ =W>D TO ! OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ?+S ) MY PE]S-(-COLOR1 & HAD RU%$ TO EAT SOME FOOD BE=E D9N]1 %\LD ! DISCUSSION RUN LATE4 ,I MISS$ ! FIR/ FEW M9UTES ( ! MEET+ BECAUSE ( ?AT1 & HAD MISS$ ! AG5DA DISCUSSION4 ,:5 ,I >RIV$ AT ! CIRCLE ) A COMPANION & FELL[ ORGANIZ]1 ! GR\P WAS SITT+ 9 A CIRCLE LI/5+ TO ,OTTO READ A /ATEM5T FROM ! G5TRIFICATION WORK%OP ?AT HAD GONE ON E>LI] 9 ! CONV]G5CE4 ,AFT] !Y W]E DONE1 A REPORT ( ! 5TIRE DISCUSSION WAS PASS$ >\ND1 EA* MEMB] ( ! CAUCUS WAS EXPECT$ TO READ P>T ( ! DIALOGUE4 ,ESS5TIALLY1 WE RE5ACT$ ! CONV]SATION ?AT HAPP5$ DUR+ ! G5TRIFICATION WORK%OP4 ,EV]Y TIME SOMEONE READ SOME?+ ?AT SOMEONE HAD SAID ?AT HAD IMPLICATIONS ( SOCIALIZ$ RACISM1 A FEW MEMB]S ( ! CAUCUS W\LD SC(F OR *UCKLE4 ,AT FIR/1 ,I FELT LIKE PEOPLE W]E TAK+ ! OPPORTUNITY TO DECOMPRESS1 BUT ,I SL[LY BEGAN TO FEEL AS IF C]TA9 MEMB]S ( ! CIRCLE W]E TRY+ TO /IMULATE ?IS SORT ( RESPONSE4 ,I WAS FRU/RAT$ ?AT WE W]E SP5D+ SO MU* TIME ACCEL]AT+ \R FRU/RATION ) ! :IT5ESS ( ! SPACE1 & NO TIME DISCUSS+ H[ IT WAS AFFECT+ US & ESPECIALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE ( HAV+ A SAFE PLACE TO DO ?AT )9 ! CAUCUS4 ,I TRI$ TO TAKE A TIME \T FROM ! READ+ TO ASK IF EV]YONE WANT$ TO USE ?IS TIME TO DISCUSS ?IS4 ,OTTO %OOK !IR HEAD ASS]TIVELY1 SAY+ ?AT ! GR\P HAD ALREADY COME TO ?AT DECISION4 ,I LOOK$ >\ND & DIDN'T SEE ANYONE ?AT LOOK$ P>TICUL>LY EXCIT$ AB\T READ+ ,OTTO'S G5TRIFICATION NOTES = ! 5TIRE CAUCUS1 & %ORTLY !REAFT] PEOPLE />T$ %>+ !IR EXP]I5CE4 ,SEV]AL PEOPLE BROKE D[N TO EXPLA9 H[ ISOLAT+ ! SPACE HAD BE54 ,OTTO ATTEMPT$ TO *>ACT]IZE ,CRIME?,9C4 AS A =CE ( :ITE SUPREMACY 9 ! WAY !Y DEPICT$ ! ,ROLL+ ,?UND] PROJECT4 ,I'M ASSUM+ ?AT !Y DIDN'T KN[ ?AT TWO ,A,P,O,C]S 9 ! CIRCLE WORK ON ?AT PROJECT REGUL>LY4 ,MY OPPORTUNITY TO OP5 UP & DISCUSS ?+S ,I HAD BE5 HOLD+ ON TO = MON?S1 WAIT+ = ?IS P>TICUL> GR\P ( FRI5DS & ACQUA9TANCES TO ASK = HELP SORT+ \T ?+S ?AT HAD BE5 GO+ ON = ME 9 MY LIFE AS AN AN>*I/4 ,! CAUCUS BROKE = D9N]4 ,I DIDN'T RETURN TO ! SECOND HALF1 ,I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE ,I HAD ! SPACE TO MAKE PROPOSALS TO ! AG5DA4 ,IT WAS CLE> ?AT SOME ( ! ,A,P,O,C]S PRES5T HAD AN AG5DA ( !IR [N4 

,! ,DISRUPTION 

,SCREAM+ BEGAN 9 ! BACK ( ! ROOM4 ,IT WAS TIMELY2 ! OP5-MIC /YLE ,CAB>ET HAD JU/ 5D$ ITS RO/] & ! FLOOR WAS OP5$ = ANYONE :O WANT$ ! SPACE4 ,MY E>S HE>D ! LANGUAGE FROM ! OP5 LETT]1 & ,I KNEW IT HAD SOME?+ TO DO ) ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS ?AT HAD HAPP5$ E>LI] 9 ! DAY4 ,:5 ,I TURN$ TO LOOK AT :O WAS DO+ ALL ! SCREAM+1 MY HE>T SUNK4 ,?9K+ IT WAS A SKIT PREP>$ BY SOME ( ! TE>FUL ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS-GO]S1 ,I ?\<T TO MYSELF3 0,F9ALLY6 ,SOME?+ PREP>$ & PRACTIC$ TO CALL ?IS %IT \T40 ,!N ,I SAW ,JORDAN4 

,I HAD COME TO APPRECIATE ,JORDAN'S ATTITUDE DUR+ ,A,P,O,C CONV]SATIONS ?AT WE HAD %>$ & CAUCUS$4 ,LA/ YE>1 ,9 ,MILWAUKEE1 ,JORDAN SWORE TO NEV] ATT5D ANO!R ,CRIME?,9C4 ,CONV]G5CE1 OR ANY?+ ELSE ORGANIZ$ BY :ITE1 ABLE-BODI$1 CIS-G5D]$1 MALES AGA94 ,I RESPECT$ ,JORDAN'S DECISION !N1 & FELT EMP[]$ KN[+ ?AT ONE C\LD CONT9UE TO BE AN AN>*I/ & NOT HAVE TO BE SUBJECT$ TO ! SOCIALIZATIONS & \T-RI<T OPPRESSION ?AT L+] & EVOLVE 9 AN>*I/ SPACES4 ,I FELT EMP[]$ KN[+ ?AT ONE C\LD DO ?AT2 :5 !Y LO/ !IR PATI5CE1 IF IT HURT !M TO GO ON =GIV+ IGNORANCE & OPPRESSION1 IF !Y W]E HURT IRRECONCILABLY--KN[+ ?AT !RE WAS A BACK DOOR ,I C\LD JUMP ?R\< %\LD ! TIME COME :5 ,I JU/ C\LDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE1 :5 :AT ,I P]CEIVE AS BE+ GOOD REASONS TO ORGANIZE ) O!R AN>*I/S & ATTEMPT TO WORK \T \R DIFF]5CES & PRIVILEGES 9 ! PROCESS >5'T WOR? ! ISOLATION ( EXP]I5CE1 ! LONEL9ESS4 ,MO/ ( ALL1 ,I TOOK /R5G? 9 KN[+ ?AT ,I C\LD WALK AWAY FROM ?AT %ALL[ SPACE =EV] & BE WELL-ADJU/$1 & F9D AN 5VIRONM5T :]E PEOPLE UND]/OOD ! PRIVILEGES !Y HAD & DIDN'T HAVE1 & :I* ONES ,I HAVE & DON'T HAVE & WORK ) !M4 ,:5 ,I SAW ,JORDAN SCREAM+3 0,G,E,T ,! ,F,U,C,K ,\,T1 ,?,I,S ,I,S ,N,O,T ,A ,J,O,K,E4 ,W,E ,D,O,N',T ,W,A,N,T ,Y,\ ,H,],E60 9 !IR FULL-BODI$ W9D SUIT & SUNGLASSES & GLOVES1 ,I KNEW ! MY? ( ! 0WELL-ADJU/$0 AB/95CE JORDAN SPOKE ( WAS GONE4 ,IT WAS ONLY A YE> AFT] ,I HE>D ?AT OA?1 & !RE !Y W]E1 UNABLE TO MOVE ON4 ,/ILL A /UCK1 BITT] REACTION>Y4 

,I LOOK$ >\ND AT PEOPLE'S FACES - :ITE FACES - CONFUS$ & UNCOM=TABLE4 ,I FELT LIKE !RE WAS A SPOTLI<T ON ME4 ,EV]Y TIME ! DISRUPTORS %\T$ 0,A,P,O,C01 ,I FELT LIKE ,I WAS SOMEH[ IMPLICAT$ 9 ! ACTION = ANN\NC+ ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS E>LI] ?AT WEEK1 = RETURN+ FROM IT E>LI] ?AT DAY FRU/RAT$ & CONFID+ 9 MY FRI5DS AB\T IT4 ,SO ,I /OOD UP & LEFT ! ROOM4 ,I ?9K ?AT ,I WAS ONE ( ! FIR/ PEOPLE TO LEAVE ! ROOM--IT ONLY TOOK ME AB\T #c SECONDS TO PIECE EV]Y?+ TOGE!R4 

,I LEFT ! ROOM4 ,I KNEW ?AT !Y W]E !RE TO C>RY SOME?+ \T1 :ATEV] IT WAS1 & ,I DIDN'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE = 5D+ IT4 

,I PULL$ MYSELF TOGE!R AB\T #b M9UTES LAT] & WALK$ BACK 9TO ! BUILD+ TO SEE *AOS4 ,P]SONAL ITEMS W]E SCATT]$ EV]Y:]E1 M$IC9E BOTTLES ROLL+ ON ! FLOOR4 ,I WALK$ PA/ PEOPLE CRY+1 DR9K+ RESCUE REM$Y \T ( ! BOTTLE4 ,! SPACE LOOK$ LIKE IT HAD BE5 RAID$4 ,:5 ,I 5T]$ ! MA9 HALL1 :]E ! DISRUPTION BEGAN1 ,I C\LD SEE ?AT ! SAME RHETORIC WAS BE+ PRES5T$4 ,NO?+ HAD *ANG$ S9CE ,I HAD LEFT BESIDES ! ATMOSPH]E ( ! SPACE4 ,I WALK$ >\ND & ASK$ ! PEOPLE ?AT ,I KNEW :O W]E 9VOLV$ 9 ! ACTION :Y !Y FELT LIKE AN EVICTION WAS DIRECT ACTION1 :Y !Y HADN'T ASK$ ME TO P>TICIPATE1 :E!R OR NOT !Y HAD CONSID]$ H[ !IR ACTION WAS AFFECT+ ! ,A,P,O,C PRES5T & P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! CONV]G5CE1 :E!R OR NOT !Y HAD CONSID]$ !IR ACTION AS A BREA* ( MY CONS5T--AS !Y HADN'T 9CLUD$ ME BECAUSE !Y KNEW ,I W\LD HAVE HAD RES]VATIONS2 IS ?AT REALLY H[ AN>*I/S %\LD DEAL ) ! WAY !IR ACTIONS AFFECT !IR COMRADES8 ,I DIDN'T GET SATISFY+ ANSW]S TO ANY ( MY QUE/IONS4 

,A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION FOLL[$--ADMITT$LY P>APHRAS+ H]E1 AN EX*ANGE ( WORDS BETWE5 OPPOS+ ,A,P,O,C]S ALONG ! L9ES (3 0,SOME ( ! :ITE PEOPLE Y\'RE EVICT+ >E MY FRI5DS & FAMILY1 Y\ DON'T HAVE MY P]MISSION TO KICK !M \T4 0 _/_/ 0,WE'RE AT W>1 X--1 WE WANT !M \T1 & WE'RE NOT ASK+40 _/_/ 0,IF Y\'RE AT W> ) MY FAMILY1 Y\'RE AT W> ) ME40 _* :I* 9ITIAT$ A PU%-(-W> FROM EI!R SIDE ( ! DOOR4 ,P]SONALLY1 ,I WASN'T 9T]E/$ 9 A PHYSICAL CONFLICT4 ,AS A SIZABLE MAN ( COLOR1 ,I HAVE BE5 WRE/L+ ) ! SPACE ,I PHYSICALLY TAKE UP = A LONG TIME1 ESPECIALLY 9 REC5T MON?S1 :I* WAS 9 FACT ONE ( ! ISSUES ,I HAD BE5 9T5D+ TO F9D C\NSEL ?R\< ! CONV]G5CE'S ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS4 ,I DON'T FEEL COM=TABLE US+ MY BODY1 MORE MY /R5G?1 TO EXPRESS MY WILL4 ,?IS HAS SEEM$ LIKE A :ITE-PRIVILEGE-DISCUSSION BL9D-SPOT = ME 9 ! PA/4 ,I WI% ! :ITE PEOPLE >\ND ME C\LD UND]/& :AT ITS LIKE TO BE A TALL1 /RONG1 BR[N-SK9N$ MALE 9 ?IS WORLD--ESPECIALLY 9 ! AN>*I/ COMMUNITY--& :AT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE AN 9TIMIDAT+ PRES5CE 9 ! EYES ( ! :ITE PEOPLE >\ND ME4 ,I CAN FEEL IT1 & ! FACT ?AT IT'S ?REAT5+ REALLY AFFECTS MY S5SE ( SELF1 MY CONFID5CE 9 MY BODY4 ,?IS IS :AT MADE IT P>TICUL>LY DIFFICULT = ME TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! BACK & =? PU%+ ?AT FOLL[$4 ,KN[+ ?AT HAD ,I WANT$ TO1 ,I'D HAVE BE5 ABLE TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE EA* ( !M US+ :I*EV] 9T5SITY ( =CE ( VIOL5CE ,I DESIR$4 ,IT /RIKES ME AS IRONIC1 ?9K+ BACK ON IT N[1 ?AT ,I HAD BE5 LOOK+ TO MY FELL[ AN>*I/S ( COLOR = SUPPORTIVE CONV]SATION E>LI] ?AT DAY ONLY TO BE %UT \T BY ! OPPORTUNI/IC USE ( LEGITIMATE DISILLUSIONM5T DUR+ ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS & ?AT ,I WAS N[ WRE/L+ ) ?OSE ISSUES ALONE1 ALONG SIDE ( MY FRI5DS1 :ILE PHYSICALLY WRE/L+ ) ?OSE :O ,I HAD HOP$ W\LD BE MO/ HELPFUL4 

,I WAS PU%+ ! DOOR AGA9/ ! DISRUPTORS ONLY BECAUSE PEOPLE :O ,I C>$ AB\T1 :O ,I KNEW C>$ = ME1 FELT SO /RONGLY ?AT ! DISRUPTORS NE$$ TO BE =CIBLY REMOV$4 ,I WANT$ ! DISRUPTORS TO EXPRESS SOME CONC]N = MY FEEL+S1 TO 9CORPORATE MY NE$S 9TO !IR ACTION 5\< SO ?AT WE C\LD FEEL LIKE WE W]E CONFRONT+ :ITE SUPREMACY TOGE!R4 ,EV5TUALLY1 ,I GREW IMPATI5T ) ! 0,WE'RE NOT H]E TO DISCUSS ANY?+0 _/_/ 0,?IS IS NOT A DIALOGUE40 _* RHETORIC EXPRESS$ BY MY =M] COMRADES TO EV5 ! O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR PRES5T4 ,SO ,I JO9$ 9 ! PU%+4 ,?IS WAS AN OP5+ EXP]I5CE = ME4 ,IT FELT GOOD TO DRAW A L9E--ANO!R ADMISSION IS ?AT AS A P]SON ( COLOR 9 A PR$OM9ANTLY :ITE COMMUNITY & CIRCLE ( FRI5DS1 ,I R>ELY DRAW SU* L9E--& FEEL SAFE 9 DO+ SO4 ,IT ALSO FELT P[]FUL TO BE *ECK+ 9 ) ! PEOPLE ,I WAS PU%+ AGA9/--IT FOLL[$ ! LOGIC ( 0AGREE+ TO DISAGREE0 9 ?AT ,I WAS ABLE TO SAY ?+S LIKE 0,I'M GO+ TO PU% ! DOOR N[1 REALLY H>D1 & IT MI<T HURT40 ,IT FELT EMP[]+ TO ALL[ ! DISRUPTORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRACE !MSELVES & CONSID] !IR CONVICTIONS RA!R ?AN 9DULG+ 9 A REACTION>Y PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION4 ,:5 ! 0,:ITE ,ALLIES0 ,M>VEL & ,S& JO9$ 91 ,I LO/ MY S5SE ( PRODUCTIVE CONFLICT4 ,!Y HAD BE5 MAK+ ME UNCOM=TABLE ALL CONV]G5CE LONG ) !IR OBLIVI\SNESS TO ! REAL /RUGGLES FAC+ AN>*I/ PEOPLE ( COLOR4 ,! C\PLE HAD SP5T ! 5TIRE CONV]G5CE GUILT TRIPP+ ! MASS ( :ITE FOLKS ) %ALL[ RHETORIC AB\T G5TRIFICATION & PRIVILEGE1 BUT NEV] ONCE HELP$ ! ORGANIZ]S COMMUNICATE ! POLICY 9=MATION WE HAD PUT TOGE!R TO LESS5 \R IMPACT ON ! COMMUNITY4 ,IT BECAME CLE> :AT !Y W]E REALLY !RE TO DO :5 !Y PUT !IR H&S ON ! DOOR OPPOSITE TO ME & PU%$--!Y W]E AGITATORS1 DO+ ! BIDD+ ( :I*EV] =CE !Y FELT R$EEM$ !IR :ITE M>K ( GUILT4 ,AT SOME PO9T IT W\LD BE WOR?:ILE TO ANALYZE H[ !SE TWO :ITE FOLKS W]E US$ BY ! AG5DA ( ! DISRUPTORS1 & :E!R ?AT IS ! MODEL ROLE ! DISRUPTORS PROPOSE ALL 0,:ITE ,ALLIES0 PLAY1 IF SO1 ,:ITE ,ALLIES BE W>N$4 

,?IS WAS ! PO9T AT :I* ,I PICK$ UP A %EET ( #dX#h PLYWOOD & RU%$ ! DISRUPTORS4 ,I WANT$ TO SME> !M \T ( ! SPACE ) ! BROAD PIECE ( LUMB]1 TO ATTACK 9 A WAY ?AT W\LDN'T BE /RIK+4 ,( C\RSE1 ,I HAD BE5 ?9K+ EMOTIONALLY RA!R ?AN LOGICALLY & 9/EAD ( R$UC+ ! 5GAGEM5T1 IT ESCALAT$4 ,LAT] DUR+ ?IS CONFLICT ,I R$ISLOCAT$ MY RI<T %\LD]1 & PULL$ A MUSCLE 9 MY LEFT4 ,I W\LD BE SORE = ! FOLL[+ WEEK4 

,:5 ! CONFLICT F9ALLY 5D$ H\RS LAT]1 ! REMA9+ PEOPLE ( COLOR TRI$ TO HAVE A CONV]SATION4 ,DUR+ ?AT CONV]SATION ONLY TWO ( ! DISRUPTORS ?AT HAD P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! CONV]G5CE EXPRESS$ ANY REMORSE = ! SEV]ITY ( ! ACTION4 ,! O!RS LI/$ ALL ! CRITICISMS TYPICAL ( ! ANTI-,CRIME?,9C4 PLAT=M3 TOO LIFE/YLI/1 TOO :ITE1 DROP \T CULTURE ISN'T RELEVANT TO PEOPLE ( COLOR1 ! PROJECT IS TOO EXCLUSIVE1 DUMP/] DIV+ IS PRIVILEG$1 ETC4 ,AS SOMEONE :O HAS1 ON FREQU5T OCCASION1 CONTRIBUT$ TO ,CRIME?,9C4 PROJECTS1 ,I'VE NEV] BE5 P>TICUL>LY IMPRESS$ BY ?OSE :O JUDGE ! 5TIRE PROJECT ON !IR DISLIKE ( ! BOOK ,EVASION4 ,I DON'T FE$ MYSELF %OPLIFT+ OR DUMP/] DIV+1 ,I'VE NEV] HOPP$ A TRA91 ,I'VE WORK$ AS A C>P5T] = YE>S1 ,I DROPP$ \T ( HI< S*OOL & CAN /ILL CONTRIBUTE WRIT+ TO ! PROJECT1 ,I RESPOND$ TO A CALL = VOLUNTE]S & IT WAS LIT]ALLY ?AT EASY TO BECOME A P>T ( ! GR\P4 ,ALL ?IS IS TO SAY3 ! COMMON CRITIQUES ( ! PROJECT HAVE NEV] SPOK5 TO ME4 ,!Y SEEM COMPLETELY CONTR>Y TO MY EXP]I5CE4 ,I KNEW MANY ( ! PEOPLE AT ! CONV]G5CE DIDN'T FALL 9TO ?IS N>R[ VIEW ( ,CRIME?,9C41 MANY ( !M MY CLOSE FRI5DS2 ,I WAS SADD5$ TO LE>N ?AT ! REASON = ?IS PREM$ITAT$ ACT WAS BAS$ MO/LY ON !SE POLITICAL DISPUTES4 ,! FEW :O W]E RECRUIT$ TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! DISRUPTION W]E MISL$ BY ! R+LEAD]S4 ,I HE>D ?AT ,JORDAN SAID SOME?+ TO ! EFFECT (3 0,I'VE BE5 SE>*+ = ALLIES 9 ! AN>*I/ COMMUNITY = YE>S & ,I HAV5'T F\ND !M H]E1 BUT ,I'VE F\ND !M ELSE:]E40 

,?IS BEGS TWO QUE/IONS4 ,FIR/LY1 :]E HAS ,JORDAN BE5 = ?OSE YE>S8 ,H[ HAVE !Y NOT F\ND ANY ALLIES8 ,I LIVE 9 A SMALL COMMUNITY ) ONLY A FEW AN>*I/ FRI5DS1 ,I R>ELY TRAVEL OR NETWORK )9 ! AN>*I/ SC5E & ,I'VE MET DOZ5S ( AMAZ+1 SUPPORTIVE AN>*I/S :O >E :ITE4 ,SECONDLY1 :]E IS ELSE:]E8 ,I'M AN AN>*I/ P>TLY BECAUSE ,I'M CONV9C$ ?AT AN>*ISM (F]S ! MO/ PROACTIVE SELF-DET]M9$ APPROA* TO OV]?R[+ OPPRESSION4 ,SOCIALISM1 ,COMMUNISM1 ,NATIONALISM1 NONE ( !SE APPROA*ES SEEM AT ALL APPEAL+--,I'M NOT SAY+ ?AT AS A POLITICIAN DEFAM+ OPPOS+ P>TIES1 ,I'M SPEAK+ AS AN 9DIVIDUAL SEEK+ TANGIBLE PA?S & WAYS ( ORGANIZ+ MY LIFE TO BETT] F9D MY WAY \T ( MOD]N LIFE UND] CAPITALISM & WE/]N CIVILIZATION4 ,I'M NOT CONV9C$ !RE IS AN ELSE:]E1 NOT TO SAY AN>*I/S >E ! ONLY ALLIES--BUT IF NOT AN>*I/S4448 ,I'M WORRI$ AB\T ,JORDAN'S 9T5TIONS & DIRECTION4 

,TWO ( ! MO/ PROBLEMATIC ?+S AB\T ?IS EV5T = ME 9VOLV$ ! APPROPRIATION & PRESUMPTION ( LOCALS4 ,FIR/1 ! PRESUMPTION ?AT \R NEI<BORS DUR+ ! CONV]G5CE W]E ANGRY ?AT WE W]E !RE1 ID5TIFI$ US AS P>T ( ! G5TRIFY+ =CE1 OR FELT DISPLAC$ BY \R PRES5CE4 ,?IS WAS FLAT-\T UNTRUE 9 MY EXP]I5CE4 ,I HAD >RIV$ DAYS BE=E ! CONV]G5CE BEGAN TO (F] ASSI/ANCE 9 MAK+ LA/ M9UTE PREP>ATIONS4 ,OV] ?OSE DAYS & ?OSE ( ! CONV]G5CE PROP]1 ,I P>TICIPAT$ 9 MANY CONV]SATIONS ) LOCALS4 ,MO/ ( !M W]E CASUAL WELL-WI%ES4 ,SOME ( !M W]E DISCUSSIONS AB\T :AT WAS GO+ ON 9 ! BUILD+1 :I* !Y SEEM$ AT ! V]Y LEA/ 9DIFF]5T TO4 ,I HAD TWO CONFLICTS1 IF Y\ CAN CALL !M ?AT1 \T ( MAYBE #c 9T]ACTIONS4 ,! FIR/ WAS ) AN OLD] BLACK WOMAN :O ASK$ US NOT TO P>K 9 FRONT ( H] H\SE SO H] DAU<T] C\LD HAVE A P>K+ SPACE :5 %E RETURN$ FROM WORK4 ,I APOLOGIZ$ TO H] = TAK+ UP ! SPACE1 & APOLOGIZ$ AB\T ! SPACE ! CONV]G5CE WAS TAK+ UP AS A :OLE4 ,%E ?ANK$ ME = ! APOLOGY1 & 9SI/$ ?AT ALL %E C>$ AB\T WAS ! P>K+ SPACE4 ,! SECOND WAS ! NI<T ( ! CONFRONTATION4 ,I WAS DAZ$1 SWEATY1 & UPSET1 & ,I CAME D[N FROM ! SECOND FLOOR TO SEE PEOPLE GA!R$ \TSIDE PLANN+ ! RE/ ( ! EV5+4 ,A BLACK MAN MAYBE A FEW YE>S OLD] ?AN ME WAS MAK+ SMALL TALK ) ! PEOPLE HANG+ \TSIDE4 ,HE C\LD SEE ?AT ,I WAS UPSET & (F]$ ME A NOD4 ,I NODD$ BACK4 ,HE EXT5D$ HIS H& = A %AKE4 ,9 MY DELIRIUM--HAV+ JU/ GIV5 LONG1 HE>TFELT HUGS & EMBRACES TO MY FRI5DS AFT] ! DISRUPTION--,I HELD HIS H& 9 M9E1 9 A TI<T1 FOLD$ GRIP1 = A LITTLE TOO LONG4 ,IT WAS A HUMOR\S CULTURAL FAUX PAS4 0,EY MAN1 DON'T BE SQUEEZ+ MY H& LIKE ?AT10 HE ?\<T ?AT ,I WAS MAK+ A PASS AT HIM4 ,I EXPLA9$ ?AT ,I HAD JU/ BE5 FI<T+ ) =M] FRI5DS1 & WAS A LITTLE \T ( IT1 & HE ACCEPT$ ?AT4 ,:5 HE CONT9U$ TALK+ TO ME1 HE \TRI<T REFUS$ TO CONT9UE ! CONV]SATION UNTIL ,I 0JUMP$ 9 SOME WAT]40 ,I WAS /9KY & SWEATY & (F-PUTT+ TO HIM4 ,I EXPLA9$ ?AT ,I AGRE$ ?AT IT WAS PROBABLY TIME = A %[]4 ,EV5 AFT] \R EMB>RASS+ H&%AKE MISUND]/&+1 & BE+ SWEATY & DIRTY & B>EFOOT$1 HE (F]$ TO TAKE ME TO HIS BRO!RS H\SE TO GET %[]$ UP4 ,I C\LD TELL ?AT HE MEANT IT4 ,( ALL MY 9T]ACTIONS ) PEOPLE UP UNTIL ! DISRUPTION1 !SE >E ! ONLY TWO ?AT SUGGE/$ ANY K9D ( CONFLICT ) ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,I'M NOT DISMISS+ ?AT WE HAD A T\< IMPACT ON ! NEI<BORHOOD1 JU/ ?AT ! PEOPLE ( ! NEI<BORHOOD W\LD NE$ SEV5 BRAVE BLACK-CLAD VANGU>DS TO /EP =W>D & CONFRONT ! CONV]G5CE1 IF !Y REALLY WANT$ US \T4 ,9 #b#e1 NOT MORE ?AN #be MILES AWAY1 OV] #f BLACK & BR[N FOLKS RIOT$ 9 ,TOL$O TO 9T]V5E 9 A ,NATIONAL ,SOCIALI/ ,MOVEM5T_/:ITE P[] DEMON/RATION & 5D$ UP SETT+ FIRE TO ! B> FREQU5T$ BY LOCAL POLITICIANS & POLICE4 ,IF ! K9D ( ANG] & RES5TM5T ! DISRUPTORS FELT WAS REALLY %>$ BY ! NEI<BORHOOD1 IT SEEMS LIKELY ?AT ,CRIME?,9C4 W\LD HAVE BE5 T>GET$ SIMIL>LY4 ,IT IS DISGU/+ ?AT ! DISRUPTORS TOK5IZ$ ! ,G>FIELD COMMUNITY ! WAY IT DID4 

,MY SECOND MAJOR ISSUE ) ! LEGITIMIZATION ( ! ACTION WAS ! WAY P>TICIPANTS CLAIM$ IT = ,A,P,O,C1 SPECIFICALLY ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C4 ,DUR+ ! ,P,O,C DISCUSSION AFT] ! DISRUPTION1 ! DISRUPTORS BEGAN BY PR\DLY CLAIM+ ?AT ! ACTION WAS CALL$ = NATIONALLY4 ,!N REGIONALLY4 ,!N F9ALLY1 !Y RETREAT$ TO SAY ?AT ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C CALL$ = ! ACTION4 ,:5 ,I ASK$ IF ,I C\LD HOLD ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C ACC\NTABLE = ! ACTION1 !Y SAID YES4 ,BUT AFT]W>DS !Y 9SI/$ ?AT !Y W]E C>RY+ \T !IR AUTONOM\S WILL4 ,I SAW ?IS PATT]N AS A REFLECTION ( ! POOR COMMUNICATION !Y HAD ) EA* O!R AB\T ! 9T5TIONS & LEGITIMACY ( !IR MOTIVES4 ,REG>DLESS1 ADMITT+ ?AT DIDN'T EXCUSE ! FACT ?AT ! DISRUPTORS MISLEAD ! CONV]G5CE ATT5DEES AB\T ! SUPPORT 7READ3 LACK !RE (7 FROM ! L>G] ,A,P,O,C COMMUNITY4 ,!Y ONLY ADMITT$ ?AT ! ACTION WASN'T ,A,P,O,C SPONSOR$1 BUT L$ BY 9DIVIDUAL AUTONOMI/ PEOPLE ( COLOR AFT] ALL ( ! :ITE PEOPLE HAD LEFT4 ,IT WAS CLE> TO ME ?AT ONLY TWO ( ! GR\P REALLY UND]/OOD ?AT ! ACTION WAS MEANT AS A POLITICAL ATTACK AGA9/ ,CRIME?,9C41 NOT AS A SELF-DEF5SIVE ACTION ( PEOPLE ( COLOR PRES5T AT ! CONV]G5CE4 ,I WAS SATISFI$ ) ! ANSW] !Y GAVE ME AB\T ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C1 & ,I 9T5D$ TO BR+ MY COMPLA9TS TO !M1 AS ,I WAS CONV9C$ FUR!R CONV]SATION ) ! DISRUPTORS W\LD BE FRUITLESS4 ,I CAME D[N FROM ! UP/AIRS :]E A LOCAL ,A,P,O,CI/A WAS WAIT+4 ,!Y SAW 9 MY EYES ?AT ,I WAS AB\T TO ASK A QUE/ION ?AT HAD BE5 ASK$ MANY TIMES ALREADY ?AT NI<T3 0,DO Y\ HAVE ! CONTACT = ! ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C80 H] ANSW]3 0,!RE IS NO ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C1 WE HAV5'T HAD MEET+S 9 MON?S40 ,SOME P>T ( ME KNEW ?AT ?IS HAD BE5 TRUE ALL ALONG4 ,! PUZZLE PIECES FIT TOGE!R--,OTTO HAD BE5 ! TOK5 LOCAL :O ! 5TIRE DISRUPT+ TEAM C\LD USE TO VALIDATE !IR ACTION4 ,OTTO SPOKE = ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C BECAUSE !RE WAS NONE4 ,! DISRUPTORS M>G9ALIZ$ ,A,P,O,C BY CLAIM+ IT AS AN ,A,P,O,C ACTION1 = ! REMA9D] ( ! CONV]G5CE MO/ PEOPLE :O HAD BE5 PRES5T = ! ACTION REF]R$ TO ! DISRUPTORS AS 0,A,P,O,C0--,A,P,O,C ?IS1 ,A,P,O,C ?AT4 0,IF ,A,P,O,C BELIEVES ,X !N H[ CAN ,I SUPPORT !M80 0,A,P,O,C WANTS ALL :ITE PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO ,EUROPE40 ,?IS WAS P]HAPS ! LEA/ PRODUCTIVE REP]CUSSION ( ! ACTION4 ,9 ! DAYS FOLL[+1 CALLS W]E MADE TO ,A,P,O,C]S ALL >\ND ! C\NTRY1 & ,I KEPT HE>+ ?AT !RE WAS V]Y LITTLE SUPPORT = ! DISRUPTION 9 ! WAY ?AT IT OCCURR$4 ,I'D LIKE TO REQUE/ ?AT ,A,P,O,C]S JO9 ME 9 MA9TA9+ ! DI/ANCE BETWE5 ,A,P,O,C AS A NETWORK & PROJECT & ! 0,A,P,O,C0 CLAIM$ BY ! DISRUPTORS BY PUBLIC C5SURE ( ! 0,SMACK A ,:ITE ,BOY #b8 ACTION4 ,WE NE$ TO HOLD ! DI/9CTION OR RISK BE+ PU%$ 9TO FUR!R M>G9ALIZATION & ISOLATION4 

,ACC\NT #g 

,I DON'T KN[ :AT MY ACC\NT WILL CONTRIBUTE1 AS ,I FEEL AS ?\< MU* ( :AT ,I AM AB\T TO DESCRIBE HAS ALREADY BE5 DOCUM5T$ BY O!R ',A,P,O,C AGA9/ ! ACTION'4 ,SO ,I WILL KEEP IT %ORT & TRY NOT TO REPEAT TOO MU* ( :AT HAS ALREADY BE5 SAID4 

,! #bi ,CRIME?9C4 ,CONV]G5CE WAS ! #cRD CONSECUTIVE CONV]G5CE ,I P>TICIPAT$ 94 ,I >RIV$ ,?URSDAY NI<T 9TO AN 5VIRONM5T ,I FELT LESS ?AN COM=TABLE 94 ,! FIR/ CONV]SATIONS ,I OV]HE>D W]E >GUM5TS AB\T RACE & H[ 'WE'RE ALL ! SAME ON ! 9SIDE' & ?AT 'RACE %\LDN'T MATT]1' BY A V]Y AGGRESSIVE & DOM9ANT :ITE MALE4 ,?IS FIR/ IMPRESSION ( ?IS YE>S CONV]G5CE MADE ME FEEL QUITE ALI5AT$4 ,UNLIKE PREVI\S CONV]G5CES :]E ,I FELT LIB]AT$ & WELCOM$ :5 ,I >RIV$1 ALL ,I FELT WAS ANXIETY1 & 9CR$IBLE AM\NTS ( T5SION 9 ! ATMOSPH]E 9 ,PITTSBUR<4 ,?IS WAS 5\< TO MAKE ME DECIDE TO SLEEP 9 ! C> RA!R ?AN 9 ! CONV]G5CE SPACE4 

,FRIDAY MORN+ ,I />T$ PREP>+ MY WORK%OP AB\T ! #ba ,OLYMPICS & 9DIG5\S & AN>*I/ RESI/ANCE TO IT1 :I* ,I PLANN$ ON PRES5T+ ON ,SATURDAY4 ,:ILE DO+ ?IS & BURN+ COPIES ( MY ,C,D = MY P]=MANCE AT ! ',AN>*I/ ,DANCE ,P>TY'1 :I* WAS ALSO HAPP5+ ! FOLL[+ DAY ,I WAS APPROA*$ BY ONE ( ! DISRUPT]S :O 9TRODUC$ !MSELF AS 0,KILL ,:ITEY0 & TOLD ME ?AT !Y W]E SUPPOS$ TO BE HO/+ A WORK%OP ON 'ANTI-RACISM' :I* NOBODY HAD %[$ UP TO4 ,I ?\<T IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY TO SEE SOMEBODY :O HAS GIV5 !MSELF A NAME ?AT ADVOCATES KILL+ SOMEBODY BECAUSE ( !IR SK9 COLOR1 HO/+ A WORK%OP ON 'ANTI-RACISM4' ,9 ANY CASE1 WE TALK$ AB\T G5TRIFICATION1 :ITE PRIVILEGE1 & ! 0,SMACK ,A ,:ITE ,BOY0 ,A,N,S,W,] 7DI/R7ACTION4 0,KILL ,:ITEY0 TOLD ME !Y HAD P>TICIPAT$ 9 ?AT ACTION1 & ,I ASK$ H[ IT W5T D[N & IF !Y ?\<T IT WAS SUCCESSFUL4 ,I MADE NO SECRET ( MY RELUCTANCE TO SUPPORT ?IS ACTION UNTIL ,I C\LD LE>N MORE AB\T :AT EXACTLY W5T D[N & :AT ! CONSEQU5CES ( ?IS ACTION W]E4 0,KILL ,:ITEY0 AGRE$ ?AT 0,SMACK ,A ,:ITE ,BOY PT #a0 W5T OV] MO/ PEOPLE'S HEADS & ?AT MO/ ( ?OSE :O W]E 'SMACK$' HAD NO UND]/&+ ( ! MOTIVATIONS OR GOALS ( ?IS ACTION1 & /ILL DON'T HAVE A CLUE4 ,?IS CONFIRM$ MY FEEL+ ?AT ?IS WAS CONFRONTATION = CONFRONTATION'S SAKE4 

,AFT] ?IS WE BO? WALK$ TO ! ,A,P,O,C CAUCUS1 AT :I* MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES W]E BR\<T UP1 9CLUD+ G5TRIFICATION1 UN*ECK$ :ITE PRIVILEGE1 :ITE DOM9ANCE 9 ! AN>*I/ SC5E 7CRIME?9C4 9 P>TICUL>71 & ! LACK ( SAFE SPACE & RECOGNITION ( ,P,O,C NE$S1 BUT 0SMACK A :ITE BOY PT4 #b0 WAS NEV] BR\<T UP = DISCUSSION1 LEAV+ MANY PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 ! D>K AB\T ! PRE-M$ITAT$ ATTACK ?AT NI<T4 

,?AT NI<T1 AS ! CAB>ET 5D$1 & #f-#h FOLKS /ORM$ 9TO ! ROOM YELL+ 'GET ! FUCK \T ( PITTSBUR<'1 & 'GO BACK TO EUROPE'1 :ILE ?R[+ PEOPLE'S BAGS >\ND & MAK+ PEOPLE CRY1 ,I IMM$IATELY KNEW L9ES W]E BE+ DRAWN & :I* SIDE ,I WAS ON4 ,?IS WAS NOT A P]=MATIVE DISRUPTION1 ?IS WASN'T CALL+ PEOPLE \T1 ?IS WASN'T =C+ DIALOGUE AB\T ISSUES1 IT WAS A REPEAT ( 0,SMACK A ,:ITE ,BOY01 & ,I WANT$ NO P>T 9 IT4 ,I WANT$ IT TO /OP4 

,I KNEW ?AT MO/ ( ! DISRUPT]S W]E FROM \T ( T[N1 SO !IR CLAIM TO BE REPRES5T+ ! NEI<BORHOOD WE W]E G5TRIFY+ FELL ON DEAF E>S4 ,& !IR CLAIMS TO BE ACT+ ON BEHALF ( PEOPLE ( COLOR DIDN'T REA* ME EI!R AS ,I SAW MORE PEOPLE ( COLOR /&+ UP TO !IR S5SELESS TACTICS ?AN /&+ ) !M4 

,:5 ! TIME CAME = PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION BETWE5 !M & ! ,A,P,O,C FOLKS :O DISAGRE$ ) !M ,I WAS READY4 ,!Y DECL>$ W> ON ,CRIME?9C4 ,!Y DIDN'T C>E :AT ! CONSEQU5CES ( !IR ACTIONS W\LD BE4 ,!Y DIDN'T GIVE A FUCK AB\T KICK+ PEOPLE \T ONTO ! /REET 9 AN UNFAMILI> CITY 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! NI<T4 ,!Y DIDN'T C>E :O !Y HURT4 ,!Y ATTACK$ PEOPLE = BE+ :ITE :O DIDN'T ID5TIFY AS BE+ :ITE4 ,!Y ATTACK$ WOM51 !Y ATTACK$ TRANS PEOPLE1 !Y ATTACK$ EV]YONE 9 ?AT ROOM4 ,!Y ATTACK$ O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR & CALL$ !M 'RACE TRAITORS' :O W]E SID+ ) !IR COLONIZ]S4 

,!Y TOLD ALL :ITE PEOPLE TO LEAVE1 BUT TOLD !IR ':ITE ALLIES' TO /AY TO BACK !M UP4 ,ONE ( !SE ':ITE ALLIES' 7!Y'RE NO ALLIES ( M9E7 PUN*$ ME 9 ! FACE AFT] TRY+ TO PHYSICALLY PULL ME AWAY FROM ! DOOR :]E ,I & O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR W]E ATTEMPT+ TO PU% ! DISRUPT]S \T4 ,SO ,I GUESS IT'S ,O,K = ! DISRUPT]S TO HAVE !IR :ITE FRI5DS BACK !M UP BUT NOT US8 

,! ONLY FEEL+ ,I HAD AT ?IS MOM5T WAS 0,H[ FUCK+ D>E Y\6 ,H[ D>E Y\ SPEAK ON BEHALF ( ,P,O,C4 ,H[ FUCK+ D>E Y\ SPEAK ON BEHALF ( ?IS NEI<BORHOOD ?AT NONE ( Y\ >E FROM4 ,H[ FUCK+ D>E Y\ ALI5ATE US EV5 MORE BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE ) Y\R TACTICS40 

,AFT] ALL ! :ITE PEOPLE LEFT1 9CLUD+ !IR 'ALLIES' WE HAD A %ORT MEET+1 & ,I ASK$ IF !Y TOOK O!R PEOPLE ( COLOR 9TO CONSID]ATION :5 DO+ ?IS ACTION4 ,!Y OBVI\SLY DIDN'T & MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CLAIM !Y TOOK US 9TO CONSID]ATION4 ,WE ASK$ IF WE C\LD HOLD ,A,P,O,C1 ,PHILLY ,A,P,O,C1 OR ,PITTSBUR< ,A,P,O,C ACC\NTABLE = ?IS ACTION BUT !N !Y FELL BACK BEH9D ! SAFETY ( HAV+ 'ACT$ AUTONOM\SLY AS 9DIVIDUALS4' ,I REMEMB] ?9K+ ':AT FUCK+ C[>DS4' 

,:Y NOT ATTACK ! REAL =CES ( G5TRIFICATION :ILE Y\'RE 9 T[N8 ,:Y NOT RALLY US TO ATTACK BANKS1 REAL E/ATE COMPANIES1 CONDO DEVELOPM5TS1 & 9DIVIDUALS :O >E PR(IT+ FROM ! G5TRIFICATION 9 ,PITTSBUR<8 ,:Y PRIORITIZE ATTACK+ ?OSE :O W\LD BACK Y\ UP 9 ! REAL /RUGGLE8 

,I CONFRONT$ !M AB\T H[ MU* !Y HAD FUCK$ ME OV]4 ,I EXPLA9$ ?AT ,I HAD PUT LOTS ( RES\RCES 9TO COM+ D[N H]E 9 ORD] TO PROMOTE RESI/ANCE TO ! #ba ,OLYMPICS1 :I* IS A MASSIVE =CE ( G5TRIFICATION & COLONIZATION4 ,!IR RESPONSE WAS & ?AT ,I NE$ NOT WORRY1 ?AT ',A,P,O,C' W\LD H&LE IT1 & ?AT :ITE AN>*I/S >E USELESS & ?AT ,I %\LDN'T TRY TO F9D SUPPORT OR ORGANIZE ) !M4 

,?IS WAS 5\< = ME TO DIS5GAGE4 ,I HAD NO?+ LEFT TO SAY4 ,!IR ACTION P]SONALLY FUCK$ ME OV]1 ALI5AT$ ME1 HURT MY FRI5DS1 & DID S]I\S DAMAGE TO AN>*I/ ORGANIZ+4 

,?AT NI<T ,I SLEPT 9 ! CONV]G5CE SPACE ) REAL COMRADES1 BO? :ITE & ,P,O,C4 ,! NEXT MORN+ ! CONV]G5CE W5T ON AS PLANN$1 AL?\< NUMB]S HAD BE5 CUT 9 HALF4 ,/ILL !RE W]E NE>LY #a PEOPLE :O /AY$ UNTIL ,SUNDAY :5 IT WAS S*$UL$ TO 5D4 ,WE W]E NOT EVICT$1 WE W]E NOT 9TIMIDAT$ 9TO LEAV+ ,PITTSBUR<1 WE WILL NOT GRANT Y\ ?AT S5SE ( ACCOMPLI%M5T4 ,ONCE AGA91 AS WAS ! CASE ) 0SMACK A :ITE BOY PT4 #a0 Y\ ACCOMPLI%$ NO?+4 

,P4,S4 ,Y\ %\LD CONSID] SMACK+ A COP1 POLITICIAN1 OR BANK] 9/EAD ( AN>*I/S & ANTI-W> ACTIVI/S NEXT TIME Y\ DECIDE TO 0,SMACK A ,:ITEBOY40 

-,TE/AM5T 

,ACC\NT #h3 ,BAD ,MOVE - ,ALT]NATIVE ,REPORTBACK FROM ! ',SMACK A ,:ITE ,BOY ,P>T #b' ,ATTEMPT$ ,EVICTION ( ! ,CRIME?9C ,CONV]G5CE4 

,IF ,I WAS AN 9FILTRATOR ,I W\LD HAVE BE5 LAU<+ MY BRA9S \T4 ,I MEAN TO A COP1 :AT C\LD BE BETT]8 ,AN AN>*I/ CONF]5CE ATTACK$ NOT BY COPS1 NOT BY :ITE SUPREMACI/S1 BUT BY O!R AN>*I/S4 ,A POT5TIAL ?REAT TO ! SY/EM DIVID$ & DEBILITAT$1 NOT BY RACE AS ! AGGRESSORS CLAIM$1 BUT BY ! EGOS ( A FEW 9DIVIDUALS4 

,:AT ,I EXP]I5C$ AT ! CRIME?9C CONV]G5CE :5 A H&FUL ( PEOPLE CONNECT$ ?R\< ,AN>*I/ ,PEOPLE ( ,COLOR 7,A,P,O,C7 9T]RUPT$ & DECL>$ W>1 LIT]ALLY1 ON CONV]G5CE ATT5DEES1 WAS C]TA9LY ! MO/ OBNOXI\S & ABSURD ?+ ,I'VE EV] SE5 ANYONE DO 9 ! NAME ( ANTI-OPPRESSION4 ,! WAY ,I SAW !SE 9DIVIDUALS ACT - PEOPLE ,I'D CONSID]$ COMRADES MOM5TS BE=E - WAS A MANN] ( UTT] DISRESPECT ,I W\LD CONSID] TACTICALLY APPROPRIATE T[>D NEO-,NAZIS1 MAYBE T[>D A BO>D MEET+ ( ,LOCKHE$-,M>T91 BUT NEV] = ANYONE :O ,I W\LD CONSID] A POT5TIAL COMRADE1 LET ALONE AN AN>*I/4 

,BUT ,I GUESS ?AT WAS !IR PO9T WASN'T IT8 ,?IS WAS AN EXPLICIT ACT ( ANTI-SOLID>ITY4 ,DUR+ !IR SO CALL$ ACTION ! DISRUPTORS REPEAT$LY /AT$ ?AT !Y W]E 0PA/0 DIALOGUE ) :ITE PEOPLE4 ,COMMUNICATION ) :ITE PEOPLE W\LD N[ CONSI/ ( BELLIG]5T YELL+ ( HATE-FILL$ REM>KS 9 A RELATION%IP MORE AK9 TO COLLIES & !IR %EEP H]DS ?AN AN>*I/S TO !IR FELL[ HUMANS4 

,) !IR DECL>ATION ?AT !Y W]E BEYOND DIALOGUE ) :ITES !Y DEF9$ ! T]MS ( ! CONFRONTATION1 & COMPELL$ ME TO P]SONAL 9VOLVEM5T AS A P]SON ( COLOR4 ,SOON ,I WAS NECK DEEP 9 AN UGLY CONFRONTATION ) A FEW ( ! MO/ OBNOXI\S SELF-PROCLAIM$ AN>*I/S ,I'VE EV] DEALT )4 ,IT SADD5S ME ?AT ,I AM PO/+ ?IS = A NUMB] ( REASONS1 ! LEA/ ( :I* IS NOT GIV+ ?OSE EYES 9 LAW 5=CEM5T A FEW EXTRA M9UTES ( BONUS 5T]TA9M5T1 BUT :5 A GR\P ( AN>*I/S />T ACT+ COMPLETELY BEL[ DEC5CY TO O!R PEOPLE 9 ! NAME ( ANTI-OPPRESSION1 !IR M5TALITY MU/ BE CONFRONT$4 

,N[1 ! GRIEVANCE /AT$ BY ! DISRUPTORS AS ! RATIONALE = !IR ACTIONS WAS ?AT ! CONV]G5CE FUR!R$ G5TRIFICATION4 ,?IS IS A LEGITIMATE COMPLIANT1 & ,I WILL ADDRESS ! ISSUE A LITTLE FUR!R ON 9 ?IS >TICLE1 BUT FIR/ ,I W\LD LIKE TO H& BACK A FEW GRIEVANCES ,I HAVE ) ! DISRUPTORS & ! /UNT !Y PULL$1 SECTION$ CONV5I5TLY = !IR RESPONSE4 

,PLEASE BE CLE> ON ! FOLL[+ PO9TS :5 LOOK+ AT ?IS >TICLE3 

,I AM SPEAK+ ONLY = MYSELF H]E1 AN AUTONOM\S ,AN>*I/ ,P]SON ( ,COLOR :O WAS PRES5T AT ! CONFRONTATION4 ,H[EV]1 ,I AM NOT SPEAK+ ONLY FROM MY EXP]I5CE AT ! CONFRONTATION4 ,I'VE KN[N ONE ( !SE 9DIVIDUALS = WELL OV] A YE>1 & ,I'VE HAD DI/URB+ :IFFS ( !IR EXTREMI/ M5TALITY IT*+ MY NO/RILS = A :ILE N[4 ,BE=E REC5TLY1 ,I'VE TRI$ TO EXPLA9 !SE QUALMS AWAY TO MYSELF1 GIV+ !M ! B5EFIT ( ! D\BT BECAUSE ,I RESPECT$ !M AS A COMRADE & A FRI5D4 ,N[ ,I FEEL !RE'S NO *OICE BUT TO CONFRONT !IR M5TALITY HEAD ON4 

,!SE PEOPLE DID NOT REPRES5T ,A,P,O,C6 ,!SE W]E A H&FUL ( SELF-DECL>$ AUTONOM\S 9DIVIDUALS4 ,I'VE ATT5D$ A NUMB] ( ,A,P,O,C CAUCUSES & KN[ ?IS IS NOT ! DOM9ANT M5TALITY4 ,I'LL ALSO NOTE ?AT 9 ?IS 0ACTION01 IT WAS TWO PEOPLE REALLY1 :O DID ! MO/ TALK+ 7YELL+74 ,A ?IRD P]SON WAS PRETTY VOCAL & OBNOXI\S1 BUT ALMO/ RETIC5T 9 COMP>ISON ) ! L\DE/ TWO1 & ?REE O!R FOLKS L>GELY REFRA9$ FROM YELL+1 MO/LY CONTRIBUT+ !IR PHYSICAL PRES5CE4 ,\T ( !SE ?REE ,I BELIEVE AT LEA/ TWO ( !M HAD SOME V]Y MIX$ FEEL+S AB\T :AT !Y HAD GOTT5 !MSELVES 9TO1 & BECAUSE ( ?IS ,I FEEL ALMO/ UNFAIR = REF]R+ TO ! SIX ( !M TOGE!R AS 0! DISRUPTORS40 ,ON ! O!R H&1 IF !Y W]E REALLY AUTONOM\S AS WAS CLAIM$1 !Y C\LD HAVE AT ANY TIME CALL$ \T ANY ( ! MORONIC ?+S !IR COHORTS SAID4 ,IF Y\ TWO >E READ+ ?IS1 READ3 BETT] LATE ?AN NEV]4 

,AL?\< Y\ WILL HE> COMPLA9TS ( BORD]L9E ACTS ( VIOL5CE FROM BO? SIDES1 ,I ?9K PRETTY MU* EV]YONE W\LD AGREE1 !RE WAS NO ACTUAL FI<T+4 ,EXPLICIT ?REATS LIKE 0,GET ! FUCK \T1 WE'RE NOT PACIFI/S60 & SOME SCUFFLE1 LIKE PU%+ & PULL+1 BUT NONE ( !M 9T5D+ TO KNOCK PEOPLE (F BALANCE OR PHYSICALLY 9JURE ANYONE4 ,WE EV5 DRANK WAT] FROM ! SAME JUG 9 ! MID/ ( >GU+4 ,ISN'T ?AT NICE8 

,?IS IS BY NO MEANS A COMPREH5SIVE ANALYSIS ( ! ATTEMPT$ 0EVICTION0S REPREH5SIBLE QUALITIES4 ,9 RESPECT TO ! READ]'S 9TELLIG5CE ,I WILL BE PO9T+ \T ONLY A FEW ?+S :I* MAY NOT BE QUITE AS COMPLETELY OBVI\S TO EV]Y S+LE P]SON READ+ ?IS4 ,HOPEFULLY ?IS WILL PROVOKE DISCUSSION & BE A POSITIVE EFFECT ( ?IS MO/ NEGATIVELY M9D$ AGGRESSION4 

,& N[444 

,MY ,UNHAPPY ,GRIEVIANCES ,) ! 0,SMACK A ,:ITE ,BOY0 ,DISRUPTORS & ,!IR ,ACTIONS4 

#a4 ,C[>DICE 

,9 ! REPORT BACK FROM ! FIR/ 0,SMACK A ,:ITE ,BOY0 0ACTION0 LA/ ,M>*1 9 :I* AUTONOM\S ,A,P,O,C DISRUPT$ A L>GE ANTI-W> PROTE/1 WRIT+ (F ! ANTI-W> MOVEM5T 9 ! ,U4,S4 AS DEFUNCT BY 9T]NAL :ITE SUPREMACY1 ! WRIT]_/S W>N$ ( 0EV5 MORE AMBITI\S DIRECT ACTION 9 ! FUTURE04 ,APP>5TLY !SE WRIT]S IDEA ( 0MORE AMBITI\S0 IS ATTACK+ PEOPLE CLOS] 9 SOCIAL PROXIMITY TO !MSELVES1 & FUR!R FROM ! APP>ATUS ( P[] :]E !Y %\LD REALLY BE FOCUS+ !IR 5]GY4 

,I DON'T D5Y ?AT IT TAKES A SPECIAL K9D ( AUDACITY TO WALK 9TO A ROOM ( OV] A HUNDR$ PEOPLE TRY+ TO HAVE A GOOD TIME1 & 9 ! DEAD ( S]I\SNESS1 BEG9 SCREAM+ Y\R HEAD (F AT !M1 BUT ,I DO NOT CALL ?IS BRAVE4 ,9 TRU?1 ! CRIME?9C4 CONV]G5CE WAS ONE ( ! EASIE/ & S(TE/ T>GETS = A /UNT ( ?IS K9D3 !Y KNEW IT WAS AN EXPLICITLY AN>*I/ SPACE SO !Y W\LDN'T GET 9 TR\BLE ) ! COPS1 !Y KNEW FROM FIR/ H& 9T]ACTION ?AT MO/ ( ! PEOPLE AT CONV]G5CES >E G5]ALLY NICE FOLK & ?AT !Y W\LD NOT RISK MAJOR PHYSICAL 9JURY1 & !Y KNEW ?AT AS :ITE AN>*I/S :O CONSID]$ !MSELVES ANTI-RACI/1 MO/ :ITES AT ! CONV]G5CE C\LD BE EASILY 9TIMIDAT$ BY ! ?REAT ( BE+ CALL$ RACI/4 

,?AT'S JU/ ! TRU?4 

#b4 ,FATAL ,PRESUMPTU\SNESS 

,?R\<\T ! DISRUPTION1 & P>TICUL>LY AT FIR/1 ! DISRUPTORS CLE>LY IMPLI$ ?AT !Y REPRES5T$ PEOPLE ( COLOR AT L>GE1 & ?AT !Y SOMEH[ SPOKE = ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,!Y LAT] D5I$ ?IS :5 CALL$ ON IT1 PO9T+ \T !Y NEV] EXPLICITLY SAID 0WE SPEAK = PEOPLE ( COLOR01 0WE SPEAK = ! NEI<BORHOOD0 - BUT ! MESSAGE WAS CLE> 5\<4 ,AT ONE PO9T ONE ( !M 9S9UAT$ TO US ,P,O,C :O RESI/$ !M AS !Y TRI$ ?R[+ PEOPLE'S BAGS \T ! BALLROOM - ) A SURREAL 9DIGNITY - ?AT WE W]E SOMEH[ BETRAY+ !M AS PEOPLE ( COLOR BY RESI/+ !M4 ,= ! RECORD NONE ( ! DISRUPTORS W]E NATIVE TO ,PITTSBUR<1 LET ALONE ! NEI<BORHOOD - BUT ?AT DIDN'T /OP !M FROM YELL+ 0,GET ! FUCK \T ( ,PITTSBUR<60 REPEAT$LY AS A *IEF DEM&4 ,?IS K9D ( PRESUMPTU\SNESS AB\T !IR M&ATE AS 9DIVIDUAL PEOPLE ( COLOR IS DANG]\SLY UNACC\NTABLE1 & 9 ?IS CASE1 ABSURDLY SELF-S]V+4 ,:5 SOMEBODY PO9T$ \T TO ONE ( ! DISRUPTORS ?AT !IR DEM& WAS UNREALI/IC - IT BE+ >\ND ONE O'CLOCK AT NI<T & IMPOSSIBLE TO HIT*HIKE1 A DISRUPTOR SAID !Y C\LD ALL HEAD \T1 PACKS 9 H&1 TO ! TRA9 Y>D4 

,A WORD REALLY NE$S TO BE SAID N[ AB\T ! ,A,P,O,C ACRONYM & ITS POT5TIAL = 9S9UAT+ MORE ?AN IT MEANS4 ,! ACRONYM ,A,P,O,C1 OBVI\SLY1 IS NOT [N$ BY ANYONE1 & ANY AN>*I/ P]SON ( COLOR CAN TAKE UP ! BANN]4 ,?IS IS A GOOD WAY = ,AN>*I/ ,P,O,C TO CONSOLIDATE ) EA* O!R2 ALSO AS 9DIVIDUALS & SMALL GR\PS1 ! ACRONYM ,A,P,O,C BR+S AN ADDITIONAL CL\T TO \R /ATEM5TS1 ESPECIALLY T[>D :ITE AN>*I/S4 ,?IS IS T]RIFIC :5 US$ BY RESPONSIBLE 9DIVIDUALS2 ! PROBLEM COMES :5 AN 9DIVIDUAL OR GR\P1 PU%+ !IR [N AG5DA1 USES ,A,P,O,C CO]CIVELY4 ,IF Y\ OPPOSE A C]TA9 ,A,P,O,C 9DIVIDUAL = EXAMPLE1 Y\ HAVE TO BE V]Y C>EFUL 9 H[ Y\ DECL>E IT1 ESPECIALLY IF Y\'RE :ITE4 ,Y\R OPPOSITION TO ?IS ONE ,A,P,O,C C\LD BE TAK5 AS OPPOSITION TO ,AN>*I/ ,PEOPLE ( ,COLOR 9 ITS WID] S5SE1 :I* C\LD !N BE TAK5 AS OPPOSITION TO AN>*I/ PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 G5]AL4 

,9 ! CASE ) ! DISRUPTORS - & WE HAVE TO KEEP CALL+ !M ?AT1 !RE'S NO O!R NAME TO CALL !M BY - !Y HAV5'T ID5TIFI$ AS ANY?+ O!R ?AN AUTONOM\S ,A,P,O,C]S1 SO ?OSE NON ,P,O,C :O OPPOSE !M HAVE TO BE SUP] EXTRA SPECIAL C>EFUL NOT TO REF] TO !M AS ,A,P,O,C4 ,IT'S EASY = !M TO S\ND K9D ( RACI/ IF !Y DO4 

,( C\RSE1 BY PULL+ ?IS /UNT1 ! DISRUPTORS HAVE CREAT$ A RIFT )9 ,A,P,O,C1 SO HOPEFULLY ?IS WON'T BE AN ISSUE 9 ! FUTURE4 

#c4 ,BUFOON]Y 

,! DISRUPTORS >E P>TICUL>LY LUCKY CRIME?9C HAD A /RICT POLICY AGA9/ CAM]AS & RECORD+ )\T CONS5T4 ,A VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORD+ ( ! EV5T W\LD HAVE 5TIRELY SPOK5 = ITSELF4 ,Y\'D ?9K AT SU* A PUBLIC /UNT LIKE ?IS1 ONE W\LD PUT A BIT MORE ?\<T 9TO H] TALK+ PO9TS1 OR1 SCREAM+ PO9TS2 9/EAD !Y CAME ) A BUN* ( SLOGANS AB\T GETT+ Y\R :ITE FACES ! FUCK \T ( ,PITTSBURG1 BURY+ ANY POT5TIAL = REAL COMMUNICATION UND] !IR RAGE1 :ILE ! CLASSIC 0,GO BACK TO ,EUROPE60 WAS REPEAT$ NOT ONCE1 NOT TWICE1 BUT LIKE1 A LOT4 

#d4 ,DOGMATIC ,FANATICISM 

,?IS 5TIRE /UNT REEK$ ( A K9D ( RIGID ONE-SID$ ?9K+ MORE APPROPRIATE TO ! ,CULT ,( ,! ,9V]SE ,HI]>*Y OR ,ANN ,COLT] ,FAN ,CLUB1 ?AN A GR\P ( SUPPOS$LY 9DEP5D5TLY ?9K+ RADICALS4 ,( C\RSE1 SOME ( !M W\LD SAY SIMIL> ?+S AB\T ME1 & DID1 PRON\NC+ ?AT ,I MU/ HAVE BE5 BRA9WA%$ BY :ITES = OPPOS+ !IR /UNT - !N CALL+ ME A RACE TRAITOR ON TOP ( IT4 ,N[ P]SONALLY ,I F9D ! T]M RACE TRAITOR TO BE P>TICUL>LY UN=GIVABLE AMONG ! G5RES ( RACIAL 9SULTS1 BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOME?+ ?AT FLIES \T ( Y\R M\? :5 Y\'RE MAD & /UPID3 Y\ ACTUALLY HAVE TO ?9K AB\T IT BE=E Y\ SAY IT4 ,RACE TRAITOR4 ,TO ANYONE READ+ ?IS :O DOESN'T ALREADY GET :Y ! CONCEPT ( ,RACE ,TRAITOR IS SO OXYMORONIC1 SIMPLY ?9K AB\T IT3 TO COMMIT TREASON Y\ MU/ FIR/ GIVE OA? TO ! ?+ Y\ >E COMMITT+ TREASON AGA9/ 7IT'S CALL$ FREE WILL7444 !N Y\ BETRAY IT2 ?AT'S :AT TRAITOR MEANS4 ,TO CALL SOMEONE A TRAITOR BAS$ ON H[ !Y W]E BORN IS UTT] DOGMATIC IGNORANCE4 ,I WAS BORN ) ,FILIP9O BLOOD SO ,I *OOSE :AT ?AT MEANS = ME1 & TO ME IT DOES NOT MEAN SPRAY+ ,R\NDUP ON ! /ALKS ( 9T]RACIAL SOLID>ITY ?AT C\NTLESS PEOPLE ( ALL COLORS WORK LONG & H>D TO DEVELOP4 

,RESPONSE NOTE3 9 !IR 0,SMACK ,A ,:ITE ,BOY ,P>T ,TWO0 REPORT BACK1 ! DISRUPTORS SAID ?IS AB\T !IR USE ( ! T]M3 0!RE >E RUMORS AFLOAT ?AT ! T]M 0RACE TRAITOR0 WAS US$ T[>DS MIX$ PEOPLE & O!RS :O W]5'T P>TICIPAT+4 ?IS IS UNTRUE4 ! WORD WAS US$ T[>DS SPECIFIC 9DIVIDUALS & !IR P]SONAL HI/ORY ( PO/UR+ A ROLE 9 UPHOLD+1 DEF5D+1 & ULTIMATELY FUR!R+ :ITE SUPREMACY4 = 9/ANCE1 BY ! SPREAD+ ! IDEA ?AT IT IS BECAUSE WE >E NOT DO+ 5\<1 ?AT IT IS \R FAULT ?AT WE >E OPPRESS$40 ,I DON'T EV5 KN[ :AT TO SAY TO ?IS EXCEPT ?AT ,I'VE ,N,E,V,] SAID ANY?+ LIKE ?AT1 & ! P]SON :O CALL$ ME ?AT NAME HAD NEV] MET ME BE=E ?AT NI<T4 

,IT IS ABSURD TO ?9K ?AT PEOPLE %\LD AGREE ) Y\1 OR HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO SYMPA?IZE ) Y\R HATEFUL /UNTS1 BAS$ ON ! FACT ?AT !Y >E PEOPLE ( COLOR4 

#e4 ,RATIONALIZ+ ,CRUEL & ,9DEC5T ,ACTS 9 ! ,NAME ( ,ANTI-,OPPRESSION 

,I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS ?IS BIZ>RE S5SE IF IRONY ,I FELT 9 ! PRES5CE ( PEOPLE :O C\LD SCREAM 9TO O!R PEOPLE'S CRY+ FACES1 :O C\LD BLATANTLY VIOLATE O!R HUMAN BE+S CONS5T1 & /ILL FELT QUALIFI$ TO SCREAM-LECTURE PEOPLE ON ANY P]CEIV$ LAPSES 9 ANTI-OPPRESSIVE ETIQUETTE1 OR USE ( PRIVILEGE1 AT ! SAME TIME4 

,?IS JU/ DOESN'T MAKE S5SE TO ME4 ,IF Y\ REALLY NE$ TO BE A HUGE G9ORM\S AS%OLE1 DON'T CA/IGATE PEOPLE = F>T+6 

,FAVORITE EXAMPLE3 ,AT ONE PO9T NE>+ ! 5D ( ! CONFLICT :5 ! DISRUPTORS W]E GETT+ READY TO FILE BACK 9 !IR C> & RIDE BACK TO ,PHILLY1 ONE ( ! TWO MO/ VOCAL ( !M SAW FIT TO SCREAM 0,PUT Y\R %IRT ON60 TO A :ITE GUY AB\T A HUNDR$ FEET AWAY1 PROCE$+ TO CALL HIM BO? SEXI/ ,& RACI/ = HAV+ EXPOS$ NIPPLES 9 AN 0ALL BLACK0 NEI<BORHOOD4 ,GOODNESS GRACI\S6 ,MAYBE IF Y\'RE SO FULL ?ROTTLE EAG] TO SCREAM AT ANYONE :O DISAGREES ) Y\ = ANY?+ HAV+ TO DO ) PRIVILEGE1 ?AT Y\ CAN'T EV5 GET Y\R I/S /RAI<T1 Y\ MI<T WANT TO TRY BREA?+ 9 BETWE5 RI<TE\S CALL \TS4 

,LOOK1 ALL \R WORK ROOT+ \T OPPRESSION 9 \R 9T]ACTIONS & M5TALITY - TO ME1 ! :OLE PURPOSE ( IT ALL1 IS V]Y SIMPLY TO NOT BE AN AS%OLE4 ,CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE EXPLA9 TO ME ! IMPORTANT 9TELLECTUAL DIFF]5CE BETWE5 BE+ FUCK$ UP & BE+ AN AS%OLE8 ,CAUSE TO ME1 IT'S ALL ! SAME BEA/4 ,Y\ C\LD SAY ,I'M BE+ OV] SIMPLI/IC & ?AT ,I'M OV] G5]ALIZ+ H]E1 & YEAH - Y\ C\LD BE RI<T1 BUT Y\ GOTTA ADMIT1 IF Y\ D$ICATE Y\RSELF TO ! CAUSE ( ANTI OPPRESSION1 & /RIVE TO ROOT \T OPPRESSIVE T5D5CIES ?R\<\T Y\R P]SONALITY & LIFE/YLE444 & YET Y\ /ILL T[] OV] PEOPLE AS A MASSIVE HYP]ALI5AT+ J]K - Y\ MU/ HAVE MISS$ SOME?+ SOME:]E4 

,:AT C\LD IT BE8 

#f4 ,5=CEM5T ( ,HI]>*Y 79 AN ,AN>*I/ ,SPACE7 

,IT IS CLE> TO ME ?AT ?IS ACTION WAS PLANN$ BY PEOPLE :O WANT TO TURN HI]>*Y UPSIDE D[N1 NOT LEVEL IT4 ,*E]LEAD+ ALONG TO ! ATTEMPT$ EVICTION W]E ?REE OR F\R 0:ITE ALLIES0 :OSE PRE->RANG$ JOB WAS TO HELP ! DISRUPTORS MOVE BAGS1 & E*O ! EVICTION MESSAGE TO !IR :ITE BRE?R54 

,WAIT A SECOND444 

,! DISRUPTORS REPEAT$LY /AT$ ?AT !Y W]E BEYOND DIALOGUE ) :ITE PEOPLE444 SO IF !Y'RE RELATION%IP ) !SE 0ALLIES0 WAS NOT ONE ( DIALOGUE1 :AT WAS IT8 

,IT'S ONE ?+ TO TELL :ITES TO FUCK (F - ,I MEAN !RE1 Y\'RE AT LEA/ CUTT+ (F Y\R RELATION%IP ) !M HONE/LY - BUT TO KEEP SOME ( !M >\ND TO E*O Y\R DEM&S & MOVE LUGGAGE = Y\8 ,!Y'RE NOT WOR? DIALOG+ )1 BUT Y\ DON'T M9D LETT+ !M DO Y\R BIDD+8 7,I GUESS 9 A HI/ORICAL S5SE1 ?IS IS A PRETTY ACCURATE USE ( ! T]M 0,ALLIES07 ,E/ABLI%+ A RELATION%IP 9 :I* ONE P>TY DEF9ES ALL ! T]MS & HOLDS ALL ! P[]1 IS DAMN HYPOCRITICAL = ANYONE :O CLAIMS TO OPPOSE HI]>*Y4 

,SO ,I GUESS Y\'RE NOT QUITE READY TO BREAK UP ) :ITES COMPLETELY4 ,9 BETWE5 9SULT+ !M Y\ W\LDN'T M9D KEEP+ !M >\ND SOME ( ! TIME1 AS LONG AS Y\ DECIDE ! :]E1 :51 & ! H[4 ,I KN[ ,I'M NO ,DR4 ,PHIL1 BUT IF ?AT'S ! ONLY RELATION%IP Y\'RE WILL+ TO MA9TA9 ) :ITES1 MAYBE Y\ %\LD FOLL[ Y\R WORDS TO !IR CONCLUSIONS & /ICK TO AN HONE/ BREAK UP4 

.-.-1 AT E>LI] CAUCUSES ) Y\ ,I HAD MISGIV+S AB\T ! RELATION%IP Y\ SEEM$ TO WANT TO E/ABLI% ) Y\R 0:ITE ALLIES01 BUT ,I ASSUR$ MYSELF ?AT :AT SEEM$ TO BE HI]>*Y1 WAS A RELATIVELY 9SIGNIFICANT & UND]/&ABLE RESPONSE TO :ITE OPPRESSION4 ,N[ IT IS PLA9 TO ME ?AT Y\'VE GONE TOO F>4 ,! RELATION%IP Y\ WANT TO E/ABLI% ) :ITE ALLIES REM9DS ME ( ! RELATION%IP ( ! ,CA?OLIC ,*UR* TO ITS PUPILS4 

,*UR* TO ! ,CA?OLIC3 ,Y\ W]E BORN 9TO S91 BUT IF Y\ REP5T TO ME & DO :AT ,I SAY )\T QUE/ION1 SOME ( Y\R S9 WILL BE ABSOLV$ & Y\ WILL BE A BETT] ,*RI/IAN4 

,Y\ TO ! 0,:ITE ,ALLY03 ,BAS$ ON ! WAY Y\ W]E BORN1 Y\ >E RACI/1 BUT IF Y\ KISS MY ASS & FOLL[ :AT ,I SAY1 )\T QUE/ION1 SOME ( Y\R RACISM WILL BE ABSOLV$ & Y\ WILL BE A BETT] ANTI-RACI/4 

,BY PO9T+ ?IS NOT-SO-HIDD5 HI]>*Y \T1 ,I AM 9 NO WAY ADVOCAT+ SYMMETRICAL RACE RELATIONS4 ,IT IS UND5IABLE ?AT ?IS SOCIETY - ANTI-E/ABLI%M5T MOVEM5TS 9CLUD$ - IS 5TR5*$ ) :ITE SUPREMACY1 & TO COMBAT ?IS )\T GETT+ ASSIMILAT$ 9TO A SY/EMICALLY RACI/ /RUCTURE1 M9ORITIES MU/ CLAIM ! AUTONOMY TO ORGANIZE AMONG \RSELVES4 ,9 :ITE DOM9AT$ MOVEM5TS WE MU/ /RUCTURE \R 9VOLVEM5T AS WE *OOSE - BUT ?IS DOESN'T GIVE Y\ SOME SPECIAL M&ATE TO E/ABLI% HI]>*Y :]E IT DOESN'T BELONG4 

,P]SONALLY !RE >E TWO ?+S ,I CONSID] 9DISP5SABLE TO ANY WORK+ RELATION%IP1 & Y\ D5Y !M BO?4 ,!Y >E3 

,DIALOGUE - ! ABILITY ( EA* P>TY TO HAVE !IR SAY - & ,MUTUAL ,RESPECT4 

,)\T BO? ( !SE ATTRIBUTES1 AGRE$ ON BO? 5DS1 A RELATION%IP IS CLE>LY HI]>*ICAL & %\LD BE RE/RUCTUR$1 5D$1 OR TAK5 \TSIDE ! AN>*I/ COMMUNITY4 

#g4 ,RACISM 

,YEAH1 ,I CAN SAY PRETTY MU* ANY?+ ,I WANT TO A :ITE P]SON & ,I /ILL WON'T BE RACI/ BECAUSE REV]SE RACISM ISN'T REAL4 ,PLEASE6 ,IF Y\ WANT TO TALK S]I\SLY AB\T RACISM1 /OP US+ ! WORD LIKE IT'S A TOY6 

,AT ONE PO9T DUR+ ! CONFRONTATION1 A :ITE P]SON RESPOND$ FROM B5EA? A PILE ( RACIAL 9SULTS ?AT !Y ?\<T ! DISRUPTORS W]E BE+ RACI/ !MSELVES4 ,ONE ( ! DISRUPTORS RESPOND$ BY 9=M+ !M ?AT 0REV]SE RACISM0 DOESN'T EXI/1 OR WASN'T REAL OR SOME?+ TO ?AT EFFECT4 ,!Y EV5 CIT$ SOME OBSCURE ETYMOLOGY TO SUPPORT ?IS >GUM5T4 ,IMPRESSIVE4 ,?IS OP9ION ?AT 0REV]SE RACISM0 DOESN'T EXI/ WAS EXPRESS$ BY A FEW :ITES AT ! CONV]G5CE AS WELL1 & ,I'M PRETTY FAMILI> ) DEBATE ON ! SUBJECT4 

,IF Y\ ?9K AB\T IT = A FEW SECONDS ?\<1 IT BECOMES CLE> ?AT ! :OLE >GUM5T ON :E!R 0REV]SE RACISM0 IS REAL OR NOT IS F\ND$ ON A FALSE B9>Y4 ,9 ! REAL WORLD !RE >E MANY DIFF]5T RACES & MANY DYNAMICS ( RACISM BETWE5 !M4 ,! T]M 0REV]SE RACISM0 IMPLIES ONLY TWO TYPES ( RACISM1 NORMAL & REV]SE4 

,SO YEAH1 0REV]SE RACISM0 ISN'T REAL1 9 ! S5SE ! T]M ITSELF IS 9TELLECTUALLY BUNK1 BUT ?AT DOESN'T MAKE YELL+ SLOGANS LIKE 0GO BACK TO ,EUROPE60 & 0SMACK A :ITE BOY60 & !N D5Y+ ANY RACISM ON Y\R [N P>T ANY LESS MORONIC4 ,ULTIMATELY ! IDIOCY ( Y\R /ATEM5TS /&S ON ITS [N1 :E!R OR NOT Y\ D5Y !IR RACISM4 ,I'M MORE 9T]E/$ H]E 9 EXPLOR+ ! IRRESPONSIBLE WAY 9 :I* Y\ USE ! T]M4 

,OBVI\SLY1 ,R,A,C,I,S,M AS A WORD1 C>RIES A TREM5D\S AM\NT ( POLITICAL P[]1 ESPECIALLY AMONG RADICALS4 ,MY QUE/ION = Y\ IS1 :Y DO SELF PROCLAIM$ AN>*I/S FEEL ! NE$ TO [N A WORD ?AT C>RIES SO MU* POLITICAL CL\T BUT CAN ONLY BE WIELD$ 9 ONE DIRECTION4 

,?9K AB\T IT3 WORDS - AS Y\ CLE>LY UND]/& - CAN BE US$ V]Y P[]FULLY AS WEAPONS4 ,BUT !RE'S ONE ?+ AB\T WEAPONS3 EV]Y P]SON :O TAKES UP A SWORD OR A GUN1 UND]/&S ?AT ! SAME P[] ! WEAPON GIVES !M1 C\LD BE US$ AGA9/ !M IF IT L&$ 9 ANO!R P]SON'S H&4 ,Y\ CAN'T HAVE A GUN ?AT CAN ONLY BE PO9T$ 9 ONE DIRECTION4 ,:O W\LD CONCEIVE ( SU* A ?+8 7,I MEAN1 BESIDES ,Y\ ,KN[ ,:O7 

,WE'VE ALL SE5 :AT HAPP5S :5 A GR\P ( PEOPLE TRY TO [N & COMPLETELY CONTROL A WORD AS A WEAPON3 LOOK AT ! ,U4,S4 GOV]NM5T'S USE ( ! T]M ,T,],R,O,R,I,S,M4 ,9 CORPORATE M$IA1 ! T]M ,T]RORISM IS ASCRIB$ ONLY TO 5EMIES ( ,U4,S4 9T]E/2 NO?+ ! ,U4,S4 OR ITS ALLIES DO C\LD EV] BE T]RORISM4 ,IF Y\ PO9T \T ?AT ACTS COMMITT$ BY \R MILIT>Y P]FECTLY EXEMPLIFY \R GOV]NM5TS V]Y [N DEF9ITION ( T]ROR1 !Y SC(F AT Y\1 CALL Y\ M>G9ALIZ+ NAMES1 & SAY Y\R SUPPORT+ ! T]RORI/S4 ,ESS5TIALLY !Y'RE TAK+ AN EXTREMELY P[]FUL WORD & TRY+ TO KEEP ALL ( ITS P[] TO !MSELVES4 ,9 DO+ SO !Y PRECLUDE ANY USE ( ! WORD1 & ITS P[]1 9 A TWO WAY COMMUNICATION 7DIALOGUE71 & MONOPOLIZE IT AS A TOOL & WEAPON = ONE WAY DICTATION 7MONOLOGUE74 ,:AT Y\'RE TRY+ TO DO ) ! T]M ,R,A,C,I,S,M IS ESS5TIALLY ! SAME FUNCTION ON A SMALL] SCALE4 

,Y\ UNACC\NTABLY & IRRESPONSIBLY ?R[ 0RACI/0 AT ANY :ITE FOLK :O DON'T 0ALLY0 TO Y\1 BUT Y\ WON'T ADMIT TO RACISM EV5 9 ! MID/ ( CAT*+ Y\R BREA? AFT] A HATEFUL 0,Y\ ,PEOPLE0 RANT8 ,GIVE ME A BREAK4 

,HONE/LY1 IF Y\ WANT$ TO USE ! T]M 9 SU* AN UNACC\NTABLY ONE WAY FUNCTION LIKE ?IS1 Y\ %\LD HAVE AT LEA/ BE5 WAY MORE SUBTLE AB\T IT4 ,9/EAD Y\ BLUNTLY FLAUNT$ ! CONTRADICTION 9 FRONT ( PEOPLE'S FACES1 TIME & AGA91 ?9K+ Y\R IRREFUTABLE 0NO REV]SE RACISM0 AXIOM PROTECT$ Y\ FROM BE+ CALL$ ON IT4 ,Y\ HAVE ABUS$ ?IS P[] TOO MU*1 & FATALLY1 Y\ W]E PA9FULLY OBVI\S 9 H[ Y\ DID IT6 ,N[1 LIKE A LITTLE WANTON *ILD :O'S PLAY$ TOO L\D1 & TOO H>D1 & HURT TOO MANY PEOPLE ) A GR[N-UP TOOL1 IT'S TIME Y\R W>P$ CONCEPTION ( RACISM WAS TAK5 AWAY FROM Y\4 

,AGA91 Y\ CANNOT SKEW !SE >GUM5TS TO SAY ,I AM ADVOCAT+ SYMMETRY 9 RACE RELATIONS )9 ! RADICAL COMMUNITY4 ,! PR9CIPLE ( EQUALITY IS ONLY AN AB/RACT IDEAL :5 NOT CONSID]$ 9 ! CONTEXT ( PRIVILEGE 9EQUITY ?AT IS \R SOCIETY4 ,:ITE PEOPLE DO NE$ TO REALIZE ?AT HAV+ RACISM P]PETRAT$ AGA9/ !M DOES NOT SUDD5LY GIVE !M ANY EXCUSE TO D5Y !IR PRIVILEGES )9 ! SOCIAL FRAMEWORK ( ?IS SOCIETY1 NOR DOES IT MEAN !Y SUDD5LY KN[ :AT IT MEANS TO BE ,P,O,C 9 ! ,U4,S4 

,!RE2 ?AT'S ! LONG WAY TO SAY IT4 ,! %ORT WAY IS ?IS3 ,Y\ ORGANIZE AN 0ACTION0 CALL$ 0SMACK A :ITE BOY0 9 :I* Y\ SCREAM HATEFULLY 9TO A GR\P ( :ITE PEOPLE Y\ DON'T EV5 KN[1 & /ILL TRY TO HOLD ?AT Y\'RE NOT RACI/8 ,Y\'LL HAVE BETT] LUCK CONV9C+ ME ?AT TWO PLUS TWO EQUALS FIVE4 

,N[1 ,SOME ,WORDS ON ,G5TRIFICATION 

,OKAY1 G5TRIFICATION IS A V]Y COMPLEX ISSUE4 ,IT DOES NO?+ = ANYBODY TO OV]SIMPLIFY IT & PUT IT 9 BLACK & :ITE T]MS4 ,AM ,I SAY+ ?AT'S :AT ! DISRUPTORS DID8 ,YEAH1 PRETTY MU*4 

,9 ! DISRUPTORS' EYES !Y W]E TAK+ ?IS H>D1 L9E 9 ! S&1 DON'T /EP ACROSS IT1 ,:OOPS1 Y\ ALREADY /EPP$ ACROSS IT N[ Y\'RE GONNA GET IT1 /&4 ,I DON'T KN[ ALL ( :AT !Y'VE LE>N$ AB\T G5TRIFICATION1 BUT IF MY KN[L$GE ON ! ISSUE IS REMOTELY ACCURATE1 IT G5]ALLY TAKES MON?S = G5TRIFICATION TO OCCUR1 (T5 YE>S4 ,! CONV]G5CE LA/$ = A SPAN ( AB\T A WEEK4 

,G5TRIFICATION 9 POOR]1 D>K] SK9N$ NEI<BORHOODS G5]ALLY OCCURS ?R\< P]MAN5T SETTLEM5TS1 ESPECIALLY ONES ?AT BR+ CAPITAL 9TO ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,! CONV]G5CE CLE>LY DID NOT BR+ A LOT ( MONEY 9TO ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,ONE ( ! DISRUPTORS REIT]AT$ ! TALK+ PO9T ?AT :ITE CONV]G5CE ATT5DEES W]E ! 0PIONE]S0 ( G5TRIFICATION4 ,!Y SEEM$ TO HAVE =GOTT5 ?AT PIONE]S G5]ALLY /AY :]E !Y PIONE] TO = MORE ?AN ONE WEEK4 

,I AM NOT SAY+ ?AT ! CONV]G5CE DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO G5TRIFICATION4 ,WE KN[ IT PROBABLY DID1 BUT 9 AN 9TANGIBLY SMALL WAY4 ,PLEASE READ C>EFULLY H]E1 ,I AM NOT SAY+ IT CONTRIBUT$ TO G5TRIFICATION 9 A NEGLIGIBLY SMALL WAY1 ,I SAY AN 9TANGIBLY SMALL WAY - AS 91 :ATEV] G5TRIFICATION OCCURR$ AS A RESULT ( ! CONV]G5CE1 ! DAMAGE IS IMMEASURABLE BECAUSE ! CONV]G5CE WAS SU* A M9OR & %ORT T]M EV5T4 

,COMP>E TO SP5D+ MONEY AT A CORPORATE E/ABLI%M5T3 :5 Y\ BUY SOME CRAP AT ,BE/ ,BUY1 Y\ KN[ Y\ >E FE$+ ! BEA/4 ,Y\ ALSO KN[ Y\ >E NOT CONTRIBUT+ NE>LY AS MU* AS IF Y\ [N$ ! /ORE & ?AT ?IS ACT ( CONSUMPTION ALONE WILL NOT KEEP ! E/ABLI%M5T GO+ - BUT 9 ! OV]ALL S*EME ( ?+S1 Y\ KN[ Y\R DO+ SOME?+ BAD4 ,:ILE MO/ ( Y\ KN[ :AT ,I'M TALK+ AB\T H]E1 ,I KN[ !RE'S ! FEW P]FECT AN>*I/S READ+ ?IS :O >E LIKE1 0WELL1 ,I NEV] GIVE MONEY TO CORPORATIONS1 P]IOD40 ,TO Y\ FOLKS1 ,I CAN ONLY E>NE/LY HOPE ?AT Y\ NEV] USE ! P$E/AL ( Y\R VIRTUE TO CA/IGATE US IMP]FECT AN>*I/S = \R S9S - & IF Y\ DO ?AT Y\ WON'T BE SU* V9DICTIVE J]KS AB\T IT4 

,SOME MI<T >GUE ?AT ?IS IS A BUNK COMP>ISON1 ?AT :AT ! ORGANIZ]S DID BY PLANN+ ! CONV]G5CE 9 A MO/LY BLACK NEI<BORHOOD WAS MU* WORSE ?AN SP5D+ ,X AM\NT ( MONEY AT ,X CORPORATION4 ,MAYBE4 ,MAYBE NOT4 ,ONE ?+ WE %\LD AT LEA/ AGREE ON IS ?AT IT'S AN IMMEASURABLE1 9CALCULABLE CRIME1 NOT BECAUSE ( ITS SIZE & MAGNITUDE1 BUT BECAUSE ( ITS LACK ( SIZE & MAGNITUDE4 ,NOBODY REALLY KN[S H[ BAD IT IS4 

,I'M GO+ TO QUOTE ,JESUS H]E ALRI<T8 ,I'M NOT A ,*RI/IAN BUT ?IS QUOTE SEEMS REALLY APT3 0,LET HE :O HAS NOT S9N$ CA/ ! FIR/ /ONE40 ,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT ?IS QUOTE IS ACTUALLY CONGRU5T ) ! DISRUPTORS RATIONAL = !IR /UNT2 AS F> AS ,I CAN GA!R1 9 !IR M9DS !Y >E )\T RACIAL S94 ,BUT ANYBODY )9 ,U4,S BORD]S :O BELIEVES !Y >E BEYOND RACE PRIVILEGE IS KIDD+ !MSELVES4 ,! PRIVILEGE ?AT BE+ 0,AM]ICAN0 GRANTS US IS 9EXTRICABLY L9K$ ) RACE PRIVILEGE3 ! GLOBAL SY/EM ( CAPITAL & GOV]NANCE ITSELF IS RACI/ ?R\< & ?R\<4 

,IF ?IS IS A PREC$5T = FUTURE ACTIONS - :I* ! DISRUPTORS MADE CLE> ( - :O IS AN UNWOR?Y T>GET8 ,S9CE WE >E TRULY ALL GUILTY DOES ?AT MEAN WE %\LD ALL SCREAM AT EA* O!R 5DLESSLY TO SOMEH[ BE BETT] ACTIVI/S BECAUSE ( IT8 

,I WASN'T AT ! FIR/ HALF ( ! CONV]G5CE4 ,I KN[ NUM]\S DISCUSSIONS TOOK PLACE >\ND RACE & G5TRIFICATION4 ,AL?\< ,I WASN'T AT !SE DISCUSSIONS ,I CAN PRETTY SAFELY BET !Y DID MORE TO $UCATE ! :ITE PEOPLE AT ! CONV]G5CE AB\T G5TRIFICATION ?AN ! EVICTION /UNT DID4 ,?\< SCREAM+ CAN BE FUN SOMETIMES1 IT USUALLY SUCKS AS A TOOL = $UCATION4 ,:AT ,I AM SAY+ H]E IS ?AT IT WAS NOT UNREASONABLE = ! ORGANIZ]S TO HAVE HOP$ ?AT MORE LONG-T]M GOOD C\LD HAVE COME \T ( BR++ ?IS DISCUSSION AB\T G5TRIFICATION TO ! =EFRONT ( ! CONF]5CE1 ?AN DAMAGE TO ! NEI<BORHOOD DONE BY ! %ORT-T]M SPIKE 9 :ITE FACES VISIBLE ON ?AT P>TICUL> CORN] ( ! NEI<BORHOOD4 ,MAYBE !Y W]E WRONG4 ,MAYBE ! CONV]G5CE %\LD NOT HAVE BE5 !RE4 ,NOBODY REALLY KN[S BECAUSE IT'S AN 9TANGIBLE1 9CALCULABLE S94 ,IF SOMEBODY HAS CR$IBLE DATA ON H[ MU* A WEEK'S FLUCTUATION ( :ITE SK9 ON A /REET CORN] CONTRIBUTES TO G5TRIFICATION 9 ,PITTSBUR<1 ,I'D LOVE TO SEE IT4 ,UNTIL !N MY CRUCIFIX /AYS 9 ! G>AGE4 

,!RE HAVE BE5 V>I\S SPECULATIONS ON H[ PEOPLE NATIVE TO ! NEI<BORHOOD FELT AB\T ! CONV]G5CE1 BUT MO/ ( US KN[ IT W\LD BE SILLY TO ?9K !RE WAS ANY?+ RESEMBL+ AN OV]ALL CONS5SUS4 ,NOBODY ,I TALK$ TO HAD A PROBLEM ) IT1 BUT ,I'M SURE SOME PEOPLE W]E WEIRD$ \T AS WELL4 ,AS = DISRUPTOR'S REF]5CE TO ! >EA AS AN 0ALL BLACK NEI<BORHOOD0 - ?AT IS SIMPLY 9ACCURATE4 ,NOBODY CAN SPEAK = ! 5TIRE NEI<BORHOOD4 ,AS F> AS ,I CAN TELL FROM !IR RHETORIC1 ! CLOSE/ ?+ !Y'VE (F]$ AS A COH]5T RESPONSE TO G5TRIFICATION IS H>D-L9$ SEGREGATION4 0,GET ! FUCK \T ( ALL-BLACK NEI<BORHOODS60 0,GET ! FUCK \T ( ,PITTSBUR<60 

,AM ,I NAIVE = ?9K+ IT POSSIBLE ?AT SOME 9FO%OPS 9 M9ORITY DOM9AT$ >EAS1 LIKE ! ONE LESS ?AN A BLOCK D[N ! /REET FROM ! CONV]G5CE SPACE1 MI<T ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE MORE GOOD TO ! NEI<BORHOOD ?AN H>M ?R\< ! APP>ATUS ( G5TRIFICATION8 ,IF ! ONLY RESPONSE TO G5TRIFICATION IS TRULY TOTAL SEGREGATION1 ! DIVISIVE ME*ANISMS ( CAPITALISM HAVE SUCCE$$ 9 DIVID+ & DISMANTL+ US ONCE AGA94 

,CONCLUSION 

,IF ,I1 AT ANY TIME CAME (F AS K9D ( CAU/IC DUR+ ?IS >TICLE1 IT'S CAUSE ,I'M FUCK+ PISS$4 ,?IS IS NOT AB\T CRIME?9C4 ,?IS IS AB\T HUMAN DEC5CY1 AB\T FREE ?\<T1 AB\T KN[+ :O ! 5EMY IS1 & AB\T NOT DO+ EXACTLY :AT ! F$S WANT US TO BE DO+ BY TE>+ EA* O!R AP>T4 

,TO ANY FELL[ AN>*I/ PEOPLE ( COLOR :O FEEL TEMPT$1 OR OBLIGAT$1 TO FALL 9 L9E ) ?IS K9D ( HATE-FILL$ ACTION - PLEASE CONSID] H[ DAMAG+ & F> REA*+ SU* EXPLICIT ACTS ( ANTI SOLID>ITY WILL BE TO ! REAL ?+S WE %\LD BE FI<T+ =4 ,PLEASE1 DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO A M5TALITY ?AT BURIES REASON & COMMUNICATION UND] ! NOISE ( V5GEFUL GR\P ?9K - A M5TALITY ?AT ?R[S FUEL ON ! FIRES ( RACISM RA!R ?AN EXT+UI%+ IT4 

,TO ?OSE FEW AGGRESSORS :O P]PETRAT$ ?IS /UNT1 PLEASE1 ,I ASK Y\ TO CONSID] ! DAMAGE Y\ >E DO+ TO A MOVEM5T ?AT C\LD POSE A REAL ?REAT TO Y\R TRUE 5EMIES4 ,PLEASE CONSID] :AT'S REALLY AT /AKE H]E & ASK Y\RSELF IF IT'S REALLY WOR? IMPOS+ Y\RSELF1 SO =CEFULLY 9 GA%ES ( DIVISION1 UPON SPACES = POT5TIAL SOLID>ITY4 ,TO MAKE *ANGE HAPP5 Y\ ALWAYS HAVE TO WORK ) PEOPLE :O >E DIFF]5T ?AN Y\1 :O HAVE DIFF]5T VALUES1 DIFF]5T PREJUDICES1 & YES EV5 DIFF]5T BACKGR\NDS - BUT IF Y\ CANNOT WORK ) !M IT DOES NOT MEAN Y\ HAVE TO DIRECTLY WORK AGA9/ !M4 

,TO ?OSE SELF-/YL$ 0:ITE ALLIES0 :O ?\<T !Y E>N$ SOME K9D ( ANTI RACI/ PO9TS BY ASSI/+ OR 5DORS+ TO ?IS ACTION1 ,I HAVE V]Y SPECIAL NOTE = Y\3 

,A ,V]Y ,SPECIAL ,MESSAGE = ,Y\ - ,ASPIR+ ,ALLY ,:O ,SUPPORT$ OR ,5DORS$ ! ,ATTEMPT$.<#a.> ,EVICTION4 

,DE> ,ASPIR+ ,:ITE ,ALLY4 

,I SEE ?AT Y\ >E V]Y 9T]E/$ 9 LI/5+ & COM+ TO T]MS ) Y\R :ITE SK9N$ PRIVILEGE1 BY SUPPORT+ PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 E/ABLI%+ \R GR\ND 9 A L>GELY :ITE DEMOGRAPHIC4 ,AWESOME6 ,I ALSO SEE ?AT Y\'VE AID$ OR 5DORS$ AN 0ACTION0 ( \TRI<T ANTI-SOLID>ITY & IGNORANT BUFFOON]Y1 ?AT HAS DISA/R\S REP]CUSSIONS F> BEYOND CRIME?9C4 TO ! BEL[_/LEFT /RUGGLE AGA9/ IMP]IALISM AS A :OLE4 ,HMM444 ,DID Y\ ?9K !SE TWO ACTIVITIES SOMEH[ GO H& 9 H&8 ,I F9D ?IS SOME:AT DI/URB+4 

,I KN[ SOME ( Y\ SOMETIMES FEEL UNCOM=TABLE DISAGREE+ ) PEOPLE ( COLOR1 ESPECIALLY :5 ! ISSUE 9VOLVES RACE4 ,I HAVE HE>D A FEW ( Y\ SAY 0,I DON'T ?9K IT IS REALLY MY PLACE AS A :ITE P]SON TO OBJECT TO ! ACTIONS OR TACTICS ( A P]SON ( COLOR04 ,TO ME1 !SE /ATEM5TS S\ND LIKE A Y\NG *ILD SAY+ 0,S9CE ,I'M A KID1 ,I CAN'T REALLY OBJECT TO ! ?+S ?AT GR[N-UPS DO40 

,IT'S H>D = ME TO KN[ H[ TO REACT TO /ATEM5TS LIKE ?IS1 BUT ONE ( ! FIR/ QUE/IONS ?AT COMES TO MY M9D IS3 0,:AT IF TWO GR[N-UPS DISAGREE80 

,TO SOME ( Y\1 IT SEEMS ! ANSW] TO ?IS PROBLEM WAS TO GO ) ! MORE RADICAL-SEEM+ ANSW]4 ,MAYBE TO SOME ( Y\ ?IS IS :AT BE+ RADICAL MEANS4 ,MAYBE SOME ( Y\ ?\<T ! DISRUPTORS W\LD NOT CALL Y\ RACI/ IF Y\ SUPPORT$ !M - OR ?AT !Y W\LD ONLY SMACK Y\ ONCE1 & NOT V]Y H>D4 ,MAYBE Y\ ?\<T IF Y\ W5T ALONG ) !IR 9ITIAL DEM&S = EVICTION1 Y\ W\LDN'T HAVE TO REALLY GO ALL ! WAY BACK TO ,EUROPE4 ,:ATEV] Y\ ?\<T1 ,I HOPE Y\'RE ?9K+ A LITTLE CLE>] N[1 & \T ( Y\R S5SE ( REASON2 NOT GUILT4 

,! TRU? IS1 Y\ DON'T NE$ ME1 OR ANY O!R P]SON ( COLOR TO GIVE Y\ P]MISSION TO QUE/ION1 & OBJECT TO ?IS /UNT1 ?IS M5TALITY1 ?IS IGNORANCE1 BECAUSE Y\ >E A GR[N-UP4 ,Y\'VE ALREADY HAD YE>S TO EXPLORE ! TORTU\S MAZE ( IMPLICATIONS ?AT /RET* \T BEH9D ! ,TWO ,GR[N-,UPS ,DISAGREE ,P>ADOX4 ,Y\ KN[ !RE'S NO EASY ANSW]4 

,Y\ KN[ ?AT ,P,O,C >E NOT REALLY AS MONOLI?IC AN 5TITY AS A SMALL GR\P ( PRESUMPTU\S 9DIVIDUALS MAY CON/RUE US4 ,WE SPEAK1 ?9K1 & ACT = \RSELVES1 & IF ANY P]SON ( COLOR CLAIMS ?AT !Y REPRES5T ! 9T]E/S ( REAL ,P,O,C - AS OPPOS$ TO RACE TRAITORS - !Y %\LD BE VIEW$ ) ! FIRME/ SUSPICION4 

,:Y1 AS A P]SON ( COLOR1 W\LD ,I BE TELL+ Y\ ?IS8 ,ONE EXPLANATION IS ?AT ,I HAVE BE5 BRA9WA%$ BY Y\1 AS ONE DISRUPTOR SUGGE/$4 

,REALLY1 IT'S SIMPLE4 ,AS A ,P,O,C ,I CAN EASILY IMAG9E A NUMB] ( B5EFITS TO :ITE PEOPLE :O >E SO WILL+ TO GO ALONG ) :AT A ,P,O,C SAYS1 CONC]N+ RACE ISSUES1 ?AT !Y MAY BE WILL+ TO PUT !IR E?ICS & CRITICAL ?9K+ ON HOLD TO SUPPORT !M OR /AY PASSIVELY \T ( !IR WAY2 BUT1 ,I CAN ALSO ?9K ( AT LEA/ AS MANY NEGATIVE CONSEQU5CES TO SU* :ITE PEOPLE444 ESPECIALLY IF !Y %>E ! SAME COMMUNITY ) ME4 ,:AT IF1 = R&OM EXAMPLE1 !Y BECOME 9FLU5C$ BY ,P,O,C (1 SAY1 QUE/IONABLE *>ACT]8 

,LIKEWISE1 IT DOES NOT COM=T ME AS A ,P,O,C TO KN[ ?AT !RE'S :ITE FOLKS :O WILL TAKE HATE FILL$ 9SULTS LIKE 0,GO BACK TO ,EUROPE60 TO ! FACE1 FROM A ,P,O,C1 & /ILL CONDONE !IR ACTIONS & ACT AS APOLOGI/S = !M1 ANY MORE ?AN IT COM=TS ME AS A MALE TO KN[ !RE >E WOM5 :O WILL TAKE BLATANT V]BAL ABUSE FROM !IR HUSB&S & /ILL NOT LEAVE !M4 ,IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME K9D ( SAD4 

,BE=E CONCLUD+1 ,I W\LD LIKE TO EXT5D A PLAGUE ON ANYONE :O USES MY WORDS TO RATIONALIZE !IR IGNORANCE ( :ITE PRIVILEGE1 OR !IR P]PETUATION ( :ITE SUPREMACY4 ,! DI/9CTION ,I TRY TO DRAW H]E IS REALLY NOT ALL ?AT COMPLICAT$4 ,IT IS ! DIFF]5CE BETWE5 LI/5+ )\T ASS]T+ Y\RSELF1 & FOLL[+2 BETWE5 RESPECT & +RATIATION2 BETWE5 BE+ PATI5T & LETT+ Y\RSELF BE BLATANTLY DISRESPECT$4 

,I'M NOT TRY+ TO DRAW P]FECT F9E L9ES H]E4 ,! =MATION ( MORE RIGID L9ES & EASY B9>IES IS ! LA/ ?+ ,I'M HOP+ =4 ,!RE >E NO EASY ANSW]S :5 IT COMES TO BE+ A GOOD ALLY1 ESPECIALLY T[>D PEOPLE ( COLOR4 ,BE+ A GOOD ALLY T[>D ONE P]SON ( COLOR W\LD BE EASY4 ,A SMALL GR\P ( ,P,O,C ) ]RATIC 9T]NAL DYNAMICS - A LITTLE H>D]4 ,BE+ AN ALLY TO PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 ! WORLD AT L>GE3 ?AT IS A LONG T]M OBJECTIVE WOR?Y ( ! MO/ AMBITI\S AN>*I/ - A GOAL ?AT BR+S 5DLESS QUE/IONS & P>ADOXES ALONG ) IT4 ,AT ?IS PO9T1 AN ESS5TIAL /EP T[>D ?IS GOAL IS UND]/&+ ?AT SUPPORT+ ! ACTIONS ( A SMALL GR\P ( ,P,O,C1 DOES NOT NECESS>ILY MAKE Y\ A BETT] ALLY TO PEOPLE ( COLOR1 IT MAKES Y\ A BETT] ALLY TO ?OSE ,PEOPLE ( ,COLOR4 

,IT IS POSSIBLE1 )\T EXT5UAT+ ! REALITY ( PRIVILEGE DISP>ITY AMONG \RSELVES1 TO REMEMB] ?AT B5EA? IT ALL1 NOBODY IS IMMACULATE ( PRIVILEGE4 ,UNLESS Y\ >E DEAD1 OR AB\T TO DIE1 Y\ CAN BE HUMBL$ BY ! FACT ?AT Y\ LIVE ) PRIVILEGE4 ,& ONLY A FOOL ASSUMES !Y CAN KN[ ! PRIVILEGE ( SOMEONE !Y'VE NEV] MET BE=E4 

,= ME1 ! MO/ IMPORTANT DI/9CTION1 IF WE >E ALL GUILTY1 DRAWS BETWE5 GUILT & HUMILITY4 ,GUILT IS HEAVY1 OPAQUE1 & REACTION>Y4 ,HUMILITY IS BUOYANT1 REFLECTIVE1 & PROACTIVE4 ,G5]ALLY UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( GUILT1 PEOPLE ACT MORE /UPIDLY1 :ILE :5 HUMBL$1 ! POSSIBILITIES >E 5DLESS4 

,?ANKS EV]YBODY :O TOOK ! TIME TO READ ?IS1 

,Y\RS 9 REVOLUTION1 

,DOOIT] 

.<#a.> ,! CONV]G5CE DIDN'T 5D1 BY ! WAY4 ,IT'S SIMPLY A LIE TO SAY IT DID 

7,S\RCE3 HTTPS3_/_/CRIME?9C4COM_/#b#i_/#h_/#c_/CRIME?9C-CONV]G5CE-CONTROV]SY & HTTPS3_/_/CRIME?9C4COM_/#b#i_/#h_/#h_/MORE-CONV]G5CE-ACC\NTS47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#c1 #bbb 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 ,CONV]G5CE ,CONTROV]SY -- ,ADD$4 

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