Nonviolent Direct Action (NVDA) training by Tracye Redd, a longtime activist and organizer based out of Washington, DC, will teach the fundamentals of direct action and civil disobedience on June 3, 2017, 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis.
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Annapolis and Anne Arundel County is sponsoring the event.
In recent months, many of us find ourselves resisting policies and rhetoric that we know to be hateful and unjust, not just for ourselves, but for our communities. It is clear that we must take action. We must show up collectively at rallies, marches and protests. We MUST resist.
As allies join movements that have existed long before our current President came to office, we need to be accountable to the ranking order. It is important to show up, learn the history of the movement and listen to activist leaders who have been doing the work. As acts of resistance call for more creativity, we must also be responsible to each other for our actions and bodies. An understanding of what the consequences of civil disobedience can be and how they affect others is definitely needed. Without this, we could endanger ourselves, others and even worse, the collective cause.
Nonviolent Direct Action Training is an introduction to direct action/civil disobedience, which includes various types of protests such as marches, blockades, and sit-ins. Tracye Redd will discuss what direct action is, why we use it as opposed to other methods, what tools we may use, and what political moment we are in, as well as what to expect from the police, and how to be flexible in the various situations we may find ourselves in.
Why provide Nonviolent Direct Action Training? “To me, it is almost second nature, it’s like why wouldn’t you,” says Tracye Redd who will lead the training. “It’s bigger than Trump and Hillary. It’s bigger than the Women’s March. This is about how white people can get involved and take risks. Risks that black and brown people have been taking for years. Risks that I no longer have a choice about, because my very breath as a black queer person in this country truly is resistance. So if you’re a white person, and you’re thinking about becoming an accomplice, ask yourself this: What are you willing to sacrifice and risk, for someone that doesn’t look like you?”.
“SURJ Annapolis is very honored to host Tracye and looks forward to an afternoon of challenging ourselves and our mindsets,” says Debi Jasen, one of the SURJ organizers of this educational event. “We invite all activists and interested community members to join us and to learn more about the SURJ’s Value of Accountability Through Collective Action.”
Tracye Redd is the 2017 recipient of the “Another World is Possible” Activist Award from the Washington Peace Center. He’s a DC-based activist and organizer who has participated in direct actions and civil disobedience around DC, Baltimore, and Charlotte, NC. Currently, he’s part of Black Lives Matter DC and Keep DC 4 Me and has participated in panels discussing alternatives to calling the police, redefining black masculinity, and the movement for black lives. Tracye trains direct action/civil disobedience in the greater DC area for groups such as Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) chapters in Richmond, VA; Montgomery County, MD; and Northern Virginia (NoVa). For inquiries on other trainings Tracye offers, please contact: tracye.elevate@gmail.com
Tickets are $10 cash at the door and pre-registration is suggested at: http://SURJAnnapolis.brownpapertickets.com/
SURJ Annapolis’ mission is to show up to accomplish change in ourselves, the community, and its leadership through education, communication, and action for racial justice.
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