Changes between Version 3 and Version 4 of projects/leadership-committee/intentionality
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- Apr 14, 2014, 4:36:22 PM (10 years ago)
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projects/leadership-committee/intentionality
v3 v4 1 1 '''May First/People Link Leadership Committee:''' 2 2 3 '''Official Statement on the Intentionality of the Leadership of Global Majority and Womenin Our Organization'''3 '''Official Statement on the Intentionality of the Leadership of Global Majority, Women and People of the Mexican Countryside in Our Organization''' 4 4 5 MF/PL, as a progressive membership organization, responds to the activities and developments within our movements for change and , at this point in the United States, the major movements for change are predominantly led by people of color (the Global Majority). This remarkable ascendancy, the product of decades of grass-roots struggle by movements of color, must be reflected in our membership, leadership and activities.5 MF/PL, as a progressive membership organization, responds to the activities and developments within our movements for change and seeks, as part of those movements, to respond to those activities and developments and reflect in our membership and leadership those movements' demographics and culture. 6 6 7 The fierce attack on women's rights, coupled with the persistent and deep-seated sexism within the technology industry (that affects all technology work), and the fundamental importance of feminism and the women's movements to all movements for social change makes urgent the same reflection of women and women's movements in membership, leadership and activities.7 At this point in the United States, the major movements for change are predominantly led by people of color: the Global Majority. 8 8 9 The reality is that, because of the particularly history of movements within the Global Majority communities in the United States (and the vicious targeting of men of color by repressive and genocidal policies), women are frequently in movement leadership and comprise large sections of these movements' rank and file.9 The fierce attack on women's rights, coupled with the persistent and deep-seated sexism within the technology culture, and the fundamental importance of feminism and the women's movements to all movements for social change makes urgent the same reflection of women and women's movements in our membership, leadership and activities. 10 10 11 The role of technology in these movements is particularly important. Because it represents the most eloquent expression of democratic spirit and human collaboration, it is vital to the success of our movements and the survival of the human race. At the same time, we must be conscious that particular effort has been made to lure people and movements of color into the use of corporate-owned social media and other proprietary tools and that the Internet's Left has done little to prevent that.11 The all-too-frequent neglect of the political and historical importance and success of movements in Mexican agricultural regions makes urgent that connections be made with those movements and that they be reflected in our membership and leadership. 12 12 13 At the same time, the incessant and increasing use of surveillance and other measures disruptive of democratic norms have been turned especially on communities of the Global Majority and this is particularly true of the use of Internet and communications technology by governments and repressive agencies like the National Security Agency.13 The role of technology in all these movements is particularly important. Because it represents the most eloquent expression of democratic spirit and human collaboration, it is vital to the success of our movements and the survival of the human race. At the same time, we must be conscious that particular effort has been made to lure people and movements of color into the use of corporate-owned social media and other proprietary tools and that the Internet's Left has done little to prevent that and that, in many of these movements, Internet activism isn't a priority. 14 14 15 We also recognize that most organizations led by Global Majority people simply don't believe that Internet activism itself is a priority and that joining our organization is not a political priority. We view that as a challenge we, as an organization, must take up.15 These are challenges we must take on. 16 16 17 17 Finally, we believe it is essential to bring together political progressive technologists of all backgrounds, particularly people of color, to begin to coordinate a strategy for response to these repressive measures and to advance the protection of the Internet's neutrality and free software development. 18 18 19 For these reasons, we will conduct our work and guide our organization's work with this intentionality. 19 For these reasons, we will conduct our work and guide our organization's work with this intentionality. Specifically: 20 21 1 -- We will vigorously circulate this statement to everyone with whom we have a relationship and rigorously apply it to all our work. 22 23 2 -- All major representation of May First/People Link to the U.S. and world movements must include at least one person of color and one woman. Exceptions to this rule should be approved by the LC itself. 24 25 3 -- The coordinators of each workgroup should include at least one person of color or woman. 26 27 We ask all who work with us to support us by challenging our activities when they don't reflect these principles.