The Consent Academy is reporting a Consent Incident, one that includes multiple instances of intentional violation, coercion, the active removal of agency, the abuse of power, and the perpetration of harm. We don’t normally make public statements like this, and we never name names, but given the heinous nature of the offense and the amount of harm done, we feel unable to keep silent. With that in mind, and with the humility that comes from being a part of this, we name the United States of America a consent violator.
For many, this will come as no great shock. The systemic nature of the abuse and oppression over a long period of time is well documented, as are the repeated attempts to bully, coerce, intimidate through violence and threat of violence, and silence those who have tried to speak up. These abuses are only the most recent and most obvious ways this violator has systematically oppressed those who have called for change.
We are referring to the national, state, and local responses to protests in support of Black lives and dismantling white supremacy in this country. The response is not new. Those in power, bolstered by racist and prejudicial rhetoric, have used their power throughout history to suppress the voices of justice, equality, and change. In doing so, they have intentionally, systematically, and repeatedly ignored the agency and consent of the very people they serve.
We want to remind everyone, but especially those in power:
It is not enough to point out the need for change in people’s lives, the systems they perpetuate, and the privilege they internalize. It is not enough to remind that all white people unfairly benefit from racism and systemic oppression of Black people, Indigenous people, and all people of color. It is not enough to say that killing people, based on the color of their skin and the places they live, is wrong and needs to change. So we are hoping to be clear in our message. If you actively perpetuate systems of violence and oppression, or do nothing to work towards dismantling those systems, you are violating consent and you cause harm. You are a consent violator and we are calling you out.
We are also calling you in. We believe in Transformative Accountability: the ability for people to change and to be held accountable through process, work, and support. Understanding you have in the past or are currently violating consent is not the end of the discussion -- it is the beginning of the work. There are many ways to learn and to make change. You need only choose a path forward.
Here are some resources:
Consent violations cause harm. Staying silent causes harm. We are hundreds of years past the time for change, yet this is the time we have. As a mostly white organization, we are on this journey too. Now is the time.
The Consent Academy
www.consent.academy
The Consent Academy is a mostly white educational collective based out of Seattle, WA. Our mission is to teach consent across contexts to help people understand what consent is and how it impacts lives. Our goal is to see consent used more in our culture and centered by both individuals and organizations.
In order to support positive change and do our part:
#ConsentIsEssential #ConsentForEveryone
For many, this will come as no great shock. The systemic nature of the abuse and oppression over a long period of time is well documented, as are the repeated attempts to bully, coerce, intimidate through violence and threat of violence, and silence those who have tried to speak up. These abuses are only the most recent and most obvious ways this violator has systematically oppressed those who have called for change.
We are referring to the national, state, and local responses to protests in support of Black lives and dismantling white supremacy in this country. The response is not new. Those in power, bolstered by racist and prejudicial rhetoric, have used their power throughout history to suppress the voices of justice, equality, and change. In doing so, they have intentionally, systematically, and repeatedly ignored the agency and consent of the very people they serve.
We want to remind everyone, but especially those in power:
- Denying anyone the right to speak, especially when you don’t like what they have to say, is a renunciation of their autonomy, and thus, a violation of consent.
- Denying anyone the right to protest injustice is an attempt to silence, and is oppressive, and is abusive, and is therefore a violation of consent.
- Failure to uphold personal boundaries, especially when doing so causes harm or death, is abusive and a violation of consent.
- Not listening to someone when they tell you to stop harming them is a violation of consent (even when deemed legal).
- Causing harm to people through violence or threat of violence is abusive and a violation of consent (even when deemed legal).
- Treating someone differently because of the color of their skin, their culture, or their racial identity is racism. Racism causes harm, oppression, physical & psychological damage, and is a violation of consent.
- Promoting white supremacy is racist. (See previous point)
- Any time you seek to deny people agency, the right to make choices, and/or the ability to say no, you are violating their consent.
It is not enough to point out the need for change in people’s lives, the systems they perpetuate, and the privilege they internalize. It is not enough to remind that all white people unfairly benefit from racism and systemic oppression of Black people, Indigenous people, and all people of color. It is not enough to say that killing people, based on the color of their skin and the places they live, is wrong and needs to change. So we are hoping to be clear in our message. If you actively perpetuate systems of violence and oppression, or do nothing to work towards dismantling those systems, you are violating consent and you cause harm. You are a consent violator and we are calling you out.
We are also calling you in. We believe in Transformative Accountability: the ability for people to change and to be held accountable through process, work, and support. Understanding you have in the past or are currently violating consent is not the end of the discussion -- it is the beginning of the work. There are many ways to learn and to make change. You need only choose a path forward.
Here are some resources:
- https://blacklivesmatter.com/
- https://bqic.net/
- https://www.benjerry.com/about-us/media-center/dismantle-white-supremacy
- https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/how-to-support-racial-justice-black-americans/
- https://lifehacker.com/where-to-donate-to-help-people-fighting-for-racial-just-1843852418
- https://www.charisbooksandmore.com/understanding-and-dismantling-racism-booklist-white-readers
- https://time.com/5846072/black-people-protesting-white-people-responsible-what-happens-next/
- https://daily.jstor.org/institutionalized-racism-a-syllabus/
- https://www.racialequitytools.org/home
Consent violations cause harm. Staying silent causes harm. We are hundreds of years past the time for change, yet this is the time we have. As a mostly white organization, we are on this journey too. Now is the time.
The Consent Academy
www.consent.academy
The Consent Academy is a mostly white educational collective based out of Seattle, WA. Our mission is to teach consent across contexts to help people understand what consent is and how it impacts lives. Our goal is to see consent used more in our culture and centered by both individuals and organizations.
In order to support positive change and do our part:
- Any organization of color that is protesting, supporting the protests, or working against white supremacy in general, and who would like to add consent discussions to that work, we will work with you for free.
- Any white or mostly white organization, who would like training in consent and racial justice, we will teach at a reduced cost (or at ½ off if you donate the other ½ to an organization supporting active change and the dismantling of white supremacy).
#ConsentIsEssential #ConsentForEveryone