PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Confronting Sexual Assault in the Pittsburgh Activist Community
by etta cetera Thursday, Apr. 03, 2003 at 1:07 AM

Please note that the following is not a statement from the people who were at the meeting just from one person who was there, me, they call me ET-TAR.

Hey, so we had a really positive meeting tonight at 1877 in place of the presence of Rich Mackin. There were about 25 or more people present. We discussed all sorts of things and the people who were left at the end of the meeting (about 15) thought it was a real good start to confronting sexual assault in our community. We talked and talked and broke up into groups and talked some more and then came back and talked again. It was a 6 hour long experience for me. Anyway, we are going to start ongoing discussions about this issue. The next meeting is at Project 1877 at 7pm on Tuesday April 15th. (do a search for Project 1877 on the internet to find the location)

Some of the things we discussed were:
The definitions of sexual assault/sexual harassment
Survivor support
Community Responsibility/ Response to Sexual Assault
What to do with Assaulters
How to keep this issue active in Pittsburgh

Over all it was a really positive, physical as opposed to virtual, experience. There were many posts and comments made about the Rich Mackin event. Many of them were anonymous. I believe many of these posts were made by people who don�t live in Pittsburgh. I also believe that many people who posted that do live in Pittsburgh, who defended Rich so whole heartedly did not attend the meeting. If they were that into him you might assume that they were going to attend his performance and therefore have a �free� evening when they found out the decision of Project 1877 to not allow him to perform. You might think they would come to discuss their OH SO STRONG FEELINGS about the issue.

I�ll put money down that if there was a posting about Iraq, and the U.S. government committing atrocities, people would not think twice about believing and actively working to stop it. But when it�s a survivor of sexual assault being brave and speaking out, people want DNA samples. (what�s up?!)

I encourage all of Pittsburgh to not get so emotional (like I have) over the things people posted anonymously to indymedia. I love indymedia for a million different reasons. Sometimes I like to post anonymous. But about the things I feel most seriously about I have left my name. I have decided it unproductive to believe or respond emotionally to posts where people don�t leave their names or contact info. I encourage people to meet in person or by phone or personal email accounts if at all possible.

DO NOT LET EXCHANGES ON INDYMEDIA DICTATE YOUR OPINIONS OF SERIOUS ISSUES WITH OUT TALKING TO PEOPLE. THIS IS REALLY EFFECTING THE MOVEMENT IN PITTSBURGH. PEOPLE! I IMPLORE YOU!
Pittsburgh! We are awesome! We have so much potential and we can work our problems and differences out! And if we can�t, what exactly are we fighting for anyway?

The internet is an organinzing tool. Don�t make it your world. It is not set up for sooper serious healthy communication. It is a useful tool in alerting communities that sexual assaulters may be coming to a town near you, for instance.

Anyway. People are excited to work on their stuff. If you are interested please come to the next meeting and if you can�t make it, don�t worry, there will be more.

love
ettar

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