Tabatha Pilgrim Thompson

Protecting Our Communities and Democracy From Threats, Intimidation, and Political Violence

Threats of political violence are eroding U.S. democracy. With upticks in all the major indicators of political violence (PV), communities of color and other marginalized communities are under severe attack. We have to go on the offensive to address these threats and acts of PV, in order to maximize backfire, defections, and extract costs on perpetrators. Defense alone will not cut it.

There is a long history of politically motivated threats and violence being used in the U.S. to restrict the franchise, suppress dissent, and invoke fear and terror in communities of color and other marginalized communities. It was the glue that held together Jim Crow and single-party white rule.

Today, political violence is one of the most viscerally felt aspects of the authoritarian playbook, with real people and communities suffering actual harm. It continues to be one of the greatest obstacles to achieving a multi-racial democracy.

Tens, if not hundreds, of millions of Americans think threats of political violence are unacceptable, and many are concerned about this problem. However, thus far they have not been given much direction or guidance about how they can:
1) Support victims of threats
2) Impose costs on perpetrators and those who incite them
3) Transform fear and threats into resilient and organized multi-racial pro-democracy organizations and communities.

This session will offer training and resources on how to do all three.

Speakers: Jiva Manske, Tabatha Pilgrim Thompson