Disability Justice, Sexual Violence, and Transformative Justice Thursday, April 12th, 7PM- 8PM Low Library, Faculty

Room Mia Mingus (generationFIVE) First Act: Disability Justice We can make something magical, even of the present disappointing dilemma. No one dies from compassion - Alice Walker Changing frameworks in disability justice Ableism in education Disability justice is not disability rights o rights: based on equality o justice: based on liberation To be just like you is to extend the privileged We dont want to access the same oppressive system We need a conversation based on work and bodies Access (disability, ableism) Communities must confront the problem of access. Accessibility is a way to combat ableism However, access for the sake of access is NOT liberation. Conversations on access is stuck on inclusion We must define access beyond traditional routes Access has to be a tool for something more To be labeled as disabled is to be dependent on others good and bad bodies The myth of independence Independence is impossible: someone made your shoes, your phone IndependenceInterdependency For you to help the disabled: you are the benevolent oppressor Define access as for us, all of the time, for the sake of community Mutual commitment as a person, acknowledging the truth that we need each other, longer commitment to human dignity.

Second Act: Transformative Justice What is transformative justice? It looks very different from meeting immediate needs Each member of community has a role in ending violence A way of responding to violence that does not replicate violence Does not perpetuate the very conditions that create violence Realize that vigilantism, community violence, is not needed Current justice system options are so limited; to lessen harm, not what is the most justified. We need to talk about larger systems, not romanticize that there was a time before the act. Its not getting rid of a couple of bad eggs: the people we are locking up would be our fathers, mothers

Sexual Violence: normalization of consent is not possible Child sexual abuse is often the first that falls through the cracks 1/3 of females, 1/6 of males encounter child sexual abuse Complicates the terms survivor and offender Most people are survivors of some form of violence How do we exist in this complicated state? How can we hold the government accountable? Leverage community resources: If we cannot hold ourselves accountable, how can we hold government accountable? How do we shift the balance of power in the work that we do? Dont replicate government models (current justice models) in transformative justice. This realization pushes us to do work in our homes and relationships. The ends do not justify the means. Things will NOT be better after the revolution. There will still be people that who need help. The task: Disability Justice, Sexual Violence, and Transformative Justice at same time. Community as collective responsibility. Generation Five: Learning to live past our lifetime, long term. What does this mean? Access vs. Privilege Make transformative justice accessible: Transformative justice is there for whom? Interdependence: What does it look like daily? A commitment towards interdependence.