Circles Collective

07/25/2017

It has come to our attention that this abuser in question has said that the survivor's call out was violent and denied him his space within the DIY scene for him to heal from his respective past trauma(s). He has been stating that while he would like to take accountability, the survivors have not been saying the "whole truth" or that the incidents "didn't happen that way."

We do not believe or condone using past experiences of trauma to justify these statements or the continued silencing of survivors. We do not believe in denying survivors their stories and truths. We stand with the survivors in their healing, and do not believe that transformative justice should come at the expense of the survivors' safety.

We are not calling for a "witch hunt" but rather an honest plea for healing. Abusers should be using their support systems to seek the help they need, rather than to justify behaviours. To reach out and ask for help for the difficult road that lies ahead. Accountability is grueling. It forces us to looks at the darkest parts of ourselves to push pus from the wound until it comes clean. It is not a band-aid solution to old wounds.

Via Katie G Lee

I've seen several abusers pay lip-service by making public statements for their 'acountability' yet I hear from others in the community that they are going around saying that what survivors are saying are "somewhat of a lie" or "is not the entire truth." As we start to have very serious conversations around abuse within our scenes please take a moment to educate yourselves on what accountability and restorative justice can look like. If you are an abuser, it is not okay to deny the experience of others, even if the abuse you've enacted on others comes from your own history of experiencing abuse. That is not an excuse. Get help, learn, and understand that how you operate in this world might not be how you perceive it to be. Understand the power and social capital you hold.

Resources:
https://www.sproutdistro.com/…/zines/accountability-consent/
http://criticalresistance.org/…/addressing-harm-accountabi…/

Montreal:
Centre for Gender Advocacy (resources and advice): http://genderadvocacy.org/
Argyle Institute (Sliding scale therapy): http://argyleinstitute.org/en/
CIDS in Laval (works with abusers and people who have caused harm): http://cidslaval.com/cids-cisd/

We address this statement to all those who have or may interact with Zachary Goldberg-Mota in the foreseeable future. As survivors of this individual’s assault, abuse and violence in all forms, we have decided to take collective action, the purpose being to prevent future abuse and to prompt Zach...

05/09/2017

Ground Support Needed IMMEDIATELY at Kanesatake

From APTN National News:

"Kanesatake Mohawk Territory is confronting what dozens of other municipalities in Quebec have faced in the last week, mass flooding that hasn’t been seen in generations. So far eight homes have been evacuated, and at least 20 more are in danger....the armed forces have been called in to help the neighbouring municipality of Oka, but Grand Chief Simon says they’ve declined any help from the army even though volunteers are getting tired and that resources such as bags and twist ties are running thin.“We’re not ready to have the army back here, after what happened 26 years ago,” said Simon referring to the 1990 invasion of Kanesatake by armed forces, known as the “Oka crisis”. “We’re doing pretty good, I think we’re doing as good as the army could. I’m really proud of my community.”

As most of us are settlers occupying Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) traditional territory and surrounding areas, it is imperative that we support those in and around Kanesatake in these times of hardship.

After speaking to the emergency preparedness team volunteers are needed more than anything to prepare sandbags and secure buildings/infrastructure.

URGENTLY NEEDED: VOLUNTEERS, water, Wading rainboots sz7-10 women's, sz10-13 men's

Please call BEFORE leaving to ask for a current safety status, about the current needs before entering the community. The meeting point to fill and distribute sandbags is the Public Works Offices.

Kanesatake Emergency Preparedness Team Contact Information:
450-479-8373 ext. 123 or 514-967-6538

The rideshare form is below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vTlW2CMVB7R4vUmkeiZwEaI-3druEyYgggMk7ZktsAE/edit?usp=sharing

Please contact the cars listed if you are available to drive/volunteer at that time.

The GoFundMe is currently being created to provide support/cover damages. It is pending consent from the Kanesatake Emergency Preparedness team
If you are unable to provide ground support, please share this callout widely.

rideshare Have a ride/ Need a ride?, Driver available?, Number of Seats, Equipment, volunteers or both?, Departure meeting point, Earliest Departure Date, Latest Departure Date, Earliest Return Date, Latest Return Date, Dates Flexible, Name, Email Address, Phone, Notes: Ride details, space avai...

05/04/2017

CW: war, genocide, gender based violence, pregnancy, Palestinian resistance/war, Israeli defence forces, reproductive rights

Bissan, a civil engineering student at Concordia and expecting mother has been fighting gender based violence from the state. She has been prevented from leaving a camp within the Gaza Strip, a current war zone for Palestinian freedom, due to recent travel bans and military occupational forces. We are calling on all organizations and people to support her return to Tio:tia:ke (Montréal) so that both herself and the child may have a safe environment. This is no ordeal that anyone should have to endure.

On behalf of the Circles Collective, we are calling on you write letters of support, talk to your peers, reach out to your universities and contact your elected representatives about this human rights violation. We believe in the power of choice for everyone regarding their reproductive decisions, both before and after birth. We resist the states' violence towards women both within and outside Turtle Island (Canada).

Learn more about this below and sign here: https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-bring-bissan-home-1d70fdc7-0e44-445a-9d40-6b333ffc1c3a

We talked with Rami Yahia, one of the organizers behind a new campaign called "Bring Bissan Home" Bissan Eid is a Palestinian-Canadian Concordia student who is being blocked by the Israeli authorities from coming back home to Montreal from Gaza. Rami talked to us about Bissan and her case and why th...

04/27/2017

CW: CSA, pe******ia
(Apologize for not putting CW before)

When will people stop avoiding naming the abuse of underage women and genderq***r youth in our music communities. It's not just "a power imbalance, predatory, or creepy", these are symptoms of the real issue at hand, PE******IA. It's as simple as that.

Once we can finally name the issue, stop the silencing the self-determination of youth and trying to find excuses, we can finally confront the violence. I see way too many "activists" in our community who refuse to name and speak the truth of the pedophilic violence in our community. We have been conditioned to accept that as children, we do not have agency. This is not true. Protect the youth at all costs, remind them of their agency and ability to say "NO".

04/18/2017

We now have download/info cards now!!

Give them away, hide them or throw them like darts at the folks who disrespect your space!! All of the above works!

03/21/2017

Wise words from Cherrilyn Birchwood one of our amazing panelists from our book launch. Healing is not linear

03/21/2017

This is an amazing project and resource :)

"The Affirmations Deck was created by a group of q***r and trans* youth involved with Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Filling in the Blanks: Queering SexEd project! Each card features a statement to help youth feel seen, valued, and supported. The cards touch on A BUNCH of topics, including bodies, consent, gender, identity, healing/recovery, self-love, relationships, and more."

http://teenhealthsource.com/blog/resource-affirmations-deck/

03/20/2017

Community justice is transformative

HOW TO HELP: [email protected] & [email protected] Directed by: Bobby Hanaford Cinematography/Edited: Jevin Lee Sound/AD: Max Geppert Cover photo: ...

03/08/2017

We love this zine

this 118 page e-zine is a multi media compilation of femme genius. the contributors come from a wide range of life experiences. it features affirming and magical advice and stories to help women and femmes not only survive, but thrive while living with the impacts of the patriarchy.there is an herba...

03/07/2017

Kind words from the friends over at Stack Your Roster

We are proud to announce that Circles: A Community Response & Resource is now available in our store!

Both the ebook and printed book can now be purchased in the SYR shop. The Circles collective believes everyone deserves access to this resource, so if you cannot afford to spend any money, please get in touch with [email protected] to get your copy. To further accommodate all wallet sizes, the ebook and physical book are both available on a sliding scale of $1 to $12 (CAD). If your distro, store, or venue would like to stock these, please do not hesitate to get in touch at the email address listed above.

store: http://stackyourroster.storenvy.com/collections/1477705-circles-a-community-response-and-resource

Circles is a community-focused project designed to center and support survivors of abuse and sexual violence. In it you will find a neatly designed directory of support services and resources for survivors based in Tio’tia:ke (Montreal) and Tkaronto (Toronto). Also included are general Canada-wide networks, as well as services and resources for those who have committed abuse.

Designed by Chloe Cavis-Haie, a lead organizer and collaborator of the Circles collective, the book also features art made by survivors, for survivors. The physical edition is bound with covers printed by La Presse du Chat Perdu. Proceeds will pay designers, artists, panelists, and cover the costs of printing present and future editions.

03/07/2017

The first in a series of documents designed to center survivors and victims of sexual violence and abuse. It will feature art, poetry, and literature by survivors, an index of support services and centres across Canada, as well as a small online directory of web-based resources.

Our first publication was designed by collective member Chloe Cavis featuring amazing illustrations by Kendra Bramson-Bowes, a healing comic by Lee Lai and beautiful covers screenprinted by La Presse du Chat Perdu!!

Available in print and PDF here:
http://stackyourroster.storenvy.com/