06/10/2026
Important Community Information
Hey, all, this is a transparency post because we want to make sure you feel empowered to make the best, most informed choices around how you interact with the space.
Over the last year, but especially ramping up in the last couple months, People's Exchange has faced a slew of online harassment from local right-wing politicians, influencers, and regular neighbors - and recently an in-person, covertly-filmed visit.
They are targeting specific events, but that doesn't mean they aren't present and potentially recording other times.They regularly work themselves up online based on misinformation and fear mongering; we're not sure why they are intent on bending the truth or spreading a false narrative, but their motivations are their own and attempting to be understood by people who are committed to misunderstanding would be a fool's errand. We know the work we do, we know our community, we know what is true, and if you've been present and involved here, you know too. We're not interested in addressing them directly.
We would rather just address you all. If this is something that makes you nervous to engage with PEX, we understand and 100% support you in taking whatever steps and cautions feel right. Just because we as stewards of the space feel ready and willing to address these things as they come up, doesn't mean everyone is. We will try to stay transparent about anything urgent or any actions we are taking so you can keep informed and feel confident adjusting your own decisions.
These things don't come as a huge surprise. Carving out a space away from oppression and reactionary violence is the reason we exist and the reason we operate the way we do. PEX is a space that radically cares for each other. PEX is a space where marginalized and targeted people gather in solidarity. We are loud and proud to provide such a space, and we knew balancing safety and visibility was going to be a part of the struggle. Community really is the antidote to fascism, and your presence has always been the most valuable thing.
Even if PEX is not the right spot for you, please feel encouraged to meet and care for your neighbors and loved ones in the ways that work for you. Find every way you can be there for each other. Find every way to ask for help. Find every way to build up pockets of safety and support together.
We want to make it clear that we are not encouraging anyone to find and harass in-turn. You do not need to defend PEX in hostile spaces. If you are willing to privately message us any links or screenshots, that is welcome so we can keep an eye and expand our block list. Anything tagging us or shared publicly in our comments will be deleted, though. We really do not want to send more people into those spaces and boost their visibility, just send us a message or email.
If you see someone recording or being antagonistic in the physical space, please come find a steward. Check out our community agreements shared in the comments, they are short and sweet, and by coming into the space those are what people are agreeing to. Finding us is the best thing you can do if you feel they're being violated.
If you have peacekeeper or de-escalation training and would like to be on standby if something feels more high-alert, feel free to reach out via message, email, or in-person.
Thank you for building this incredible thing with us, and thank you for showing up for each other.
-PEX crew
