I’ve had a lot of questions publicly and privately about Times Up and it’s connection to the Cuomo case. There is a lot of criticism being tossed around. Some of it constructive. A lot of questions being asked. Much of them warranted.
In my opinion this is a survivor issue. Survivors, after all are the main constituents. I think it’s important to hear @TinaTchen in her own words speaking directly to survivors, just like it’s important for survivors to be heard by @TIMESUPNOW
This letter feels like a first step to having some important internal conversations both in the TU organization and the movement at large. As someone with a lot of visibility I know what it’s like to make missteps publicly.
I’ve endured those moments because I’ve been afforded huge amounts of grace by people who understand that even when we don’t agree we are ultimately not enemies. I’m continuously grateful for that and do my best to allow grace (and love) to lead me as a result.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
He’s gone. Not much more to say about that - but listen…
This “generational difference” and “rules have changed” nonsense is WRONG.
The *rules* have NOT changed. It was WRONG 50 years ago and today. The difference is there were few paths to accountability years ago.
Please stop saying “well the rules have changed” because it’s not true. The attention to sexual violence has changed. The rule of “keep your hands to yourself” is universal. We all learned that in Kindergarten.
Nothing is NEW here. Women didn’t JUST start fighting back and speaking up. We just finally found a frequency that folks can hear us more clearly on.
There isn’t much more to be said about Congressman John Lewis than has already been said or shown in his deep legacy, so I want to share a personal story from my days at the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, AL.
Somewhere in the early 2000s we were honoring Congressman Lewis at the Annual Freedom Flame Awards. I had just finished redoing a number of exhibits in the museum and had done some extensive research about that Nashville movement connection.
Folks like John Lewis, Diane Nash and my beloved Rev. CT Vivian had studied under Rev. Lawson there and I found pictures of John Lewis’ very first arrest that he had never seen! I was so excited to put together a slide show for his awards presentation and worked hard on it.
A few months ago my dude was looking for a tote bag to carry some things to the post office. I gave the biggest bag I had which happened to be bright pink and red. He saw the bag and immediately asked for another one. When I asked why he just insisted on a different color bag.
His insistence annoyed me and I started in on him fussing about it being sexist and homophobic, even to reject a bag based on thinking it’s too effeminate!
He let me fuss at him for a minute and then finally she said “Baby, please stop. That’s not it!”
He said “I’m a 6’3 Black man. If I’m walking down the street with a bright pink bag I could look like I stole it from a woman - which could attract police attention. I’m never trying to give these cops a reason to stop me. Ever.”
Never occurred to me.
One of the most amazing things about working at the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma was meeting random, interesting people. Folks would often just wonder into the museum and have fascinating information or artifacts from the Movement. #MalcolmXDay
One of the greatest example was this man who came in and told us that he was in Selma reporting on the Movement when Malcolm X came to speak. For those who don’t know the story there was a bit of happenstance that led to that visit. Bro. Malcolm wasn’t originally scheduled.
He was in Alabama to speak at Tuskegee Univ and SNCC organizers heard he was there and pleaded with him to bring his message to Selma where the Voting Rights struggle had heated all the way up - that is both the organizing AND the police terrorism.
Those defending Joe Biden by saying that he’s a “good guy” and therefore could never harm anyone are instead harming survivors and this movement. Relying on him being “the only hope” against Trump wouldn’t excuse his behavior either.
We need to beat Trump. We also deserve to hold our own candidate to a higher standard. Joe Biden needs to speak for himself. Not through surrogates or statements. If he wants to be electable, he has to be accountable.
I took a moment away from work and movement-related issues to be present where I was needed as my family was affected with COVID. But, I know many of you are wondering about my “take” on the Tara Reade story.
1/14
My stance has never wavered: survivors have a right to speak their truth and to be given the space to heal.
2/14
The inconvenient truth is that this story is impacting us differently because it hits at the heart of one of the most important elections of our lifetime. And I hate to disappoint you but I don’t really have easy answers.
3/14