Citizen Responses to Police Violence

Why is it important to tell our stories?

What stories are being told about targets of police violence? Many of the stories are often told from the perspective of those in authority and power, while the voices of those who experience violence are seldom heard. How can people who have been targets of violence take control of the narratives that are being told about them and get themselves heard? How have various oppressed groups historically resisted police violence and narrated their stories to the wider public? Come and learn this history (from Seneca Falls to Selma to Stonewall to Stop-and-Frisk), as well as how to make your voice heard as we learn to speak back to power. You can tell the stories of the injustices you have suffered and help make justice happen.

Skills

• Discover that you have a story to tell and realize that other people want to listen to what you have to say.

• Learn various ways to tell your stories with technology such as smartphones and leverage online media to disseminate them

• Anonymize to protect. Or, reveal to connect. You decide!

Speaking back to those in power can be difficult, but in this workshop we’ll talk about how to develop stories that are themselves powerful. You can make change with your words and your voice!

We’ll show you how to use the most current media to develop your stories. You can tell a story in photographs, through video, and by developing strong plots and narratives. You can even perform your stories, and record and share these with a broader audience.

We want to show you how to use the Internet, not only to present your story, but to speak to those in power. Learn about blogging, uploading to our platform, taking back your stats, and more.

Our motto is: Nothing about us without us!