we are not weak: lessons on how to stop a dictator | 27 may OR 11 june

hey,

my dear friend, maureen, has gotten the fire to be spreading the word of gene sharp, author of texts including: “from dictatorship to democracy,” “civilian-based defense,” and “the anti-coup.” she lead a book club/study group back during the 45th presidency and it was great.

now, she’s collaborating with some friends to do a few learning sessions to support continued spread of his work. details below. sign up if you’re interested and feel free to spread the word. i’m co-facilitating the 27 may session with her.

How can we rise up in the face of authoritarianism?

What lessons can we learn from people-powered movements around the world?

What power do we have to protect and advance our democracy?

Join us for an online learning session to explore these questions through examples from the resistance movement in Serbia and the work of Gene Sharp, a world-renowned expert on nonviolent civil action. We will watch a portion of the 2011 documentary about Dr. Sharp’s work, “How to Start a Revolution,” and discuss some methods of nonviolent action we can use in the U.S. today.

Please register for one of the session dates below:

May 27 | 6-8pm ET | Hosted by Maureen White and lawrence barriner | register here

June 11 | 6-8pm ET | Hosted by Maureen White and Mikayla | register here

About the hosts:

Maureen White (she/her) is a Boston-based facilitator, consultant, coach, and organizer. For over 25 years she has worked with and for nonprofits, community groups, campaigns, and social movements. She is committed to our collective learning in order to resist the current regime.

Mikayla (they) is a facilitator, coach, organizer, Quaker, and baker; they have always been anti-authoritarian by nature, and they’re eager to be part of building a broad, deep anti-authoritarian movement for our survival. Mikayla is white, class privileged (from a managerial class family, individually downwardly mobile), queer, and trans/nonbinary.

lawrence barriner ii (he/him) is Black, queer, spiritual, and always learning. he works as facilitator, coach, and consultant based on occupied massachusett and pawtucket lands. his work in the world often includes time travel, exploring futures beyond patriarchy, and using imagination and creativity as a tool for liberation, all of which he hopes to bring to dismantling this authoritarian regime.

About Gene Sharp:

In an academic and professional career spanning more than six decades, Gene Sharp became a prominent political theorist who studied and advanced the cause of nonviolent action for social and political change. His ideas and writings, along with his close study of Gandhi and dictatorships, have informed nonviolent struggles for freedom around the world.