Part II: Non Violent Direct Action (NVDA) Training
Discussion facilitated by Marian Doub and Nikki Sachs
We are deeply grateful to The Society of Fearless Grandmothers for offering this training in August 2020 during the cocooning enforced by the global pandemic crisis. The Society of Fearless Grandmothers trains older women in NVDA, how to organize, how to become a police liaison, and how to nonviolently stand between law enforcement and those behind us conducting nonviolent direct actions. The Society of Fearless Grandmothers is a wholly volunteer community service organization.
This is a wonderful pre-recorded training about how to show up well as a guest and ally in solidarity and be prepared for justice and clean water, air and soil action, led by experienced Society of Fearless Grandmothers NVDA Trainers Pennie Opal Plant and Alison Ehara Brown, founders of the Society of Fearless Grandmothers, Idle No More San Francisco Bay, and signers of the Indigenous Women of Americas Defending Mother Earth Treaty. Facilitators will include information on “Getting Organized”, which will continue into the April training.
This training covers topics to orient and prepare for a wide range of creative, nonviolent actions. Topics will cover the ABCs of creating or joining actions with a variety of roles and tactics that match your passions and abilities: strategic use of nonviolence in social movements, affinity groups, liaison with police and media, how to create beautiful direct actions, how to provide jail support, and other topics. The training will break out into smaller group sessions to reflect more deeply on our personal understandings as elder women committed to speaking out and acting in support of a healthy, clean, safe and restored planet for all beings. We’ll practice nonviolent techniques for preventing or de-escalating potentially violent situations and how to understand and work with the emotions that can be triggered or evoked.
The video does not need to be watched prior to the training, however you are encouraged to do so if you can. Our experience is that we get something new or deeper out of each fresh viewing, and you may get more from the training if you do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0uJ6yYbECE
We are inspired by the work of the Society of Fearless Grandmothers and recognize that their work is done on a wholly voluntary basis. As guests on stolen land, we are humble and embrace the gift of their wisdom in this training with our deep gratitude. You can make a contribution today to their sister organization, Movement Rights, to help their work with tribal communities to stop fracking and pipelines and protect the Rights of Nature.
https://www.movementrights.org/donation-page/
https://www.facebook.com/fearlessgrandmothers