Join the CAWS (Cascadians Against White Supremacy) was created through an anti-white supremacy summit that we hosted Saturday, November 4, 2017 to take a strong stance against the rising alt-right and white supremacist culture taking root after the election of Donald Trump, and efforts by White Supremacists to co-opt Cascadian symbols.
To combat these efforts, the Cascadia Underground, Cascadia Arts Collective and in cooperation with Seattle CascadiaNow hosted an anti-white White Supremacy Summit that brought together nearly 200 people at the University Gathering United Methodist Church in Seattle. Organizers were disappointed at the lackluster response of larger organizations like CascadiaNow to take effective action outside of a “strongly worded letter”.
The Cascadia Underground is excited to Welcome to the Cascadians Against White Supremacy (Join the caws) Workgroup to create toolkits for simple steps to combat systemic white supremacy, and provide a platform for sharing stories of those affected by, or taking a stand against white supremacy.
Read more about this event here: https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2017/11/cascadia-now-hopes-to-defend-the-doug-against-pacific-northwest-racist-resurgence/
CAWS (Cascadians Against White Supremacy) is a non-partisan, volunteer organization aimed at educating about and acting against white supremacist action within the Cascadia bioregion. They do this via independently run workgroups and semi-annual CAWS summits, which feature TEDx-style personal and educational presentations, musical guests, and performances. Each summit culminates in resistance art making workshops, sponsored by Cascadia Underground.
Cascadia Underground is also excited to partner to provide space and equipment for video interviews with leading activists, organizers, and those working to combat white supremacy in their day to day lives.
HOW DO I JOIN THE CAWS?
If you’re interested in fighting white supremacy within the Cascadia bioregion, here are ways you can get involved with CAWS:
Join a work group. This is an all-hands-on-deck movement! If you want to take responsibility for networking with frontline groups, join in on postering campaigns, help organize the next CAWS Summit, or have some sweet merch ideas – there’s a workgroup waiting for you to start or join!
Give a presentation at a CAWS summit. Whether you’re passionate about the history of WS within Cascadia, are trained in conflict de-escalation tactics, want to talk about your personal experiences, or want to perform your anti-racist or POC-perspective art for a new audience – let us know!
Share, promote, and bring awareness to CAWS events and workgroups. Talk to people within your network about CAWS, or post on social media.
Make suggestions. See something we’re missing? Let us know, and consider leading a workgroup on this topic or interest!
PRESENTATIONS AND SCHEDULE:
- What Cascadia Means To Me
- What is Cascadia? Bioregionalism Basics & CascadiaNow
- History of Local WS & Identifying Cascadian-based WS Groups ans Tactics
Break for food
- How To Use Skills You Already Have to Fight WS Every Day
- White Allyship & Responsibility
- Breakout Groups & Discussion / Social Change Through Art
- Breakout: CAWS Action Groups & Resistance Art Activities (sponsored by Cascadia Underground)
Food & Drink Provided
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We will be educating about Cascadia, current WS groups and tactics they use, open the space for POC/frontline/and traditionally marginalized communities and individuals, grow our allyship, and share practical steps we can each be taking to combat these systemic issues.
It is each of our responsibility to step up, and we hope you will join us for the formation of Cascadians Against White Supremacy (CAWS), a volunteer run organization dedicated to education, coordinating AWS actions, and creating spaces for POC/Frontline Voices within the Cascadia movement.
A big thank you to everyone working to make this event a success, especially the Seattle Cascadia Now! chapter for their work preparing presentations and food, the The Peoples Harm Reduction Alliance for their support and securing the space, and Cascadia Underground for providing materials for the guerrilla art night segement.
Make sure to Join the CAWS (Cascadians Against White Supremacy) new facebook page and our newly created website here: http://jointhecaws.com/
Please now this is a recent and new effort, and you can help us make it happen.
Participants will be invited to different workgroups, or to make art, get active and hit the streets - if they so choose! If you are a group that would like to partner, or if you would like to help organize, please email jointhecaws@gmail.com.
