I was promoting Lights for Liberty, the July 12 vigil to protest the detention camps, and was a volunteer at the vigil here in DC.

I learned about Lights for Liberty by following one of its co-founders, Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin, who does Resistance Live broadcasts on Facebook, and by taking her RISE activist bootcamp this past spring.

I have learned a great deal from participating in the event as a volunteer. I also learned so much from the RISE curriculum and from other women in RISE. I also learned a great deal from Elizabeth, and took her wisdom to heart. One thing in particular stood out: her insistence that white women take a back seat to women of color (WOC) and people of color (POC).

For example, here’s a quote:

“Also, please understand again that there are orgs doing this everywhere. You do not have to start from scratch nor should you. Swooping in to save the day is a bad idea for a whole host of reasons. Follow the lead of women already doing the work, and WOC in particular.” — ECM on Twitter, May 15, 2019

Very true…

Lights for Liberty was a great event, and for the most part, almost all the local events were inspiring and accomplished the goals.

But as Kristin details in her post here, the loose coalition that was Lights for Liberty announced after the vigils that it intended to change direction and become a non-profit to lobby, Krisin — the only woman of color in the group of five cofounders — raised concerns about how she was marginalized, and how POC needed to be front and center in leadership. Her relationship with Lights for Liberty was quickly severed.

This has resulted in a great deal of infighting and disagreements among Elizabeth’s fans and followers.

Here’s the deal. It doesn’t take away from the accomplishments of Lights for Liberty, its cofounders, or the many people who participated and volunteered, for Kristin to share her unique concerns as the only person of color involved in the leadership.

To suggest she keep it private, or not speak out, or say it differently, is simply classic tone policing. To suggest she has a hidden agenda, sour grapes, “wanted to be in charge,” is holding a grudge, or is simply an “exhausted new mom,” is classic silencing, blaming the victim, and secondary victimization.

Didn’t we learn anything from Anita Hill, Christine Blasey Ford, and now, the Squad?

Kristin is raising legitimate questions:

1. Why was the only person of color in Lights for Liberty made to feel marginalized — unintentionally or intentionally — by white people of privilege — including those who are without a doubt progressive, “woke” and who are allies to the causes that affect people of color?

2. Is another non-profit truly needed in this space, when there are many long-established and well-respected groups that are already doing lobbying, fundraising, and advocacy on the issue, groups that happen to be established by and led by people of color?

3. Will people of color be in full leadership roles at Lights for Liberty, or will they be relegated to advisory roles or boards with little or no decision-making authority, or used as figureheads?

These are questions that Kristin has been raising, and that hopefully will be addressed, and answered soon in both word and deed.

As part of the leadership group, Kristin rightly attempted to get those questions answered privately. The result? She was almost immediately excluded from the group’s leadership.

I KNOW Kristin and know that she wants to do the right thing. I don’t know Elizabeth personally, but from following her and being in RISE, she seems to be someone who wants to do the right thing. And that’s my sense of the other Lights for Liberty co-founders as well.

I am waiting to see what that looks like going forward.

I stand with Kristin, believe her, and support her and her right to speak out — and speak up against those who attempt to tone police her, silence her, question her motives, or victim shame her — while at the same time, I hope that Lights for Liberty takes this all to heart, so that it is designed as a valuable and truly inclusive organization going forward.

Will that happen? I don’t know. But let’s be real: Kristin being unceremoniously kicked out of Lights for Liberty for speaking up about what appear to be legitimate concerns was NOT a good start.

And in the end, if Lights for Liberty goes on to transform and grow itself as a truly inclusive organization that makes a difference, they will — in very large part — have Kristin’s passion, and her massive contribution to thank for their success.