Free, open to the public, no registration required!
Have you ever witnessed a situation of someone harassing another person because of their race, sex, religion, disability, age, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, assumed immigration status, or other reason? As a bystander in the situation did you want to respond but not know how to or were afraid to, or because our cultural norm is “don’t get involved”?
Have you been a victim of such harassment? As the victim did you wonder why no one looking on came to help or defend you? Did you feel violated by both the harasser and the bystanders?
Incidents of public hate and bullying are on the rise, partly because of the lack of interference or consequences, sends a message that this behavior is acceptable. So, it is important that we build self-confidence and learn ways to intervene safely for both ourselves and the person being harassed.
Bystander Intervention training is designed to help you learn and practice the skills to do so. The two-hour training will be offered at UUCW on Wednesday. October 16 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm and repeated on Saturday, October 19 from 9:30 – 11:30 am. Each session is free and open to the public so invite your friends.
Presented by trainers from SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Milwaukee, the workshop includes a learning segment of tips and strategies for intervention, how to overcome your fears and cultural norms, how to document the potential incidents of police violence, and knowing your rights as an intervener. This will be followed by scenarios/role-plays designed to help participants practice using the strategies to interrupt harassment in a variety of situations.
These sessions are co-sponsored by UUCW Social Action Council, Indivisible Tosa, and SURJ MKE. For more information, contact Ann Heidkamp.