Episode #30: Interview with Autistic Advocate Jonathan Chase on Protesting for the BLM Movement

 Episode #30: Interview with Autistic Advocate Jonathan Chase on Protesting for the BLM Movement

Jonathan has admirably chosen to accept, work with, and manage his sensory sensitivities in order to do the important work of protesting the rights of people who have been marginalized for far too long. He goes out into the crowds of activists approximately 2x per week to share his solidarity. He has encountered kindness, generosity, and community-building-energy from those protesting as well as repeatedly witnessed unjust brutality. Listen in to this podcast to hear how he not only has navigated downtown Portland during these protests but also found ways to grow personally and morally. 


Photos by David Gonzalez, 2020


For terminology used in the podcast, Jonathan shared a few helpful links with you:

Slacktivism:


Blocs are simply groups of people working together for a purpose.  For example, Snack Bloc delivers food and water to folks in need, primarily at protest events.  Other groups, like Mechanic Bloc, take requests from within the community to assist others either for free or based on what they can afford instead of a set rate.  Most of these groups accept donations to help offset their costs, as they are individuals helping out, not businesses or people with a real budget for this stuff.

He also has some recommendations for those who would like to get involved:

Social media
Follow people and organizations on social media who are involved in the movement (this is the first step, not the only step to take)

A quick list of 12 PDX-based mutual aid groups, leaders, organizers, and journalists to follow on Twitter:
@MacSmiff
@PDXEWOKS
@45thabsurdist
@safePDXprotest
@PNWYLF
@AndrewJank
@suzettesmith
@TheRealCoryElia
@alex_zee
@MrOlmos
@IwriteOK
@Pdx_resistance

Attend events
Attend events (flyers are posted on Twitter daily) - You can stay for the speeches and leave early to avoid the more dangerous situations that typically happen late at night

Donate
Donate to or volunteer with mutual aid groups

Contact your representatives
Contact your representatives and elected leaders to advocate for change

Listen and keep listening
Do your homework: read, study, listen, and work to understand the history that has driven us to this point and how our own personal privilege may have made it easy to ignore that history

A very special thank you, Jonathan Chase, for your advocacy in the autism communities but now also the world communities to overcome racism and division. 

If you'd like to contact Jonathan, you can access his webpage here:


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