Recently, I had an issue with an international activist organization called ACORN- specifically in a Chapter of ACORN in Toronto, but I know that the type of thing I went through has happened in many places. I sent the following message to the Facebook group of the Chapter I'm in today. I'm now no longer in the group and I assume the post I made there has been deleted.
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I was removed from the online ACORN Scarborough meeting that happened on August 11th. I was not told why I was removed until yesterday. A few days ago, I was asked by Judy, ACORN Canada's Head Organizer, if I could take a call from her and Marva, who is the President of ACORN Canada, and also a member of ACORN Scarborough. Suspecting this was going to be an important conversation, I asked to record it and after saying we either record it or we do it through email, they relented.
During the 3 1/2 minute conversation, Judy told me that the reason I was removed from the August 11th meeting was because a female ACORN member had lodged a harassment complaint against me and that I was also being barred from attending any future ACORN Scarborough meetings indefinitely. Because of interactions with 2 different types of female ACORN members, an ACORN organizer and a regular ACORN member, I was hoping I could at least figure out which category of ACORN member allegedly lodged this harassment complaint. Judy told me both. Based on this, I'm guessing that while only one female member lodged a complaint, both the organizer and the member were involved in it.
Anyway, I said something during the conversation that I think bears mentioning:
"Well, anyone can make a complaint, right? I mean, it doesn't have to be factual, it can be whatever. I mean, you know, this has been used in the past for people who haven't done anything. I don't know, because I don't even know what the complaint is, right? So, like, and I understand the way the world works, but I'm just saying you know, if you can take a look, take a look at it from my perspective, I sent a short email, 3 sentences, which you guys, well, I know Judy saw it, I don't know, Judy could share it with you, um, and through a member, I sent some emails there too, share all, there's nothing, I felt, that would warrant that, but that's, your call, so, you made it. Alright."
Because of the apparent importance of this email, I think it bears mentioning, removing the name of the organizer I sent it to:
"Hello [name]. As I mentioned before, I liked when you came to the building. I also found that I admire you. Are you available?"
I think one of the biggest ironies here is that the words in the email were chosen in large part by the regular ACORN member that I suspect either filed the complaint or is involved in it. I had actually wanted to make a longer email, bringing up something that John Anderson [a former organizer] had said, but she felt it would be best to keep things simple, so I followed her direction on that. I imagine I may be removed from here shortly as well, as this is the ACORN Scarborough Facebook group, but I thought before that happens, I should put this out there. Hopefully, it will engender a good discussion on issues of this nature.
***
Anyway, constructive comments on what happened to me and events of this nature appreciated.
***
I was removed from the online ACORN Scarborough meeting that happened on August 11th. I was not told why I was removed until yesterday. A few days ago, I was asked by Judy, ACORN Canada's Head Organizer, if I could take a call from her and Marva, who is the President of ACORN Canada, and also a member of ACORN Scarborough. Suspecting this was going to be an important conversation, I asked to record it and after saying we either record it or we do it through email, they relented.
During the 3 1/2 minute conversation, Judy told me that the reason I was removed from the August 11th meeting was because a female ACORN member had lodged a harassment complaint against me and that I was also being barred from attending any future ACORN Scarborough meetings indefinitely. Because of interactions with 2 different types of female ACORN members, an ACORN organizer and a regular ACORN member, I was hoping I could at least figure out which category of ACORN member allegedly lodged this harassment complaint. Judy told me both. Based on this, I'm guessing that while only one female member lodged a complaint, both the organizer and the member were involved in it.
Anyway, I said something during the conversation that I think bears mentioning:
"Well, anyone can make a complaint, right? I mean, it doesn't have to be factual, it can be whatever. I mean, you know, this has been used in the past for people who haven't done anything. I don't know, because I don't even know what the complaint is, right? So, like, and I understand the way the world works, but I'm just saying you know, if you can take a look, take a look at it from my perspective, I sent a short email, 3 sentences, which you guys, well, I know Judy saw it, I don't know, Judy could share it with you, um, and through a member, I sent some emails there too, share all, there's nothing, I felt, that would warrant that, but that's, your call, so, you made it. Alright."
Because of the apparent importance of this email, I think it bears mentioning, removing the name of the organizer I sent it to:
"Hello [name]. As I mentioned before, I liked when you came to the building. I also found that I admire you. Are you available?"
I think one of the biggest ironies here is that the words in the email were chosen in large part by the regular ACORN member that I suspect either filed the complaint or is involved in it. I had actually wanted to make a longer email, bringing up something that John Anderson [a former organizer] had said, but she felt it would be best to keep things simple, so I followed her direction on that. I imagine I may be removed from here shortly as well, as this is the ACORN Scarborough Facebook group, but I thought before that happens, I should put this out there. Hopefully, it will engender a good discussion on issues of this nature.
***
Anyway, constructive comments on what happened to me and events of this nature appreciated.
. That being said, I don't think what happened here was right and I definitely plan on bringing it up in other groups I'm a part of if I'm a part of. In fact, I've already sent 2 electronic messages to 2 other groups about it.