Tent City/Safety/Proposals/28 Oct 2011
ACCEPTED BY GA 10.28.11
PROPOSAL OF THE PUBLIC MEETING OF THE SAFETY WORKING GROUP
THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT
1. We propose that the Safety Working Group hold public meetings at least once a week to address various safety issues within the Occupy Boston (OB) Community. This Working Group includes the active Safety Team, team members who are off rotation, and members of the OB community who are concerned with Safety.
2. Rotation of shifts:
a. We propose that a large number of the OB community should rotate into Safety “shifts” lasting no more than 8 days at a time, because we should all protect our own community.
b. In order to ensure familiarity with the rest of the community, community members must be active members of another working group for at least four days over a two week period and be vouched for by that group, or participate in at least three General Assemblies.
c. Pictures and names of active safety team members will be posted at the info desk. New safety team members will be introduced to members of each working group with a physical presence at the camp during their training.
d. Everybody on rotation ends up doing shifts – to create community-wide accountability for the safety the community, to prevent burnout, and to avoid creating bodies of authority.
e. In the case of full time occupants, rotations will occur as follows: To start the rotation process, current Safety Team members or volunteers train a new shift of people (New Group 1) for four days. At the beginning of the second four day rotation, current Safety members are relieved of duty for at least four days. During the second four day rotation, the people of Group 1 train another group of people (Group 2). At the end of this second four day rotation, Group 1 is now done with an eight day rotation, but Group 2 stays on for the remainder of their shift, training Group 3, and so on.
f. The relief of a given rotation of Safety team members is reliant upon the availability of new individuals to join the team. If there is no one to replace them, they may be asked to stay on longer.
g. SWG will strive to reduce shifts to eight hours or less, however, this will depend on adequate personnel.
h. In the case of individuals who are only available to be present for the weekends or part time, they will be able to join the safety team as supplemental support to relieve the shift load of other full-time members, and will serve as safety for no more than two consecutive calendar weeks, regardless of the number of days they are present during those two weeks.
i. After four days off rotation, community members will be welcomed to join the active Safety Team again for another eight day rotation.
3. Guidelines for behaviour while on Safety shift
1. Be respectful to community members.
2. Do not engage in verbal assault.
3. Assess the situation, don't assume.
4. Abolish violence within yourself; diffuse and de-escalate the violence around you.
5. No one on duty shall be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If a person on Safety rotation is determined to be under the influence by a member of the Medical team or by other Safety team members, or is found consuming drugs or alcohol during duty, they will be asked by fellow members of Safety to step down from duty. These individuals must attend at least two CWWG meetings and they are banned from serving on SWG for two weeks. Before rejoining the safety team the individual(s) will have to be approved by the SWG in a public meeting.
6. In the case of a second repeat offense, individuals would be barred from participation in the SWG.
7. Those who are asked to step down should do so without creating conflict with the rest of the safety team – issues can be addressed the following day.
8. Involvement of police is strongly discouraged in cases of nonviolent transgressions.
4. Review process: if a person on Safety rotation has not behaved according to the guidelines for behavior, they should be subject to a review process, mediated by the Community Wellness Group.
5. The SWG will deliver regular GA announcements regarding the personnel situation within the SWG.
6. Until a protocol regarding eviction and handling of violent behavior can be rattified by the GA, the SWG will act as they deem appropriate to deal with situations involving violence or threats of violence. Regarding situations involving substance abuse, the Community Wellness Working Group will be included in any decisions.
END PROPOSAL
1. Further Recommendations:
1. SWG will draft a protocol for eviction and handling potentially violent or intimidating situations in cooperation with liaisons from the Community Wellness Working Group and Non Violence Working Group to be presented to the GA November 1st.
2. The Safety Working Group meeting recommends that an Urban Planning Working Group be organized, to deal with tents and territory-related issues that arise.
3. The SWG recommends the designation of a space for daily meetings for those on Safety shift to vent and help one another to work through issues that arise.
4. The SWG meeting recommends that current members of the Safety Team receive training in mediation from the Community Wellness Working Group to ensure that they can handle problems without escalation. In fact, the SWG recommends that everybody in Occupy Boston receive mediation training, especially the Occupiers who are on Safety rotation.
5. The members of the safety team should be outfitted with proper rain and cold weather gear, including waterproof boots and gloves. The team should also be outfitted with adequate two-way radios and yellow reflective vests. Team members shall wear vests while on duty and only while on duty.
6. SWG will work in conjunction with the women caucus and other under represented groups to provide trainings such as self defense and sexual assault response that will provide greater diversity within the SWG.