[sudo-discuss] a very racist encounter from a man named Rob

Fri Jul 12 12:09:12 PDT 2019

i've unsubscibed from the discuss list
please feel free to email me directly

On Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 11:59 AM robb <sf99er at gmail.com> wrote:

> i think it might be time for me to relinquish my sudoroom membership &
> focus on Liberated Lens where the diverse membership does not prejudge me
> in open court
>
> On Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 11:48 AM robb <sf99er at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> @Autonomous
>> i recall the incident & i apologize for my direct inquiry into you being
>> in the building & how it made you feel
>> prior to our interaction, Tony, a member of phat beets, came to me with a
>> concern that there was a strange person walking around the building acting
>> suspicious & he had never done this before so i thought it was serious
>> i don't know what caused him to seek me out but i felt obligated to help
>> it had been awhile since i had seen you & it took me a minute to
>> recognize you
>> when you said you were a sudo member, i accepted your answer & went about
>> my business
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 11:28 AM Autonomous <autonomous666 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I would like to share an encounter I had with Robb prior to this most
>>> recent incident with Deon.
>>>
>>> I swiped my card at the front door and entered the building. As I was
>>> looking around for Marc who I was meeting at Sudo Room, I was accosted by
>>> Robb in a hallway who said in a loud voice "MAY I HELP YOU". I said that I
>>> was a Sudo Room member and was looking for Marc, and that I was "surprised
>>> that you don't recognize me, Robb". The entire time I was speaking, Robb
>>> was glaring at me in a hostile manner. I have not been back to Sudo Room
>>> since.
>>>
>>> I would like to point out that 90% of communication is non-verbal and
>>> Robb's attitude towards people he doesn't recognize or like could be
>>> interpreted as hateful or racist without the use of specific derogatory
>>> words. Since Robb now says "he hasn't heard from anybody" on the encounter
>>> with Deon I am wondering if the views, opinions and attitudes expressed by
>>> Robb are also those of Sudo Room and the Omni,  and reflect the official
>>> policy or position of Sudo Room or the Omni towards unwanted guests.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 4:31 PM D. Scott Nanos <scott.nanos at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Greetings Sudo et al, I'm so sorry but I have to bring to your
>>>> attention a recent, very unfortunate, inappropriate, and violent encounter
>>>> a friend of mine, Deon Saunders, had with a guy named "Rob", who I don't
>>>> think I know personally, although I'm sure he's well known around Omni in
>>>> general. I don't believe he's a sudo member specifically, but I believe
>>>> this incident sort of came into Sudo territory when Marc became involved; I
>>>> also really respect and love what Sudo room provides to the community, and
>>>> I know that Sudo is a powerful force within the Omni; as such, I'm writing
>>>> to you all now because I believe this issue definitely needs to be dealt
>>>> with, and not ignored or brushed aside.
>>>>
>>>> Basically, Deon is friends with Phat Beets and Food First, and has been
>>>> frequenting the Omni in order to do work and access the community resources
>>>> that are available. To my understanding, he often works in the Sudo room
>>>> space. Although this should not need to be said, I can personally vouch for
>>>> Deon as an upstanding and generous member of the Oakland community.
>>>>
>>>> Deon was having trouble accessing the space the other day and rung the
>>>> Omni doorbell several times, at which point guy named Rob opened the door
>>>> and started cursing at him and being very aggressive. After Deon was able
>>>> to enter Omni, Rob then started following him around and harassing him,
>>>> acting like a cop. Although this is egregious in and of itself, and a
>>>> terrible counter-representation of the Omni's values, this all came to a
>>>> head when Rob accused Deon of not being "an actual, normal, human being".
>>>> Whether or not this was intentional, it evoked longstanding racist
>>>> attitudes that black folks have been subjected to, suggesting that Deon was
>>>> less-than, or sub-human. Deon was so offended that he promptly left the
>>>> Omni and has not been back since.
>>>>
>>>> Besides this very loaded and hateful comment, this general kind of
>>>> treatment and attitude, overall, is the EXACT opposite of the way black
>>>> folks should be treated when interfacing with the Omni. Rob's actions are
>>>> not okay, at all, and I strongly feel that a serious accountability process
>>>> should be implemented for this incident. This is not a small matter. I've
>>>> spoken with Deon, and he has agreed to participate.
>>>>
>>>> I've also heard that this type of incident has happened before at the
>>>> Omni, specifically involving Rob. Correct me if I'm wrong, but apparently,
>>>> the attitude that was expressed to Deon was that Rob is one of the main
>>>> people that operates (i.e. helps to reproduce and sustain,) the Omni, and
>>>> as such, people basically go along with what he says and does. If this is
>>>> in fact the case, then an accountability process is even more imperative.
>>>> In no way should labor, and by proxy, "power" derived from labor, enable a
>>>> person to act with racism against members of the Oakland community. I think
>>>> it's in the best interest of the Omni to address this issue immediately,
>>>> for Deon, for the Omni, and for the Omni's relationship with the greater
>>>> community of Oakland.
>>>>
>>>> I believe Marc was present for part of this incident as well, and
>>>> although I know, Marc is so busy doing vital work for Sudo and Omni, it
>>>> might behoove him to also participate in this process, as a witness.
>>>>
>>>> I am writing this email not because I am trying to "cancel" or ruin
>>>> anyone, but because I care about Deon, The Omni, Sudo, and the Oakland
>>>> community at large. This issue seems indicative of larger problems, and if
>>>> addressed with love and respect and accountability, could seriously benefit
>>>> all parties listed above, and improve the Omni and it's relationship with
>>>> Oakland.
>>>>
>>>> I'm not sure where to take it from here, as I am personally extremely
>>>> busy with other community-based activities in Oakland right now, but a
>>>> mediator/facilitator should be sought out, ideally a black person, but at
>>>> the very least, a non-black poc, and probably someone that isn't personally
>>>> involved in the day-to-day operations at Omni, sudo etc. If i am able, I
>>>> could possibly be this mediator, but I hope other options are sought out
>>>> first, because a.) I'm a non-black, mixed race poc, and b.) I have very
>>>> little capacity at the moment.
>>>>
>>>> But please keep me in the loop regarding an accountability process for
>>>> Rob, and I'll do whatever I can to help move this along and reach a fair
>>>> and just conclusion.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry to bring such difficult news to you all, but I could not stay
>>>> silent.
>>>>
>>>> With love and Solidarity,
>>>>
>>>> Scott
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>
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