Power and witness: Social media activism and coming forward after assault - People's World

In Michigan, several tattoo artists, bartenders, photographers, and medical practitioners have recently been called out for some alleged bad behavior that, most often, has gone unpunished. From Detroit to Kalamazoo, assaults, harassment, and druggings have continuously been swept under the rug. Whether ignored by the police completely or having cases closed prematurely, these acts of violence have gone mostly unnoticed. And it doesn’t end with sexual predation either: transmysogyny, racism, homophobia, pedophilia, and anti-sex work attitudes prevail as well.

This is a growing issue—or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that it’s an issue that’s finally being taken seriously. An issue that deals with power dynamics. An issue that affects some people when they go to work or seek services from professionals every day, manifesting in intimate settings such as a doctor’s office or behind a curtain in a tattoo parlor. Some places of employment are taking accountability seriously, while the accused individuals themselves are all too often shirking it.

This problem goes well beyond Michigan’s borders, though. One activist group, the collective known as WEKEEPPORTLANDSAFE (We Keep Portland Safe), reached out to People’s World following earlier reporting on the issue in these pages. They hope to bring attention to things that have been happening in the Pacific Northwest.

Earlier this summer, Ryan Mason, a tattoo artist in the Portland area, became the focal point of...



Read Full Story: https://peoplesworld.org/article/power-and-witness-social-media-activism-and-coming-forward-after-assault/

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