Monday, February 12, 7:00 PM EDT

At the Table and on the Menu: Respectability Politics & Tokenism in Genocidal Times

Event by Muslim Counterpublics Lab

As Israel’s genocide of Palestinians continues unabated, individuals and communities across the globe have mobilized to demand an immediate ceasefire while also calling for the liberation of Palestinians and Palestine. In the United States, Muslim and/or Arab and Palestinian organizations and communities have deployed multiple strategies to pressure the Biden administration to stop aiding and abetting Israel’s genocide. Tactics have included narrative change, protests, rallies, vigils, and different forms of civil disobedience.

One strategy that has evoked different responses is working for and/or engaging directly across the different branches of the US government. Oftentimes an “inside-outside” strategy framing is pushed to explain this strategy, even when there isn't actual coordination happening between the two. That lack of coordination tends to lead to respectability politics, tokenism, and an unwillingness to actually dissent from the status quo.

This panel will examine these issues and consider what it means to build a grassroots struggle for collective liberation that has it's power outside the halls of government while making demands of elected officials without compromising our dignity and humanity.

To register: Respectability Politics (jotform.com)

Flyer (w/speakers): Respectability Politics and Tokenism in Genocidal Times Mon Feb 12.pdf(Review) - Adobe cloud storage