Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Metro Vancouver

Anti-Oppression

We value inclusivity, and believe anti-racism work is deeply interwoven with addressing all systems of oppression. We value LGBTQIA2S+ communities, Climate Justice, Decolonizing Processes, Intersectional Feminism, Anti-Capitalist Frameworks, among others.

Welcoming & Belonging

All are welcome. You are invited to bring your full self. Your lived experience is valid and all you need. You’re always right on time! We want to meet each other where we’re at. We are not here to gatekeep.

Accountable Spaces

We are committed to using our privilege and power ethically and responsibly to organize and educate ourselves in the work toward collective liberation. Our good intentions do not absolve us of the impacts of our words and actions. See Accountable Space Guidelines below.

Discomfort is Sacred as that is where Learning Happens

Embrace discomfort as areas of growth and further learning. We're committed to intentionally transformational work, discomfort is a part of that.

Compassion and Calling Each Other In

We treat folks with compassion and openness even, and especially, when we have disagreements. We are learning in relationship to each other, and strive to “call in” our members, so we are invited to change our behaviour and continue the conversation (in contrast to cancel culture).

Decolonize Ourselves

We are (un)learning systems of oppression (White Supremacy, Patriarchy, Colonization, Capitalism, etc.), and seek to ground ourselves in an exploration of anti-racist whiteness. How can we connect to our ancestry and futures? What is our relationship to this land and each other? How can we embody different practices of anti-oppression? We recognize Indigenous Sovereignties.

Building Political Action/Discourse

We are empowering each other to think critically and act in turn. To defeat the right, we cannot be divided, we are intentional about coalition-building with all progressive voices. We recognize that incrementalism and the status quo are not working, they are not meeting the urgency of our shared struggle.

Share Space Mindfully, Listen Actively

Be aware of your total talk time and, if you are comfortable, speak up to add to the conversation. Balance this with giving everyone a chance to speak, without unnecessary pressure. Please do not interrupt others.

Understand that we are all learning

Seek clarification, don’t assume, call each other in wherever possible.

We have good intentions, and are accountable for the impacts of what we say

If you said something harmful, offensive, or problematic, apologize for your actions or words, once you know better, do better.

Speak to Your Own Experience

Use “I” statements and do not share others’ lived experiences. Give credit where it is due. If you are echoing someone’s previously stated idea, give the appropriate credit.

Discomfort as a Space of Learning

Recognize and embrace friction as evidence that multiple ideas are entering the conversation — not that the group is not getting along.

Do the Work

Self-reflect on actionable items in your daily work or personal experiences, especially after leaving the space. Use Google and do the research — don’t place the burden of educating yourself on others, especially those from equity-deserving communities.

— adapted from this article and the University of California, Los Angeles — UCLA

We are a small group of folks passionate about

• Anti-racism and co-creating inclusive justice and belonging in our communities.
• Addressing rising anti-democratic movements, racist murders, and climate catastrophe. We believe that in this moment it is as important as ever to build our power and do it all with a spirit of belonging, and love.
• Protecting and enshrining rights of trans folks and immigrants.

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is an organization that started in the US, organizing white people for inclusive racial and economic justice.

• 150+ chapters across the US and Canada make meaningful change through targeted national and local level organizing projects

• Learning about Anti-Oppression
• Participating in Protests and Community Actions and Events
• Celebrating BIPOC Joy and Creativity/Arts
• Exploring Mutual Aid; Resourcing/Supporting BIPOC Community Efforts
• Exerting Pressure Against the Far Right and Emerging Fascism
• Lifting up Champions - BIPOC Leaders & Progressive Elected Officials
• Getting Attention of Local Leaders - Politically Advocating on Issues
• Imagining Inspiring Futures
• Gathering without Spending Money
• Creating Connection and Belonging

• Collective liberation is a shared struggle. We are answering the call from Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized leaders and communities for white people to organize ourselves.
• SURJ has been bringing white people into this work since 2009, a long overdue answer to the call from Black leadership for white people to organize our own.
• We believe white communities have an important role to play in realizing a better alternative: a just, vibrant future where people of all races and orientations work together for what we all need.
• We are also exploring what it means to be anti-racist white folks. As white folks we are traditionally expected to behave in particular ways which uphold white supremacy. When we stray outside those lines we are punished by the oppressive systems which seek to sustain themselves.
• As the current threats of authoritarianism, deeply rooted in racism, strive to convince white people that we have more in common with billionaires and corporate elites than with the people of color in our communities, SURJ empowers and enables white folks to organize our own away from the agenda(s) of the Right and toward shared liberation for all.
• We are trying to bring more white anti-racist folks into the broader movement of social justice.

• AWARE-LA