Statement from Red Rose Collective UTD, Cosigned by Rainbow Guard UTD, UNT YDSA, Denton Student Union, and Red Texas Working Group.
TW: mentions of sexual assault, sexual harassment, abuse, misogyny, homophobia
Comrades, in light of recent events, RRC (formerly known as YDSA at UTD) would like to put forward the following statement regarding abuse, sexual assault, and trends within organizing.
From Fall of 2023 to Spring of 2024, Ayed Amir Abusaad, the abuser and rapist named in the recent statements on ziyan.mataroa.blog, was president of RRC (then called YDSA). Abusaad engaged in inexcusable behaviors, including sexual assault, harassment, and manipulation, and covered up the allegations made against another abuser within the community, Jack (SRA). We encourage everyone read Ziyan's statements, as well as Era Yousuf's (@sagefrogstudios) statement on their Instagram.
RRC does not tolerate Abusaad's behaviors, which he committed while serving as president. Abusaad abused his position as president, as well as his connections within other organizations such as PYM, to both commit and dismiss abuse. This is a dangerous trend within DFW and national organizing spaces.
RRC condemns Abusaad's actions, including
-
Sexual Assault, violence, and misogyny towards his former partner:
a. Engaging in non-consensual sexual behaviors against the will of his former partner.
b. Engaging in violence against his former partner, including hitting and choking his partner.
c. Objectifying and coercing his former partner into partaking in sexual activities. -
Manipulative behaviors, including
a. Using his presidential position and relationship to impose YDSA work onto his former partner.
b. Lying to PYM on behalf of an abuser to cover for them.
c. Spreading false rumors to discredit the victims of his abuse. -
Organizational failures such as
a. Not communicating or disclosing the issue of abuse to other officers.
b. Acting on behalf of RRC (then YDSA) without informing officer-ship or members.
RRC firmly believes in providing proper and complete accountability processes for addressing the situation. Accountability is not an internal issue, but rather a process that involves the entire community.
RRC acknowledges and condemns its own actions of:
-
Failing to properly handle the situation by
a. Not prioritizing investigation into the victim's abuse
b. Not ensuring an established community accountability process & rectification for dealing with misogyny. -
Failing to properly address the survivors concerns that were brought to officers in interpersonal conversation
a. Engaging in liberal behaviors by not immediately pursuing investigation into Jack.
b. Continuing to organize with the abuser (Jack) in security/safety teams.
c. Not providing support for the victim.
We also condemn the actions of organizers within PYM Dallas for:
-
Engaging in misogynistic behaviours such as
a. Continuously minimizing abuse, misogyny, and homophobia within the organization.
b. Not engaging in a public accountability process surrounding PYM member Ayed Abusaad's abuse of his former partner and enabling the abuse of Era.
c. Refusing to publicly state that they support and believe the survivors. -
Not taking the concerns of organizers seriously in regards to
a. The safety of women around Abusaad, framing concerns as "immature", despite Abusaad owning weapons & having a history of violence against women.
b. Insisting on a policy of "due process for everyone involved", meaning that i. PYM DALLAS is taking the perspective of the abuser (Abusaad) seriously, ii. PYM is conducting a carceral self-investigation, and iii. PYM cannot be trusted to self-investigate given its own history of enabling misogyny and abuse.
c. allowing Jack to play an active role in safety/security teams, despite knowing about the allegations against them -
Tolerating misogynistic comments by allowing a member to engage in a public argument with a Palestinian woman where he claimed that catcalling does not exist in Jordan and that catcalling was over-exaggerated.
Additionally we condemn PSL for:
Creating a hostile environment for survivors by
- Threatening to remove Era from PSL Albany organizing spaces because of their statement.
- Allowing Jack to play an active role in safety/security team (PSL DFW), despite knowing about the allegations against him.
RRC UTD, RG UTD, UNT YDSA, DSU, and RTWG FIRMLY BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING:
- It is essential to stand with victims and survivors.
- Accountability cannot be internal.
- Silence is complicity.
- Harboring an abuser is complicity.
- Organizing spaces are no place for misogynists, abusers, and male-chauvinists.
We will publicize and begin our accountability process shortly, an additional post with more information will come soon.