By Susan Stevens

During a recent meeting I attended, one person accused another of anti-Semitism, and the interactions that followed reminded me powerfully of a Dr. Veronica Ivy lecture I watched (her name at the time was Rachel McKinnon; see video below). The accusation resulted in the perpetrator of the hurtful and disrespectful behavior being transformed into a victim — a victim of the accusation of anti-Semitism. Attention was diverted from the behavior and those being harmed by it, toward a defense of the perpetrator’s character. This totally aligns with Veronica Ivy’s advice to move away from character accusations, which solely serve to rob the injured party of support while everyone focuses on the perpetrator’s good intentions and whatever ally-identities they may embrace or be recognized for. I realized that living in the present and evaluating how I deal with the harmful behavior that I witness towards marginalized people each time it happens, makes me a better person than wearing an ally-pin. I hope my comrades will watch the video and apply these teachings, too.

Rachel McKinnon – “Allies, Active Bystanders, and Gaslighting.” Rice University.

Susan Stevens is a SDUSA At-Large Representative from Kansas City, Missouri.