D20 & ICE OUT on Jan 30
So here’s what we’re doing on Jan 30 and why…
We talked among the staff, and decided that the only “business” that we will be doing tomorrow will be to run some of our usual events to raise money for the ACLU to help in the fight for immigrant (and other human) rights.
We will be closed during the day to support the national strike, but want to be here so we can support the community of people who come together here and run our Friday D&D and Magic events. However, instead of us taking any money for those events, we will have links available for customers to donate the at least the same amount they would normally pay to either the ACLU or ACLU Foundation, and showing us those completed donations will do the trick.
The staff has volunteered to do this without pay, and I will be donating the cost of the materials needed to run the event. It is not an insignificant cost for any of us, but we all talked about it and decided it was important. We’ve all seen what is going on, and it is simply to much for us to stand by and do nothing.
To be very clear where we stand as a store:
Immigration isn’t just ok, it is important and valuable
I take this very personally. Most of my grandparents were immigrants to this country, and most came from places where they would have been killed if they had stayed there. Most of the current immigrants that I know, both here legally and those who don’t have legal status (hopefully yet), are good folks who work like they are fighting for a new life and are honest and brave as hell. Kind of part of the natural sorting process for people who have uprooted their lives to come to an utterly foreign place to try and make a better life for their kids. And face it, for most of the people who do that, they are signing up for an insanely difficult life where they are basically sacrificing their lives to make a new and better life for those they love.
We don’t stand by when “others” are “othered” — Safe mean Safe
D20 is a safe place for all people regardless of their status, orientation or beliefs PROVIDED THOSE BELIEFS DON’T DEMEAN OTHERS! We have seen what happens when one group becomes the target of those around them because of their religion, race, orientations, etc. Particularly when those who stand up in defense of others find themselves bullied, attacked or vilified by political organizations or the current government in charge. It’s scary as hell to stand up, but the old saying about “they came for X, and I said nothing. And when they came for me, no one was left.” is cliche for the reason most things are cliche, it is true.
And to be very clear about this, hiding hurting others inside a “belief system” or religion is simply not ok here. You can believe whatever you want, but if your beliefs include speaking or acting in ill of someone else because of who or what they are in their private life, than you are not welcome here. This is a place where people can feel safe and comfortable being who they are. (Unless that is being prejudiced or mean spirited.)
Woke…if that means being open-eyed, kind, and understanding…Yep
Understanding how other people feel and what they’ve been through in order to figure out ways to right old wrongs and make people feel safe and welcome. That is our definition of woke, and we do our best to do that through everything we do. In a world full of way too much unkindness and bullying cruelty, we do our very best to encourage and cultivate a space for people to have fun treating each other with fair play and good sportsmanship. Do we try and give kids an extra chance at empathy and understanding, and maybe a bit more questioning of what they’ve been told when they play D&D afterschool? Yep. If you have problems with that and see it as indoctrination to a “woke” agenda, you are probably right. I will do whatever I can to have any of the kids who come under our auspices leave here feeling comfortable being kind and decent and honest with each other.
That is where we stand, and I’m lucky enough to have those beliefs shared by the rest of the staff of the store. If those are not things you feel comfortable with, that is your right and you can choose where you give your business.
But let me be clear. That will never, ever change as long as its my joint.
To donate to the ACLU (send us a pic if you do to info@d20alameda.com)
https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights
