"A Safer Space" - WisCon 36 To Engage in Open Racial Segregation!

I was shocked yesterday to discover that the organizers of WisCon have already at least once (last year) and plan to again this year openly-implement a policy of racial segregation.  Quoting from the blog of K. Tempest Bradford, "WisCon 36:  POC Safer Space":

I am once again the WisCon concom liaison and organizer for the POC Safer Space. This year I am joined in organizing and fabulousness by Jayme Goh. Huzzah!
We will once again be in the Solitaire Room since it affords us an out of the way space with no Gawkers. Last year we had the hotel push the conference room up against the wall which made the space a lot more inviting. I will also ask if more comfy chairs can find a way in there. If any locals are willing to donate comfy chairs, please let me know.
Last year we pre-scheduled some break out sessions and alternate panels in the room, but what seemed to work better was spontaneous stuff.I encourage any POC attending WisCon to come to that space if they need to discuss something that went down on a panel, continue a discussion that started at a panel, or if they just need a space to vent and calm down. I actually had some of the most enlightening conversations in that room during after-panel venting and I’m sure that will happen again,
- See more at: http://tempest.fluidartist.com/wiscon-36-poc-safer-space/#sthash.jmFOg10W.dpuf

I am once again the WisCon concom liaison and oranizer of the POC Safer Space ....We will once again be in the Solitaire Room since it affords us an out of the way space with no Gawkers ...

Last year we pre-scheduled some break-out sessions and alternate panels in the room, but what seemed to work better was spontaneous stuff.  I encourage any POC attending WisCon to come to that space if they need to discuss something that went down on a panel, continue a discussion that started on a panel, or if they just need a space to vent and calm down.

POC is an acronym for "person of color," meaning "non-white person." 

Yes, you heard that correctly.  K. Tempest Bradford and WisCon 36 are going to provide racially segregated accommodations for non-whites at the convention.  In Wisconsin, today, rather than in (say) the Mississippi of half a century ago.

And they see this as a good thing.

Now, this is horrible on very many levels.  First, these will be science fiction fans -- one of the least racist social groups in the world -- being forced to regard people not as individuals, but as members of distinct races.  Secondly, the administration of a "POC safer space" would presumably mean barring white attendees -- who, remember, have paid for their attendance -- from one of the rooms of the convention, a room to which non-white attendees would be allowed, for no reason other than their perceived race.

Thirdly, the con administrators would presumably have to distinguish between "whites" and "persons of color" in some way in order to maintain this "safer space" -- how exactly will this be done?  Will people register to the con and indicate racial identity?  Will security goons be posted to forcibly exclude people if their skin colors look "too white?"  Will the occupants be encouraged to expel the "too white" themselves?

Fourthly, if the convention actually does exclude white people from a space at an event they have paid to attend, this is almost certainly a tort actionable at civil law and possibly a violation of one of the Civil Rights Acts (the CRA of 1964 seems most applicable).  Has it occurred to the convention organizers that what they are doing is probably illegal?

Finally, there is a more subtle point here.  The idea that "People of Color" need a "safer space" to retire to against the cruel racial oppressions and aggressions of -- science fiction fans (???!!!) -- implies that said POC are emotionally-weaker and generally less-capable than are whites.  Were I K. Tempest Bradford (who is black), I would find this implication highly insulting.

There is a total lack of self-awareness regarding this possibility among the convention organizers.  I think they really believe that, if they think that what they are doing benefits non-whites, it can't be racist -- in other words, that racism against whites is impossible.

I encourage any attendees who wish to do something about this resurgence of segregation in our time to -- as a group (for the purpose of mutual testimony) enter this "safer space" and stand on their civil rights if ordered to vacate it.  Hopefully, the ensuing civil or criminal trial will put an end to this re-emerging racism in science fiction fandom.

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Comments are especially welcome on th

I am once again the WisCon concom liaison and organizer for the POC Safer Space. This year I am joined in organizing and fabulousness by Jayme Goh. Huzzah!
We will once again be in the Solitaire Room since it affords us an out of the way space with no Gawkers. Last year we had the hotel push the conference room up against the wall which made the space a lot more inviting. I will also ask if more comfy chairs can find a way in there. If any locals are willing to donate comfy chairs, please let me know.
Last year we pre-scheduled some break out sessions and alternate panels in the room, but what seemed to work better was spontaneous stuff.I encourage any POC attending WisCon to come to that space if they need to discuss something that went down on a panel, continue a discussion that started at a panel, or if they just need a space to vent and calm down. I actually had some of the most enlightening conversations in that room during after-panel venting and I’m sure that will happen again,
- See more at: http://tempest.fluidartist.com/wiscon-36-poc-safer-space/#sthash.jmFOg10W.dpuf