Fwd: [bmdc-wg] Status of the 6/18/22 meeting

Subject: [bmdc-wg] Status of the 6/18/22 meeting
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From: DAVID KEIL <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Thu, Jun 22, 2023 at 9:14 PM
To: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Contrary to Mike Heichman's assertions below, the meeting scheduled by BMDC for last Sunday made no valid decisions. It was disrupted in multiple ways detailed by John and Heidi today, and noted by Nevin. (Heidi's and John's posts are below, following Mike.) No vote taken was valid.

As a member of BMDC, I submit a charge of name calling on the BMDC-Work list against Mike Heichman, who calls me and Jane "our two most virulent Trans-Poisoners" in the message below. 

This also implies that others unnamed are also "virulent Trans-Poisoners," and all know who they are because non-members clamored for their expulsion, including the expulsion of Mike himself. Any listserv has rules against name calling. For a first offense a censure might be appropriate. Charges against the participant Sunday who called a member a "fed" would also be appropriate; that participant is almost certainly not a BMDC member, however. 

Fair procedure in case of complaints against members requires that the charges be made in writing; that the accused have the right to reply; and that the membership have sufficient time to discuss the evidence and render verdict.

David Keil

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On Thu, Jun 22, 2023 at 6:04 PM Michael Heichman <bmdc@lists.riseup.net> wrote:

REFLECTIONS ON THE 6/18 MEETING & THE FUTURE OF THE BMDC Part I

MIKE HEICHMAN 6/22/23


That was a horrible painful meeting last Sunday night. I'm 76 years old and can't remember a time when I sat and suffered so long-for 5 hours. The meeting finally ended at 11:30-way past my bedtime. Not healthy for me. Not healthy for anyone.


The purpose of this letter is to share my ideas on what has happened and offer suggestions on how we can move forward. I encourage respectful dialogue.


"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (PEOPLE) to do nothing."—Edmund Burke (British philosopher)


Recently, our core group has been small. Typical meetings have been 6-8 members.


Trans-Poison exists in the BMDC. It has been especially infectious the last few months. This month the virus has been rampant. Most of the current leadership allowed this to continue. 


Great harm has been done. One of our most active members, Lita, identifies as a Trans-Women. She has been abused, sickened and traumatized. She has been stabbed in the heart repeatably! Lita is a warrior; she has behaved courageously!


Two of our African-Americans, Stevie and Dyani, have resigned in disgust. Tyler just resigned, There may be more. Great harm has been done by the Trans-Poison!


My guess is that at least 30 attended the 6/18 meeting. I believe that many, not all, were invited by Lita. I don't know many of the people who attended. They came to support Lita and were enraged by BMDC's attacks on Lita and our unwillingness to take action against Trans-Poison. I believe that some or many of them have had pre-existing hostility towards BMDC and some of our active members. 


However, my major point is that it took these community members, strangers to me, to take decisive action against David and Jane, our two most virulent Trans-Poisoners! These 2 have been expelled from our future meetings and removed from our email lists. Without our "new attendees", the active members would not have taken decisive action!


The 6/20/23 meeting was legitimate!


I have been a member of BMDC since about 2015. Our meetings are always open.


Lita did a great job in doing outreach for this meeting. This is not a criticism. She certainly has not felt the support from many of the most active BMDC members. Lita had the right to reach out to her friends and comrades and ask for their support. I can personally attest because I have spoken with her many times— she has been traumatized and poisoned by transphobia which has infected her and the rest of our organization. 


The major responsibility of the Interim Committee is to send out a proposed agenda. Sussen and Lita could not agree on a proposed agenda. I believe that it was on Thursday before the meeting when I noticed that no proposed agenda had been sent 


I texted Sussen and Lita. I encouraged them to send out a  proposed agenda. I believe that Lita and Sussen made a good faith effort to do this.


Lita asked me to send to her the proposed agenda from our previous meeting. I did so. John is wrong when he wrote that the proposed agenda was from Lita and me. Lita sent out a proposed agenda, not me.


Lita's proposed agenda was legitimate. Sussen could have sent out her own proposed agenda; it would have been legitimate. 


John decided to send out his proposed agenda. This was legitimate. Anyone can send out a proposed agenda.


The two major differences between the two proposed agendas was that Lita wanted to deal with Transphobia at the beginning of the meeting. John refused to call it Transphobia and wanted to place this item at the end of our regular meeting.


There was a herd of elephants in the middle of BMDC and John didn't want to deal with the tremendous amount of shit in the room. His intention angered many, especially the "new' members. After a debate, those present voted in favor of Lita's proposed agenda.


The agenda was legitimate!


John asked his partner to facilitate the meeting. Sandra facilitated most of the meeting. Under extreme conditions, Sandra acted fairly and did an excellent job. When she stepped down, Ababa volunteered and under challenging circumstances did an excellent job.


Thank you Sandra and Ababa.


Based on past practice, everyone who attends our meetings is considered to be a member with a voice and vote. No one at the meeting challenged the legitimacy of their membership. A decision was made near the end of the meeting to expel (not allowed to attend our meetings or belong on our email lists) David and Jane from BMDC. The vote was 9 in favor and 6 opposed. No one challenged the legitimacy of the vote. (Note: I made this proposal.) 


After this discussion, Heidi and Ababa were appointed to be on the Interim Committee. No one objected. 


Bottom line, no one objected to the legitimacy of the meeting during the meeting. The decisions must be respected even if you don't like it.


END OF PART I—MORE TO COME

Love,


Mike Heichman michaelheichman@gmail.com 617-543-6801


--------------- 

John Harris
[Statecom-discuss] BMDC expels 2 GRP members
6/22/23, 1:01 AM
to BMDC

Hi Folks,
In my view, an initial report I gave Monday on the Sunday meeting stands up pretty well. There was no proposed agenda coming from the Interim Committee for the meeting. On Saturday morning, according to Lita: "For the record, Sussen, this morning objected to me using the term transphobic" According to Lita: "Below is our proposed agenda. Thanks, Mike" As folks can see, this was Lita and Mike's agenda. Sussen did not consent to the agenda going out to the list. This is the first time in our (BMDC) history that the Interim Committee was unable to agree on an agenda.

 BMDC was accused by one of those involved in the attempted "hostile takeover" of being a group that "coopted" the campaign against police repression of Shimmy. The fact is that Shimmy had a falling out with his friends and BMDC kept showing up to defend him. Other attempts were made to falsely denigrate the record of BMDC. The facts don't seem to matter to those involved in the "hostile takeover" action.

 BMDC met and voted to set up a Discuss list, an internal list for BMDC members to discuss general political issues and have debates. BMDC members who wanted to be on the list were put on the list. Lita initially did not want to be on the list. She knew that political differences were going to be discussed on the list. She later changed her mind. There has been a general disrespect for having debates on general political issues on the Discuss list although this is what we voted for on June 4.

 A broad debate is unfolding across the country and beyond about trans rights. Conservative politicians are pushing this debate in order to hustle votes. They have no desire to defend women, children, or anyone else in the working class. These politicians are getting big exposure in the major media outlets. This debate is unfolding among millions whether we like it or not. Having a policy of summary expulsions and shutting down debates among the left is not going to help in winning the broader public to the cause of trans rights.

 At the meeting this past Sunday, according to Lita and those attempting the "Hostile Takeover", this was presented: "If someone tells you something is racist, you don't get to say, no it's not. If someone tells you something is transphobic, you don't get to say, no it's not. If someone tells you something is antisemitic, that's a difficult one because it depends on the definition, but you know what I mean." We should not promote double standards or cancel culture.  

 This approach is not going to help win millions of working people over to the cause. Cancel culture from the left helped send Trump to the US presidency. Cancel culture from the right helped my generation end the war in Vietnam, win abortion rights, and further the cause of gay rights which over the course of decades won victories.

 Regarding expulsions, On October 10, 2021 the Boston May Day Coalition voted on the following policy: "Participants in BMDC are entitled to a just process which is due to each person. No disciplinary determination is permitted against any participant unless the individual has the explicit opportunity to be present in a meeting where the issues are discussed, and the determination is voted on. Making determinations and policy based on gossip is a remnant of pre-capitalist social relations." This policy was explained to all participants in the meeting on Sunday. Those involved in the hostile takeover intervention were aware of what they were doing and decided on the summary expulsions. We can only expect similar activity in the future.

 In Lita's view and as well those involved in the hostile action on Sunday: "The Anti-Imperialist Picnic should be boycotted until David Keil, Jane Binkerd & John Harris take responsibility for their actions and hold themselves and BMDC accountable for the trauma they have put me through!" The participants in the hostile action on Sunday have called for a boycott of the Anti-Imperialist Picnic. I do not believe they care about the interests of BMDC as an organization. Their objectives are clear.

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Heidi Olson
[bmdc-wg] LET US UNITE AGAINST THE HOSTILE TAKE OVER EFFORTS!
6/22/23, 1:48 PM 

BMDC is being attacked by individuals who are using our internal conflicts to further their agenda of demolishing our group.  Please see this for what it is.  If you have any questions about Sunday's meeting being anything other than a hostile takeover I urge you to read the chat from the meeting and listen to the audio that has been posted.  This attack raged on for over 5 hours!  There was slandering, harassment, personal attacks on many members of BMDC, disregard for our voted agreement for due process and procedures, silencing & shutting down certain members from speaking, proposed expulsions of at least 5 BMDC members, demands to dissolve the group entirely and multiple threats!  I was personally threatened by a person who has been part of a group of people who have been stalking & harassing me for months!  Insults were hurled at almost everyone present who did not participate in this planned but failed takeover.  Although we need to recognize this attack for what it was, this is a huge distraction from our work.  We need to focus on the important work of BMDC.  The people behind the attempted hostile takeover have already made clear that they want BMDC to be under their control or they will do anything they can to end the group.  Members of BMDC who truly care about our group and the work we do need to unite despite any differences we may have and continue to stand against this attack! 
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From: Lita Xú Líng Kelley <xulingkelley@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 10:57 AM
To: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <mikeheichman@verizon.net>, Michael Heichman <michaelheichman@gmail.com>




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From: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 11:12 AM
To: David Keil <dmkeil@gmail.com>, <michaelheichman@gmail.com>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


David,

You are not a member! You have been expelled. 

On 6/18, on a motion made by me, after a long discussion, the BMDC members voted by a 9-6 vote to expel you and Jane from attending future meetings and removing you from BMDC's email lists.

You have no standing to .,.

1. Post this or any other BMDC email messages

2. Declare that decisions made were invalid

3. Use this list to make charges against me.

Speaking on the behalf of those who attended the 6/18 meeting, you have no standing.

Mike Heichman


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From: Heidi Olson <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 12:15 PM
To: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>, David Keil <dmkeil@gmail.com>, michaelheichman@gmail.com <michaelheichman@gmail.com>, mikeheichman@verizon.net <mikeheichman@verizon.net>



This nonsense and fighting needs to stop NOW! The vote was invalid, because the attackers did not follow our voted upon due process that was put in place after Antuan was unjustly expelled by 2 characters who are part of a group trying to destroy BMDC!  You are not helping things by agitating and name calling with all due respect Mike.  EVERYONE STOP THIS!  Stop fighting with each other.  Think about the future of BMDC!  This is not who we are.  We do things fairly and democratically and we follow our voted on protocols.  
From: bmdc-request@lists.riseup.net <bmdc-request@lists.riseup.net> on behalf of MICHAEL HEICHMAN <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2023 11:12 AM
To: David Keil <dmkeil@gmail.com>; michaelheichman@gmail.com <michaelheichman@gmail.com>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Subject: Re: [bmdc-wg] Status of the 6/18/22 meeting
 


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From: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 12:23 PM
To: <holson3@outlook.com>, Mike Heichman <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Heidi,

You have the right to your opinion and to express your opinion. So do I. So does every member!

Respectfully, what authority do you have or anyone else have to DECIDE that the vote was invalid?

Mike


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From: "john.r.harris@verizon.net" <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 1:20 PM
To: holson3@outlook.com <holson3@outlook.com>, Mike Heichman <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Mike likes to play fast and loose with the facts and with logic as well. And when it comes to expulsions, he has more than once led the effort to expel folks from BMDC. Yes, he has a right to his opinions and so does everyone else. But to Mike, shutting down and canceling the opinions of those who do not agree with him seems to be a central priority. 



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From: Joe <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 3:45 PM
To: <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>, David Keil <dmkeil@gmail.com>, <michaelheichman@gmail.com>


Will these new members stay with May Day Coalition?    Are they helping with the anti - imperialism picnic on the 4th of July?  With such a small group expulsion of members leads to self-destruction.  The many peace groups I belong to do not have a replacement when a member dies or become disabled .   Good Luck in the future!    Joe


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From: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 7:12 PM
To: John Harris <john.r.harris@verizon.net>, Mike Heichman <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: holson3@outlook.com <holson3@outlook.com>, BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


John,

Please give me some evidence that in your words, "shutting down and canceling the opinions of those who do not agree with him seems to be a central priority".

Must be a very very very long list.

Mike


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From: Heidi Olson <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Sat, Jun 24, 2023 at 9:28 AM
To: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Because it was done per BMDC voted upon procedure!  

From: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2023 12:22 PM
To: holson3@outlook.com <holson3@outlook.com>; Mike Heichman <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
 


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From: MICHAEL HEICHMAN <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Sat, Jun 24, 2023 at 9:21 PM
To: <holson3@outlook.com>, <michaelheichman@gmail.com>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Heidi,

If we had by-laws, they could be amended, BMDC does not have by-laws!

We have past practice and precedent.

A very important past practice and precedent which has never been challenged until this week is that BMDC is an open organization and anyone who attends is immediately a member who has a voice and vote.

Do you agree?

Last Sunday, you and Ababa were selected to be the Interim Comm. Do you agree that both of you are the Interim Comm until tomorrow's meeting?

At every meeting, BMDC can change its mind and over-rule previous decisions.

Do you agree?

Tomorrow BMDC will have a meeting where decisions can be made, which includes changing its mind?

Do you agree?

I hope to see you at tomorrow's meeting?

Do you agree?

Love,

Mike


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From: "john.r.harris@verizon.net" <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Sat, Jun 24, 2023 at 11:13 PM
To: holson3@outlook.com <holson3@outlook.com>, michaelheichman@gmail.com <michaelheichman@gmail.com>, mikeheichman@verizon.net <mikeheichman@verizon.net>
Cc: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>


Mike,

The policy we voted on in October 2021 was quoted in a previous post. We have a policy that was announced to BMDC. You chose to deny it last Sunday in your zeal for summary expulsions. Your denialism is to be expected. You are aligned with people who want to shut down BMDC. This goal was expressed openly in the meeting last Sunday. 

John


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From: "john.r.harris@verizon.net" <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>
Date: Sun, Jun 25, 2023 at 11:45 PM
To: BMDC Working Group <bmdc@lists.riseup.net>




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