BASAT survey

Hi there, you have been asked to participate in this brief survey because we really value your thoughts and opinions. We are an ad-hoc group of anti-racist activists in the Bay Area operating under the name of BASAT (Bay Area Solidarity Action Team) who joined together to take ongoing accountable action as allies in solidarity with the BlackLivesMatter movement. We originally formed by putting a call out to white folks to step up in our role to end the white silence that perpetuates violence against Black folks; however, through the formation of affinity groups through people's personal networks and desires, we are not an entirely white group at this point; though the vast majority is. So far we have done two actions: the Oakland Tree Lighting ceremony redirect (12/5), and #ShutdownOPD (12/15).

While we are committed to continue taking action, we are now reflecting on the role of BASAT as a vehicle, what role it could play, or if it should continue to exist. Through organizing these actions, we amassed a large twitter feed, listserv, a national audience and readership of our principles and protocols, and lots and lots of people who are interested in continuing to take action with us.

Useful context: we did not all come together to vision what kind of infrastructure is necessary in the Bay, and BASAT did not emerge from that level of political thinking. Instead, it was an ad-hoc experiment of "building the plane while flying it" so that we could meet needs to execute big actions on a specific (fast) timeline. Our core tactical team was made up of 4 people who had strong relationships with both the Black leaders we were consulting with and many of the white activists who were invited to start BASAT. Now that we have some breathing room, we have an opportunity to step back and be more thoughtful about what we all want to create, what leadership and consultation should look like, and what our roles is. This survey is meant to help us assess our next steps.

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* 1. How do you relate to BASAT?

I provided feedback or was consulted with by BASAT members

I am a member of a working group connected to BASAT

I am a member of an affinity group connected to BASAT

I participated in an action BASAT was a part of

I observed an action BASAT was a part of

I read something you put out

I heard of BASAT on facebook

Other (please specify)

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* 2. How do you identify yourself racially? Please check all that apply

Multi-Racial or Mixed Race

Arab or Arab American

Asian or Asian American

Black or African American

Indigenous or Native American

Latino/ Latina/ Latin@

Middle Eastern

Pacific Islander

White or European American

How else do you identify yourself racially or ethnically?

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* 3. Anything else you are willing to share about yourself? (organization affiliation, affinity group name, your name etc.)

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* 4. Do you think there is a need for a new group to organize and train white people to work accountably and take direct action in this movement in an ongoing way?

Yes! definitely!

I think so, but I need to understand the current political landscape more before I can answer this

Maybe

Nah, there is already another group that does this that I will mention below

Nope

Please explain or add to your answer above

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* 5. When BASAT announced its "principles and protocols," thousands of people around the country viewed it and engaged it as a resource. One of those principles was that we would take continued action in an accountable way. If we were to dissolve, our concern is the message that might send to our national audience about our continued action (even if we continue with other vehicles and names). When considering whether or not to dissolve BASAT, how important is this? Do we have a responsibility to continue, and to continue sharing our lessons and learning? Regardless of whether or not you ultimately think we should dissolve, which, if any, of the following ideas do you agree with?

We have a responsibility to continue visibly as BASAT with those principles

People will understand if we shift vehicles and drop the BASAT name and group if we explain it

It's not that important, if BASAT dissolves, it won't send that message

Any other thoughts?

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* 6. If we dissolve, what do you think we should do with the resources that BASAT has built (twitter account, wordpress site with protocols, large email list of mostly white people in the Bay)?

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* 7. How do you feel about the following scenarios?

	Absolutely	Maybe	I don't know	Nah	Hell no
Have BASAT continue as a group of mostly white people, who work in/with multi-racial coalitions or networks, continuing to follow direction from the Black groups that we have existing relationships with.	Have BASAT continue as a group of mostly white people, who work in/with multi-racial coalitions or networks, continuing to follow direction from the Black groups that we have existing relationships with. Absolutely	Have BASAT continue as a group of mostly white people, who work in/with multi-racial coalitions or networks, continuing to follow direction from the Black groups that we have existing relationships with. Maybe	Have BASAT continue as a group of mostly white people, who work in/with multi-racial coalitions or networks, continuing to follow direction from the Black groups that we have existing relationships with. I don't know	Have BASAT continue as a group of mostly white people, who work in/with multi-racial coalitions or networks, continuing to follow direction from the Black groups that we have existing relationships with. Nah	Have BASAT continue as a group of mostly white people, who work in/with multi-racial coalitions or networks, continuing to follow direction from the Black groups that we have existing relationships with. Hell no
Dissolve BASAT, but continue our work as assorted affinity groups and comrades within other multi-racial spaces.	Dissolve BASAT, but continue our work as assorted affinity groups and comrades within other multi-racial spaces. Absolutely	Dissolve BASAT, but continue our work as assorted affinity groups and comrades within other multi-racial spaces. Maybe	Dissolve BASAT, but continue our work as assorted affinity groups and comrades within other multi-racial spaces. I don't know	Dissolve BASAT, but continue our work as assorted affinity groups and comrades within other multi-racial spaces. Nah	Dissolve BASAT, but continue our work as assorted affinity groups and comrades within other multi-racial spaces. Hell no
Dissolve BASAT, and put our efforts into supporting the formation of a new multi-racial vehicle, knowing that the opportunities for forming such a group are unclear at this moment and the viability of a new vehicle is uncertain.	Dissolve BASAT, and put our efforts into supporting the formation of a new multi-racial vehicle, knowing that the opportunities for forming such a group are unclear at this moment and the viability of a new vehicle is uncertain. Absolutely	Dissolve BASAT, and put our efforts into supporting the formation of a new multi-racial vehicle, knowing that the opportunities for forming such a group are unclear at this moment and the viability of a new vehicle is uncertain. Maybe	Dissolve BASAT, and put our efforts into supporting the formation of a new multi-racial vehicle, knowing that the opportunities for forming such a group are unclear at this moment and the viability of a new vehicle is uncertain. I don't know	Dissolve BASAT, and put our efforts into supporting the formation of a new multi-racial vehicle, knowing that the opportunities for forming such a group are unclear at this moment and the viability of a new vehicle is uncertain. Nah	Dissolve BASAT, and put our efforts into supporting the formation of a new multi-racial vehicle, knowing that the opportunities for forming such a group are unclear at this moment and the viability of a new vehicle is uncertain. Hell no
Have BASAT itself become purposefully multi-racial, knowing that the DNA of the group already has a foundation in a large number of white participants	Have BASAT itself become purposefully multi-racial, knowing that the DNA of the group already has a foundation in a large number of white participants Absolutely	Have BASAT itself become purposefully multi-racial, knowing that the DNA of the group already has a foundation in a large number of white participants Maybe	Have BASAT itself become purposefully multi-racial, knowing that the DNA of the group already has a foundation in a large number of white participants I don't know	Have BASAT itself become purposefully multi-racial, knowing that the DNA of the group already has a foundation in a large number of white participants Nah	Have BASAT itself become purposefully multi-racial, knowing that the DNA of the group already has a foundation in a large number of white participants Hell no
Other, please explain below	Other, please explain below Absolutely	Other, please explain below Maybe	Other, please explain below I don't know	Other, please explain below Nah	Other, please explain below Hell no

Any other option or addition you'd like to share?

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* 8. There are lots of questions to be answered about next steps for BASAT. Regardless of what is decided, those on the "tactical team" as well as others who have been in leadership roles are keen to rotate and transition roles, as well as horizontalize the process. Please share ideas about your personal interest and capacity to take on next steps for BASAT, or other ideas about structure.

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* 9. We experimented with a hybrid model for how we organized. We were shaped like a horizontal decentralized body - but with a center or leadership core in order to make quick consultation with Black leaders and organizations possible and maintain the necessary security for organizing a mass direct action. If we were to continue as a white or mostly white organizing body, do you have any suggestions to improve this model?

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* 10. Anything else you'd like the current BASAT organizers to know?

Thank you so much for your time and consideration. We will be reading through these and reporting back soon.