InterOccupy Code of Conduct & Principles of Accountability

We at InterOccupy seek to foster communication between individuals, Working Groups and local General Assemblies, across the movement.  We do this in the spirit of the Occupy Movement and general assemblies which use direct democratic and horizontal decision-making processes in service to the interests of the 99%.

Therefore, we affirm the following Code of Conduct and Principles of Accountability

1. RESPECT OURSELVES
   • WE WILL NOT: Be silent. Be passive. Have a self-defeating attitude. Allow ourselves to be treated in ways that diminish or belittle us,
   • WE WILL: Speak our minds. Be positive. Be assertive. Identify things that need to get fixed or happen, look for solutions, and work with others to create those solutions. Push ourselves to take on greater challenges as we become more confident.
2. RESPECT OTHERS
   • WE WILL NOT: Attack, abuse, harass, or intentionally harm one another, whether physically, emotionally, verbally, sexually, or otherwise. Nor will we threaten to do so, for any reason.
   • WE WILL: Treat one another with the love, support, and openness, with which we would like to be treated. Be transparent with others about our affiliations, intentions, and motives.
   • WE WILL NOT: Spread rumors. We will not say hurtful things about people behind their backs. We will not make claims about wrongdoing without evidence or proof.
   • WE WILL: Assume good intentions in others and understand that everyone has different reasons for participating in this movement.
   • WE WILL NOT: Speak or act in racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, classist, ableist, ageist, or otherwise oppressive ways.
   • WE WILL: Honor our diverse backgrounds, identities, and abilities. Hatred and oppression have historically been used to divide us and to maintain power over us. In order to unite, we must acknowledge that these divisions exist both internally and in society, and we must actively strive towards equality and diversity. We will encourage the participation of members of historically marginalized groups in every aspect of our process and movement.
3. RESPECT BOUNDARIES
   • WE WILL NOT: Make assumptions about what we can say or do to people without asking what they are comfortable with. We will not share people’s personal information, including contact information, to others or the public, without a person’s permission.
   • WE WILL: Practice consent. Ask for permission before doing anything that might make someone uncomfortable, for example, “Can I give someone your number?” or “Is it OK if I use your email?” We will also tell people what we need, and to the extent that we are able, tell people what words or actions make us uncomfortable.
   • WE WILL NOT: Look down on people if they express discomfort, need space or time, or cannot handle certain situations that arise during Occupy activities, events or otherwise.
   • WE WILL: Be aware and sensitive to verbal and non-verbal cues that someone’s boundaries are being crossed or that they are being triggered. Give a “trigger warning” – a disclaimer or warning about content — before discussing potentially traumatic experiences, such as violence or sexual assault.
4. RESPECT THE PROCESS
   • InterOccupy functions in the spirit of the movement in that we advocate and practice open and horizontal decision-making. Any decision must begin with a quorum of four. We strive for consensus in all decisions but if consensus cannot be reached then any participant on the call can call for a straw poll to move to a 75% supermajority. The proposal is then subject to a 75% supermajority vote.
   • We will ask questions of individuals or groups in a respectful manner when we are confused or unsure about a particular action or decision, before responding to the action or decision in question.
5. ACCOUNTABILITY
   • The above stated Code of Conduct is the standard for appropriate behavior internally and externally at InterOccupy. If someone is not acting in the spirit of these principles of accountability then it is the responsibility of other InterOcc participants to engage the individual in question. If a solution cannot be reached and disruptive or subversive behavior continues anyone can bring a complaint to the Thursday Call Planning Group. It is then the group’s task to organize a response to the individual in question. If the problem persists then a consensus vote can be called for on the following Thursday Call Planning call to remove a person from the team. Standard internal operating process applies.

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