In a Prism article dated January 7, 2021, a former President of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) Natasha Bannan was exposed as misrepresenting herself as Puerto Rican and Colombian, even claiming to be the first Latina President of the NLG and joining The United People of Color Caucus. She used this identity to gain political power and positions not only in the NLG but also as a Board member of MADRE, the Center for Constitutional Rights and Code Pink. She also served as Senior Counsel for Latino Justice and just tendered her resignation.
This follows from a series of now all-too-frequent exposure of white people presenting as people of color to gain employment, scholarships, political power, and academic and leadership positions within social justice, ethnic studies and other fields. This is harmful to the individuals that she displaced, to Latinx and other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) spaces that she has inserted herself in, to the organizations that she participated in, to social justice movements and betrays the importance of authenticity. All at a time when material reality, particularly of those most oppressed in the United States, is being challenged as “false news” by the out-going President. Not only have her actions displaced and taken opportunities for leadership and employment from those who actually come from the experience she falsely claimed and others of oppressed nationalities and races, but it allowed someone without that experience to claim that leadership and the validity of that experience to inform movement work. The leadership of those most impacted and on the frontlines of oppression and repression is crucial, not for purposes of identity, but because their experience provides an expertise and knowledge that is unique, most valuable in diagnosing problems and identifying solutions, and, is therefore, worthy of following. She has also inserted herself in many international struggles including the Puerto Rican, Cuban and Colombian liberation movements, representing as a Latinx woman. The appropriating of an identity as a person of color by a white person is not only opportunistic but profoundly entitled. It reflects the very processes of exploitation, colonization and appropriation at the heart of anti-racist and other liberation movements. As President, her lack of accountability around race is reflected in her minimization of the harm others caused fellow members and leadership, including experiences of sexual harassment. A lack of accountability for harmful dynamics by any of us and by the organization, leaves room for all forms of harm and creates an overall lack of accountability. While we support and understand that doing a thorough job is important towards any justice process, we urge the national NLG to move quickly towards strong accountability, which is crucial. For those being asked to come forward and share the harm done, it is important for them to know what accountability is being called for, what the process of accountability will look like, how their experience will be shared and with whom. It is also important for the NLG to share publicly who is on the Committee and their relationships to Natasha. We therefore demand the following steps towards accountability: 1. Natasha Bannan issue an apology to the National NLG and to all of the committees that she has participated in and often secured leadership positions within, including The United People of Color Caucus (TUPOCC), Puerto Rico, Colombia and Palestine Subcommittees, Task Force on the Americas, and International Committee. 2. That after hearing testimony from those impacted by Natasha’s actions, the NEC facilitate a process of accountability from Natasha and the organization to those most impacted who wish to be involved. 3. That she be immediately removed from all leadership positions within the NLG. 4. That her membership be revoked and that rejoining the NLG be contingent on those most impacted feeling there’s been adequate accountability and a shift in behavior.
5. That Natasha return to the NLG any funds she took for travel or work related to TUPOCC.
6. That Natasha extricate herself from movement spaces in which she has centered herself and taken up space that should be filled by Latinx activists and organizers, including third world liberation movements into which she has inserted herself as a Latinx activist in joint struggle.
7. That the NLG issue a statement rescinding the reference to Natasha as the “First Latina President”.
8. That repairing of harm is offered to those directly impacted by Natasha in the form of access to individual and/or group healing justice support.
9. That the National NEC work with MADRE, Code Pink and the Center for Constitutional Rights to request that they ask for her resignation from their Boards as well.
10. That the NLG and all of its chapters create clear and transparent mechanisms to address harm in expedient ways and that it takes immediate steps when harm has been raised to protect those experiencing it from further harm while investigation and accountability processes are implemented.
11. That the NLG and all of its chapters use this as an opportunity to address white entitlement, racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, and disrespect based on and professional status. And that all of us, as members, look at our own behavior in relationship to these power dynamics internal to the organization.
We hope that this will be part of larger work by the NLG to investigate, respond to and enact organizational and individual accountability for harmful and problematic behavior of members toward aligning our commitment to social justice with our organizational practice and culture. And that processes of accountability be used consistently and equally across these harms - from racism to exploitation to gender-based violence and harassment.
More Statements From the NLG:
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