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September 5, 2025
We're kicking off our fall calendar with a special Friday night discussion co-hosted by our friends from the READ Network. The Radical Empowerment and Autonomy Defense (READ) Network works to create parallel systems for training and competing in martial arts and self-defense. Existing systems marginalize many and rely on authoritarian structures. READ provides combat training for us, by us!
In this community discussion we will empower ourselves to defend our hearts and bodies in real life, everyday situations.
From physical threats to the threat of losing your home, violence is committed against us on a daily basis. How do you defend yourself when your aggressor has power over you? What if the aggressor is your landlord, an intimate partner, your boss, a state agency, or medical gatekeepers?
The self-defense industry is a bastion of White supremacy and queer-phobia. It emphasizes strength, aggression, physical combat, and creates a fear of others. Learning to fight is great, but it does little to overcome the dangers of poverty, discrimination, and state-sanctioned violence. Rather than focus on unrealistic combat scenarios, we will learn to de-escalate and prevent violence from occurring.
As always, our events are free and open to the public. The Black Cat House welcomes all ages, and is a drug and alcohol-free venue. To help keep everyone safe and healthy, we ask that all guests wear face masks in our space. We are wheelchair accessible.