Reclaim MLK Annual March for Human Rights & Dignity

We're just days away from our 5th Annual Reclaim MLK March for Human Rights & Dignity.  Please find our event guidelines and accessibility pledge below. 

Guidelines and Accessibility Pledge

This event is a protest, meant to include everyone as we support and uplift the voices of Black people. We are unapologetic in our movement for Black Lives and we use this event to center the voices of our children, who are most vulnerable to the systemic violations of civil liberties. We want everyone to feel welcome to support and participate in this movement work to uplift the Black family and our entire community. Not many events center the voices of children to uplift the Black community so we reclaim Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day for this purpose. Our children deserve to be centered and celebrated by our diverse community because when we center the voices of our most marginalized then we are truly doing the work of change agents.

This community action is for EVERY BODY, focusing, amplifying and centering the voices of our children and most marginalized members of our community- Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, Intersex, Pansexual, Two-spirit (2S), Androgynous, Asexual, GenderQueer/GenderFluid, Novi- or Demi-Sexual (LGBTQQIP2SAAGND+), immigrants and refugees. We are committed to making this march as accessible as possible to people of all ability levels. If you’re Neuro-Diverse, we honor and welcome you. If you are Blind, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or have limited vision we honor and welcome you. If you are a person with a visible disability, we honor and welcome you. If you are a person with an invisible disability, we honor and welcome you.

We recognize the contributions of the disability advocacy community to civil rights and our concepts of inclusion. The ability to have a voice and make decisions are key to human rights and dignity for all (#NothingAboutMeWithoutMe).

   If you have questions about the march, please don’t hesitate to reach out (contact@dontshootpdx.org). If you’d like to request a ride to/from the march and/or have an accessibility request , please let us know here: https://form.jotform.com/90107136799160

All requests for accommodation will be honored to the best of our abilities.

To make this march accessible, we’re implementing the following:

• Two American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be present for the entirety of the event  

• Information on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA-) accessible bathrooms and parking locations is available upon request before the march (contact@dontshootpdx.org ) and we will have printed copies at the march

• Printed materials at the march have a minimum font size of 16 point and are printed in Arial font; key readings, like Dr. King’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ will be available in English, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin.

• We’re asking that able-bodied attendees, leave a 3-foot lane on the right of walkways for accessibility of people with mobility devices and strollers, with preference given to those with mobility needs. This accessibility area allows those with mobility and health issues, as well as those with children, to exit quickly and safely if necessary.

• We understand that for some people there is no such thing as a safe march. For those who cannot attend, videos produced by us at the march will be published with closed captions after the march. Some video maybe seen on Facebook as live stream video, but the platform does not have video captions to include Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

• We will have volunteers on hand that have experience with handling crisis situations and can assist with accessibility needs.

• Volunteers will be clearly marked by wearing red (red bandanas or garments).

• We recognize the links between strobe lights, flash, and seizures/fits and other disorders (https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/photosensitivity-and-seizures).

• Photographers and videographer will be asked to wear Black to make them easily identifiable. We are advising them on our Accessibility Pledge and ask if flash photography is required, they seek consent, provide a warning that a flash will be used, allow sufficient time for a response, and honor refusals. We will balance these concerns with rights to public free speech.

• The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals will be present at the march and offer free first aid kits.

• We recognize that working Service and Support animals are critical for inclusion of many people with disabilities.

• The safety and accessibility of the march relies on all of us who are attending. Step Up* by taking the Pledge of Accessibility with us, especially if you are a white and able-bodied person.

*Step Up/Step Back are used in their broadest metaphorical meaning, as used in social justice circles. 

By attending the Reclaim MLK Annual March for Human Rights & Dignity, I pledge to:

• Step Back to check my pace to one that is safe for those with mobility issues and our children– no matter the pace.

• Step Back to make sure the Deaf or Hard of Hearing have a clear line of sight to ASL interpreters and speakers.

• Step Up to remember the continuous marginalization of the voices and experiences of BIPOC and LGBTQQIP2SAAGND+ and will leave my pink pussy hat at home.

• Step Up to offer assistance and/or protection

• Step Back to center the voices and needs of BIPOC, LGBTQQIP2SAAGND+, immigrants, refugees, and children, including those who are Deaf, Blind, Hard of Hearing, Neurodivergent, or have other disabilities.

• Step Up  to interrupt hacklers or bullies who threaten a speaker or other person, including those with disabilities, using de-escalation and nonviolent resistance.

• Step Up by turning off flash, auto focus illuminators and/or focus assist lights on cameras and smartphones.

Step Up by asking permission before approaching a working Service or Support Animal.