KEEP YOURSELF SAFE
In this moment, it is vital to stand our ground and support our communities. However, that can lead to targeting and attacks (both physical and online) on yourself. Please be careful and take your personal safety seriously. Below, you can find resources that can give you guidance on how to best protect yourself and your loved ones.
Women's Democracy Lab Safety Resources
Women’s Democracy Lab (WDL) works towards an American democracy where diverse women hold equal representation at every level of public service, driving governance that is just, accessible, and responsive to all communities. However, in both the U.S. and globally, elected women and femmes of color experience the highest levels of online and offline hate and harassment. Launched in late 2022, Safety in Service (SiS) seeks immediate, mid-term, and long-term solutions to address the escalating threats faced by elected officials, in particular diverse women. Please also let your community know that if they would like to stand up a safety training of their own, to please let us know by emailing hello@womensdemocracylab.org.
Consider creating (or revisiting) your Safety Plan Checklist, which WDL created last year in collaboration with Sujata Tejwani of Sujata Strategies. Navigate to the Appendix for key definitions and details. Please note, this link will require you to create a copy of the file.
In collaboration with Brianna Jacobson from Serna Solutions, who led a virtual de-escalation training for our community in 2024, WDL has created a quick-reference document to guide you through de-escalation tactics.