On April 21st, Alaska Grassroots Alliance was holding a training on nonviolent civil disobedience in preparation for the Poor People's Campaign action coming up on May 13th and to help them grow this new membership organization in Alaska. About 2 hours into the 4 hour training, the door opened and a man walked in. He stood there for about 15 seconds and then immediately began spraying the participants with what turned out to be Bear Mace.
Four of the trainees got maced right in the face with the attacker about 1 foot away. The training was taking place at the Anchorage Community House which is attached to the Church of Love. Both facilities had to be evacuated. Kids attending an apple tree grafting workshop were seen leaving the building coughing.
Bear Mace is a highly concentrated form of pepper spray intended to incapacitate a hungry charging bear for at least an hour. The intense burning of the mace blinded the participants and caused several of them to struggle to breathe for several hours. The burning lasts a few days. Luckily everyone seems to have recovered. The attacker is still unknown. Alaska Grassroots Alliance is inviting him to their next nonviolent civil disobedience training so that he can learn how to get his political message across without resorting to torturing complete strangers.
Alaska Grassroots Alliance is holding other meetings and trainings this week. They are hoping that they won't see their membership dwindle because people are afraid to attend. They are hoping to make the Poor People's Campaign actions in Anchorage the biggest the state has ever seen.
Help them hire peace monitors to protect their meeting spaces.
The Center for Popular Democracy has agreed to raise the money on their behalf because they are new. All proceeds from this Crowdrise will go to support Alaska Grassroots Alliance.
You can also donate to Anchorage Community House https://www.anchoragecommunityhouse.com/donations/#!form/Donations
They had to empty the entire space where the workshop was held and wipe down every single piece of furniture, every cup, every shelf so that it could be used again.
and http://www.moralmovementak.org/donate.html
