AYE RIGHT

Spit it Out was born of the realisation that most survivors of sexual violence and abuse don’t seek revenge or police “support”. In 2020, the Spit it Out collective came together with different experiences of trauma and their own personal ways to help their mental health. We shared our stories, our creative practices and our wish for a better future. Together, and thanks to Ruth Eliot, we discovered Transformative Justice values. We felt understood for the first time. Since then, te organisation grew on these principles but we are still not experts on TJ, we are learning with our community through reading groups, screenings, open days, workshops, etc 

Transformative Justice (TJ) is a political framework and approach for responding to violence, harm and abuse. It is meant to respond to violence without creating more violence, hopefully engaging with harm reduction practices to lessen the violence. Transformative justice responses and interventions:

1) do not rely on the state (e.g. police, prisons, the criminal legal system;)

2) do not reinforce or perpetuate violence

3) actively cultivate the things we know prevent violence such as healing, accountability, resilience, and safety for all involved.

Using community learning and creativity, we work to disarm the cycles of harm towards a future free from structural and interpersonal violence. We believe that state responses to violence create more violence and often traumatise those who are exposed to them, especially oppressed communities who are already targeted by the state. As Transform Harm writes “It is important to remember that while many people choose not to call the police, many communities can’t call the police because of reasons such as fear of deportation, harassment, state sanctioned violence, sexual violence, previous convictions or inaccessibility.”

Through the years, we realise that one of our main goals is also to work around the notion that Transformative Justice is not only about abolition and harm reduction. All these texts we have read in the TJ reading groups have taught us about the prison industrial complex and the history of the police. However, we still had to turn to our real life experiences to learn about how to take care of our community and thrive to create trauma-aware spaces. For a lot of people Transformative Justice is about finding ways to help a brother, understand a partner, care for a parent or forgive a friend.  We don’t have all the answers. And that’s why we keep learning and invite you to come learn with us. 

“Transformative justice is finding compassion from yourself and the person who has caused you harm. Transformative Justice is understanding that harmful behaviour is symptomatic of a toxic environment rather than a fixed part of a person’s character. Transformative Justice is accepting that forgiveness is a process and a possibility but should never be expected or required. Transformative Justice is accepting support and help from your community, not only for yourself but also for the person who caused harm. It is an understanding that given the right conditions, every person has  fundamental capacity to change, grow and become a loving member of a community but that it is not always your responsibility to educate the person who hurt you.Transformative Justice is accepting we are capable of hurting others too and trying our best not to engage in situations before we are ready to. Transformative Justice is accepting that sincere apologies may never come and find healing tools elsewhere. Transformative Justice is not wanting to reproduce the same hurt you’ve received. Transformative Justice is complicated. It is moving, changing, evolving. It is beautiful and it is hard. It is rewarding as much as it costs you everything you have sometimes. It takes courage and love. Transformative Justice takes a community who care.”

Today we offer:

• A learning space

• Free Workshops and Talks

• Free Resources

• Signposting