LibraryScenariosWhen your activist group disagrees about accepting support from former opponents
Scenario

When your activist group disagrees about accepting support from former opponents

Our activist group is split on whether to work with a local politician who used to vote against our issues but now claims to support us, and the older members who've been fighting longer say we can't trust people who were on the wrong side, but newer members think we need allies even if they're imperfect.

Juana
Online
The coach is replying

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

The group is wrestling with whether political forgiveness is pragmatic coalition-building or a betrayal of those who suffered under past policies.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Justice and forgiveness — the tension?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.