Bystander Intervention: How To Be An Ally When You Witness Online Abuse

In this free, one-hour, interactive training, we’ll give you the tools you need to intervene safely and effectively in online abuse using Right To Be’s 5Ds of bystander intervention. First, we’ll talk through what online harassment is and how to identify abusive tactics. We’ll discuss the severe impact online abuse can have – on well being, livelihoods, and free expression – and how it’s drowning out voices that urgently need to be heard in public discourse. Then, we’ll share concrete strategies for how to distract, delegate, document, delay, or directly intervene in a way that is safe, effective, and centered on the needs of the person being targeted.

Join us.

PARTICIPANTS

Gisela Pérez de Acha reports on extremism, disinformation and environmental issues for UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program with a focus on digital forensics and network analysis. She is also a human rights lawyer and an open source researcher at the Human Rights Center Investigations Lab. Gisela has a master’s degree from Berkeley Journalism, where she now teaches cybersecurity and open-source investigations for upcoming journalists in a class that she helped create. She recently won a team Polk Award for her work in Frontline’s film American Insurrection and was also part of an Emmy award-winning team at the New York Times for a story about The Siege of Culiacán. Gisela is a cybersecurity expert and a digital safety trainer with PEN America. Born and raised in Mexico, she speaks fluent Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.

Dax Valdes (he/him) is an actor, choreographer, director, and teaching artist based in NYC. In his time with Right to Be, Dax has trained over 150,000 people around the world. In May of 2021, he was nominated to the GMA Inspiration List for his work within the AAPI community and Right To Be. Currently, he is an actor with Only Make Believe – a non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theater for children in hospitals and care facilities and on faculty with the Art of Science Learning.  He has served as the Associate Artistic Director for Leviathan Lab, Education Associate for the Vineyard Theatre, Associate Producer for the annual Career Transition For Dancers Galas (2004-17), and Producer for Capezio Dance Company’s 125th and 130th Anniversary Galas. Associate member – Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.