Hello all, First off, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who read the Boston IWW’s statement and did their best to hold Christopher accountable for his actions towards me, my child, and others in the greater leftist community who he has harmed with his actions. Unfortunately, our push for accountability and justice had legal repercussions for me. Last Thursday, April 25th, Boston Police knocked on my door. My roommate, a gender non-conforming black person, answered. They messaged me to let me know the cops had visited with papers for me. I immediately called the local police station, and made arrangements to leave work early in order to pick the papers so they would not need to visit my home again. Christopher filed a temporary restraining order on me, citing that I was “stalking” him. The order stated that I needed to be in Chelsea, VT on Tuesday, April 30th. With a full-time job, a child to care for, no car, and little financial resources, I wasn’t sure how I would pull that off. I had planned to attend Christopher’s thesis defense in silent protest, and I was certain this order was an attempt by him and perhaps Dartmouth College to bar me from attending. In fact, on Friday, April 19th, I emailed the Dean of the Graduate program for information about the time of his thesis defense, and was told it was a “legal issue.” Thesis defenses are normally open to the public, the date and time of Christopher’s defense is not listed on Dartmouth College’s website along with the others from the MALS department. (For the record, the papers were not filed until the following Monday.) Once again, I am very thankful for the solidarity I have received from the Boston IWW. I contacted my point person and they immediately mobilized to ensure I would be sitting in that courtroom on Tuesday morning at 8am. Two members woke up shortly after 4am to make the 3 hour drive to Chelsea, VT. (Thank you both for agreeing to wear collared shirts, and even a suit!) I am also very grateful for the legal advice I received from community members, and assistance with drafting a Motion to Dismiss. Though the motion was not accepted, it helped set a tone for the proceedings that I feel was integral to the dismissal of the order. In these proceedings, Christopher was asked to produce evidence that I had engaged in the alleged actions and was unable to provide any substantial documentation to give credence to his claims. Judging from his lack of preparedness (both in evidence and attire), he did not expect me to show up to defend the order, and certainly did not expect Wobblies to be present. While the final decision was dismissal of the order, the judges stated that if more harassment continued from members of the leftist community, there perhaps would be grounds for me to be dragged back to court in Chelsea, VT. Though I am aggrieved my second attempt at an accountability process has been refused by Christopher, I do not regret attempting to reach an agreement with the help of the community. I did not offer the accountability process because I believed Christopher would engage, I offered it because it is my duty as an anarchist to offer people opportunities for redemption, for restoration. I wish his refusal had not been in the form of using the State to silence and intimidate us, but given the advice of the Orange County Family and Probate Court, I have no choice but to accept it. A bright spot in this was I was able to have him served with papers to establish paternity, custody, and child support prior to our hearing. For the past 4 months since he initiated contact, he has told my attorney he resided in Greece and was unable to be served locally, but would get in touch when back in the States to be served. To my knowledge, Christopher entered and re-entered the States several times, and made no effort to schedule a time to get papers from my legal counsel, refusing several phone calls from my legal counsel. **With that being said, I will ask that people no longer engage Christopher Helali about an accountability process or issue any threats to his personhood on my behalf. By effectively using the apparatus of the State to bar us from holding him accountable for his misconduct, I believe he has made it very clear that he no longer desires to be part of our movement, and I think we should honor his choice, especially as disobeying puts me in danger of further involvement with the State. As it stands, Christopher is a man with a great deal of power and privilege, especially compared to the identities I hold, and if not for the support of the Boston IWW I would have been unable to advocate for myself and my child as effectively and swiftly as was needed. When I first met with the Boston chapter, a member stated, “We have no business with Christopher Helali.” And yet, they did not immediately turn away as others had. They saw the severity of the situation and helped me. I cannot thank the Wobblies enough. You have all been so kind. You mobilized to help when others stood idly by. Most importantly, you believed me. There is a wondrous power in belief. And I will honor your belief in me by telling the truth. Sometimes telling the truth is difficult because it makes us seem foolish, it makes us so vulnerable to judgment. And sometimes telling the truth is difficult because one is on the left hand side of a man who has generated such immense harm, begging one’s newfound voice not to shake, for one’s eyes to not flow and diminish one’s power. But even when my eyes welled with tears, their falling did not make me feel weak. Though my cup has overflowed with so much fear and pain, the belief in me from the community has allowed me to release so much of it, and now my cup overflows with gratitude and joy. If people wish to donate to my legal fund or the Boston IWW’s General Defense Fund, please contact iww.boston@riseup.net -Zipporah Legarde 2 May 2019