A Public Grievance is the moment a crew formally names harm in a way that:
- Cannot be ignored,
- Enters the public record,
- Shifts responsibility back onto the institution.
Unlike private complaints or closed-door negotiations, a Public Grievance is:
- Filed openly
- Framed clearly
- Accompanied by public action or documentation.
Why Public Grievance Matters
Institutions depend on:
- Quiet complaint channels
- HR or ombuds processes that go nowhere
- Individuals being isolated.
Public grievance disrupts that by:
- Naming the harm in plain public language
- Documenting it for others to build on,
- Forcing institutional visibility.
Examples of Public Grievance
Format | Example Practice |
Public Letter or Statement | Published on a website, zine, or public platform. |
Grievance Drop at a Meeting | Delivered during a city council session or board meeting. |
Public Hearing or Trial | Hosted by the crew to name harm when official channels fail. |
Memory Kit Documentation | Turning harm into permanent, shareable record. |
What It Is Not
- A private venting session.
- A negotiation behind closed doors.
- A social media post without structure.
If the harm is not publicly named and documented
it isn’t a public grievance.
Public Grievance Self-Check
[ ] Have we named the harm clearly and publicly?[ ] Have we documented the filing or action?[ ] Have we made it visible to the public, not just insiders?[ ] Have we logged the grievance in our Memory Kit?
If you check three or more
you have filed a public grievance.