BEN THOMAS SHOULD NOT BE IN ANY LEADERSHIP ROLE PERIOD.
We have a Right to NOT Be Assaulted when we Speak.
"From: Ben Thomas
To: Grace Rosen
Subject: Re: Fair for All
Date: Thursday, September 1, 2022 5:02:10 PM
Grace,
Thank you for the perspective on this Saturday and the thoughts on what leadership would be
useful from the council at this point. I agree that if I, or another councilor, were to step up,
others might follow or feel more free to communicate what they believe. We've been quiet in
part since we haven't had time to meet beyond that meeting on the 15th. Perhaps we are too
reticent about stepping forward as individuals. I'm pondering this. Being new to the role, I'm
leery of getting over my skis. But there is a vacuum of leadership on this, so I think we should
step forward. I'm still chewing on the best way to do this at the moment.
As far as Saturday goes, I'm happy if Proud Boy and Antifa-types would have their LARP-ing
culture war somewhere else. I'm not interested in what either of those groups have to say. I
hope people stay home for that event.
I did read the PTFP article on the parent from Port Angeles. Julie had told me that story three
weeks ago, so I knew it was coming.
The best time for me to meet might be Monday at 4pm, which would be right after I finish my
FAIR orientation Zoom call. It might be useful to talk after that. I plan to be down at City Hall at
the time, if you'd like to meet there. But if that time doesn't work, Sunday at 2pm could work.
I could meet you near your place of work, or anywhere you'd like.
I have a couple questions from your email signature: what are the Jefferson County Freedom
Alliance and the Forgive Now Foundation? They both sound interesting.
Ben
Port Townsend City Council, position 1
250 Madison Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 531-2211 (mobile)
"Defending the truth is not something one does out of a sense of duty or to allay guilt complexes,
but is a reward in itself." –Simone de Beauvoir"
From: Grace Rosen <nancygracerosen@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:03 AM
To: Ben Thomas <bthomas@cityofpt.us>
Subject: Re: Fair for All
Great Ben,
I look forward to having a conversation with you.
Received an email from the Oregon chapter of FAIR encouraging me to communicate with
them in response to my email to Reid of the FAIR legal team that interviewed Julie asking if
he knew of a Washington FAIR group. Will follow up on email later today,
Are you aware of what’s planned for this Sat. 9/3 3-5 pm?
Robert Zerfing, a concerned conservative father who videotaped the entire 8/15 incident,
coming up from Portland, Oregon as well as the Proud Boys group.
We don’t think there’s any connection between the two because Robert contacted Amy
Sousa & Julie Jaman who declined to participate after all the aggressive behaviors of the
blended sexual identity protestors and the lack of police protection of women's bodies,
personal space, private property, speech or the peace during the city permitted press release
that took place on 8/15.
Jule was contacted by Robert Z. (see above paragraph reference) who videotaped the entire
confrontational behavior of the aggressive protestors who prevented Julie from speaking at her
press release. He's planning on coming up here on Saturday and invited Amy Sousa and Julie
to join him. I spoke over the phone with Julie on Tuesday this week and she clarified no
affiliation nor participation with Robert nor the Sept. 3 protest plans.
Many of the women who were present at the August 15th event do not feel safe after nonlocal
professional protestors' aggressive and intimidating behaviors prevented Julie from
speaking at her own press conference. Some women said some of the men were armed.
Women in our Jefferson County Freedom Alliance group as well as community supporters
of Julie are not participating in the September 3 Proud Boys demonstration nor protest.
We have concerns about escalating sensationalism & violence. Could be more online
rhetoric or become a reality.
A local man saw a circle of men on lawn chairs meeting at Pope Park. Someone local saw FBI people on the ferry, we are concerned about guns, weapons, fires, breaking of glass. Several of us from Jefferson County Freedom Alliance are alerting restaurants & shop owners on Water St tomorrow & Friday afternoons. Encouraging them to be aware and stay alert to what feels in their best business interest during 3 to 5 pm this Saturday, September 3rd.
I am also putting together a survey for our community to express their concerns,
suggestions and support for mediating and resolving this local justified concern for children's
and women's protection and privacy in public places such as the women's dressing and
showering room in the local YMCA. And, the YMCA held accountable for their
administrative decisions and unwillingness to discuss or negotiate with YMCA members' valid
concerns in more than just our YMCA.
Ben, did you see this article on Free PT Press on YMCA in Port Angeles, etc.?
https://www.porttownsendfreepress.com/2022/08/27/ymca-accused-of-expelling-family-forobjecting-
to-child-porn-and-sexual-misconduct-against-women-and-girls/ May fan the fires of
all concerned fathers/parents in Oregon and Washington.
Contributing more constructive action and community communication about equal and
fair solutions from the PT City Council could help. I encourage you to announce a willingness
of the City Council to mediate with Julie Jaman and our local YMCA.
Your leadership in the City Council could encourage additional city council members to
commit to resolve our common concerns for fairness, justice and pro human rights for all
before it escalates into more confusion and violent factions that could further harm our town.
Thank you for reading, and I trust we will find some time to talk. I will be downtown
Friday afternoon around 2 pm.
I am working on Saturday until 5 pm. and have some time after 2 pm on Sunday. Please let me
know possible timing for you.
Sincerely,
Grace Rosen, M.C., M.Ed.
Forgive Now Foundation
Jefferson County Freedom Alliance
On Aug 31, 2022, at 10:45 AM, Ben Thomas <bthomas@cityofpt.us> wrote:
After I got your and Sol's emails I also signed up for FAIR (I thought I had before,
but evidently hadn't). I'd be very up for joining a local group if you start one. It
would be nice to have something established that could react quicker to issues
like this more quickly. I feel we were unprepared as a community, especially at
the City level.
I agree that this needn't be political. My only concern with FAIR is the potential
for backlash due to their generally "anti-woke" philosophy. I imagine that some
key people that should be at the table might find issue with that. These are
strange times, ideologically. But I'm happy to hear that they have reached out to
Julie.
I just got your phone message. I'll be back tomorrow and would be happy to talk
in person this weekend or Monday.
Ben
Port Townsend City Council, position 1
250 Madison Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 531-2211 (mobile)
"Defending the truth is not something one does out of a sense of duty or to allay guilt
complexes, but is a reward in itself." –Simone de Beauvoir
From: Grace Rosen <nancygracerosen@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2022 7:42 PM
To: Ben Thomas <bthomas@cityofpt.us>
Subject: Re: Fair for All
Dear Ben,
I was very happy to receive your email this morning.
Thought Sol and I were talking this evening together and then sending you a
response from us both.
However, she just let me know she already sent you an email earlier today.
It is my understanding that Julie Jaman was contacted by the Fair for All
organization.
They contacted her after Julie's story became national and international news on
many media sites.
Rebel News, Canadian interview with Julie and petition that has been signed by
close to 9000 people so far.
Here are those respective links if you haven't seen them:
https://www.rebelnews.com/let_her_swim_julie_jaman_banned_from_ymca
I spoke with Julie today and she confirmed:
1. Three different people in the FAIR organization interviewed her.
2. All three mentioned they would review what she shared and then get back with
her about proceeding with a mediation.
3. It's possible in their deliberation, someone may have contacted city council,
however we have no information about this.
4. Julie confirmed with me today she is waiting to hear back from FAIR and that
she's definitely willing to participate in a mediation
with City Council, YMCA and herself.
5. A local survey is being designed and going out soon to all residents of Port
Townsend to see what the community public consensus is concerning supporting
a community mediation.
6. I went on Fair for All website today and pledged, looked into forming a local
group.
Julie gave me an email contact to email requesting information if we already
have a local group in Jefferson County and if not, I am planning to start one with
absolutely no political agenda, this isn't about politics, it's about standing for all
humans' rights and taking a pro-human position for all of humanity.
In Laughter, Light & Love~
Grace Rosen, M.C.
On Tue, Aug 30, 2022 at 8:26 AM Ben Thomas <bthomas@cityofpt.us> wrote:
Grace and Sol,
Hello, I'm writing on behalf of myself as an individual City Councilor, not for the
City Council as a whole. I hope you don't mind me writing you both together,
but since you both wrote to the City Council to recommend doing some conflict
resolution with Fair for All, I'm making the assumption you may already know
each other. If I read your emails correctly, you both suggest that Fair for All may
have reached out to the City about this. I haven't been aware of this, but would
like to find out more.
I happen to be a fan of Fair for All and many of the folks on their board of
directors, but I can imagine that some would assess it, fairly or not, to be a
group with a political agenda. That said, I'd at least like to hear more about this
idea.
I'm personally in favor a community dialogue. It's going to be really tricky to pull
off. I've been talking to people individually and trying to get a sense of how to
do it. I would like to push for doing something like this, but I need some more
perspective before I do. I'm open to hearing what you both have to suggest.
Thank you for taking an interest in keeping the community together on this.
This is certainly not something to be swept under the rug.
Ben Thomas
Port Townsend City Council, position 1
250 Madison Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Source FOI eMail
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HvNBRtpRXomHWEczyVo18NqE-LzeaTeL/view?usp=sharing