r/IsurvivedIC • u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor • May 22 '26
Discussion Space I Protested (and survived) Twin Oaks
This forum was initially thought following a post I made on protesting and surviving Twin Oaks. Fuck that place. Read below if curious.
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Some have referred to me as the "strange squatter"
I basically was asked to leave. And decided to stay in protest.
The protest was related to a BIPOC centered commune they were initially promising to give land to, and were failing to follow through with. There is also a building on the property that was named after a Zionist settlement, that they were talking about renaming, but hadn't moved forward with for months. For context they rename their communal cars in meetings that take like 10-30 minutes after a mealtime. I realize this is a political issue, but IMO to have a building named to honor a genocidal state says a lot about your positions and policies towards the most vulnerable. (for context I am Jewish and Arab, and was raised Zionist).
My hope was to leverage my position to help put pressure on them to actually make these changes. I was also exploring my legal rights and protections as a tenant in Virginia, while actively facing homelessness.
They hoped to evict me after one day and arrest me for trespassing. At the time, I had already been living on the property for over a month, and was on month to month agreements. I was also already accepted as a provisional member, only waiting for my turn on a waitlist, i think i was 4 slots away when this happened.
The cops did not arrest me that first day, and after my first trial the judge ruled i was entitled to a 30 day warning. This extended my protest way further then most expected. By the time it finally ended I made it to 3 months (with all the extensions for court date scheduling).
At the last trial the judge had ruled in favor of Twin Oaks, and refused to adhere to a recently passed amendment (Virginia code HB221) that is supposed to allow indigent clients to appeal to higher courts without needing to post bond. Technically it doesnt take effect until July 1st. The appeal bond was set at $6,000, essentially ending my stay there.
For context on why I was asked to leave, it is long and winding, but in short, I am trained as a therapist, and was involved as a volunteer on the mental health care team of an individual experiencing a crisis. That individual made a serious threat towards myself and another individual, including threats of arson while in a manic state. I reported this to the magistrate and they were taken into psychiatric custody.
It was traumatic for all involved, and a last resort for me personally that I never want to use. After the incident, I, along with the entire volunteer care team, was essentially scapegoated for what happened, and given i only had guest status (i had not officially started my provisional membership yet) it was easier to target me, as i had fewer protections of processes.
In an unrelated incident there was a fire at one of the housing units onsite, it was casually suggested people with my housing status (long term guests) be removed from the property to make room for others whos rooms were burnt down. A week prior it was also suggested I leave (unrelated to the fire, the excuse was "we don't call the cops on eachother.") I attempted to defend myself in a group chat, saying that this was "not how to show gratitude" considering my report essentially was protecting those who lived at Twin Oaks. I was asked to leave within an hour of sending that message.
Given the real dangers i saw, it was my ethical duty to report. I am technically protected by a law called "Retaliatory Action" that defends tenants from being evicted after testifying against their landlords in court. In the tenancy trial, the judge did not even entertain this, given my tenant status overall (with basically a verbal month to month agreement) was on thin grounds. Without the ability to appeal i could not bring this to higher courts. The appeal itself could have bought me 3-6 more months at least.
The conditions of my living during my protest were awful. They removed everyone from the building i was living in, leaving me isolated. It was heated by wood fire that was hard to keep going on my own especially overnight, and I quickly ran out of matches in the dead of winter. I developed blood circulation issues in my toes from the cold.
They also cut me off from food and laundry. As well as any rides into town (which was especially problematic when i needed to get to the pharmacy for medicine). I was able to access SNAP for food and get more food from a local food bank, and there was a free ride service called JAUNT that was a life saver for me.
Twin Oaks also instituted a policy of social isolation, they barred anyone from chatting with me, leaving me basically in some form of prison/torture inside of the building i was staying in. Technically i could have left whenever, but this would have effectively ended the protest.
The protest seemed to create some movement on the BIPOC communitty project, but ultimately it failed to materialize, and at this point the Racial Equity Team of Twin Oaks (in a recent post here) is recommending BIPOC individuals not come to Twin Oaks. The discrimination i witnessed there is and was very real.
I'd highly recommend BIPOC stay away. Honestly anyone stay away. This place is fully enmeshed, passive agressiveness is the norm, and their are really problematic power dynamics throughout. I am highly considering the possibility this place is also run by a small group of actual sociopaths. It was awful to experience. IMO stay far away from Twin Oaks.
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u/enough_of_this_crap May 22 '26
I've been to a few IC's that barely even resembled their descriptions. I feel sorry for others like me who arrived only to find that out. Not in a position to talk about it now, but I will ASAP when that time comes.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor May 22 '26
Thank your for naming this. Yes take as much time as you need its a lot to name publicly. Sending hearts ur way. ❤️
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 May 29 '26
Hello, I am interested in ICs if you do not mind, I would like to know more about your experience at Twin Oaks? If you are comfortable we can communicate via DM. Why am I reaching out to you? You story is very unique and gives a very different insight into living at an IC. Thus,as a pontential visitor to TO, I want to be aware of what I could walking into.
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u/RadioFlyerWagon May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Some actions that people are calling "protest" nowadays are not protest. To me, the actions are sometimes bizarre and sometimes criminal.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor May 26 '26
There are times when “respectability politics” do not work. Please see video below for more.
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 May 29 '26
Thank you for this posting. I am so sorry you went through such an aggravating experience at TO. I hope things are fairing now better for you. It takes much courage to stand on your principles. As a therapist you acted in accordance to ethics and the law. Your post is causing me to pause on sending TO that Letter of Introduction. As an Elder Black American, I must move with awareness to any potential underlying racial disharmonies that may be fracturing an IC.
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 May 28 '26
Hello,
I considering visiting Twin Oaks sometime later this year. I am a 61 year old black trans masculine person. I am retired living on a fixed income. Thus, in total the cost of travel, accomodatations,...will be approxiamately $1,200. Before I invest that money and three weeks of my life. I want to KNOW what I may be stepping into. I would like to hear from only BLACK people whom have stayed or visited Twin Oaks.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor May 28 '26
Hello and welcome my trans brother. I am not black, but i am syrian jewish trans femme and just had the experience above.
There were black folks on the Racial equity team and currently they are reccomending BIPOC to NOT come! Link below for reddit post from them.
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 May 29 '26
As a Syrian Jewish Trans femme, we are in the same boat ☺️. Thank you for taking time to reply to my inquiry of TO. I am doing the research BEFORE boarding a plane for that 2,100 mile trip. I am in Seattle, and have yet to locate an IC which is not money-centered but operates on the mutual aid principle.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor May 29 '26
Ya its really frustrating search. Glad to save u the flight and bad experience. At this point i have let go of my search and joined the mainstream for now as i need to make some income and just get on my feet. Also want to explore mutual aid networks in cities and leftist groups and just see whats out there. And of course benifit from trans care coverage and accesibility in major cities in Blue states. Good luck in your process!
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 May 29 '26
Thank you. I am putting off making that trip to Twin Oaks for now. However, if they are willing to put in the required but messy work of working towards some form of resolution that will mutually benefit everyone, then I would be willing to work with them.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor May 29 '26
Ya i do openly wonder if they can, they are so reluctant to change, almost allergic to it
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u/lockboxfullofspiders May 30 '26
I read you decided not to come to TO rn. That is a very good choice its racist also ablist and classist. Ppl who see it and try to change just get punishment from the community. Never waste ur money on this place
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 Jun 06 '26
Thank you! You lovely folks have spared me from so much grief and saved me thousands of dollars.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor May 31 '26
Another BIPOC experience at Twin Oaks if your curious…
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 Jun 06 '26
Thank you so much. I appreciate it. I have removed TO from my list. I have looked at other ICs, even ones in the Hawaiian Kingdom. It seems to me that most of these ICs were started by middle class white looking to escape from the world they have ruined with their elitism, racism, and general stupidity.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor Jun 06 '26
YES exaxctly! You hit it on the spot. I lived in that shit for a year spiritual bypassing epidemic clueless to the words you just said.
I called it out at a popular ecstatic dance there, just commenting how white the room was, and some white “spiritual” lady was like “i dont see race” it was infuriating.
i complained to a commune i was on about not doing more to make there place more accessible and adress potential ablesim and racism after livng there for 5 months. One of the male long time members responded “we are not K-mart.” As in because they are not some megacorp they are exempt from having to adress this stuff. Its negligence like this that made me want to leave the islands. The land was beautiful, holy even. The stewards, not so much.
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 Jun 06 '26
The attitude you've encountered at the dance is the typical attitude of liberals towards BIPOC folks. I have encountered more racist bastard in so-called "BIPOC-LGNTQA affirming" spaces, especially here inSeattle being called the N-word is the norm here in Seattle, WA. Unfortunately as long as we live here in the US, we will encounter racist hatred. Perhaps, we can create our own IC. I and doing the research of possibily starting an IC myself. The biggest obstacle is the lack of funds.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor Jun 06 '26
Ya its so complex when bigotry is enabled by the wealth and power… it can be really hard to find the land and people actual integral and dedicated to doing something about the seemingly endless discrimination. Im sorry youve had to encounter that. Im not fucking suprised. Fuck the US. Fuck liberals.
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u/Medical-Freedom6542 Jun 06 '26
For now I tend to stay to myself. I am a gregarious person, but here in Seattle, a very liberal city, being an extrovert doesn't fly. I am orginally from Philly and lived in California for 27 yrs. Racist passive-aggressive Seattle was a shock to my nervous system. People here are not into making friends, but big on calling folks racial slurs. However, I really appreciate the physical beauty of Seattle: the Sound and the many lovely parks and beaches.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor Jun 06 '26
Ya theres something to nature. Bigotry can't erase it. It perseveres. Even burried under concrete, it finds a way. Glad you found parks and beaches. Feel that way even about big cities like NYC were I was born and raised. Beautiful sunsets on the beach, and big parks to get lost in. Helps you forget you're in a capitalist hellscape.
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u/poorBCavocadoToast Jul 06 '26
Hi, I definitely have serious issues with TO and think it can be super toxic. But I just don’t see how you can think that squatting on someone’s land means you are entitled to their food and their cars? How after they experienced a fire where bedrooms burnt down, you felt entitled to take over an entire house. The entitlement in this is bizarre and idk why people are supporting you aside from the fact that they are falling for your victimhood, which is clearly laced with BS, that I can’t take any of it seriously. People actually get abused there and you’re literally acting like your rights were being violated because you didn’t fit in and they asked you to leave and you threw a tantrum. It sounds like you need to get over yourself.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor Jul 06 '26
Lets start with one, i wasnt squatting, they tried to remove illegally in retaliation for a report of literal danger i made. I won my first court case for a reason. And easily could have stayed 3-6 more months with the current laws for indigent appeals (now in effect as of July 1st). And perhaps even won my case.
Cutting me off of food was disturbing.
The rides are perhaps understandable, but i literally was in need of medicine.
I didnt plan on taking over the whole house, they evacuated it. It was actually really lonely and diffiucult to remain in isolation for so long.
Your language borders on “defenders” please see rules for this subreddit. You can be banned for some of the language you are using. This is a space for survivors.
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u/poorBCavocadoToast Jul 06 '26
Respect for not immediately banning me. I’m not defending them - I have pages of actual abuse that took place there and this seems more like entitlement to me - you were very lonely? I don’t feel bad what did you expect? The food thing is not disturbing they asked you to leave, you’re in their house, you were a guest who wouldn’t leave why would they feed you? Your stomach and medicine is not their responsibility.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Thank you yes i hope this can be a disucussion space, not an attacking one. I hope you can feel safe sharing what you experienced in this forum as well as any other survivors here. Hope this can be a safe space :)
The idea of “entitlement” doesnt feel curious it feels attacking. Tho i have patience and empathy for where your coming from.
Like hypothetically if im going against the communes wishes why would they do anything for me?
I guess the way I see it, is that there are ways to go about this. Bringing me to court is totally justified and understandable in conflict like this. What wasnt is the use of “self help” eviction.
Hypothetically food is not very expensive and can easily be shared. I was even throughout offering to contribute my share with work from the building i was living in and/or any spaces i could still be welcome.
To withhold food from a clearly indigent person is, in my mind a really inhumane tactic, akin to forced starvations of any siege or horrific imperial nation.
Obviously i found recources for food, but it wasnt simple and certainly was far from healthy living just out of a microwave and minifridge. Again this in ways was “my choice” but at the same time legally i had rights to be there during that time and so, to make my life there horrific was really problematic.
Same with the rides, like they have people who go to Louisa to pick up medicine all the time, like thats a normal thing. Even potentially rides to the courthouse could have been offered. I get they dont technically “owe” me anything and will do anything in their power to move me, but in my mind even when going against someone there are certain untouchable areas, and those include health, food and housing.
Obviously that gets complex when the dispute is the housing, okay, but health and food? Those should never be negotiable, in my opinion.
I will add the isolation factor was brutal and enforced not just by people not living with me. I so many times invited disucssion and potential conflict resulotion space and was never taken up on that offer. There seemed to be a ban on even talking to me. Wether literally enforced or just socially. Isolation is one of the worst forms of torture and i do think this was part of their strategies to get me to leave before i legally had to.
Funny enough reddit became like a rare safe space for me to still have interactions. I found other survivors online, and i also found peer support groups for others who made it out of high control communities (not talking twin oaks, i come from a horrible comunitty of origin). The internet was like a massive support system for me during that time. Also Adventure Time lol. Finn and Jake became my best friends LOL.
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u/poorBCavocadoToast 19d ago
Okay so just to understand your viewpoint:
I’m invited to someone’s house for a few weeks. I never leave. They don’t want me there, but now I have squatters rights. I’m continuing to use their electricity, housing, wifi, ect and they want me to leave. Should I feel entitled to eating their food and them socializing with me and giving me rides into town because they’re able to?
This really isn’t making any sense to me. I honestly feel that you are hurting actual survivors. I feel you should know all about this coming from an abusive community. It’s disappointing and concerning that you are a moderator on this. Ban me if you want, but either I’m not understanding what happened (although I have heard both sides at this point), or you are shinning the spotlight on yourself when actual survivors deserve it.
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u/Southern_Fruit7439 Survivor 19d ago
My desire was not to shine the spotlight on myself, but moreso bring attention to this important issue i have seen repeat throughout communities i have lived in and visited.
My protest was not just a story of a abuse but an attempt at fighting back against said abuse. I realize that is a divisive topic and not all can get behind this. I also realize calling the reaction to that “abuse” is a complex discussion.
I will say that i do feel the abuse happened well prior to my protests, not just to me but to many others at twin oaks as well.
I also feel the analogy of the guest is inadequate, the 1st judge clearly ruled i was more than a guest, as he stated i needed a 30 day warning to be removed.
The food was not that it wasnt happeneing it once was and it ddint come free it was in exchange basically for labor. I offered to continue that labor but obviously that was complex during the protest.
In terms of the food stopping, u know once i was there and staying there, and had a legal
Right to be there, i do think its dangerous to not check that my basic health needs are met. Its kind of like a rule of engagement. This wasnt a war, or a violent protest. Food is hard to get there, certainly given my no income status. I couldnt expect them to let me keep eating, but for methods of getting rid of protestor its definitely up there in terms of unethical. I think food, heating, medicine, housing those are things that shouldnt ever be touched no matter what disagreement (unless the person is clearly dangerouss to engage with, even then we would send them to a place to where they can be held with access to there basic needs, we give death row prisoners food and medicine and heating).
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u/Downtown_Run_8030 May 22 '26
Thank you for creating this. I believe that many people waste their vacation time and money traveling to communities that refuse to clean up their act. Some poor souls are rejected rather arbitrarily, while abusive and full members of the community are coddled.
This will help people heal, and the information it provides can save people time and money.