Dear Students, Alumni & Faculty;
The effects of discrimination, racial profiling, systemic inequity and prejudice are felt by people of colour across Canada each and every day. To describe the most recent acts of racism against the Black community as “disturbing” would be a gross understatement. As the number of innocent Black lives taken under the guise of the law continues to grow, we must break our silence. We condemn anti-Black racism and we stand in solidarity with the Black community. As people take to the streets and utilize their social media platforms to share in protest of these injustices, we must continue our work to dismantle systems of oppression. As law students, we have been given the opportunity to shape the future of our legal systems and we must leverage our voices as advocates for change.
WLaw Social is about more than nights out with friends. Social is about community, and now it is more important than ever to come together, support our members, and amplify their voices. WLaw Social has teamed up with the Black Law Students’ Association at Western to create this page to raise donations in support of Black initiatives in Ontario. WLaw Social is committed to being an ally in supporting BLSA Western and the Black community at large. Please consider donating and sharing and we thank you for any contributions you make to this important cause. If you are unable to donate, please take a moment to review some of the links below to educate yourself and others in support of Black lives. Allyship through action.
We are currently dedicating donations to the following organizations:
The Black Legal Action Center
The Black Legal Action Center is a non-profit corporation that offers legal aid to the Black community in Ontario. Their mission is to eradicate anti-Black systemic racism by providing equal access to justice.
The COVID-19 Black Emergency Support Fund
The COVID-19 Black Emergency Support Fund is a fundraiser organized by Black Lives Matter Toronto. This campaign is focused exclusively on supporting those in Black community in Toronto who are experiencing severe financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.
Resources:
Articles we recommend:
- https://www.lawtimesnews.com/resources/practice-management/list-of-resources-for-lawyers-on-how-to-be-an-ally-to-racialized-colleagues/330118
- http://madamenoire.com/840836/arent-black-lawyers/
Books we recommend:
- So You Want to Talk About Race- Ijeoma Oluo
- The Skin We’re In- Desmond Cole
- Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?- Beverly Daniel Tatum
