Today, we would like to set aside our usual content and amplify black voices.
What has been happening against our fellow black brothers and sisters in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere is unacceptable and heartbreaking. While we all feel for the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Regis Korchinski-Paquet, and countless others, the feeling of remorse is not enough. We must all commit to challenging ourselves, our pre-conceived notions, our privilege, and devoting our time and effort to try to eradicate the devaluation of black lives – that is the only way to bring about equality.
We, at Warsi Daitchman LLP, would like to take this time to let you know that we are here for you, and with you. We commit to doing our part in educating ourselves, on learning and teaching others about privilege, supporting advocates and organizations focused on tackling systemic and institutionalized racism, and addressing the daily macro and micro aggressions aimed at oppressing our fellow racialized brothers and sisters in humanity. Enough is enough.
All lives do matter. However, all lives will not matter unless and until black lives matter too, and our black brothers and sisters are bleeding – they have been hurting for far too long.
We stand in solidarity, as allies, to do our part for the freedom, liberation, and justice of black lives and we hope you do too.
With all that said, we don’t want our voice being one of many that puts up a black square image for #BlackoutTuesday, reposts sympathetic Instagram and Twitter quotes, and ends there. We want to raise awareness for what we, as diverse and minority members of the legal community can, should, and must continue to do in order to be effective allies.
Here are some suggestions for what we can all do to help:
Raise awareness of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and ways we can help.
Get educated so that we are cognizant of our privilege and the reality that despite all of us working hard, black people who work just as hard are not afforded the same opportunities our hard work got us simply because of the colour of their skin.
When you see injustice or oppression, don’t look away. Speak up and educate others so that hopefully they too can recognize and change their own preconceived biases.
Donate to local and/or international organizations that are committed to fighting for the plight of the oppressed. We, as individuals and as a firm, have already done this and hope you will too.
Research and participate in events to bring about systematic change.
Find and sign petitions that urge all levels of government to create change within, and when you do, widely circulate them amongst your networks.
Vote! Your ballot and your voice matters!
We hope that all our friends in the legal community and elsewhere, stay committed to advocating for justice and equality.
