Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter in the Department of Religious Studies Faculty and graduate students in the Department of Religious Studies strongly affirm that Black Lives Matter. We condemn all forms of state sanctioned violence and police brutality against Black people across the North American continent and globally, which have caused immense pain and systemic disadvantages. We stand, unconditionally, with those seeking justice and changes to systems rooted in anti-Black racism, racism and discrimination. We stand in solidarity with protesters who are marching and rallying in response to widespread systemic anti-Black racism and structural white supremacy that manifests in police use of fatal violence against Black people including George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Breonna Taylor, Stephon Clarke, Philandro Castille, Alton Sterling, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, (and, in Canada) Andrew Loku, Pierre Coriolan, Jermaine Carby, Ian Price, and Alexander Wettlaufer.
The Department of Religious Studies calls for the dismantling of white supremist, discriminatory, anti-Black racist policy and practice that have historically placed barriers on Black people’s ability to live free from violence, pursue education, receive health care, provide for themselves and their families and contribute fully to Canadian society. We recognize our roles in maintaining systemic anti-Black racism generally and specifically in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as our collective responsibility to work in partnership with Black people, allies and others who are committed to taking specific actions to abolish anti-Black racism and discrimination (click here for the Department’s Commitments to work for the abolition of anti-Black racism).
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