CAUS STATEMENT ON POLICE VIOLENCE AND STRUCTURAL RACISM
This week, millions of people have courageously spoken out against white supremacy, structural racism and police violence. Alberta students are outraged by the violent deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto, and so many others before them. In this moment, to be silent is to be complicit. Alberta students will not be silent. We stand in solidarity and allyship with our Black classmates, instructors, and friends at home, and the racialized victims of state violence across the continent.
We must remember that police violence and structural racism are not only an American problem. Anti-Black racism and racism against Indigenous people pervade society in Canada, here in Alberta, and on our campuses. We must also remember that to speak out without meaningful action is not sufficient. Alberta students are committed to continuing to fight structural racism on our campuses.
Each of our member organizations is committed to listening to Black and Indigenous voices in our communities, and taking real action for racial justice. CAUS calls on the Government of Alberta to help holistically fight to stop systemic racism on our campuses through institutional policies of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, as well as training on non-violent conflict resolution and anti-racism. CAUS also calls on the Government of Alberta to take action against structural racism in our communities, including through police accountability measures and the restoration of funding that has been cut to anti-racism work.
Black lives matter, and all Albertans must act to affirm that truth.
For those of us who do not experience racism, we must educate ourselves and act as allies. Some resources you can start with:
https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Calls_for_Justice.pdf