The recent events of anti-Black police brutality, white supremacy, and racialized structural inequities inherent in COVID-19 have amplified how systemic racism is an urgent public health issue in Canada and the US that must be called out and addressed.

CGSHE stands in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter and is committed to ongoing work and advocacy for racial justice and an end to police harassment and brutality. Criminalization, racism, police brutality and discrimination in access to justice disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and other People of Colour (BIPOC) communities in Canada and the US. Racism is embedded across a variety of public policies and institutions – including public health – as are other human rights violations, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, migration, and other intersectional identities.

Institutional silence is unacceptable. CGSHE was formed to address deep-rooted structural inequities and is strongly dedicated to the ongoing work towards building a more just and inclusive society. We are steadfast in our commitment to challenging systemic inequities and racism throughout our structures, leadership, and hiring and challenging ourselves and other research institutions to meaningfully engage and reflect on their work to promote equity, diversity and inclusion and racial justice.

For BC organizations to support and donate to that are working for racial justice and systemic change: