September 4, 2020
The Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA) condemns racist policing and related forms of institutionalized violence. We stand in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities in Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo and across Ontario and the rest of Turtle Island. We hear the demands for justice from the families of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Rodney Levi, Ejaz Choudry, Chantel Moore, Andrew Loku, Abdirahman Abdi, and D’Andre Campbell. We also extend our heartfelt sympathies to all who are facing trauma and loss. We acknowledge that our own Black, Indigenous, and racialized faculty, librarians, staff, and students are bearing the burden of the current moment. Many of the conditions that allow institutionalized violence to disproportionately affect racialized communities have now been exacerbated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We join with those organizing the #ScholarstrikeCanada who “believe that it’s of crucial importance for those of us in higher education to take a stand in solidarity with our students and the communities we serve [and] …affirm protestors, workers for social justice, and activists who are crucial parts of making our communities safer places.” Scholar Strike is a labour action/teach-in/social justice advocacy happening on September 9-10, 2020.
We are joining other Faculty Associations, OCUFA and CAUT in asking University administrators to support students, faculty, librarians and other staff in this action. While WLUFA members are unable to legally strike during the length of their contract, we encourage them to join the public digital teach-ins and other events being organized by #ScholarStrikeCanada against racist, institutional, and systemic forms of violence and to learn more about the demands of #ScholarStrikeCanada.
We therefore strongly encourage our members to pause on September 9-10, and to listen, reflect, and join in a broader public dialogue and educational events related to police violence from historical and contemporary perspectives. We ourselves further acknowledge the need to have sustained conversations with our colleagues, families, students, and other community members about how our faculty associations can support and effect systemic change.
For more information about the Scholar Strike, and links to education resources and teach-ins, please visit: https://scholarstrikecanada.ca
WLUFA’s Executive Committee and Diversity & Equity Committee