Dear Gender Studies Community,

In case you haven’t seen it, I would like to draw your attention to Stephanie Simpson’s message (below) about the verdict in the murder of George Floyd. Gender Studies joins with the Human Rights and Equity Office to stand with Black, Indigenous and racialized peoples in demanding an end to state violence, and the creation of permanent anti-racist structural change in the justice system.

We echo the Human Rights and Equity Office in encouraging Queen’s community members to respect the terrible toll of recent events on BIPOC students, faculty and staff. We hope that BIPOC members of the Queen’s community who need support will access the services offered by the Human Rights and Equity Office, including the Black-Only Community Check Up at 4 PM today.

We offer our deep and sincere appreciation and gratitude to Stephanie and her staff at the Office of Human Rights for their work to make Queen’s more inclusive and welcoming, especially for Black students, staff and faculty.

In solidarity,

Elaine 

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Greetings Listserv Members,

Our communities awaited the outcome of this trial with trepidation and, while the verdict offers some relief, it remains a stark reminder of the state violence that continues to be visited on Black bodies across North America and the world. 

As many in the Black community have stated, this verdict offers no victory and no resolution.  Rather, it is a rallying cry.  We stand with Black, Indigenous, and racialized people everywhere in demanding an end to state violence and calling for lasting, structural anti-racist change in the justice system. 

This is a very stressful time for Black, Indigenous, and racialized students, faculty, and staff impacted by these recent events among the many other pressures in their lives.  We ask all Queen's community members to be respectful of this and we encourage BIPOC community members in need of support to consider accessing available supports, including:

Human Rights Advisory Services in the Human Rights and Equity Office (Inclusion and Anti-Racism Advisor)

Four Directions Indigenous Centre

Yellow House

Student Wellness Services Counselling Services

In addition, the following session is available tomorrow for BIPOC students:

We Got Y'all: Black-Only Community Check Up 
Date and Time: April 22, 4-6pm

This is a casual and confidential session facilitated by counsellor E.L. Adams. It is meant to gather Black students who might be feeling particularly heavy with the latest news headlines. It is a check-in to promote wellness in the face of racism and white supremacy. Participants will receive a $20 skip the dishes gift card. 

And BIPOC students will also want to be aware of this resource:

Queen's BIPoC Sharing Circle
Date and Time: Tuesday April 27, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Join this circle for an opportunity to share, learn, listen and be in community with students who identify as BIPoC. The past year has seen challenges associated with systemic racism and discrimination exacerbated for BIPoC communities in the face of COVID-19. It has also unearthed invaluable opportunities to come together in community to uplift, learn from and support one another. We are honoured to have Elder In Residence for the Faculty of Education Deb St. Amant (Bezhig Waabshke Ma’iingan Gewetigaabo) and Cultural Counsellor Lisa Doxtator from Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre join us to lead a sharing circle that will invite reflection and shared support to close the academic year (and begin the final term for BEd students) in solidarity. For those interested, visions for beginning collective healing and community building can be shared to build hope for stronger connections in the coming academic year. 

Stephanie Simpson
AVP (Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion)
Human Rights & Equity Office
Mackintosh-Corry Hall
Queen's University

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