The University of Toronto Anthropology Graduate Student Union (AGSU) stands with Black communities, both in Canada and abroad, in their fight for justice, equality, and freedom from persecution. We acknowledge the hurt and trauma caused by the recent killings of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Ahmaud Arbery, D’Andre Campbell, and countless others and recognize that such acts of violence and aggression against members of the Black community are not merely “isolated incidents,” but are, in actual fact, inevitable consequences of the longstanding, systemic operation of institutionalized racism and white supremacy within our society.

We recognize the role that Anthropology has played in the development and perpetuation of scientific racism. As such, we have developed commitments from our AGSU and Calls to Action to the Anthropology Department and the University of Toronto as a whole to address and combat racism towards Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour in our classrooms, in our department, in our school, and in our community. This fundraiser represents one such commitment. The AGSU calls on our members and Anthropology faculty to help match our initial donation of $150 for a total donation of $300 which will be donated to the Black Legal Action Centre in Toronto and Black Lives Matter Toronto Chapter.

This fundraiser will be open from Wednesday, June 10th until Friday, June 19th.

Karyn Anderson & Carly Checholik, AGSU Social Coordinators