BLAC
720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 221 M5S 2T9 Toronto, ON, Canada

BLAC’s brand new and accessible website has launched! Check out our clean new design and layout, courtesy of the amazing team of web designers at FlyPrint. Huge thanks to Mark and Ammar for their diligence and professionalism. The Flyprint team went above and beyond for BLAC and we are so grateful! Visit our new website: ... www.blacklegalactioncentre.ca See more

Huge THANK YOU to Mark and Ammar at @Flyprint for helping us create our new site!

Join us on March 24th for a workshop with Autism Ontario on Education in Ontario. We are inviting Black families, service providers, and advocates for equity in education. Topics include: What does BLAC do? How BLAC can support families facing anti-Black racism in education Know your rights... Register today! https://bit.ly/3bwcrzG See more

Anti-Black racism a key concern in new report by Toronto District School Board's human rights office. A new, first-of-its-kind report documents "a serious racism problem" within the Toronto District School Board, with reports of anti-Black racism exceeding all other hate incidents documented in the past school year. "The data clearly indicates that the board continues to have a serious racism problem... Incidents of racism and hate occur in TDSB schools daily and they do so ...in significant numbers." The report found race-related complaints made up 69 per cent of all reported hate incidents in the 2019-2020 school year, with anti-Black racism making up the biggest share. Read about the report here: https://www.cbc.ca//racism-toronto-school-board-tdsb-1.591

Tomorrow, join BLAC's Interim Executive Director Lesa Francis, for a United Nations CSW65 Parallel Event "Racialized Women in Canada: A Conversation about Gender-based Violence and Inequality." Wednesday March 17, 2:00pm-3:30pm. 1. Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ngo-csw65-forum-advocate-regis... 2. Event Link: https://ngocsw65forum.us2.pathable.com/login

BLAC commemorates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) by shedding light on the many challenges faced by persons with visible and invisible disabilities. BLAC recognizes, in particular, how persons with disabilities in the Black community face discrimination and systemic oppression that manifests in the form of barriers that block access to the care they need. Inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society is crucial to the development a...nd sustainability of a better future. BLAC strives for racial equity in these matters, and will continue to challenge the system to break these barriers down. #BlackLivesMatter #InternationalDayofPersonswithDisabilities

Today, BLAC commemorates the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, and the many steps that have been taken to abolish slavery in its different forms. Slavery was officially abolished in Canada on August 1, 1834, and while we celebrate that fact, we must acknowledge that Black communities continue to live in the legacy of slavery. In particular, BLAC recognizes that carceral and policing systems, as well as the child protection system, perpetuate the criminalization... and continued surveillance of our community, which is a part of that legacy. BLAC is committed to combatting the systemic oppression that lies within these institutions. Despite the worldwide acknowledgement of slavery as an abhorrent practice, slavery continues to be practiced globally and in Canada. Black communities are particularly vulnerable to forms of modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking. BLAC is especially concerned about the exploitation of migrant workers and is committed to providing legal services to members of our community facing labour issues. #InternationalDayforAbolitionofSlavery

Last summer, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) and the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) created a resource for protests. It is important for all those choosing to peacefully protest to know their rights! Toolkit link: https://bit.ly/3mrBeaZ

Today is National Housing Day. Sign the letter urging the Ontario government to STOP UNSAFE EVICTIONS during this pandemic crisis. It takes 30 seconds and is a critical starting point of this very important call to support our communities. #NationalHousingDay #StopUnsafeEvictions ... The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) has joined over 60 organizations in Ontario alongside sponsoring partners, the Ontario Alliance to End Homelessness and the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO), to call on Premier Ford and the Ontario government to STOP UNSAFE EVICTIONS during this pandemic crisis. The STOP UNSAFE EVICTIONS campaign is urging Premier Ford and our Ontario government to protect people from evictions into homelessness by immediately restoring the court-ordered moratorium on residential evictions that was put in place in March of this year. Housing is the first defence against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Nearly 7% of renters in Ontario were unable to pay their rent in full after losing their income from the pandemic crisis and face being kicked out of their homes. This means nearly 105,000 renter households are at risk of being evicted into homelessness. With a severe shortage of affordable housing across Ontario’s communities, if a person faces an eviction they may be forced into already crowded emergency shelters, informal and unsafe residences, or living in encampments during the cold winter months. Congregate living conditions create conditions for high risk of COVID-19 outbreaks and puts lives at risk. We can’t let this happen...and this is where you come in. The STOP UNSAFE EVICTIONS campaign has prepared a letter to the Premier, the Attorney General and your MPP to urge them to protect renters across the province and restore the moratorium immediately. Will you sign the letter today? Link to sign letter here: bit.ly/35UHEd9

Today, BLAC honours the memories and lives of Trans people, and of Black Trans people, who have lost their lives. BLAC is committed to continuing to provide legal services to our entire community and to combat the systemic oppression which endangers the lives of Black Trans people. #TransDayofRemembrance #TransgenderDayofRemembrance #TransRightsAreHumanRights... #AllBlackLivesMatter See more