The Solidarity & Social Justice Committee of the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) stands in solidarity with Shelby McPhee and the Black Canadian Studies Association (BCSA), and would like to extend our firm support for the BCSA's demands in response to the anti-Black racial profiling of Mr. McPhee at June's Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. The failure of the Federation to respond quickly and appropriately to Mr. McPhee's blatant harassment demonstrates the deep institutionalization of anti-Black racism in Canadian society.

The spread of anti-Black racism and the struggle against it can be seen on campuses across Canada, and the incident involving Mr. McPhee at UBC is no exception. We believe strongly in the necessity for open and critical dialogue, collective responsibility, and action toward addressing these issues on our campuses, and we uphold the BSCA's right to demand these things. As such, we would like to reiterate our disappointment in the Federation's slow and inadequate response to these valid membership concerns.

We respect the demands of the BCSA and their willingness to open up the conversation about anti-Black racism in our society today. We echo the call for joint action, and urge the Federation to immediately fulfill the Association's demands. The BCSA's concerns are shared by our Committee and we believe that the complacency with which racism is dealt with in Canada has reinforced an insensitivity to the struggles and grievances of Black and other racialized peoples. We believe that the demands of the BCSA are in keeping with our Union's values of fairness, diversity, equality, and justice.

Consequently, the SSJC lends its voice to the BSCA in holding other organisations – particularly the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences – accountable with regards to issues concerning racial profiling and anti-Black racism.

In Solidarity,

Solidarity & Social Justice Committee

Teaching Support Staff Union

ssjc@tssu.ca

You can find the BCSA's June 7th update and statement here.