Stop anti-Black racism at York University!

Dear CUPE 3903 members,

Your solidarity is urgently needed for Prof. Aimé Avolonto, a Black professor at York University who is facing termination by President Rhonda Lenton following public comments he has made to the media about anti-Black racism at York. President Lenton first tried to fire Prof. Avolonto in August 2020, but has renewed her attempts in the wake of Prof. Avolonto’s appearance on The Fifth Estate broadcast of “Black on campus” at the end of February.

Since filing a complaint about anti-Black racism in 2017, Prof. Avolonto has faced a wave of retaliation, harassment, and mobbing, including by administrators and their designates.

Systemic anti-Black racism is nothing new at York University, but what is different about this case is Prof. Avolonto’s refusal to back down and his insistence on having his own complaints about anti-Black racism heard, despite York’s attempts to cover them up.

We must do everything we can to help him win his case.

Here is how you can help:

1. Sign and share the petition.
2. Read and share Prof. Avolonto’s “Letter from a Black colleague“.
3. Watch and share The Fifth Estate‘s “Black on Campus” documentary (only 21 minutes).
4. Watch and share the press conference where Prof. Avolonto and allies discuss anti-Black racism at York.
5. Follow Prof. Avolonto’s support campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6. Get campaign updates: email againstantiblackracism@gmail.com.

For some recent coverage of Prof. Avolonto’s case, check out:

• “Black faculty exposes systemic racism in Canadian higher education” by Sarah Nafisa Shahid in Spring Magazine
• “Black professor claims York University pushed to fire him for speaking out against racism” on CBC’s The National

For more information on how to support Prof. Avolonto, email againstantiblackracism@gmail.com.