On June 10, 2020, PIPSC Vice-President and Science Advisory Committee Chair Norma Domey led our mobilization efforts on #ShutDownAcademia and #shutdownSTEM, an initiative developed by a multi-identity, intersectional coalition of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) professionals and academics taking action for Black lives.
That day, thousands of these professionals and academics across the world stopped working to engage in 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence in support of the fight against racism.
Vice-President Domey and the Science Advisory Committee then held an insightful conversation with science professionals across the country about being Black in Canada. She notably indicated that “We can no longer stand by in silence. Systemic racism must be actioned and called out on the spot. In this regard, allies like you matter. Canadians must eradicate racism together.”
PIPSC members can help win the fight against racism by taking a number of actions, including:
- pressing their elected leaders at all levels of government to be accountable for and act for the good of all citizens, not just a privileged few
- building bridges with individuals and families from different cultural communities
- teaching their children and grandchildren about this issue
Find out more about #ShutDownAcademia and #ShutDownSTEM.
