Black Lives Matter Sudbury
c. 2020
BLM Sudbury was formed in 2020 by a group of local Black activists who connected in light of the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. That year the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Regis Korchinski-Paquet, among so many others, accentuated the need for systemic change to address anti-Black racism in all its forms. Noticing a significant dearth in local action, these activists came together to mobilize their community and destigmatize conversations surrounding racism, decolonial practices, and the abolition of harmful institutions, namely policing, across the country.
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Today, Black Lives Matter Sudbury prides itself on being an organization that is committed to fighting systemic racism, demanding that society and all levels of government address and fix the root causes of racism in all social institutions. Led by four Black community members, BLMS creates a safer space for marginalized individuals in the community through coordinating educational events, arts-based initiatives, and supporting cultural creation through liberation, identity, and joy.
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There is no Black liberation without Indigenous liberation across Turtle Island. All Black lives matter today, tomorrow, every day.
NORTHERN CAUCUS
2022
AMPLIFYING VOICES ON TURTLE ISLAND: AN INTERSECTIONAL CAUCUS
The second iteration of BLMS' Northern Caucus, AVTI was a free online conference which centered and uplifted the voices of Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) and 2SLGBTQ+ activists, leaders, educators, and changemakers from across Turtle Island.​
2021
HERE TO STAY BABY: A NORTHERN CAUCUS
This free online conference was designed to uplift the voices of marginalized individuals across Northern Ontario while educating diverse audiences. With a total of eight-panel discussions, the Northern Caucus was developed to provide a safe space and a much-needed platform for the voices of educators, scholars, activists, artists, students, and more.