In Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, a white man fatally shot three Black people in a store located in a predominantly African-American neighbourhood. 

The community of Jacksonville is hurting and grieving in the wake of a heartbreaking act that authorities have deemed racially motivated. The world has lost Angela Michelle Carr, Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr., and Jerrald Gallion.

The hopes, dreams and aspirations of these individuals have been lost along with their lives. Their families and communities will now need to carry on without their loved ones in an environment in which they likely don’t feel safe.

White supremacy and hate fueled acts have no place in our society. We need to continue to collectively work to dismantle the systems that support or perpetuate these ideologies. We cannot grow complacent because news like this may seem commonplace. We need to be outraged and fight to fix what is broken.

Humber condemns any acts of violence. As President, I personally condemn any act of violence and the hatred that spurs them. As part of the work taking place in the Inclusion and Belonging portfolio at Humber, we are working to create change starting here at home. We will continue to do everything we can to address these systemic issues. 

We know that horrific incidents like this have far reaching and lasting ripple effects on Black peoples and communities, including at Humber.

Support is available for students and staff who may need it.  

• Black Student Success and Engagement (the BSSE) staff are available to provide support and referral.   
• If you are looking for mental health counselling, you can contact the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre for support.  
• You can also connect with the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Diversity. 
• If you would like to access services outside of Humber, here is a list of mental health services that support racialized communities: Across Boundaries, Taibu, African Community Services of Peel  
• GoodToTalk (1-866-925-5454) is a 24-hour mental health support for Post-Secondary Students in Ontario.  
• Therapy Assist Online  
• Staff are encouraged to access Employee Assistance Plan services or to connect with their manager for support as needed.  

I encourage you to check in on and support your Black peers and one another. Take care. 

Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan
President, CEO, Humber I.T.A.L