The tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer has sounded yet another clarion call to end racial inequality and police brutality and to reform a broken system that too often allows these injustices to stand. This past weekend Americans heeded that call, taking to the streets in protest. The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo heeds that call as well.

We stand with those demanding justice and equal treatment for people of color. As a provider of criminal defense and civil legal services to many in the Buffalo and Western New York community, we strive to ensure equal access to justice for all people. Too often we see the unequal treatment that evidences systemic racism. Now is the time for change, to fix this broken system once and for all. We join with those voices protesting this weekend, here in Buffalo and across the country, and stand against all forms of racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice.

Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo’s mission is to pursue justice to improve lives for low-income people in Western New York through legal assistance and advocacy. This mission will never be fully achieved until the structural racism that is at the very core of the legal system and our country is dismantled.

We stand in solidarity with our employees, clients, volunteers and partners against systemic racism and injustice.

We ask that today, and every day, we lift up Black and POC voices. If you have been watching from the sidelines, NOW is the time to stand up.