Reckon This: Anti-Black Racism Campaign

A call to action on Anti-Black Racism at York University

Thousands of academics from across so-called Canada will converge at York University this week for the 2023 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Hundreds of meetings and countless discussions will take place, ostensibly informed by the theme “Reckonings & Re-Imaginings”–an attempt to grapple with the continuing realities of anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism among other forms of oppression, in the world today. But no meaningful “reckonings” or “re-imaginings” about Anti-Black Racism will be possible during Congress without an honest and open discussion about its widespread nature at York University and the harms it continues to inflict on Black students, staff, faculty, and community members at York.

Many of the most urgent and long-standing struggles against anti-Black racism at York University–struggles led by members of York’s Black community–have been ignored, dismissed, or erased, both in the lead-up to Congress and in its current programming.

York University publicly claims to support the goals of movements against anti-Black racism, while privately and not-so-privately engaging in racist administrative, management, and labour relations practices that entrench systemic anti-Blackness at all levels of the institution.This deep disconnect gaslights Black community members and other marginalized communities who must endure the harmful impacts of systemically racist practices as they study and work at York.

As members of the York University community, whether the Black students, staff, and faculty at the forefront of this movement, or as the allies who support them, we refuse to participate in this silencing of these struggles on campus.

We refuse to ignore, dismiss, or erase the lived experiences of Black community members, especially when they speak out and face retaliation from the administration.

We refuse the co-optation of the language and demands of Black community leaders, and of the wider struggle for Black liberation, by the York administration and their public relations spokespersons.

We refuse the complicity of anyone in our community who may not directly participate in these practices, but who decline to see, name, or speak out against them when they happen, especially if doing so threatens any positions of privilege they enjoy at York.

We call on Congress participants to interrogate the aims and claims of York administrators when they publicly endorse a process of “reckonings” and “re-imaginings” during Congress, but refuse to submit themselves or their record to any kind of meaningful review.

We call on participants to interrogate their own approaches to Congress discussions about these issues, and to resist the self-congratulatory rhetoric that is complicit in the erasure of the lived Black experience at York.

This call to action must continue past Congress and inform all our practices and approaches as members of our own academic communities at York and throughout the postsecondary sector.

But the actions we take this week–if we take them–could be a step in the right direction.

DEMANDS

YFS 2020 DEMANDS

We demand the following:

Cops off Campus
The implementation and institution of community-based alternatives to security and police forces in a campus safety plan, to be determined in collaboration with student leaders like ourselves, the department of social work, and staff and faculty who are familiar with abolitionist frameworks
The re-introduction of the Community Safety Council at York to advise and oversee the Community Safety Department and Security Services
That the recommendation of hiring 6 additional Black Faculty be accepted immediately
The implementation of mandatory Anti Oppression and Mental Health training for all Staff and Faculty
Collection of race-based data
The introduction of a separate reporting process for incidents of Racism and Discrimination

Avolonto Campaign Demands

York University immediately cease its termination procedures against Prof. Avolonto
York University end the arbitrary and punitive leave it has imposed on Prof. Avolonto since December 1, 2018 and facilitate his return to work, including the assignment of teaching responsibilities, with appropriate accommodations and interim measures for all parties
York University take all necessary steps to end the racist harassment and retaliation facing Prof. Avolonto
The investigation by Roger Beaudry be suspended indefinitely; and all fees paid to Roger Beaudry by York University be disclosed publicly
York University President Rhonda Lenton, Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps, Senior Policy Advisor Barry Miller, and their designates immediately recuse themselves from the handling of Prof. Avolonto’s complaints and any other files related to Prof. Avolonto
In consultation with Black community members at York University and external experts, an independent and external investigator, with lived experience of anti-Black racism and formal training or expertise in investigating anti-Black racism, be appointed to review the conduct of the investigator Roger Beaudry of Aptus Solutions and to develop, as above, the terms, conditions, and timeline of such a review
The Minister of Colleges and Universities, the Hon. Ross Romano, commit the necessary resources for the aforementioned review to be conducted in a fair and timely manner and with the confidence of the community

TIMELINE

2016-2020: Prof. Aimé Avolonto first raised concerns about anti-Black racism as a faculty member on Glendon campus and has spoken publicly about his experience.
2020: York University Administration first attempt at firing Prof. Aimé Avolonto.
2020: The original demands from the YFS came out of the All Out September 30th Campaign.
February 25th, 2021: “Black on campus” documentary airs on CBC’s Fifth Estate.
2021: The York University administration continued attempts to fire Prof. Aimé Avolonto, after he made complaints about anti-Black racism were raised.
2021: York University issues a public statement for staff and faculty of Glendon College addressing the anti-Black racism as an issue which needs “Urgent attention”. That letter is no longer accessible.
April 8th, 2021: Prof. Aimé Avolonto, appeared at a press conference where he revealed detailed allegations of anti-Black racism against university administrators, including President Rhonda Lenton.
January 31st, 2023: York's administration fired Lydia Dosu, a Black woman who has worked at the University for over 24 years after she made complaints about anti-Black racism from 2017-23.
April 2023: Lydia Dosu appeared at a press conference where she shared detailed allegations of anti-Black racism against York University, including acts of race-based harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
2023: In the termination letter, York made the outrageous claim that Lydia Dosu represents a "health and safety risk" to other (non-Black) employees for filing complaints about anti-Black racism.
2023: York based its decision on a report by an investigator who is facing allegations of anti-Black racism and discrimination at the HRTO since 2020, along with York University President Rhonda Lenton and other senior administrators. 2023 (currently): York University is facing at least eight complaints about anti-Black racism at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
February 8, 2024: Arbitration hearings in Prof. Aimé Avolonto’s case officially began in what supporters described as a landmark case regarding systemic anti-Black racism in Canada’s post-secondary sector. The hearings highlighted allegations that institutions respond to complaints of anti-Black racism by targeting, disciplining, and removing those who speak out.
February 29th, 2024: York University called only one witness in its first termination proceeding against Prof. Aimé Avolonto. The process later stalled indefinitely, with no additional witnesses called and no further hearing dates scheduled.
October 15, 2025: Arbitration hearings in Prof. Aimé Avolonto’s case continued. Campaign organizers described the proceedings as part of a second termination process initiated by York administration following Prof. Avolonto’s efforts to seek urgently needed mental health care from a Black francophone provider. One of Prof. Avolonto’s Human Rights Tribunal applications alleges York failed to accommodate his deteriorating mental health and disability. Additional hearing dates for February 23, March 30, April 21, and April 27, 2026 were later scheduled.
March 30, 2026: Prof. Aimé Avolonto’s arbitration hearings continued with growing public support, including more than fifty attendees at the March hearing. Campaign organizers emphasized that York’s first termination process had remained effectively stalled for over two years while the University continued pursuing parallel proceedings against him.
April 23rd, 2026: Lydia Dosu won her Judicial Review at the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario after successfully challenging a Human Rights Tribunal ruling that dismissed four out of five of her allegations of discrimination against York University. The Court found the Tribunal’s decision unreasonable and restored all of Lydia’s original allegations for reconsideration, setting an important precedent for future anti-discrimination and anti-Black racism cases. The ruling represented a major victory in Lydia’s ongoing fight for accountability and a significant defeat for York University, which continued using public resources to oppose her case.

Solidarity Pledge

We encourage Congress participants to make the following solidarity pledge before they present or speak at Congress this week, in recognition of the continuing struggles against anti-Black racism at York University.

The purpose of the pledge is to remind all participants that these struggles should not be treated as an abstract academic exercise or hidden from view during discussions about “reckonings” and “re-imaginings” in response to anti-Black racism or other forms of oppression at York or other postsecondary institutions.

By contrast, we commit to use the platform that Congress provides to name and amplify those struggles and to let them inform the work we do as scholars and researchers.

Before I present, I would like to acknowledge that York University remains a site of struggle against systemic anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism. I recognize the work of Black and Indigenous students, staff, and faculty at York who continue to lead these struggles, including the support campaigns for Lydia Dosu and Aimé Avolonto, and I present today in solidarity with them.

Justice for Lydia Petition

Hands off Prof. Avolonto Petition