This is a Revolution, not a PR crisis

On May 25th, 2020, a global movement for anti-racism action was ignited by the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minnesota, MN, USA. In Canada, we have witnessed sweeping calls for accountability and action from every part of our society. We’ve watched countless corporations hastily work to issue some kind of response, with far too many missing the mark. But less focus has been on the response from our public institutions, the very institutions intended to serve us. We often assume they’re on the leading edge of this work — they must get it, right?

Instead, they have mostly fumbled through reactive responses that are primarily limited to poorly executed and unsubstantiated statements of solidarity, often alongside impossible assertions regarding the safety they provide the BIPOC they serve and employ sprinkled with whitewashed and apolitical platitudes of harmonious diversity. Social media missteps have been deleted, without comment, and replaced. BIPOC employees in many organizations have been punted to the front of public responses and action. Statements have been backtracked and reissued as contradictory stories from patients, students and staff are finally given heed. Officials have feigned outrage, surprise and calls for immediate redress over allegations of racist conduct in health settings. Leaders accused of racist behaviour and actions have been fired or, under public pressure, resigned.