We would like to share the following note that our Chair sent to the Firm over
the weekend.
As I woke this morning, that awful pit in my stomach rose again as I read more about the events in Minneapolis and the killing of George Floyd this past week which has ignited the continued violence in our communities across the United States. I felt a spectrum of emotions: disgust, anger and sadness.
At every instance of violence against our diverse communities, I perhaps naively have been hopeful that this will be the last and things will change; this will come to end. The events of this week are disheartening, as they show that we still have such a long way to go.
I cannot suggest I understand fully what fearing being a victim of racial discrimination must feel like (or worrying that my sons or daughter will become victims), but I know that it is a reality for our Black colleagues. And I know we are obligated to come together to work to eradicate that fear and the possibility of continued violent hate crimes. We can help, and must help. As a community and a Firm it is incumbent on us to not stay quiet. We need to say – loudly, and often, that violence against our own is not consistent with who we are and who we want to be. We need to stand together as families, friends, in our towns and across the Firm to ensure that those in our Black communities (and our Black colleagues at Proskauer) feel included and safe (at the Firm and otherwise).
I often say that we need to control what we can control. We can control what we do and say on these issues. Please join me and reach out to our Black colleagues (as well as other members of our diverse affinity groups) and let them know we care, and are here to listen and help. We will work with our Black Lawyer Affinity Group and Diversity Task Force to find ways that we as a Firm can be part of the conversation as well as part of the solution. We need to be heard.
We will achieve great things as a community that prioritizes a culture of inclusiveness which allows all of us to feel safe and respected.
Be well and safe.
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Steve M. Ellis
Chairman of the Firm