SPOTLIGHT ON: The Black Legal Action Centre’s commitment to fighting anti-Black racism

“Racism in Ontario does exist.”

HISTORY

The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is a non-profit specialty community legal clinic established in 2017 to provide free legal services for low or no-income Black residents in Ontario.

Funded by Legal Aid Ontario, BLAC works to combat individual and systemic anti-Black racism by providing legal representation, advice, and brief services.

They conduct test case litigation and advocate for law reform to improve the laws that affect low-income households.

BLAC has a specific mandate which dictates the cases they take on must involve discrimination based on race.

SERVICES

BLAC’s main service is fighting cases that involve anti-Black racism, however, they offer a variety of services.

One of the organization’s top priorities is educating the public about Ontario laws. They host regular public information sessions about education, employment and housing laws as well as human rights laws.

Interim Executive Director and founding member of BLAC, Lesa Francis, says while there are several legal aid clinics across Ontario, BLAC is unique because it provides targeted support.

“You can get a regular lawyer but at BLAC we have lawyers who understand and litigate in a way that directly speaks about anti-Black racism and how it impacts our community. As well as how we move through our daily lives having to navigate that.”

She adds one of the reasons their lawyers can understand, is because they too face instances of racism and discrimination daily. BLAC provides a safe space where clients are validated, understood and taken seriously.

“Sometimes we see very overt cases of racism, other times it’s microaggression. But our lawyers and staff are very skilled in discerning that and finding ways to help our clients and get justice for them,” Francis said.

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IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC

Although BLAC was established in 2017, they started accepting clients in 2019.

At the beginning of the pandemic, all five staff members transitioned to work from home. Francis says the shift opened their eyes to how they could expand their services.

“Before the pandemic, we were very Toronto-centric. We wanted to expand to the broader Ontario, but we didn’t have a community legal worker because of Legal Aid Ontario’s spending freeze,” Francis said.

When their services moved online, it decreased transportation time and cost tremendously, which allowed them to take on clients outside of the G-T-A. The organization received national and international attention which increased funding and volunteers.

They were able to hire 8 additional staff members and 2 community legal aid workers. They were also able to create more legal aid sessions and inform other legal clinics on how their clients can access BLAC’s services.

Francis says BLAC has an important role in identifying and eradicating anti-Black racism in Ontario.

“Racism in Ontario does exist. Black Ontarians deal with racism at all levels. Anti-Black racism doesn’t stop at a certain socioeconomic level, you don’t have to be living in poverty to experience it. No matter who or where you are, you can potentially face anti-Black racism.”

She adds that even if your case doesn’t mean the clinic’s requirements, they can still provide informational kits, advocacy support and referral services.

BLAC is currently the only legal aid clinic of its kind in Canada and Francis says she’d like to see more clinics like BLAC established in other provinces.

If you would like to support the Black Legal Action Centre, you can apply to become a member or contact them for more ways to get involved.