The Public Interest Law Union (PILU) stands in solidarity with the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement. We mourn for the losses of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and those whose names we do not know. As future lawyers, we have a moral obligation to improve the world that currently exists and are uniquely positioned to do so. Silence is not an option.

PILU is an organization with the central goals of social justice, grassroots democracy, and diversity. These aims include governmental accountability and empowerment of citizens in their basic rights. While taking action looks different for everyone and in every community, action is encouraged.

Concrete actions that you can take, right now, to help:

1. DONATE 

• Black Lives Matter
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• American Civil Liberties Union
• National Police Accountability Project
• You can donate even if you do not have the monetary means.

2. GET INVOLVED 

• Law For Black Lives is just one legal non-profit that law students can get involved in.

3. SHOW UP 

• Protests are an integral part of American society. Grassroots democracy allows citizens to empower themselves to effect local change.

4. EDUCATE 

• While education alone is not enough, it is important to continue to educate both yourself and those around you. Here is an antiracist reading list, provided by the Black Law Students Association.

5. SIGN A PETITION

• Justice For Floyd
• Justice for Breonna Taylor
• Justice for Tony McDade
• Justice for Ahmaud Arbery 
• Justice for others

6. SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES

7. AMPLIFY BLACK VOICES AND LISTEN

Black Lives Matter.

In solidarity, 

The Public Interest Law Union at Cornell Law School