What's in a name?
Dear community:
The growing debate over the name change of Boystown is reflective of a broader cultural tectonic shift on race, gender, sexual orientation and trans issues that take place in many parts of our culture. Some would argue the whole issue is about allegiance to hostile principles. We must learn to breach the uncomfortable subjects without being bias, listen.
Let me be clear on this matter: We have to be open to attentively listen to each other's painful stories of exclusion and have the courage to join in respectful dialogue.
We all have our opinion As a person of faith, I believe racism is not a part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When this area was known as Newtown, it was just as racist as when the rainbow pylons were constructed. If change is going to take place, it has to take place within us; all the rest is cosmetic.
Joe Murray, Executive Director, Rainbow Sash Movement( LGBTQA Roman Catholics )
Striving for racial equality
Dear community:
The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission ( ARDC ) is charged by the Illinois Supreme Court with investigating and prosecuting misconduct by lawyers, and as such has a unique and significant responsibility for assuring that the legal system achieves its goal of equal justice for all citizens. The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and other Black Americans by both law-enforcement officers and others, bring into sharp focus the fears and injustices that continue to devastate people of color in our country.
In 2015, the ARDC appointed a diversity and inclusion ( D&I ) leader, and we have addressed the equity of our internal processes and procedures. We will leverage our ongoing D&I initiatives in further identifying and addressing any bias within our agency and in our undertakings.
The ARDC commits to use its regulatory authority to engage and educate members of the legal profession on addressing and eschewing racism, including implicit bias. We commit to holding the legal profession accountable for protecting the rule of law and making the justice system available to and equitable for all members of our communities.
Further, the ARDC commits to an ongoing focus and action on this issue and to transparency. We will provide regular reports of our D&I efforts, regulatory and educational initiatives and analysis of public data from our disciplinary caseload. Our annual reports will contain a comprehensive discussion of our yearly efforts. We will provide information to the Illinois Supreme Court, the profession and the public to fairly gauge and hold the ARDC accountable.
Simply put, there is no place in our profession for those who cannot practice without discrimination based upon a person's color. We recommit ourselves to creating and maintaining a disciplinary system that identifies and holds attorneys responsible for conduct that includes racial bias, inequity or intolerance.
ARDC Administrator Jerome E. Larkin
and ARDC Director of Diversity
and Inclusion Lea S. Gutierrez
