We recognize that Black people in the U.S. have suffered from systemic racism, oppression, injustice, inequality, and violence for over 400 years. This racism and oppression are woven into the fabric of our country. We recognize that even though we may not mean to participate in the furtherance of these injustices, we do so inadvertently through our implicit bias. We also do so just by living in a society where economic and political forces are set up to give advantages and privileges to whites but not to Black people and other minorities. We recognize that it is not enough to be not racist; our silence and inaction are part of the problem and only allow it to continue.

At Sumner Immigration Law, we understand that we have the responsibility to listen with open hearts and minds, to learn about the history and roots of racism in the U.S., and how it continues to impact Black lives today, and to continue in the future to take concrete steps to continue learning about and exploring our own biases, and dismantling them. We embrace that responsibility and recognize that this is a lifelong journey, not a one-time experience. We also recognize that each person is at a different point on their anti-racism journey. We aim to support others both within and outside of our organization as we do the necessary work.

The Sumner Immigration Law team is committed to:

1. Explicitly and publicly affirming our identity as an anti-racist team and organization.
2. Exploring both together and as individuals our own implicit bias, and to identifying, discussing, and challenging issues of race and color within our organization, local community, and country.
3. Creating and maintaining a company culture that abides by practices and policies of inclusion and anti-racism, and in which everyone feels safe having difficult and uncomfortable but necessary conversations about racism and oppression.