Statement from Charles Lin, OCAABA President-Elect

We are lawyers. At the heart of our profession – beyond politics – we are seekers of justice. When members of society fail to find it, we must help them do so. And, for far too long, too many black men and women have been victims of injustice.

Recent events have only provided a reminder that we, as lawyers and as a society, have much work to do. 

We grieve the death of George Floyd and those of countless others like him. What happened was not an isolated incident. It was the predictable outcome of a flawed system, one that usually works for those of one color and predictably fails those of another.  

We support the peaceful protesters because their fundamental demand is the same as our ideal: justice. 

We condemn the instigators, the vandals and looters, who are mere opportunists, for they damage the community, erode trust, and tarnish the message of the protests. 

We denounce the heavy-handed overreaching of power by law enforcement against those who make a peaceful stand against tyranny. Answering calls for justice with violent acts of injustice is one of the gravest betrayals. 

We stand with the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association, other fellow bar associations, and all other organizations fighting to end racial injustice, to provide a voice to those silenced and to reject a broken system with a call to do more, to do better. 

We all want to live in a world where all lives matter, where everyone receives justice sought. But, in reality, we do not and cannot, until black lives matter, too.

The words of Fred Korematsu are simple but apt: “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.” 

The people are speaking, and OCAABA will do its part to amplify their voices. In the following weeks and months, we will take reinvigorated steps to fight for the ideals of justice. This is the only path forward. We hope you will join us.