Hazel Gashoka Speaks Out on SAC and St. Lewis Reports
I am a Black student and I criticized a Black law Professor named Joanne St. Lewis in a youtube clip. I asked Professor St. Lewis to kindly respond to my video with comments or corrections which I would have posted to my blog. However, she did not respond, rather her lawyer Richard Dearden sent me a notice of libel.
Summary of incident surrounding the video: In 2008 the student union released a public report about systemic racism at the University of Ottawa. The University asked a Black professor expert to assess the student report in a responding public report. The expert found that there was no basis for affirming systemic racism at the University of Ottawa. I emailed the Black professor, Joanne St. Lewis, to discuss her report since I was a stakeholder in her conclusions about systemic racism at the University of Ottawa. Professor St. Lewis failed to respond to over half a dozen of my emails and when she finally responded, she advised me that she was on sabbatical and could not meet with me. Since Professor St. Lewis was hired by the university president (a white man) and since she essentially dismissed the allegation there was systemic racism at the University of Ottawa, I described her actions as acting as the university president’s “house negro”. Furthermore, I used the definition of “house negro” as postulated by Malcolm X.
This matter is very dear to my heart and I am not willing to be silenced by a potential lawsuit. In addition, I am student who lives below the low income cut off and I cannot afford legal representation, as such, I am hoping that through public support and exposure Professor St. Lewis will rethink her position on suing me. Thank you for your time. Kindest Regards, Hazel Gashoka
Joanne St. Lewis vs. Denis Rancourt (website). Joanne St. Lewis vs. Denis Rancourt (Video)
U OF O WATCH: St. Lewis v. Rancourt - In A Nutshell. Denis G. Rancourt on A.W.I.P.