A Message From Blank Rome’s Leadership
Dear Friends,
We hope it never becomes normal to share a message denouncing acts of discrimination, harassment, or violence against our communities of color. But as we watch current events unfold surrounding the killing of African American George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer and the protests that have broken out across the country, we are unfortunately reminded this is not a single, isolated incident. This senseless death comes on the heels of yet other recent troubling events, including the shooting of a black jogger by a white man in Georgia and the calling of police by a white woman who lied about being threatened by a black man in Central Park.
We have also witnessed a continued rise in discrimination and hateful acts aimed at other communities over the past several months. For instance, the Asian Pacific American community has been unfairly associated with and stigmatized by the coronavirus pandemic, and a record number of anti-Semitic incidents were reported in the United States last year.
Blank Rome was formed in 1946 by attorneys who, because of their religion, were barred from joining many established law firms. Our founders did not stand idly by in the face of discrimination, but instead stood up and took action to create a firm where people of diverse backgrounds could gather together to practice law.
During these upsetting and anguished times, we reaffirm Blank Rome’s dedication to our core value and founding principle – an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We must also walk the trail blazed by our own late Honorable Nathaniel R. Jones who answered the call and take action by fully discussing these difficult issues so that we can work toward assuring they do not continue to repeat. To that end, we are working with our BR United affinity group and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Sophia Lee, to convene programming to discuss these significant issues.
Grant S. Palmer
Managing Partner and CEO
215.569.5578
palmer@blankrome.com
Alan J. Hoffman
Chair
215.569.5505
hoffman@blankrome.com