In a landmark case, BRJE joined community partners in filing an amicus brief urging the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to hold the Town of Brookline accountable for racial harassment and retaliation faced by former firefighter Gerald Alston, Jr. This case underscores the need for institutional change and the power of community advocacy in advancing racial justice through the courts.

After nearly a decade of legal battles, public testimony, and community pressure, the Town of Brookline agreed to an $11 million settlement and issued a formal apology to Gerald Alston, Jr. The resolution highlights the toll that delayed justice takes on individuals and communities, and the responsibility of our institutions to ensure that dignity and safety are protected from the start—not restored only after harm has already been done.

Amid renewed challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts nationwide, BRJE hosted a public conversation with leaders from the court system to explore the role of the courts in advancing racial justice. The discussion examined how legal institutions impact communities of color and what equity, accountability, and reform can look like in practice.