Following George Floyd’s killing by police in the US and the protests that followed, a group of White & Case associates sought ways in which the Firm could have a positive impact on the Black community. Last spring, the associates—all White & Case Black Affinity Network (BAN) members—presented several ideas to the Firm’s Executive Committee, including Firm support for a Black-led organization dedicated to fighting racial injustice. 

Over the summer, with associate input, the Executive Committee chose to establish a multiyear partnership between White & Case and Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC), an organization founded by former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Through this partnership, White & Case will donate US$200,000 per year to KYRC in 2020 and 2021. The Firm is also creating an online interactive guide that informs people of their rights when protesting and interacting with the police.

KYRC works to empower and educate primarily young people, giving them tools to fight injustice and making them aware of their constitutional rights. With its legal focus, KYRC was an ideal match for White & Case, particularly since the Firm wanted to develop a relationship that went beyond making a financial contribution. 

Before COVID-19 made large gatherings unsafe, KYRC held in-person camps attended by nearly 2,000 young people in several cities. To continue its mission during the pandemic, KYRC decided to create an interactive guide housed on its website and asked White & Case for assistance.  

White & Case, in turn, provided more than 40 lawyers and business services professionals across the Firm to work on the guide, researching and designing a comprehensive intuitive tool that will allow users to navigate to the federal, state and local laws that apply to interactions with the police in their particular jurisdiction. 

In addition to providing information on the law, the guide will recommend best practices and strategies for handling police encounters, with the goal of preventing the negative outcomes that continually make news.