A message from campus leaders: Standing together

Chancellor Carol Christ and Oscar Dubón, Jr., vice chancellor for equity and inclusion, sent the following message to the campus community on Friday: While we all profoundly feel the suffering and loss related to COVID-19-suffering and loss visited disproportionately on those who are Black, indigenous, people of color, and poor-we are appalled by the racist killings of recent weeks. We write to express our outrage; we stand in steadfast solidarity with our Black community; and we offer heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the victims of the racially-motivated violence that is taking place in various communities across America. Unchecked violence at the hands of police and civilians requires our - and all of society's - urgent attention. As a campus community, we stand with the family of Ahmaud Arbery , who was murdered while jogging in Georgia by two white men. We stand with Christian Cooper , who was the victim of a woman's attempt to use the police as a weapon against him while he pursued his passion for birdwatching in New York's Central Park. We stand with the loved ones of Breonna Taylor , an essential worker during this pandemic who was killed in her home by police.