Photo Credit: REUTERS/Darren Ornitz
Across the country, people are horrified by the recent killings of three African Americans: Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. We share that outrage. And these are only a few of the most recent deaths to cause particular anguish amongst those who for too long have endured cruelty after cruelty, indignity after indignity.
What stood out about the killing of George Floyd — more than its senselessness, more than its brutality – was its casualness. What was so chilling was the relaxed demeanor of a police officer — sworn to protect and to serve — his hands calmly in his pockets, kneeling on the neck of a fellow human being, indifferent to his cries of pain and the fear for his life. Equally harrowing was his three fellow officers who stood there and did not recognize the need to intervene in a life or death situation. All these behaviors reflected the utter dehumanization of Black life.
We must never let that indifference to human suffering become our own. We must never deaden our hearts to the pain of others. Our fundamental values demand that we care.
At UCLA, we believe deeply that equity, respect and justice are central to the character of our institution, to the health of our democracy and to the well-being of our world. Still, we recognize that UCLA also can and must do better. As campus leaders, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that our policies and actions value the lives, safety and dignity of every Bruin.
We have begun the process of coordinating virtual reflection spaces for departments and units, where we can come together to try and process what has happened. With assistance from the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the university’s Equity Advisors, we are also trying to share ways we can honestly and humbly acknowledge the pain and search for solutions. This includes working with student government leaders to understand and address the needs of our students. Our efforts will be updated on the Resources for Racial Trauma web page as we push forward to deeper understanding and genuine change.
We conclude by stating unequivocally that Black lives DO matter. They matter at UCLA. They matter in Minnesota. They matter everywhere.
In solidarity,
| Gene D. Block Chancellor | Emily A. Carter Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost | Michael Meranze Chair, Academic Senate |
| Michael J. Beck Administrative Vice Chancellor | Gregg Goldman | Monroe Gorden, Jr. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs |
| Jerry Kang Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | Michael S. Levine Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel | John Mazziotta Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences CEO, UCLA Health |
| Louise C. Nelson Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs | Mary Osako Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications | Rhea Turteltaub Vice Chancellor for External Affairs |
| Roger Wakimoto Vice Chancellor for Research | Yolanda J. Gorman Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Chief of Staff | Dan Guerrero The Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics |
| Antonio E. Bernardo Dean, Anderson School of Management | Ronald S. Brookmeyer Dean, Fielding School of Public Health | Eric Bullard Dean, Continuing Education and UCLA Extension |
| Miguel A. García-Garibay Dean, Division of Physical Sciences | Robin L. Garrell Vice Provost, Graduate Education Dean, Graduate Division | Darnell M. Hunt Dean, Division of Social Sciences |
| Brian Kite Interim Dean, School of Theater, Film and Television | Paul H. Krebsbach Dean, School of Dentistry | Kelsey Martin Dean, David Geffen School of Medicine |
| Jennifer L. Mnookin Dean, School of Law | Jayathi Y. Murthy Dean, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science | Linda Sarna Dean, School of Nursing |
| Gary M. Segura Dean, Luskin School of Public Affairs | David Schaberg Dean, Division of Humanities | Victoria Sork Dean, Division of Life Sciences |
| Brett Steele Dean, School of the Arts and Architecture | Eileen Strempel Dean, The Herb Alpert School of Music | Marcelo Suárez-Orozco Dean, Graduate School of Education & Information Studies |
| Pat Turner Senior Dean, College Dean and Vice Provost, Undergraduate Education | Tony Lee Chief of UCLA Police Department | Naomi Riley President, Undergraduate Students Association |
| Jean Paul Santos President, Graduate Students Association |
Dean Darnell Hunt was interviewed in the following articles/podcasts (click links):
, “George Floyd death: Why Do Some Protests Turn Violent?” BBC News, May 31, 2020
