Critical Incident Message – Statement on the death of George Floyd

Posted by webcomm on Friday, May 29, 2020 in Responses.

The recent events in Minneapolis that led to the death of George Floyd have once again cast a spotlight on the challenges that African Americans and people of color face in this country. Mr. Floyd’s terrible, unnecessary and untimely death, as well as his treatment during his last seven minutes of life, again raises the existential question of whether some lives are more valued than others.

Life is to be cherished and its protection falls on the shoulders of all of us, but even more importantly, on those given the authority to protect and defend our lives and laws.

In all our roles as educators, scholars and stewards of the best ideas and values of a civil society, we must be part of the national chorus that cries out that all lives are valuable. Furthermore, as a community we should question why incidents such as these continue to occur, and what role we can play in creating a fairer and just world.

At Vanderbilt, equity, diversity and inclusion are a major and treasured part of our ethos, and we do not tolerate racism, prejudice, hatred or violence in any form.

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Tags: Response