April 20, 2021
Today the jury in the Derek Chauvin murder trial delivered a guilty verdict on all three counts.
This trial has been a tremendously traumatizing experience for many People of Colour and people of good will and decency. People of Black and African descent have been especially traumatized by the long history of injustice in so many places in the world. While the guilty verdict brings this judicial process closer to closure, it does not end the institutional and systemic racism that has allowed injustice against Black and brown bodies to remain unchallenged for centuries. George Floyd’s murder and violence against Black, Indigenous, and other People of Colour must not be forgotten and should not be ignored.
We urge our UBC community to continue working toward building a more inclusive and equitable society here and wherever they call home. Let us continue to add our voice, thoughts and efforts to our collective work on anti-racism. UBC recently launched the Indigenous Strategic Plan, the Inclusion Action Plan, and the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force which began in March 2021. All of these efforts are focused on transforming our campuses and the world.
We recognize that some in our community are deeply and personally affected by the murder of George Floyd. Please know that there are supports are available to you.
- Support for students in Vancouver
- Support for students in the Okanagan
- Support for faculty
- Support for staff
Racism and bias have no place in society and should not be tolerated. When you see something, say something. Moving forward requires collective action and collective courage. Together we can build a community and society where all are supported and respected.
Sincerely,
Santa J. Ono – UBC President and Vice-Chancellor
Ainsley Carry and Ananya Mukherjee Reed – Co-executive leads, Anti-Racism, UBC