Apr 20, 2021

Dear campus community,

I am writing to invite you to be in-community this afternoon to reflect on the conclusion of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin who was found guilty on all three charges in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. We can only hope that the guilty verdict brings the family of George Floyd some measure of accountability.

The meaning of this decision is not defined by the defendant. If anything, the recorded killing of George Floyd unleashed a reckoning about the systemic anti-Black racism in law enforcement and the justice system. This reckoning also exposed the deep and enduring grievances about systemic racism in our society.

Today at 4 p.m., the Office of Inclusive Excellence will host a community event to gather virtually to discuss the impact of the verdict and how we as a community can move forward together. I look forward to this discussion with you and our guest panelists.

RSVP for zoom link at: https://uciadvance.wufoo.com/forms/q1tcsf2u0319acq/

The UCI Black Thriving Initiative recognizes and responds to anti-Blackness as an existential threat to the University’s mission. As a whole university response, it calls on all campus community members to build a university where Black people thrive.

Please join this conversation. We must be in this together.

Learn about UCI Black Thriving Initiative and Take the Pledge.

Douglas M. Haynes, Ph.D. (Pronouns: he/him/his)
Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Chief Diversity Officer
Director, ADVANCE Program
Professor of History