Dear UMD Campus Community,
Saturday mornings for me are usually devoted to reading the New York Times
and having an extra cup of tea. But this morning, I could not stop
watching the national news and the constant report of the destruction
and pain caused by the murder of Mr. George Floyd. I take some solace,
but little comfort, that at least one of the persons responsible for
this tragedy has been charged with murder. I can only imagine the pain
that Mr. Floyd’s family and friends must be experiencing. I also hope
those protesting maintain an ethic of civil disobedience and promote
that perspective amongst those others who feel compelled to come to the
streets to voice their frustration. I further hope that our state and
local leaders support our public safety professionals and Minnesota
National Guard and guide them through humane and effective actions to
safeguard our citizens and communities.
President Gabel said to us yesterday, “I
feel heartache for the loss of George Floyd and anguish for those who
mourn him. We must continue to demand justice and support those who will
accept nothing less.” I agree completely with the President, and will
offer whatever assistance UMD can provide to support our university
community and the greater Twin Ports area, as we continue to deal with
the aftermath of what happened to Mr. Floyd and the impact on our Twin
Cities families and friends. Our UMD Police Department has already
offered assistance to the Twin Cities campus and is actively working
with our Twin Ports public safety officials to assist in whatever ways
they can. So many of our students come from the Twin Cities, and several
of them live close to the areas of violence. My heart goes out to them
and to all those in pain because of the senseless actions of those
responsible for Mr. Floyd’s death.
What
I watched this morning was tragic and brought back nightmarish images
of television reports in the late 1960s, as riots occurred throughout
our nation including my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. At that time, we
young people vowed to take action and create a better nation that fully
respects all individuals and especially those who are disadvantaged and
in need. It hurts to see how much we failed our nation and ourselves,
as racism, violence, and abuse continue to swirl around us.
Please
be safe from those who might do you harm, and lean on those who
genuinely care about you and who are committed to strengthening the
connections in our communities, even while some work to tear us apart.
Peace and comfort for you all,
Lynn Black
Chancellor
