SUBJECT:

A Moment of Silence and Reflection

The Academic Council of the University of California (UC) Faculty Senate expresses our grief and anger at the murder and brutality directed against Black people by the police. On May 25, George Floyd was murdered at the hands of Minneapolis police. This pain is felt by many and is exacerbated by the recent deaths of James Scurlock, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, among too many others. This is a reflection of the systemic anti-black racism and institutional violence in our society.

To honor the memory of George Floyd and other victims of police murder and brutality, we ask all members of the UC community to observe a minute of silence and reflection at 11am Pacific time on Thursday, June 4. We have selected 11am because this is the time that George Floyd’s memorial service in Minneapolis is scheduled to start.

On all UC campuses, we must listen and, crucially, do more to combat systemic oppression, including anti-black racism. Our campuses have to work harder to be inclusive of, and welcoming to, Black students, along with other groups who have historically been and continue to be victims of police assault and harassment.

Kum-Kum Bhavnani, UC Santa Barbara Chair, UC Academic Senate Mary Gauvain, UC Riverside Vice Chair, UC Academic Senate Andrew Baird, UC San Diego Chair, Committee on Research Policy Ramesh Balasubramaniam, UC Merced Chair, Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs Henning Bohn Chair of the Santa Barbara Division of the Academic Senate Eddie Comeaux, UC Riverside Chair, Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools Maripat Corr Chair of the San Diego Division of the Academic Senate John Gilbert, UC Santa Barbara Chair, University Committee on Academic Personnel Tom Hansford Chair of the Merced Division of the Academic Senate Kristin H. Lagattuta Chair of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate Kimberly J. Lau Chair of the Santa Cruz Division of the Academic Senate Mona Lynch, UC Irvine Chair, University Committee on Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Equity Sharmila Majumdar Chair of the San Francisco Division of the Academic Senate Sean L. Malloy, UC Merced Chair, University Committee on Planning and Budget Michael Meranze Chair of the Los Angeles Division of the Academic Senate Oliver M. O’Reilly Chair of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate Dylan Rodriguez Chair of the Riverside Division of the Academic Senate Jean Daniel Saphores, UC Irvine Chair of the University Committee on Faculty Welfare John Serences, UC San Diego Chair, University Committee on Educational Policy James A. Steintrager Chair of the Irvine Division of the Academic Senate