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Dear Colleagues,
The assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th was morally repugnant and unjustifiable. It was unquestionably an act of domestic terrorism and insurrection that shook the bedrock of American democracy. The images and words we witnessed echoed vile hatred that evoked in us a sense of fear and outrage. While we struggle to understand what happened we must remember a clear fact – the terror unleashed on our lawmakers and the halls of Congress is deeply familiar to many, if not most Black people in our nation. In our collective grief, we need to recognize the gravity of the terror and trauma for those who live and breathe it every day. These insidious attacks are a symptom of a festering and deeply rooted white supremacy that is undermining our democracy. As citizens, scholars, students, and campus leaders we join together with those who condemn these horrific and reprehensible attacks as well as the hatred that fueled them.
If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Though you may feel depleted, our collective strength will pull us through. Find your community, allies and those open to reflection, and offer a safe and respectful space for this collective healing to occur.
Today, as we celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are reminded of his powerful words that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Let us commit to supporting one another and ensuring that our community reflects the values of justice, respect, love, and peace.
The UCI End Racism Initiative will host an Open Hour on January 21st from 4-5 p.m. This informal event is intended to create a safe space for the UCI community to reflect on this incident and any emerging challenges. Please RSVP below to receive the zoom meeting information. Everyone is invited to attend.
RSVP for Open Hour on Jan. 21
A Zoom account is required to register. If you have you trouble registering, please email dlofflin@uci.edu.
In solidarity,
Steering Group
UCI End Racism Initiative
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