| Dear End Racism Initiative colleagues, Together, we grieve for the tragic loss of ten innocent Black lives in Buffalo, N.Y. at the hands of a mass murderer – an 18-year-old white man who was radicalized by a fringe conspiracy theory that has been perpetrated by racism, hate and political manipulation. While shock, grief, and anger are rocking the predominantly Black community in Buffalo, Black people throughout the country are once again thrust into the all-too-familiar turmoil of feeling unsafe to simply step out of their homes or go shopping at the supermarket. The mental health toll this takes cannot be overstated. We need to stand together to support our Black friends, colleagues, and neighbors, and offer compassion and understanding to all those who are impacted by this atrocity. UCI’s leadership has generated a strong response in support of the Black community. Messages from Chancellor Gillman and Vice Chancellor Haynes make it clear our campus will not tolerate hate and extremism and will work to create spaces for our community to reflect on what happened and what it means for the future of Black people in the United States and for all our futures. Please note Vice Chancellor Haynes’ message inviting the campus community to join a special virtual forum hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence on Healing in the Face of Extremism at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 17th. You can register for this online here. To create an additional space for group reflection and discussion, the End Racism Initiative will also host a Virtual Town Hall at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 18th. You can register for this town hall here. We hope you can join us for both events. In the meantime, please know that if you need support during this time, there are resources here to support you. The UCI Counseling Center can provide crisis support services to undergraduate and graduate students via telehealth or in-person. The UCI Human Resources Employee Assistance Program provides mental health resources and services to campus employees including faculty and staff. In addition, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Orange County offers a 24-hours warmline that you can reach via call or text any day. This is a free and confidential telephone service providing emotional support and resources to Orange County residents.Register for Town HallPlease note: a UCI email address is required to register. Non-UCI participants will need to request access by emailing dlofflin@uci.edu.In solidarity, Michael A. Yassa, Ph.D. On behalf of the End Racism Initiative Steering Committee |
Mass Shooting in Buffalo, N.Y. – Join us for Town Hall on May 18th
