Dear SULC community:
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. Tony McDade. We must remember to say these names and the others that have left us far too soon.
During this time of unrest and complex thoughts, we must continue to protect our ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The recent and tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota has caused a global outbreak of protests and rallies in the fight for justice and the ending of systemic racism.
For over 70 years, we, the Southern University Law Center, have molded and shaped this country’s leaders and change agents. We were birthed during an oppressed time where we, as Blacks, had to fight for the right to be educated. In 2020, it is upsetting to believe that we are still fighting for simple rights, such as the right to live.
At the Law Center, we teach and instill in our students that as lawyer leaders you must fervently fight for the justice of all mankind. However, the basic legal frameworks that are covered in our classrooms are being disregarded by elected and chosen officials. How can we expect for our newly commissioned lawyers to uphold legal traditions if they are being tossed away?
The constant targeting and assassination of our Black, Brown, Native American, and LGBTQIA+ sisters and brothers must end. Through our curriculum, research, and community engagement, we will continue to address our disdain for racism and injustice. We commend our Louis A. Berry Institute for Civil Rights and Justice and numerous campus organizations for their advocacy work and commitment to hosting perpetual conversations around these topics.
We urge our community, including students, employees, alumni, and supporters, to voice their concerns through letters and phone calls to officials, activism and most of all voting in local and national elections. We have to stand united at all fronts.
I want you to know that you are not alone in your anguish, hurt, or sadness. If you are in need of a listening ear or counseling services, we ask that you contact a mental health provider.
We will get through this together.
