On justice for George Floyd

Dear Roosevelt Community,

Roosevelt University joins those across the nation in grieving for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and the many other Black people killed by police. As a University, we stand in solidarity with those affected by police brutality and with the protesters who raise their voices against systemic racism.

In the wake of these heinous events, silence is unacceptable. So is inaction.

America has a long history of state-sanctioned violence against people of color. We must acknowledge that these recent acts of police brutality occur during a pandemic and economic downturn that has disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities. I see the hurt and outrage felt by many in the Roosevelt community.

If you need a safe space for reflection, please join us on Tuesday, June 9 at 12 p.m. for an open dialogue about justice for George Floyd. You can register for the discussion here.

Since 1945, our University has remained dedicated to advancing diversity, inclusion and access to education. In the face of racial discrimination, our founders dared to create a new, more equitable kind of University. Our students, faculty and staff have taken up this shared cause throughout our history. As an institution of higher learning, we are called to act on our belief that Black lives matter. We must work together to uproot white supremacy in our communities.

Going forward, Roosevelt must take concrete action to uphold our founding values. Through our new equity plan, experts across the University are collaborating to close racial and socioeconomic opportunity gaps for our students. Our leadership team is examining University processes for ways to strengthen our commitment to social justice.

Lasting change requires all of us. As a member of the Roosevelt community, you bring unique knowledge and skills to the challenges ahead. We must come together to care for one another, to find actionable solutions and to pursue a more just future.

Sincerely,

Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D.
President of Roosevelt University