Dive Brief:
- College leaders affirmed the need for continued work to address systemic racial inequity as protests over the death of George Floyd and other racial prejudices roil the country.
- Generally, their statements acknowledge several racist acts that gained national attention in recent weeks and the trauma their campuses may be experiencing as a result. They also offer access to campus resources, such as counseling services.
- Some leaders were more explicit in their comments, calling out the brutal actions of police and expressing solidarity with protesters.
Dive Insight:
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died last week after a white officer with the Minneapolis Police Department put a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. After a video of the incident, which shows Floyd begging for his life, circulated the internet, the officer was fired and later charged with murder and manslaughter. Three other officers present during the incident were also fired.
The episode ignited protests and other demonstrations across the country, with some turning destructive at times.
The University of Minnesota took the most immediate action after Floyd’s death. President Joan Gabel announced the university would limit its involvement with Minneapolis police. It will no longer contract with them to provide support for athletics, concerts and other large university events, as well as for specialized services such as K-9 explosive-detection units, Gabel wrote in a letter to campus.