Dear Nazareth College Community,
Yesterday we witnessed in stunned horror a video of the heinous killing of Daniel T. Prude — naked, shackled, hooded, and suffocated on a cold, dark Rochester street.
We now add his name to the list of Black lives unnecessarily lost — murdered in an agonizing cry of pain, suffering, and outrage.
Today we hear the stories of Daniel T. Prude’s life from his family — all shattered in a stranglehold of thoughtless, murderous violation.
Today we renew our commitment to action as we remember the Black lives who deserve our honor, our remembrance, and our fierce advocacy.
I again call on every member of our community to face this reality. In 2020, Black people are still being persecuted on the basis of race. Even in our own Nazareth community, people feel unsafe and unwelcome because of their Blackness. Enough!
I again call on each of us to reflect on how we have internalized the systemic racism and white supremacy that tarnishes our society and assaults our humanity.
As a community, we support those who are hurting. I invite you to join in a series of campus events sponsored by our Division of Community and Belonging that begin to engage all of us in listening, reflection, and action. Listening is the first step to understanding, and understanding is a step toward healing.
Yesterday we witnessed in stunned horror a video of the heinous killing of Daniel T. Prude — naked, shackled, hooded, and suffocated on a cold, dark Rochester street.
We now add his name to the list of Black lives unnecessarily lost — murdered in an agonizing cry of pain, suffering, and outrage.
Today we hear the stories of Daniel T. Prude’s life from his family — all shattered in a stranglehold of thoughtless, murderous violation.
Today we renew our commitment to action as we remember the Black lives who deserve our honor, our remembrance, and our fierce advocacy.
I again call on every member of our community to face this reality. In 2020, Black people are still being persecuted on the basis of race. Even in our own Nazareth community, people feel unsafe and unwelcome because of their Blackness. Enough!
I again call on each of us to reflect on how we have internalized the systemic racism and white supremacy that tarnishes our society and assaults our humanity.
As a community, we support those who are hurting. I invite you to join in a series of campus events sponsored by our Division of Community and Belonging that begin to engage all of us in listening, reflection, and action. Listening is the first step to understanding, and understanding is a step toward healing.
Noon Friday: We ask the campus to engage in 2 minutes of silence at noon on Friday, Sept 4. This period of silence will be signaled by the ringing of a bell atop Golisano Academic Center. At that time we ask our campus community to remember those whose lives have been brutally taken and reflect on what our commitment is for change.
5 p.m. Friday: Our campus community is invited to join El Barrio’s Friday meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Linehan Chapel or via Zoom for a time of contemplation and reflection surrounding issues of racism and social injustice ignited by the recent death of Daniel Prude. El Barrio is a student group committed to creating space for difficult conversations on racial justice. All are welcome.
Wednesday: Join the campus community in creating a mural that expresses solidarity with persons of color in denouncing racism. The banner and markers will be available in the Shults Center beginning Wednesday, Sept 9.
And at any time, contact Health and Counseling or the Center for Spirituality for support attending to your own well-being.
Ours is a sustained commitment to effect change. The impact of systemic racism cannot be eradicated by a single action or statement. And the imperative of antiracism is not relevant only on the heels of the most recent abhorrent persecution of human life.
Over the course of the next few days and in the coming weeks, we will be sharing opportunities for you to engage in dialogue and to come together. We will be sharing ways to act on our commitment every day — through action, not just words. It will require all of us. Please pay attention to these invitations and please participate.
I am inspired by and grateful to faculty, staff, and student leaders across the College who are contributing to this work. Together we live our mission of social justice and social change. Each of us bears this responsibility.
Today — and every day — the Nazareth community rises together in action in support of the truth that BLACK LIVES MATTER.
Sincerely,
Beth Paul, Ph.D.
President
Nazareth College
Beth Paul, Ph.D.
President
Nazareth College
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