Public Health Student Association Statement on the Murder of George Floyd
The field of public health has long recognized that systemic racism and law enforcement violence are crucial social justice issues that structurally oppress the Black community. The recent murders of Oluwatoyin Salau, Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Amaud Arbery, and so many others have pulled back the curtain, once again, on the racial injustices that linger in today's society. As the governing student body of the School of Public Health, we stand in solidarity with the Black community. We recommit ourselves to the work of antiracism and health equality, and we pledge to collaborate and listen to the concerns of our student body, making decisions and allocating funding to reflect these priorities.
Several student organizations are hard at work in this fight. Our goal is to amplify students’ voices, to both the administration and community at large. We support the statements and demands released by Radical Public Health, Chicago Health Coalition 4 Black Lives, and Co-Signers of the UIC Student Demands, which includes a call for UIC to sever all ties with CPD. As an executive board that serves the students at SPH, we want to assure you that we stand with you in this fight to combat structural racism.
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One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist. There is no in-between safe space of ‘not racist.’ The claim of ‘not racist’ neutrality is a mask for racism.
| Author, How to be an Antiracist
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If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us at PHSA.uic@gmail.com.
In solidarity,
PHSA Executive Board 2020-2021