President Callahan's message to community honoring George Floyd’s legacy

May 25, 2021

Dear Pacificans,

Today we join others across the nation in observing the one-year anniversary of the brutal death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man killed by a Minneapolis police officer. George Floyd's murder galvanized people worldwide to join in the fight for social justice, spreading protests worldwide and spurring a racial epiphany over years of injustices against Black people. His killing, viewed by millions, jolted the country, institutions and individuals into a time of mourning, reflection and action in the movement for real and sustainable change.

While last month’s verdict found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts, today is a solemn reminder of the social injustices that Black Americans continue to endure. We mourn with those living with the impact from the events over the past year and the centuries of systemic racism, and affirm our commitment to emerge as a national leader on diversity, equity and inclusion, to become a model antiracist university.

Pacific continues to advance its work on DEI. Last August, I articulated a set of short-term goals that align with our core values and principles. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our students, faculty, staff and Regents, we have made great progress on our DEI initiatives. This is the beginning of our work and we must continue to advance our efforts together to realize a future that is fair and just.

Knowing this may be a difficult day for members of our community, we offer these resources:

For students: