11/15/2015
November 13, 2015
RE: WashU BLSA Statement regarding Recent Events at MIZZOU
To the Black Law Students Association Members and Community:
We are sure that by now, you are aware of the recent events at the University of Missouri(MIZZOU). We know that these happenings are not unique to MIZZOU and reflect experiencesof students of color in institutions around the country. Incidents of racism and intolerance for others based on race, cultural and religious background, sexual orientation, expression oridentity, have no place at an institution of higher education or society in general.
We hope that you are encouraged by the bold stance taken by our brothers and sisters at MIZZOU. We also hope that you feel equipped to speak against racism and injustice wherever you encounter them. Though we are separated by campus, we stand in solidarity with the message sent by the actions at MIZZOU. Many of us know what it is like to experience the everyday aggressions, exclusions and humiliations of feeling marginalized in some institutions. At no point should students and equal members of a community feel excluded and marginalized in a place that is supposed to provide a home of progressive ideals and forward thinking.
In the wake of more racially charged protests and movements, we hope to generate understanding and concrete changes. We cannot allow our community to become apathetic, and hope to band together to tackle the feelings and instances of racial inequality that have time and again affected people around this country. We hope that ‘uncomfortable’ conversations continue in our classrooms and within our community – open discourse is a critical starting point for the change that we all hope to see.
On Monday, November 16th, members of the campus community will engage in an open discussion about the events at MIZZOU and how we at Washington University can learn and grow through that experience. We invite you to attend the meeting and contribute to the conversation.
Again, we stand in solidarity with students around the country, and we hope that universal indignation unites us and serves as momentum for meaningful social action. We WILL progress towards genuine awareness, inclusion, and justice.
Yours truly,
The Black Law Students Association