UCSF Commends Student Leaders for Organizing Peaceful Demonstration, Reinforces Commitment to Diversity

UCSF Student Learners, Faculty, Staff, and Community Members,

The recent events in Ferguson and New York City have brought national attention to long-felt issues surrounding systemic inequalities that disproportionally impact underrepresented minorities, particularly black men. We extend our condolences to the families of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and those touched by these incidents.

Our nation has witnessed a response, which has brought together communities of color and allies, many who have engaged in peaceful protests and non-violent demonstrations. Inherent in the tenets of our values, UCSF and the Office of Diversity and Outreach (ODO) know that “Black Lives Matter." As a public institution, we work tirelessly to address health disparities and promote social justice in our work as learners, educators, clinicians, and researchers.

On behalf of the UCSF leadership, I want to acknowledge how proud we are of our UCSF Community for living these values, and we want to commend our student leaders who have organized and engaged in peaceful demonstrations that acknowledge the relation of racism and violence to health, as awareness is the first step towards change. 

The Chancellor’s Executive Leadership Committee, The Office of Diversity and Outreach, the Multicultural Resource Center, and countless campus partners are working together to implement effective strategies to address unconscious bias, increase cultural competencies, and engage in socially just practices. The wisdom of Dr. King reminds us that as human beings, our freedom is inextricably bound together. All lives matter, and our UCSF community stands united in this journey.

In Solidarity,

J. Renee Navarro, PharmD, MD
Vice Chancellor, Diversity and Outreach
Professor of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
University of California, San Francisco

For more internal-facing stories from the UCSF community, please visit Pulse of UCSF.