Africana Studies on the Death of George Floyd and Violence against Black Lives

The Department of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University is founded on the will and self-determination of the Black community. Our principles reflect a commitment to justice everywhere, to the liberation of people of African descent specifically, and to supporting the longstanding excellence evident in Black communities.

Africana Studies at San Francisco State thus denounces all forms of terror and violence against Black bodies and Black communities. We stand in solidarity with the necessary and collective efforts of our community and the broader grassroots movements against the heinous murder of George Floyd and the many others who have been unjustly slain before him.

We feel strongly that the dignity of life itself must be held as a paragon and a universal fact. Still, police and a system that toys with universal law without impunity continue to exclude black lives. The world witnessed a murder, a modern-day lynching of yet another Black man.

We are united in voicing our power to change racial inequity in this country. We call on all our colleagues, students, and allies across the country to stand courageously with us, and all of those who have made public statements already, we thank you.

We demand justice for George Floyd.

We demand justice for Breonna Taylor.

We demand justice for Ahmaud Arbrey.

We demand justice in the name of our mothers and fathers who have unfortunately been here before.

We demand an end to police violence forever.

#Black Lives Matters

**We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of George Floyd, Breana Taylor, and Ahmaud Aubrey. We pray for peace, but we will continue to fight to eradicate racism and restore justice to our communities and for our people.