Once again, we condemn the senseless killing of a Black man, Daunte Wright, carried out by a police officer in Minnesota. We stand in solidarity with our Black faculty and communities, subjected to violence and abuse far too long, as they process their anger, frustration, fear, and exhaustion in response to the ongoing tragedy of police killings of Black Americans. At this time, talks of reform ring hollow as we all just want the killing to stop.

The IFO will be holding space for our Black faculty and other faculty of color on Tuesday, April 13 from 9-11 a.m., and for all faculty (faculty of color and allies) on Thursday, April 15 from 9-11 a.m. We encourage you to attend to connect with your colleagues from across the state and/or find support within your community networks. Please email advocacy@ifo.org for the information to join these virtual meetings.

The IFO has made a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in our union, on our campuses, and in our communities. The IFO Board has adopted a strategic plan that prioritizes challenging systemic oppression and empowering marginalized members through intentional equity and inclusion initiatives. We believe faculty must be empowered to lead efforts to respect the inherent worth and dignity of all students, faculty, and staff based on values of justice, inclusion, and equity: Faculty will be the fundamental agents of change at our universities and in our communities. We strive for equity within our union to build solidarity and ensure that our collective voice is an inclusive voice. However, we understand that as these efforts to change our society can feel like too little, too late as we have not yet been able to prevent the pain, anger, and fear we feel today.