The Solidarity and Inclusion Statement

Posted in Announcements

Dear Chemistry Community,

We stand with our Black colleagues at Georgetown, in the STEM community, across America and worldwide. We join in solidarity against racism, injustice, and intolerance.

The killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia are unconscionable acts of violence that bring into sharp focus the harsh, systematic inequalities faced by members of our society. COVID-19 further exposes these inequities, hitting African American as well as Latinx/Hispanic and Native American communities so disproportionately.

In this time of pain, we reaffirm our department’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Now more than ever is a time to support one another, to work together for change.  

As I have just shared with our students, we are fortunate to have strong, courageous voices within our science community at Georgetown. Women in Science and Education (WISE; https://bit.ly/WISEsolidarity ) as well as the graduate student chair of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Aphra Murray have shared solemn messages of solidarity that serve as calls to action.  Endorsed by our Graduate Society of Chemists (GSOC) along with many grad students, Aphra writes:

“This is a time for all of us to reflect and act. It is simply not enough to speak out against racism; we must be anti-racist. We must work together to build an environment to support people of different backgrounds where they are seen, heard, and valued.”

Their list of anti-racism resources provides a concrete place for individuals to start and will be soon posted on our diversity webpage .  

Let us join together to find ways to make our community more inclusive by seeking allies and learning to serve as one. Among other members of our community including Aphra and me, please count out on faculty of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee (Profs. Stoll, Glick, Knope, Metallo, and Maillard) to serve in these roles.

In the days, weeks, and months ahead, I look forward to conversations with voices from our entire department that shape the specific goals we set and actions we take.

Sincerely,
Tim Warren

Timothy H. Warren             
Richard D. Vorisek Professor

Chair, Department of Chemistry
Georgetown University  Basic Science 113             202-687-6362