George Floyd: Statement

We at the University of Wolverhampton have been shocked and saddened at the recent events in America following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Thursday.

We send our condolences to the friends and family of George Floyd, and all those who have been similarly affected. We recognise that many of our staff and students are either Americans themselves, or have loved ones resident there, and urge those in that situation to reach out to Student Support or Staff Wellbeing should they require support. Alternatively, support can also be accessed from The Chaplaincy or The Equality and Diversity Unit.

The University is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for work and study, and has a zero tolerance approach towards prejudice against ethnic minorities in all its forms – be that racism, xenophobia, colourism, Islamphobia or antisemitism. We stand with those in America and elsewhere, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, who are campaigning for race equality.

We appreciate that recent events may have been particularly distressing for our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students who also experience racism in their own lives. Such shared experiences across countries are why it’s important to use this moment to not just engage with the situation unfolding overseas, but to recognise that we face similar challenges in Britain. We know that as both an employer and an educator we must do more to improve the lives of our BAME staff and students. Through our work on the Race Equality Charter, the University is working with staff and students to better identify and combat racial disparities wherever they exist. Any staff member or student who wishes to get involved in this work, should contact the University’s Race Equality Lead, Sukhvinder Singh.

We hope that in the coming weeks and months, people from all backgrounds can come together to intensify efforts to combat racism and secure true racial equality, both in America and across the world.