Community Vigil and Healing Circle, Monday July 11

July 8, 2016

Dear UC Berkeley Community,

The national events of the past few days have been both heartbreaking and traumatic. We have witnessed unconscionable racialized state violence in Louisiana and Minnesota in the senseless killing of African American men Philando Castile and Alton Sterling at the hands of police officers; men whose families and communities now must mourn their untimely deaths. The targeted killing of police officers in Dallas yesterday has further compounded the pain and escalated the anxiety and insecurity that we are experiencing as a nation. We condemn terrorism and state violence, and extend our hearts and prayers to the families and communities of all the victims. We recognize the profound effect these events have on the African American community nationally, and on our students here at UC Berkeley.

The Black Student Union, the African American Student Development Office, and ASUC Senator Zaynab AbdulQadir are sponsoring a community vigil and open mic session to provide a safe space for our students on Monday, July 11 from 4:30-6:00 pm on the steps of Sproul Plaza, to be followed by a healing circle at the Multicultural Community Center at 6:00 pm. This is a time for us to come together as community, to recognize our collective pain, and to extend our hearts to one another.

Na’ilah Suad Nasir
Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion

Carol Christ
Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

Vigil

4:30 pm in Upper Sproul Plaza

There will be an open mic for those who would like to talk

Healing Circle

6:00 pm in the Multicultural Community Center