I and Dr. Michael Collins, Chancellor for UMass Medical School, sent this message out to the UMass Memorial Health Care and UMass Medical School communities about the tragic situation in Minneapolis.

Seven minutes. That is how long George Floyd suffered, pleading for help, before his eventual death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Those seven minutes that have been captured on video and shown around the world illustrate not only a single human tragedy, but also highlight the racial divide in America. Unfortunately, this tragedy has spiraled beyond peaceful protests into violent riots across the country.

As we all watch this news unfold before us, we want to restate and reinforce our collective commitment at UMass Medical School and at UMass Memorial Health Care to fostering an inclusive culture that respects diversity at all levels, and to addressing and resolving racial disparities in health care and society. We continue to strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered, encouraged and celebrated for expressing diversity of opinions and perspectives.

While we are saddened by the tragic events in Minneapolis, we hope there is a swift and peaceful resolution that will spark a much-needed time of healing and harmony. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of George Floyd and all in our community who have been affected by this heartbreaking situation.