UMD Launches Week of Solidarity and Reflection

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion today launched a Week of Solidarity and Reflection following the latest spate of police killings of African Americans and the national protests drawing attention to longstanding racial inequities in the U.S. 

“Righteous rebellion is occurring across the country right now, because for too long the traumatizing effects of racism have been ignored,” the office wrote in an email today to the campus community. “The passion and anger that we are seeing is a call to honor unmet and unseen needs. Let us begin by responding to this call for community solidarity and reflection.”

#UMDSolidarity events have been organized to express and listen to the pain, frustration, grief and more that many in our communities are now feeling. Next week will be a Week of Action, in hopes to engage in more community-building, truth-telling and action-planning for UMD.

Monday Meditations (virtual; choose a time)
Dr. Candice Crowell will lead a time of loving kindness. Black, indigenous, Latinx and Asian folx are encouraged to spend time with the Black Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma. White individuals should pause for The Ally + Accomplice Meditation for Cultivating an Anti-Racist Mindset.

Tuesday Teach-in, "Still Troubled: The Lynching of George, Breonna, Ahmaud and Tony" (6-7:30 p.m.)
This moderated teach-in focuses on the recent killings by police of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Tony McDade. Panelists will discuss the history of U.S. police lynching of African Americans, current information about these and other recent murders, and organizing actions that individuals and communities can take in support of #BlackLivesMatter, #SayTheirNames and other anti-racist coalitions. The Zoom event will be coordinated by Community and Justice Studies at Guilford College. For more information, contact Christian Matheis at matheiscg@guilford.edu. Join by using meeting ID 955 9195 2087. Your Zoom profile must have an identifiable first and last name for the moderators to admit you to the meeting. All are welcome, but there is a limit of 300 participants.

Wednesday: Learn How to Convene Your Own White Accountability Group (5 p.m.)
The Center for Transformation and Change will host a session for white people who are interested in convening their own white accountability group. These are spaces for white people who share a commitment to racial justice to gather authenticity and vulnerability to do critical self-work as change agents. Email wasracialjustice@gmail.com for the Zoom information to join.

Wednesday: Live Panel, "Under the Blacklight: The Fire This Time" (8 p.m.)
The African American Policy Forum will host an emergency “Under the Blacklight” event featuring Devon Carbado, Alicia Garza, Robin D.G. Kelley and Maria Moore. Moderated by Executive Director Kimberlé Crenshaw, the live event will dive deep into the violence, history, frustration, politics and ideology defining this crisis. Read more about the panelists and RSVP here.

Wednesday: Queer Joy (3 p.m.)
Queer Joy is a weekly time this summer for UMD's LGBTQ+ campus communities to come together and share some positive energies. The theme for June 3 and 10 is "Finding Queer Joy and Solidarity in Times of Racial Trauma and Anti-Blackness." It is open to UMD students, staff and faculty. Register in advance for this Zoom event using your umd.edu email account here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Thursday: BFSA/Nyumburu Town Hall on Racial Injustice (noon)
Join a town hall meeting on racial injustice, uprisings and organizing to end structural racism, co-sponsored by the Black Faculty & Staff Association and the Nyumburu Cultural Center. You must register in advance for this meeting by clicking here. A confirmation email will contain information about joining the meeting.

Friday: A Space for UMD Parents (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
In this virtual gathering, UMD parents can process, discuss what it means to parent a child of color during this time, talk about caring for themselves and their children, and share relevant parenting resources. Register in advance for this meeting here.

Friday: MICA Community Space for students (2-3 p.m.)
The Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy (MICA) will hold space for students to process and be in community with each other. Here is the Zoom link.

Friday: White Accountability Group (5 p.m.)
The Center for Transformation and Change is hosting a space for white people who share a commitment to racial justice to gather authenticity and vulnerability to do critical self-work as change agents. Email wasracialjustice@gmail.com for the Zoom information to join.

More events will be announced at go.umd.edu/UMDSolidarity and on ODI’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.