Departmental Statement in Support of Black Lives Matter

The faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students in the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Studies have found the events of the past two weeks heart-wrenching. We are concerned about the brutal murder of George Floyd, the clear evidence of institutionalized racism, and the cynical use of both scripture and the classical past to advance divisive political agendas. The two major academic organizations that represent the values and research interests of this department have each published very powerful statements to take a moral stand in this crisis. We strongly support these statements.

• Statement on Police Brutality, Systemic Racism, and the Death of George Floyd
  By the Society for Classical Studies
   
• A Statement on Black Lives Matter, Right to Protest, and Bible as Prop (PDF)
  By the Society of Biblical Literature

Sincerely,

Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students, and Undergraduate Majors and Minors
Department of Classical & Near Eastern Studies