The Department of Political Science at the University of Washington has issued the following statement in response to the George Floyd protests taking place throughout the nation. Perspectives from WISIR-affiliated Professors Christopher Sebastian Parker, Megan Ming Francis, Sophia Jordán Wallace, Jacob Grumbach, Michael McCann, Rebecca Thorpe, and Chip Turner can be found at the link below.
We are at a defining moment in history. Protests continue to sweep across the United States following the murders of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and countless others at the hands of the police. In Seattle, a place with our own problems with blue on black violence (e.g., Charleena Lyles), protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter.” Many were even subjected to tear gas. The National Guard was activated in Seattle for the first time in 20 years. The protests have sparked nationwide conversations about the efficacy of policing and punishment, the long history of systemic racism, and the current arrangement of political institutions which contribute to the devaluation of black lives.
The present moment highlights the large gulf in knowledge about the history of Black people in the United States, and their lived experiences today. As professors of political science, we believe education is central—not just to becoming more politically informed—but to better understand the world around us, and to work towards a stronger democracy. In order to understand how to repair harm and move to a more just society, we must first understand how we got here in the first place. Educating ourselves by listening to Black people as they share their truths are important first steps in responding to the present crisis. However, we hope that you do not stop there—we hope that you put what you learn into practice and become involved in your community around organizing for a more just future for all.
The Political Science Department at the University of Washington, our students, and our alumni are part of our community. To provide some insight on the current moment, we have written short reflections on the protests and provided a list of recommended readings.
All of the contributors are key members of the Washington Institute for the Study of Inequality and Race (WISIR). WISIR is an interdisciplinary research center that seeks to enhance public understanding of issues related to race, ethnicity, and inequality, as well as contribute to solutions. If you feel so moved, please give to WISIR to help us build public programming, pursue critical research on racism, racial violence, and structural inequities, and enhance WISIR’s role in creating a welcoming and just learning environment at the University of Washington. Make a gift.
https://www.polisci.washington.edu/news/2020/06/04/faculty-perspectives-george-floyd-protests
