VP of DEI Statement Regarding Buffalo Mass Shooting

Dear Fielding Community,

Our nation experienced a tragic event on May 14^th in Buffalo, New York. As many of you know, a gunman killed ten people and injured three at a grocery store mid-day. At least eleven of the individuals were Black, and the neighborhood was intentionally chosen because of the high percentage of Black people who live there. The person who committed this crime boldly admitted to being a racist and a proponent of white supremacy. Tragedies such as this have become all too common in this, “our America.”

Acts of senseless violence rooted in extremism remind us that the call to address anti-Blackness and antisemitism in all its forms is ever-present and requires vigilance. The accused shooter is an example of why the work of social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion is so important. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, the biggest challenge for the United States is not external terrorists, rather, it is internal terrorists who have become radicalized through various means.

As the Fielding community, we need to remain strong against such attacks and educate ourselves about domestic extremism. In doing so, we elevate our understanding of the complexity of our world and our shared lives. We need to acknowledge these real threats and work together as a community of committed individuals to justice, in actively denouncing, fighting, and educating against anti-Blackness and antisemitism.

Please stand in solidarity against this wave of senseless hate.

In Spirit,

Allison Davis-White Eyes, PhD

VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion