Our UC Riverside student-athlete body has come together in this critical moment for the purpose of raising – and maintaining – awareness around issues of race and educating others about the importance of recognizing and addressing social climate issues.
We have been offended. We have been outraged. But nonetheless, we will continue to fight for change, equality, and solidarity within our Black community.
Our nation is tearing itself apart with the hope a new and true system of justice will be built in America. Now, more than ever, we must all rise together so we can move forward with unshakable faith while demanding the changes we seek in our society.
As UCR student-athletes, we are committing to working side-by-side with our Campus, Athletics Director, administrators, coaches and all 17 teams. We are challenging all of us to use our respective platforms to speak up and stand together against police brutality and all racial injustices we experience in our society. Our challenge now is to not allow this to be just a passing moment, but continue to have productive conversations about the roles we play and what we will do moving forward.
It is also important that we recognize the strength of our non-Black Highlander family. We need you and your voice, otherwise, your silence is hurting us. Although we love the support you have and continue to show on social media, we need you to show that same courage and strength through your public and private actions. We need you to be an active part of the solution and stand together to protect your fellow Highlanders. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu stated, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."
Our Highlander Family will always fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. In this specific moment, we are literally fighting for the lives of those of us in the Black community because it is evident that Black lives in this country are not and have not been valued equally. This cannot and should not be reduced to a political or controversial matter because Black Lives do Matter. Our future is on the line because all too often, the failure to value all lives equally results in the grossly disproportionate loss of life for our Black community when encountering law enforcement.
We will not stand for discrimination or racism of any kind and you can count on this UCR student-athlete body to lead the way and be a shining example in this reformation of social justice. Together, we will work to abolish white supremacy and systemic racism. And in the words of the late, great, Nipsey Hussle, "The Marathon Continues".
Yours very truly,
Raena Robinson
Softball
Maya Cook
Women's Track and Field
Dejah Dade
Women's Volleyball
Dominick Pickett
Men's Basketball
Lauryn Pointer
Women's Basketball
Isabella Scarlett
Women's Volleyball
Dorian Morrison
Men's Soccer
