Tag: BLM

TAUP Statement on TU’s Relationship to the Philadelphia Police

TAUP is outraged by the false arrest and brutal treatment of Temple Engineering student Evan Gorski at the hands of the Philadelphia Police Department. Over the past week, many TAUP faculty, librarians and APs have attended demonstrations where we have seen our students among those gathering peacefully in solidarity with people around the country and the world who are outraged by the abuse of people of color by the police in this country.  

Temple has ties to both the Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Foundation and students have initiated a petition demanding for the university to take action on multiple concerns that they have put forth.  We urge the university to take these demands seriously, to be transparent about its support of activities with these entities, and that the University respond to what has occurred by using its influence to ensure that any relationship it maintains with the PPD or PPF supports non-violence efforts.

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Like our national union, AFT, TAUP condemns the killing of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and of so many, many other African-Americans and people of color whose killers have not been held accountable.   Police are sworn to serve and protect, yet we continue to see all too many of them actively engaged or passive in the face of brutal manifestations of the systemic racism that has poisoned our body politic throughout our history, preceding our nation’s founding.

Racism must be identified, called out and censured vigilantly in all of its forms.  As educators, we have a responsibility to society that begins with the respect we owe to each of our students and to each other. Black Lives Matter is not a slogan: it is a vision and a mission to fulfill.   We call on members with expertise through their studies or those who have led anti-racist training to join with the union in pursuing a path forward in combating racism in higher education.

We encourage members to donate to organizations doing work on the front lines today. In Minneapolis, the site of George Floyd’s murder, please consider donating to the Minnnesota Freedom Fund.  In Philadelphia, please consider donating to The Philadelphia Bail Fund or POWER.